JKDetonator
Adventurer
That's pretty impressive work to accomplish so fast!! Keep it up and keep us posted!!
Safari Cab "Overland Camper" Trailer Build
- Thread starter jscherb
- Start date
jscherb
Expedition Leader
Thank you and I definitely will. So far this phase of the project should be going pretty fast, because there's nothing new being done that hasn't already be done on the LJ Safari Cab. The modules making up the LJ hardtop fit perfectly and I've assembled several LJ Safari full hardtops and half cabs already, so the fitting and assembly procedures are well known - all I've done in the past few days is make a few very minor modifications to adapt the panels to camper usage, so all the fitting and assembly is the same so far.
Tomorrow I'll start working on the front hatch, which takes the barn door upper panel but hinges it to swing up separately from the tailgate instead of mounting it on the tailgate to swing sideways. That's got some new engineering that I've designed but haven't implemented yet, so it may take a few days to get that built the way I want it.
jscherb
Expedition Leader
I got the front hatch mounted this morning. Still have to install the t-handle and latches, and have to visit the junkyard to find some appropriate gas struts, but I'm out of time for working on it this morning. Threw an XJ roof rack and my rack basket up there for the photos, probably should turn the rack around so the lights could illuminate the area behind the trailer, where the kitchen pull out would be. It's just setting on there for now anyway.
The hatch will close tightly when the latches are in place.
For camper usage, I'm thinking maybe the barn door and access to the sleeping platform should be in the front; a step could be mounted on the tongue of the trailer to make entry easier. Then the hatch/drop-down tailgate could be in the back where the slide-out kitchen would be. Easy to swap things around if that's the better way to go. Or maybe the kitchen should slide out the front, I don't know yet.
The hatch will close tightly when the latches are in place.
For camper usage, I'm thinking maybe the barn door and access to the sleeping platform should be in the front; a step could be mounted on the tongue of the trailer to make entry easier. Then the hatch/drop-down tailgate could be in the back where the slide-out kitchen would be. Easy to swap things around if that's the better way to go. Or maybe the kitchen should slide out the front, I don't know yet.
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The Swiss
Expedition Leader
Looking good!One more camper photo, both doors open:
jscherb
Expedition Leader
Back when I was working on the trailer, I took a photo and drew this mockup:
I dragged this mockup photo/drawing out again was to play with some window ideas. When I drew that mockup I put in rectangular windows, but I picked up some LJ Safari Cab engineering prototype windows when I was at the company's shop two weeks ago. They are sliders and would look more or less like this:
I'm hesitating to install windows at this point, though, because I haven't finalized the interior design, and I'm thinking the interior layout may affect the window placement, size and design. Also not sure if I like the rectangular windows better or the Safari Cab windows with the slant in the front (and back, as they'd be installed in the camper).
The concept drawing has swing-up "windoors" (as one vendor calls them), which I think would be perfect for a camper:
For the PA Jeeps show I may leave it as a panel trailer without windows, while I work on finalizing the interior layout and the window design.
I dragged this mockup photo/drawing out again was to play with some window ideas. When I drew that mockup I put in rectangular windows, but I picked up some LJ Safari Cab engineering prototype windows when I was at the company's shop two weeks ago. They are sliders and would look more or less like this:
I'm hesitating to install windows at this point, though, because I haven't finalized the interior design, and I'm thinking the interior layout may affect the window placement, size and design. Also not sure if I like the rectangular windows better or the Safari Cab windows with the slant in the front (and back, as they'd be installed in the camper).
The concept drawing has swing-up "windoors" (as one vendor calls them), which I think would be perfect for a camper:
For the PA Jeeps show I may leave it as a panel trailer without windows, while I work on finalizing the interior layout and the window design.
jscherb
Expedition Leader
This morning I installed the t-handle and latch mechanism for the front hatch.
I haven't fully mounted the t-handle because I've ordered a new one to replace this crappy, painted over CJ one. It's supposed to arrive Wednesday.
Here's a shot of the hatch from the inside. It's a stock CJ hardtop hatch mechanism, except that I've shortened the pull cables a little. There will be a cover plate over the mechanism, haven't made that yet.
This second shot of the mechanism with the hatch fully open shows the catches sticking out of the side of the hatch, and a short piece of weatherstrip near the catch. The weatherstrip will run all the way around the hatch, I'm just using s short piece for now for fitting the latches.
And the same exterior shot with a window drawn on:
I've got a few more adjustments and fixes to make, but the mechanism works very well. Tomorrow I'll go shopping in the junkyard to find a pair of gas struts to hold the hatch in the open position.
I haven't fully mounted the t-handle because I've ordered a new one to replace this crappy, painted over CJ one. It's supposed to arrive Wednesday.
Here's a shot of the hatch from the inside. It's a stock CJ hardtop hatch mechanism, except that I've shortened the pull cables a little. There will be a cover plate over the mechanism, haven't made that yet.
This second shot of the mechanism with the hatch fully open shows the catches sticking out of the side of the hatch, and a short piece of weatherstrip near the catch. The weatherstrip will run all the way around the hatch, I'm just using s short piece for now for fitting the latches.
And the same exterior shot with a window drawn on:
I've got a few more adjustments and fixes to make, but the mechanism works very well. Tomorrow I'll go shopping in the junkyard to find a pair of gas struts to hold the hatch in the open position.
jscherb
Expedition Leader
Today I finished up the hatch mechanism for the camper. Yesterday I went shopping at the Pick-n-Pull for gas struts to hold up the hatch, my lucky day I guess, because it was buy one get one free day for gas struts. Nice coincidence, that was the only thing on sale yesterday.
Here are a few photos:
And one showing the hatch open at full height - plenty of room under there for tall guys like me so we don't bump our heads.
The mechanism works great, the gas struts are mounted so that they both hold the hatch up and they hold it closed when it's down. To cover the access hole for the latch mechanism, I picked up some tailgate cover plates from a Toyota Land Cruiser at the junkyard yesterday, they're stamped sheet metal and look pretty cool. I've welded them together and welded up the holes, it's almost done:
All that's really left to have the basic camper top shell ready in time for the PA Jeeps show is to take it all apart again, do some very minor trimming, fix minor imperfections in the panels, sand them and shoot them with primer. I'm thinking I'll just shoot everything in gray epoxy primer, although epoxy primer comes in white and black also so I might decide to use one of those instead, not sure yet. I'll leave the roof in textured black, I'm just going to prime the sides and doors.
Here are a few photos:
And one showing the hatch open at full height - plenty of room under there for tall guys like me so we don't bump our heads.
The mechanism works great, the gas struts are mounted so that they both hold the hatch up and they hold it closed when it's down. To cover the access hole for the latch mechanism, I picked up some tailgate cover plates from a Toyota Land Cruiser at the junkyard yesterday, they're stamped sheet metal and look pretty cool. I've welded them together and welded up the holes, it's almost done:
All that's really left to have the basic camper top shell ready in time for the PA Jeeps show is to take it all apart again, do some very minor trimming, fix minor imperfections in the panels, sand them and shoot them with primer. I'm thinking I'll just shoot everything in gray epoxy primer, although epoxy primer comes in white and black also so I might decide to use one of those instead, not sure yet. I'll leave the roof in textured black, I'm just going to prime the sides and doors.
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jscherb
Expedition Leader
This morning I finished up the fabrication/assembly phase of the basic camper shell, the next step is to take it apart for panel finish work and priming, so I shot some photos before taking it apart. I will have it back together in primer and ready to roll to the show in Pennsylvania by this time next week. I'll leave the roof in black texture, and I'll prime the sides and doors in gray epoxy primer.
Last fall I made a prototype ladder for accessing the roof rack on the Safari Cab on a Jeep; it fits the same on the camper so I threw it on for the photos. And I've turned the rack basket around so the lights could be used to illuminate the space behind the camper.
Last fall I made a prototype ladder for accessing the roof rack on the Safari Cab on a Jeep; it fits the same on the camper so I threw it on for the photos. And I've turned the rack basket around so the lights could be used to illuminate the space behind the camper.
jscherb
Expedition Leader
I'd love to hear how much it weighs if you get a chance to run it across a scale... Looks great Jeff
I ran the base trailer across the scale in the process of registering it, it was 750 pounds. The top panels at this stage add roughly another 250, and maybe 100 for the rack basket and the Hi-lift, so 1000 pounds or 1100 with the basket and jack. Windows and interior equipment, etc. of course will add more weight to it, but I'm happy with a 1000 pound base weight.
jeepdreamer
Expedition Leader
Flip out tent(s) option?
Love it JS... As always! A coupe thoughts i had... Maybe loose the bumperettes and just add a flush bumper to the rear. I've smashed my shins on those things any number of times! And if that's a working end that may happen more as it's opened and closed?
Also, maybe go with some flush mount tail lights? Two reasons i bring this up. First is similar to the bumperettes... One good elbow or misthrown piece of gear and it may go away. Also, the occasional accidental trailer roll away may back it into a tree... Maybe keep the lights but build some functional brushgaurds for them?
I also had an odd idea for a camper mod but i don't know how I'd describe it? Let's say, instead of your two separate planned windows running along the sides... What if they were instead a full length, flip down "hatch" if you will? One hatch on each side folding down to sortof make a table or platform. Now what if insights this downward opening hatch was a slightly smaller sized one that lifted up? And attached to these two hatches was a sort of "tent"... Think of a cross between an RV push out and a one man, sideways opening flip pak type tent... You could sleep one person on each side if equipped with dual units or have one as a storage or work surface sans the "tent" thing? These would have to be reinforced somehow to carry a humans load but could be made modular. Like an add on accessory. And it could eliminate the need for a RTT unless you were supporting a family of 4...? Hope that makes some kind of sense... It does in my head.. Lol! Can't wait to see these rolling down the road!
Love it JS... As always! A coupe thoughts i had... Maybe loose the bumperettes and just add a flush bumper to the rear. I've smashed my shins on those things any number of times! And if that's a working end that may happen more as it's opened and closed?
Also, maybe go with some flush mount tail lights? Two reasons i bring this up. First is similar to the bumperettes... One good elbow or misthrown piece of gear and it may go away. Also, the occasional accidental trailer roll away may back it into a tree... Maybe keep the lights but build some functional brushgaurds for them?
I also had an odd idea for a camper mod but i don't know how I'd describe it? Let's say, instead of your two separate planned windows running along the sides... What if they were instead a full length, flip down "hatch" if you will? One hatch on each side folding down to sortof make a table or platform. Now what if insights this downward opening hatch was a slightly smaller sized one that lifted up? And attached to these two hatches was a sort of "tent"... Think of a cross between an RV push out and a one man, sideways opening flip pak type tent... You could sleep one person on each side if equipped with dual units or have one as a storage or work surface sans the "tent" thing? These would have to be reinforced somehow to carry a humans load but could be made modular. Like an add on accessory. And it could eliminate the need for a RTT unless you were supporting a family of 4...? Hope that makes some kind of sense... It does in my head.. Lol! Can't wait to see these rolling down the road!
jeepdreamer
Expedition Leader
Oh yeah.. Typing this on the silly phone... Sorry for all the mistakes!
jscherb
Expedition Leader
The bumper and lights could certainly be swapped as you say, and those are some good reasons why that change might make sense. But I don't have any plans to change either the bumper or the lights for now, I like it this way.
There's a possibility a second and maybe third copy of this trailer may be made in the near future (not by me), those might be outfitted differently.That does make sense and it would be pretty straightforward to do. Maybe I'll do up a concept drawing to see what it would look like, stay tuned...I also had an odd idea for a camper mod but i don't know how I'd describe it? Let's say, instead of your two separate planned windows running along the sides... What if they were instead a full length, flip down "hatch" if you will? One hatch on each side folding down to sortof make a table or platform. Now what if insights this downward opening hatch was a slightly smaller sized one that lifted up? And attached to these two hatches was a sort of "tent"... Think of a cross between an RV push out and a one man, sideways opening flip pak type tent... You could sleep one person on each side if equipped with dual units or have one as a storage or work surface sans the "tent" thing? These would have to be reinforced somehow to carry a humans load but could be made modular. Like an add on accessory. And it could eliminate the need for a RTT unless you were supporting a family of 4...? Hope that makes some kind of sense... It does in my head.. Lol! Can't wait to see these rolling down the road!
jeepdreamer
Expedition Leader
Drool on popcorn...