My Camping Trailer Project

[Dirtco]

Dirtco:

The trailer is coming along great!
I like the rear bumper and how you contoured the tubes around the body molds.
The wheels and tires you chose make the rig pop!
Keep the build pictures posted.

Thanks! The 4Runner is taking up most of my free time, but I should have the trailer ready to go in time for some spring wheeling.

My wife would KILL me if I cut up her 4 Runner like that!!:coffeedrink:
But, since I've already done it to my Rodeo I'm good!

The trailer is coming along really well. I stalled on my trailer too!
Was pullling it around the other day in the yard so I could mow the grass under all my trailers and thought about finishing it.

Thanks!:drool:

Now I've got ANOTHER unfinished project I feel compelled to get back on.

:ar15:

Good thing it's mine and not hers! :ylsmoke:

It looks a little rough in the pictures (without bumpers) but I also got the front bumper built, so it's looking better than it did in the pictures. It's coming together.

Wow, the trailer is coming out great!

Thanks!

Dirtco, you are doing great work there. Re-using a car/truck chassis makes for a pretty challenging build but your box matches it perfectly. :wings: Looks like you know your way 'round a welder too!

Just a thought, the space between the tent and the box roof looks like a perfect storage place for a fold up table or something similar.

Thanks, it has been a LOT more work to build the trailer around the frame I had then starting from scratch. But, it has the cool factor of being what’s left from my first Toyota 4x4, along with the sentimental factor, and it has been a very fun challenge. I know it's not on par with a lot of the stuff on here, but when I look at the trailer I see my old truck and all the great memories that I have surrounding it. I really can’t look at it without smiling, there’s WAY too many stories! I feel that the truck (or what was left of it) deserved a second chance! :sombrero:

 

[Dirtco]

I got a little more work done on the trailer!

I finally got my rear door latches installed, along with some foam tape to seal it from the elements.

I also found a spot to mount my stand-by camping Mag-Light.

 

[Dirtco]

When it would rain (or melting snow) the water would run down the back of the trailer and behind the door inside the trailer. The new weather seal should prevent that, but it could soak through the foam. I added a “Rain Gutter” to the back of the trailer to direct most of the water off to the side of the trailer. It’s just carpet trim that I flipped around and some silicone to seal it.

I also installed the “Camp” light that I bought months ago. It was the cheapest LED work light I could find, I got it at Northern Tool. When I first tested it (after I bought it) there were two or three LEDs that were not working. After installing it on the trailer and testing it there were a dozen LED’s burnt out, then every time I would power it up and turn it off more LED’s would go out. After a couple times more than half the LED’s were burnt out (over 25). This thing is JUNK!

 

[Dirtco]

I got rid of that POS, and installed the old HID back up light I had on the Turbo 4Runner. It’s overkill but it’s only around 30 watts, I’ll use it as a back-up light and to set up camp / get a fire started. For the most part I’ll use my camp lantern, and the multiple small LED lights that I will have configured around the trailer.

 

[Dirtco]

We’ve had a couple snow storms, and while the trailer was in the shop I wanted to make sure the tent was not getting wet. I really need to get a cover made, but the trailer needs plates and wiring before I can tow it anywhere.

 

[Dirtco]

I also got the lid made for the firewood bin / step, I need to finish riveting the diamond plate down and install some latches.

And how it looks with the front diamond plate section setting in place.

 

[Titanpat57]

She's coming along just dandy buddy......and the 4Rinner's looking pretty damn sweet too!

Fenders soon?

 

[Dirtco]

She's coming along just dandy buddy......and the 4Rinner's looking pretty damn sweet too!

Fenders soon?

Thanks! Yes, fenders are coming soon (I already have them I just need the time to install them) but I'm focusing on getting it weatherproof first.

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

Forgot about this build...looking good!

 

[Mark Harley]

Dirtco:

Excellent job on the build.
It looks cool! and your design looks factory.
Show us more pictures.
Mark Harley

 

[Dirtco]

I have not worked on this in a long time, between work and the 4Runner I have not had the time. Well I pulled it in the shop this weekend to dry it out a little, and since it was there I spent a few hours working on it. Nothing major but every little bit counts. I forgot my camera but a took a few pictures with my phone.

I got the first slider mounted for the cooler and dry food box, with that installed I was able to install the flooring and tie-downs. The flooring is some anti-fatige foam pad that we had around the shop, I think it's around 3/8 think. The tie-downs I got from Northern Tool for cheap, they aren't fancy but they should do the trick.

I also found a spot to install the rear 12 volt outlet

With the flooring installed I was able to install the interior LED lights, there's a LED bar on each side of the center cross bar.

And here it is all lit up. I turned off the shop lights and it was bright enough not to set off the flash on the camera. It's bright, without being too bright or blinding, and it also sends out a nice light pattern into the outside camping area. I have a Coleman lantern, but this will come in handy for setting up camp or when I'm too lazy to fire up the lantern.

 

[Philagony04WJ]

I gotta say this Build is AMAZING!! I just got done going through the entire thread start to finish. You have done some great work! This is by far the best use of available/on-hand materials I have ever seen. Kudos to you Sir!

Keep up the good work, I'll be tuning in from time to time.

Phil

 

[Dirtco]

Thanks Phil! It's been a challenge to keep the budget down and use what I have, but it's been fun and it makes you think outside the box!

 

[Dirtco]

A couple more hours of work...

I installed the second drawer slide; this will hold my cooler and dry food box.

I also found some latches for the firewood / trash box; they are lockable but I’ll probably just use a couple zip-ties, that will keep them popping open when going down rough, bouncy roads.

And a picture of the courtesy step lights; there’s one on top of the firewood box and one at the entryway for the tent.

 

[Heifer Boy]

A couple more hours of work...

I installed the second drawer slide; this will hold my cooler and dry food box.

Nice work so far. I've often wondered about mounting drawer slides on the floor like you have rather than on the sides but never done it because they aren't designed to work that way. Have you done this before? Do you think they will be strong enough? Will the leverage just break them?

HB