Safari Cab "Overland Camper" Trailer Build

[jscherb]

Anything new JS? Having neat idea withdrawals.

I have a few projects underway, but I'll only post a few updates here that relate to the trailer project.

I've been working on more design ideas for the fiberglass trailer tub kit; about 2 weeks ago I posted the flip-over tent platform idea for the tub kit on the mini Harbor Freight trailer (post 100), so here's a longer version of the same idea. The larger trailer with a side-flip hard tonneau/tent platform could support an 8x10 family-size tent:

And I've been doing a little work to prepare for making molds for the trailer tub kit. I've picked up some metal tub corner panels, these will be used in the construction of the master parts for the molds for both the tailgate end panels and the solid end panels:

I am also planning to make molds for fiberglass tailgates for the trailer tub kit; I'm going to mold an embossed SAFARI script into the tailgate; here's the beginning of the work on the embossed letters:

It's the same typeface I've been using since the beginning of the Safari Cab project. These embossed letters would also be used on the one-piece fiberglass barn doors/ambulance doors for the Safari Cab and the Safari Overland Camper top, if I decide to make the molds for those doors:

I'm working on other projects as well but they're off-topic for this thread

 

[jscherb]

I've started a new thread on my current project - the thread is called "Bolt-together fiberglass Jeep-tub trailer kit" Here's the link: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/68035-Bolt-together-fiberglass-Jeep-tub-trailer-kit

 

[RareSS]

This is what I am interested in ....... 'cab style trailer'. There is a lot of reference to the 'TJ' top and the length of it. I am not familiar with these dimensions. I reckon that I am asking is; would this be available in a 8' length with the hard top?
I was following this thread because of this and then suddenly it went to the 'utility trailer' build and I haven't seen anything on this 'cab style' trailer. I would be greatly interested in seeing and reading more on it. Thanks.
I think you have a great idea and you have a great gift. I hope someone would pick this idea up and produce it for you and the rest of us that are interested in building one.

Here are some photos of the trailer as I finished it up for the PA All Breeds Jeep Show this weekend. I was surprised by the amount of interest the camper generated at the show.

The side panels are still in primer; I haven't thought about how they should be finished up.

I towed the camper with the LJ Safari over 200 miles from home to the show, and it cost about 1.25 mpg to tow it (mostly at 65 mph), which I thought was pretty good. It tows very nicely.

 

[jscherb]

This is what I am interested in ....... 'cab style trailer'. There is a lot of reference to the 'TJ' top and the length of it. I am not familiar with these dimensions. I reckon that I am asking is; would this be available in a 8' length with the hard top?
I was following this thread because of this and then suddenly it went to the 'utility trailer' build and I haven't seen anything on this 'cab style' trailer. I would be greatly interested in seeing and reading more on it. Thanks.
I think you have a great idea and you have a great gift. I hope someone would pick this idea up and produce it for you and the rest of us that are interested in building one.

I put this project aside for a while because I decided most people would not be able to fabricate the tub by themselves, so there wouldn't be much use for a camper top if there wasn't a matching tub to put it on. Well now the fiberglass tub kit is complete, so there's a platform that the camper top could be used with. Probably most people have seen the trailer tub thread, but just in case, here's a few photos of the first proof-of-concept trailer built from the tub kits parts:

That thread is here: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/68035-Bolt-together-fiberglass-Jeep-tub-trailer-kit

The proof-of-concept trailer tub was built at about 50" long, but the tub kit molds I made can make trailers up to over 8' long.

Back to your question - I have had interest from two companies in the camper top, including a new company whose idea is to to a version that's about 8' 8" long, with a "streamlined" front wall with a hatch. It could look something like this:

Step 1 is to get the trailer tub kit into production (I hope to be able to post news about that very soon), and once that's done, then perhaps the camper top will be produced.

For now, the camper top is sitting disassembled under my deck, I haven't done anything further with it since it was shown in gray primer at the York Jeep show in July. There was lots of interest in the camper top at the York show so I don't think we've seen the last of the idea yet.

 

[RareSS]

Thanks. I am really interested in your idea. I have already started designing the inside layout, for when I can get my hands on one.
I will be waiting for the finished product to reach production. (I hope it does take them much longer to accept and start working on your idea.)
Jim

 

[jscherb]

Thanks. I am really interested in your idea. I have already started designing the inside layout, for when I can get my hands on one.
I will be waiting for the finished product to reach production. (I hope it does take them much longer to accept and start working on your idea.)
Jim

Jim,

Do you have any sketches of your designs for the inside layout? I'd be very interested in seeing them, maybe some of what you're designing could be part of the product.

I expect post some news about the production of the trailers *very soon*, stay tuned.

Jeff

 

[mojave joe]

How sweet! I see a lot of different possibilities here, if you were to design & fabricate all the panels (roof too) to allow for multiple inserts, a person would have the ability to construct a dual axle trailer, 12-14 ft long, with 6.5' headroom. The maybe us Americans could have something similar to what the Aussies are doing.
Any thoughts on that?

 

[jscherb]

How sweet! I see a lot of different possibilities here, if you were to design & fabricate all the panels (roof too) to allow for multiple inserts, a person would have the ability to construct a dual axle trailer, 12-14 ft long, with 6.5' headroom. The maybe us Americans could have something similar to what the Aussies are doing.
Any thoughts on that?

I'm not familiar with what the Aussies are doing, can you point me to an example?

The modular design of both the tub and the camper top would allow many different possibilities for sizing and configuration. The length wouldn't be any problem at all, but I suspect 6' 5" headroom on a trailer based on the dimensions of a narrow Jeep tub might be a bit tall and narrow looking.

 

[mojave joe]

Here are a few of my fav's. If you split the roof and end panels down the center, that would allow another "insert panel" to make it wider-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=QpauUSmtJmA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=TUa8foxCvDQ
http://www.youtube.com/user/EarthCruiserOverland

 

[JCMatthews]

This looks awesome. The front and side panels could all swing down and have tent panels for roof and walls.

 

[jscherb]

This looks awesome. The front and side panels could all swing down and have tent panels for roof and walls.

Thanks. I've done some experimenting with hinged side panels on the Safari Cab hardtop on the Jeep, but not on the camper top yet. Here's a few photos of an experiment hinging the side panels at the top:

And here's a concept drawing I did showing how you could make a camper on the Jeep by having the panels swing down:

I haven't done any serious design work on hinged sides for a trailer camper top yet, when a company gets serious about bringing the camper top to market, I'll help them design whatever configurations they're interested in.

 

[JCMatthews]

I have read all of your threads and been to your website, so I was aware of you previous designs. That is why I know you could do this. I just cant wait to see it come to fruition.

 

[AmericaOverland]

Well you already included my CJ-8 extended Safari Cab concept drawing in your post (the orange Jeep), here's the LJ version. I did these concepts about a year ago. The extended version would extend the interior of the cab long enough to allow for full-length parallel sleeping instead of cross-wise as in the pop-out concept.

Will you build me this one if I ever come up with the money to hire you? This would save me having to cut the Jeep over the rear axle and extending it two feet longer.

 

[jscherb]

Will you build me this one if I ever come up with the money to hire you? This would save me having to cut the Jeep over the rear axle and extending it two feet longer.

Sorry, I don't do work for hire, if I ever build this it will because I decide to do it as a hobby project.

 

[AmericaOverland]

Sorry, I don't do work for hire, if I ever build this it will because I decide to do it as a hobby project.

Well, darn. Thanks anyway. Who here is able to build something like this for me?