Offroad HD Jeep camper for Texas 2 Alaska trip.

[MrBeast]

I have been playing with auto cad working on my design for the camper I am going to build. Keep in mind that this is just in the concept stages.

The key features of the design include a pop-up roof, shown in the up position in yellow, and down in green.

As well the cabinet unit that contains the refer, sink and microwave will be a swing out door that allows the unit as a whole to open up and be used as an out door kitchen, yet if the weather is foul or if times is a constraint, the kitchen can be used from the inside.

The white and pink stick with a oval on the end represent myself and my girlfriend, illustrating that when the pop-up is up, I will be able to stand up with plenty of head room.

Not drawn in yet is a rear bathroom that will have a toilet and shower.

As well the back of the trailer will open up like a tear drop trailer allowing access to a large storage area there.

I drew my insparation from quite a few sources, the first being the Sawtooth XL being built by StomperXJ

As well many other trailers I saw contributed.

like I said this thing is totally a concept at the moment, it will get revised and revised again until I am happy with it. The plan is to construct it out of Aluminum box tubing, and skin it in aluminum and weld everything making it super strong and light.

The greater plan is to build this trailer after I have constructed a CJ7 Jeep Powered by a 4BT Cummins, and in 2 years I want to drive it to Alaska and back having one heck of an adventure along the way.

Note, the above pictured are not mine, but the pictures accurately depict what I have in mind.

 

[haven]

Take a look at the Adventure Trailers "Off-Road Teardrop."
It looks a lot like the design you've presented. No
pop-up roof, however.

http://www.adventuretrailers.com/teardrop.html

Bring a supply of earplugs if you convert your Jeep to a 4BT!

 

[MrBeast]

Take a look at the Adventure Trailers "Off-Road Teardrop."
It looks a lot like the design you've presented. No
pop-up roof, however.

http://www.adventuretrailers.com/teardrop.html

Bring a supply of earplugs if you convert your Jeep to a 4BT!

I have seen those tear drops, and they are nice, but smaller than what I need. They also don't have a shower/toilet, and for my proposed trip I am looking at spending 2 months living out of the thing, and a lot of the time I am going to be in an area where I just can't go find a tree.

 

[elmo_4_vt]

That looks like a great starting point... At some point, when I get tired of the current setup I'm building, or just for fun and to see which I'd like better, I plan on doing something very similar. I really like the swing out kitchen idea also, I've never seen that idea incorporated before.

For some more inspiration, this is almost exactly what I'd like to build. It incorporates a lot of your plan:

http://www.australianoffroadcampers.com.au/construction/quantum-off-road.html

Don

 

[MrBeast]

That looks like a great starting point... At some point, when I get tired of the current setup I'm building, or just for fun and to see which I'd like better, I plan on doing something very similar. I really like the swing out kitchen idea also, I've never seen that idea incorporated before.

For some more inspiration, this is almost exactly what I'd like to build. It incorporates a lot of your plan:

http://www.australianoffroadcampers.com.au/construction/quantum-off-road.html

Don

The kitchen was an AH-ha moment when I was trying to decide what kind of trailer I wanted to build, I figured it would be a good compromise because it will allow cooking out doors, but I know some time on the Alaska trip I am going to encounter some nasty weather, so I figure it will be the best of both worlds.

 

[Trailpsycho]

The trailer concept looks and sounds great, but I would be concerned about the CJ7 being an appropriate tow vehicle for the size of trailer that you are planning. Having a shower/bath, plus all the other things you want to squeeze in there...I think will be too large, heavy for the short wheel-base of the CJ7. The AT tear drop shown above would be as big/heavy as I would believe to be safe with such a tow vehicle. Sure, your 4bt can pull the weight--no problem, but the very short wheelbase will be problematic. Maybe in a Scrambler platform...but a stock length CJ7, not smart. Just my opinon, others may vary.

But the concept for the trailer looks cool. You might check out this thread... http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32952 This guy is doing something fairly similar to what you propose, you may want to follow his thread. Good luck!

A road trip to AK has been on my TO DO list since I finished college...the Bronco is done...so now its just time off work (thats the killer, got to have the $ to take that much time off)...oh yeah, and the trailer...but thats in planning.

Again, good luck with your projects...it will be a busy 2 yrs.

 

[pcampbell]

I like your thinking. One quick observation...is the bed just open area that you throw a sleeping bag down on? If not, how are you going to open the door and climb in to the trailer? The way you have it drawn, you'll be climbing over the bed every time. If the "bed" is just open area, it would work but might be inconvenient. Also, the door being at the front where the ceiling is low will make getting in/out kind of contorted.

The layout of the Kimberley Karavan stands as my favorite (http://www.kimberleykaravans.com/). Here are a couple of others for inspiration and late night contemplation....

http://www.jurgenssafari.co.za/
http://www.tracktrailer.com.au/ (check out the Topaz)
http://www.conqueror.co.za/showcase/ (the Commander and the Companion models)

 

[MrBeast]

I like your thinking. One quick observation...is the bed just open area that you throw a sleeping bag down on? If not, how are you going to open the door and climb in to the trailer? The way you have it drawn, you'll be climbing over the bed every time. If the "bed" is just open area, it would work but might be inconvenient. Also, the door being at the front where the ceiling is low will make getting in/out kind of contorted.

The layout of the Kimberley Karavan stands as my favorite (http://www.kimberleykaravans.com/). Here are a couple of others for inspiration and late night contemplation....

http://www.jurgenssafari.co.za/
http://www.tracktrailer.com.au/ (check out the Topaz)
http://www.conqueror.co.za/showcase/ (the Commander and the Companion models)

Good observation, but that is not the entry door, that door will open into the wardrobe so clothes can be accessed from the in or outside of the trailer, the main entry door will be on the passenger side just in front of the wheel well, and the bed will be a foam mattress that can be rolled up into the nose.

I may even look at building a folding mechanism for the bed, but that is further down in the planning.

I want the entry door to be on the curb side because if I need to get in the camper while parked along a city street I don't want to have to worry about getting whacked by a passing car.

And you are spot on, the Kimberly Karavan has played a huge part in my inspiration.

 

[highlandercj-7]

I like the way you think hoss. A 4bt is my dream engine too. Nothing lik3 30 mpg and lotsa power.

 

[JSBriggs]

Wood trailers aren't the most durable, especially if you take them on the Al-Can. The road conditions tend to rattle them apart. Expect to be able to make repairs along the way.

-Jeff

 

[MrBeast]

Wood trailers aren't the most durable, especially if you take them on the Al-Can. The road conditions tend to rattle them apart. Expect to be able to make repairs along the way.

-Jeff

Jeff, I am using tig welded aluminum. I am a welder not a carpenter. If I made it out of wood you could probably get a 5th grade master fort builder to do a better job, im a very very bad wood worker, it doesnt respond well to a 3 or 20 lb hammer, it breaks when you try to bend it, and you can not use fire to form it.

Ironically my Father and Grandfather are both master carpenters.