My Backcountry Camper Trailer Build

[Root Moose]

FWIW, the Raingler stuff attaches to the seat belt mount points. At least in an XJ. I'm not terribly worried about the cargo coming forward. Just need to be careful to make sure the cargo is larger than the holes in the webbing.

 

[OlympiaFJ60]

Yes, I will absolutely be building a barrier behind the rear seats, probably this winter. I will probably scratch build something as I want it REALLY stout. I really question the ability of the dog guards to hold everything back in a heavy frontal collision. I've been in a heavy frontal in a car, and it's amazing what a suitcase will do to the back seat, let alone something heavy recovery gear, etc. I think it's one of the most underappreciated aspects of this sport/industry. I'm talking about something really heavy duty, 1" tubing at least, bolted to the floor, backstays attached to the top. It'll be almost like a 4 point roll bar.

I put a Milford Cargo barrier in my Land Cruiser for the same reasons. I have my son (now 8) in the back seat and a transfer case, transmission, etc in the back. I looked at the dog and "cargo" barriers commonly available in the N.A. market. I found the Milford (from Australia) to be the only real solution. At the time there was a N.A. distributor but not sure if he is still dealing with them. I know Man-a-fre (land cruiser vendor) can get them I'm sure some of the Land Rover vendors can as well. They are available in most common SUV models. One of the nice features is the ability to move it forward when the back seats are folded down.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I deleted the pics of the load because Sinuhe Xavier cross-posted them over on another board to make fun of me, one that I can't even register for to defend myself. I despise cowardly acts like that. Don't take my posts out of context, and use them elsewhere to make stupid jokes.

I'm sorry my loading job doesn't meet with your sense of aesthetics. While breaking camp, my pregnant wife banged her head on the rear door and split her scalp open. So after stopping the bleeding, I loaded the truck quickly, with no regard for whether or not it meets your high standards. The picture is what the load looked like after driving on and off road for 2 hours. Shift happens. I posted the picture here to show why I'm building a trailer, but which is not finished yet unfortunately.

I'm also sorry that my money tree is not as fruitful as yours, and I don't have the funds to by a bunch of cool Pelican cases like you. Or maybe I do make more than you, but choose to spend it on more worthwhile things than waterproof padded cases to put INSIDE of a vehicle. Things like my house, other vehicles, things for my kids, etc.

Get over yourself.

 

[Root Moose]

Wow. Obviously some retarded posts have been deleted (again!) and things aren't making sense any more.

 

[roverdoc]

I deleted the pics of the load because Sinuhe Xavier cross-posted them over on another board to make fun of me, one that I can't even register for to defend myself. I despise cowardly acts like that. Don't take my posts out of context, and use them elsewhere to make stupid jokes.

just fyi..you can post there if you are a customer....

 

[rroadkilll]

I enjoy reading your thread but am wondering about staying on this site... If I wanted to read and hear about the lil things that bother people I would hang out @ pirate...

People need to understand that NOT everybody has the same view... If so we would ALL drive Jeeps and Xterra's!!!

HOPE your wife is OK!!!

 

[R_Lefebvre]

No, it didn't happen here. Just some members of this site who have dual personalities. Stopping the cross-posting of my pics is the most I can do.

I know you can register at EE.com if you become a customer. I do not care to become a customer.

 

[UHAULER]

Rob, I've been watching your trailer build for a while and it looks good BUT I should point out a FEW things I would have done differently.
I would have made it out of all aluminum, with titanium hinges and I would have put the hinges on the other sides of the doors and I would have made the doors either smaller or bigger and used 1/4" bigger axle tube and bigger tires and a better hitch and then I would have the whole thing chromed, no gold plated and then I would paint over it just because I can and then I would take it to better places than you ever could and I would cook better camp food than you........:sombrero:

Just keep building everything the way you want and forget about the internet trolls.

 

[OlympiaFJ60]

I'm sorry, it took me until

I would have made the doors either smaller or bigger

to realize your making fun . Sorry, just a little slow here.

Rob, great build. I have enjoyed it and can't wait to see the finished product. Hope your wife is ok. My wife has cut her hand on my truck. The second time she almost needed stitches.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Yeah she's ok. Luckily I didn't have to tie her hair in knots to get the scalp back together. :Wow1: She was tending to Phil on the ground behind the truck, and the big Disco door was open, stood up and POW right on the corner. If she hadn't been wearing a hat it woulda been worse.

I would cook better camp food than you........

The next one will use stealth technology, so the landscape can't see me coming and I can take all the best photos! It'll have a team of ninjas stationed to defend my food from the bears. :elkgrin: And Martha Stewart will come along to help accessorize and organize it. Inside it will be clad in wafer thin cuts of granite for the ultimate in lightweight style. It'll have a chilled wine rack, and Rolex bottle opener... :chef:

 

[marc olivares]

I deleted the pics of the load because Sinuhe Xavier cross-posted them over on another board to make fun of me, one that I can't even register for to defend myself. I despise cowardly acts like that. Don't take my posts out of context, and use them elsewhere to make stupid jokes.

for the love of god Rob, put your big boy pants on and take it as constructive criticism. i saw that photo, and as a father of 2 small children, who routinely travel with me, i was shocked. i'd never stuff that much crap around my children in the same manner that you had. Stop playing the webbernet martyr and take some action. Perhaps instead of spending the money and time on that "overlanding" trailer, you could have invested in some gear that would make your packing more expeditious. Consider this, it has less to do with "fruitful money trees", than you'd like it to be. it's more about carefully managing the space that you have.
sinuhe called it like he saw it, and quite frankly, attention needed to be called towards it. perhaps by embarrassing you, you will not make the same mistake in the future.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I'm not embarrassed. Everything "around" my kid is soft. Sleeping bags, pillows and a stuffed animal. If Sinuhe wanted to do anything but poke fun, maybe offer some constructive criticizms here in person. Instead, just a stupid comment about Tetris on a locked down website surrounded by his friends.

I'm no stranger to automotive safety. I have a 6 point cage, 5 point harnesses, nomex suit, shoes and gloves for my trackday car. But I'm in a state of transition here on this truck. Everything doesn't happen overnight.

I'd love to know how the situation would improve with anything other than a cargo cage. Should I put my camp chairs in Pelican cases? Give me a break. There's nothing that would make cramming that much stuff into a truck work out better. Cases just make things bigger.

That's why my plan is to just get it OUT of the truck altogether. But, the trailer has taken way longer to build than I planned. Putting effort into some setup that is just temporary would be stupid.

I have a roof rack, and have used it, but it's a PITA because I live where it actually *rains* and so everything has to be waterproofed. Not to mention, if you think a full rack makes the situation overall safer than this...

 

[marc olivares]

sounds like a whole lot of excuses, who you trying to convince, us or you?

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Go ahead, and teach us how to better pack our vehicles. How would cases make the situation better? Discuss the pros and cons of more stuff in the truck vs. more stuff on the roof. Post something useful.

I took the pictures because I know it's bad practice. That's why I posted them. I don't have or need any excuses other than my plans to have the trailer done didn't work out, and I did the best with what I have.

 

[Outback]

It seems to me you have been getting allot of flak from people for one thing or another. Not sure why these people who are self proclaimed experts feel they needed to but in and make posts about how you raise your children. I didnt see anything dangerous. IF for some reason any of us see a dangerouse situation then yes we have a duty to say such a thing. But as you stated All I could see was a bunch of really soft items around the child. Whats an air bag?....... Yes so the soft padded itmes were not "airbags" but its better than nothing in an accident. PLUS as you mentioned you packed the truck under emergency conditions. If it was life threatening I would imagine you would have just left the crap where it sat and took off. But it wasnt life threatening but enough of an emergency to throw the crap in and go. Some people say theres nothing but excuses coming from you. I say mind your own business and let the man post in peace. I too am getting tired of these "See Im better than you because I can load my truck like a real Expedition vehicle". OMG I doubt that any of these wanna be so called experts have ever been on a real Expedition. I see most of these people as wanna be's. Sorry but the truth sometimes hurt. My job is an on going Expedition. I dont brag because theres nothing to brag about. In fact sometimes it just plain sucks! In fact I have spent more hours on a real expedition than probrably anyone here. Who gives a ****! We are here to learn from each other or see cool rigs or whatever the reason is but I can tell you its not to hear these people spout about nothing. Keep your build going and ignore these "Expedition Experts".