My Backcountry Camper Trailer Build

[R_Lefebvre]

That's the weird thing, because I really enjoyed it. It's been a fun project. I don't know if stressing is the right word, maybe obsessing. And I'm not saying I wouldn't do it again.

Strange. I dunno, maybe as I get older my tollerance level for stress goes down.

 

[willyswagon]

That's the weird thing, because I really enjoyed it. It's been a fun project. I don't know if stressing is the right word, maybe obsessing. And I'm not saying I wouldn't do it again.

Strange. I dunno, maybe as I get older my tollerance level for stress goes down.

I like to say that my Bull ******** filter tolerates less with age!!

 

[RgrBox]

As I read your post Rob I had to laugh...sitting here in the basement working on the new build on Sketchup...looking at the "old" build out the window...and really thinking after reading about your stress, exactly why in the hell am I doing this...lolol?

Brute for punishment I guess..

I'm glad your getting a chance to step back and reflect...certainly hope Mom and baby are doing fine

Good luck, Pat

I must say that the build you already worked on looks great..

Are you looking for a set up to sleep someone inside? If not what don't you go with something simmilar tot he SA Bushman trailers..

 

[Titanpat57]

Ty RgrBox.....I appreciate the kind words.

As with all builds we take the parts of what we like most to modify or design what works best for the individual. The driving force for the new build is for more weight capacity..and in order to do that I might as well make it a little bigger to fit two adults inside. It could work well in a pinch in really bad weather to have an enclosed solid walled area to sleep in.

Rob's build has many of the things that I orginally liked. The biggest thing is that Rob has great metal working skills and obviously much more equipment to work well with it. I would need to get outfitted with a lot more tools and stuff in order to work with any competency...and then I have to learn to weld properly (grinding I have down....:Wow1. I found the M116A2 frame that will suffice as the base and start point, and is built to rigerous standards, so that will be a great base.

I also share and admire Rob's attitude with doing the job right. His build may have taken a bit longer to do....but the build quality and materials used were second to none..and to me, seem well worth the any aggrevation or stress.

So yea...I'm going to do it again...lol:ylsmoke:

 

[RgrBox]

You should consider selling the older model after you finish your new one.. could help pay for the material and new tools!!!

Rob's trailer is a great looking trailer indeed..

RB

 

[slimtwo]

Hello Rob,

Looks like a fine job on your build. I think it's great that you and your entire family enjoy camping, and especially with your wife being pregnant.
I am still waiting for the time to come when I can start my trailer, but in the mean time, I am trying to find ways to maximize the limited space I have in my jeep. Here are some pic's of a “chuck box” I built. I’m going to try it out this coming weekend on the “Mojave Road”, we’ll see if my idea works.

 

[RgrBox]

Wow. great work there.. you a cabinet builder by trade..

 

[slimtwo]

Wow. great work there.. you a cabinet builder by trade..

No, I enjoy working with wood, and I'm working on setting up my shop to do bigger and better projects. I'm into building radio control airplanes as well, they kinda go together.

 

[teebes]

Yesterday I welded up a rack for my dirtbike. Works well, but it was a pain getting it up the ramp as the ramp is short and the rack is high. Same problem I have when I use a bike rack on my truck. Anyway, I got it up and only hurt my back a little. I'll probably make a longer ramp, and a few other little improvements. Other than that, rock solid mounting. Feels way more secure than my hitch rack. Best part, I don't need to extend the tongue with only 1 bike up front. No jack-knife risk at all, and the tongue weight is fine. Can hardly see the truck sag at all. Should be no problem putting a second bike and rack up front if I extend the tongue. And then option for a 3rd on the back which should balance OK with 2 on the front.

Rob, any chance you could share pics of your dirtbike rack / setup? I'm starting to plan a similar setup for my conqueror.

Thanks!!

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Yeah sure, I'll try to get some up. It's still unpainted but... It's pretty simple.

 

[Airborne Lee]

that's just like those travel trunks from Joe Vs. the Volcano. very cool.

 

[The Adam Blaster]

Rob, it took me 2 days of reading to get through this whole thread!
Great build, love the details!!!

And you still haven't posted any pics of your bike racks yet!!

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Huh, thought I already posted this yesterday? Anyway...

So, starting to think about working on the trailer again. I'll be tackling the kitchen side first, getting the cabinets in, etc. But I've been thinking about a few other things. Originally, I was going to have the portable toilet stored behind the front door on the driver's side on the bottom. Inside a sealed sort of compartment. But now I'm thinking I might weld up an aluminum box, and hang it on the back of the trailer. It's bulky and light and frankly... I'd probably rather have it seperated from the rest of our gear. I'd really like to have a hanging "wardrobe" behind that front door like on Dendy's Conqueror.

I've also been thinking about goose-necking the tongue. I need a 12" drop hitch at this point, and it seems like a bit much. I had plans for how to do that so that it's not going to be a ground plow. Namely, putting diagonal back-stays from the bottom of the drop bar to the frame, and then skid plating it. So it won't dig in, but it's still going to severely reduce ground clearance. I'm not planning on doing heavy off-road, but it might be a problem even crossing a mild ditch-like obstacle.

I'd only be cutting off the end, I still need the main part of the tongue nearest the trailer body to be able to rack the dirtbike. So I'm not sure it would be worth it even... Hmmm...

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I decided to just crunch some numbers. I sketched my truck into trailer drawing. It appears that the drop hitch won't be the limiting factor for breakover angle. The tongue will ground out first. And goosenecking it won't really help much, as shown by the red arrow.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Decided to try "driving" through a ditch, since the angles work out a little different because of the way it articulates. Looks like the gooseneck would help a bit, but no a lot. Hardly seems worth it? It probably wouldn't be this bad, because it doesn't show the ditch falling away in the middle. This is more like the front of the truck climbing a step. I don't expect I'd be going up anything that big with this trailer so... I'll probably leave this as-is for a while and see how it goes. Still, would appreciate any info from the Conqueror or Kimberly camper guys.