Triple-purpose JK Build

[jsmoriss]

It's got plates!

It took a few days, but the trailer finally has a Quebec license plate! :wings:

To recap, after the Federal RIV inspection on Wednesday, I went to the SAAQ to get a license plate. They weren't sure if it qualified as a trailer, or a recreational camper. Also, trailers above 900kg need a provincial inspection. They photocopied my documents and faxed them to another department for analysis, etc. Yesterday I got a call saying it was ok, it would be registered as a trailer. I'm not sure what would have made this process easier -- maybe an invoice/description/etc. of it as a standard trailer with accessories (tent, fridge, etc.) listed as add-ons. ..

Here are the documents I needed at the SAAQ counter:

- The RIV Form-1.

- Customs Tax Receipt.

- US Certificate of Origin.

- Bill of Sale.

- The Invoice.

- Letter from the Ohio Department of Public Safety, stating that trailers from Campa do not require a Certificate of Title because of their weight.

- A paper copy of the VIN sticker with manufacturing date, weights, etc. for the GVWR.

Next... Insurance.

js.

 

[jsmoriss]

We just got back from a long week-end 'shakedown' trip for the trailer. Here's a few pictures and comments about the trailer, etc.

This was our first trip with the laptop, and it was definitely worth it.

How's that for parking!?

On the ferry...

For the camp layout, I just backed up and then cranked it tight, leaving the trailer hitched overnight. We would pack-up and take the trailer with us every morning, leaving only the porta-potty / shower behind. This way we could practice our camp setup and tear-down, and have the fridge / kitchen with us for lunch...

Making espresso / latte in the morning... We used that small blue barrel as a garbage. It seals up real nice to keep food smells to a minimum.

Our setup from the other side...

Melanie doing a little flyfishing...

One of the best parts has to be taking a HOT shower in the morning...

 

[jsmoriss]

Having lunch...

Overall I guess the high points are the hot shower and hot water for the dishes. Definite musts. The tent was a little on the narrow and short sides, but it was fine. It didn't rain, so I can't comment on it's effectiveness or breathe-ability when completely closed-up. Campa switched to a new water hose for this trailer, and there were some leaking issues. I've asked them to send me some of the older model hose, and will replace all of it. Aside from that, the trailer pulled fairly well with the 3.8L, but there's a learning curve -- shifting is pretty much always above 2500rpm, and we had to try a few settings on the brake controller to get the trailer to brake smoothly with the Jeep. We ended up at 11.5v and no boost, although level 1 was useful on occasion. By measuring the temperature of each brake (Jeep and trailer), I could tell which ones were being used more, and then adjusted the brake controller accordingly.

Although I'm still happy with my purchase of the Campa trailer -- nothing else comes close to it in design -- I have to fix more issues than I would like. I expected to tweek a few things, but the list is getting a little long... Leaking pop-rivets on the center bin hinges, replacing all the water hoses, re-stick some cable-ties, fix a bad ground in the kitchen light, replace a side-bin seal (is two pieces but should be one), replace a lame shock on one side-bin lid, install some missing sleeves on the spring mounts, seal the center bin light rivets, relocate the tent pole mounts (poles conflict with installed Zarges cases), add a zipper to the tent panel on the kitchen side, add rubber boots to switches in side bins (already shorted one close to sink). On the upside, Chris from Campa is being very proactive -- sending me anything I need, and offering to meet me in Champlain NY to fix all these issues. So the after sales service is top-notch. In the end I'll have a perfect trailer, I just need to put in a few (several) extra hours to fix these issues.

js.

 

[bobDog]

We're picking up the trailer on Saturday - fingers (and

. Although I'm a bit nervous about backing it up our driveway -- I have to back it up a 90 degree turn into our driveway and then straighten it out. I can always un-hook it and push it back by hand, but it's 2100 lbs, and our driveway has decent slope on it.

js.

:sombrero: Lets see...... pushing trailer by hand on slight slope? 2100 lbs? O Yeah I remember now...tried that, then bought neighbor nice chunk of new fence (altho he couldn't stop laughing). Almost got to try out what it would be like to have casts on 2 legs for the summer. Trailer survived well tho.:costumed-smiley-007

 

[Waytec]

With the laptop, what GPS program are you running?
Do you have any set up suggestions? I am doing the same thing in My XJ.

 

[jsmoriss]

With the laptop, what GPS program are you running?
Do you have any set up suggestions? I am doing the same thing in My XJ.

The GPS is a Garmin GPS 10x, but if I'd known how I was going to use it, I would have bought the 20x instead. The 10x connects to the PC via Bluetooth, but you also have to give it power through a USB cable (form a 12v socket, or from the PC). Since I installed a small USB hub under the seat, the GPS 10x is connected to the hub for power. So in the end, I didn't need the bluetooth feature. The GPS is located under the rollbar padding behind the passenger's head. I run the USB cable up through the b-pillar.

I'm also using Garmin's nRoute application on the laptop. The 10x is like any other Garmin GPS, you have to buy (aka unlock) the maps for each GPS you have. I think it came with the standard North America Cities, but I had to unlock the Topo maps.

The support is a RAM vehicle mount with a quick-connect, but without the generic laptop base. Instead of using the RAM laptop base (too thick and bulky), I used Sumo Glue to stick a rectangular mounting plate on my laptop's docking (I had two dockings anyway, so sacrificed one). I run the laptop's power cord and a USB cable together up around the pole, and to the docking. This way I can remove / install the laptop very quickly and easily (the power and USB cables stay connected to the docking). The docking base also has a key, which gives me an alternative to removing it.

The RAM mount parts I used are:

RAM Mount Jeep Wrangler Vehicle Mount Base P/N: RAM-VB-170
RAM Mount Tele-Pole 9 inch Long Female Base P/N: RAM-VP-TBF9U
RAM Mount Tele-Pole 8 inch Long Male Tube P/N: RAM-VP-TTM8U
RAM Mount Double Swing Arm with 1.5 inch Ball Rotating Plate P/N: RAM-VB-110-1U
RAM Mount Tele-Pole Quick Disconnect Remove-A-Pole Adapter P/N: RAM-VB-REM1
RAM Mount Rectangular 6.25 x 2 inch Plate on 1.5 inch Ball P/N: RAM-111BU (this is the plate I glues to the laptop's docking base).

The only I'll definitely change in the future is the laptop's HD. It's an older 4200 rpm disk, which is a little slow for Garmin's nRoute (it freezes on occasion when reading maps in the 'highest' detail). I may also add one of those laptop sunscreens to keep eye strain to a minimum.

js.

 

[Nullifier]

Nice rig I just cought this thread. Chris and I are good friends and we had several conversations about your import issues.
His trailers are fantastic and well thought out. I would think you could have the tent annex modified to add a door to access the kitchen easily since it zips off. I would just take it to a place that does boat bimini tops to have it modified.

Super nice setup looks like your ready for a rtw trip!

 

[TJ Willy]

I just spent the better part of my evening catching up on this thread and am happy this is my first post over here.

Love the attention to detail and of course the entire build.

Great work!

 

[jsmoriss]

I would think you could have the tent annex modified to add a door to access the kitchen easily since it zips off. I would just take it to a place that does boat bimini tops to have it modified.

Yup, already on the list. We know a little mountain climbing place that does custom work. We had our winch cover made by them. I hope to have the kitchen panel done early next week.

Super nice setup looks like your ready for a rtw trip!

Getting there... We're building towards longer trips to streamline our equipment selection and procedures, etc. In September we're leaving for a 10 day trip to Algonquin Park & Parry Sound, then probably a tour of the east coast (Labrador, Newf, NB, etc.) next year, and in 3-4 years, Australia!

Somewhere during that time we also want to buy a 100+ acre property (no roads or utilities, etc.) and use the trailer on it pretty much every week-end -- at least for the first few years until we start building something...

js.

 

[JJBiggs]

Js,

I have followed this thread all the way. Outstanding build. It has given me the initiative to start the hunt for a JK 4-door myself.

Well done my friend. Well done. Enjoy. :victory:

Biggs

 

[jsmoriss]

My reasons for buying a Campa...

Recently someone sent me a PM to ask why I'd chosen the Campa trailer over the other trailer designs out there. Everyone has their own criteria when choosing or building a trailer -- Mine were all about being completely self-sufficient for several days. So, the following features of the Campa where/are important to me:

44 gallons of water between the frame-rails. This can easily sustain 2 people for 3 days, including showers every morning. It's also mounted low to improve the trailer's center of gravity.

Katadyn filter. I like the idea of having non-potable water and filtering only what you need when you need it. You can also pump directly from a lake or stream to fill the tanks. Something to consider is if you use non-potable water to wash dishes or not. If in doubt, I might drop a few tablets in the tanks to kill everything. That ought to be fine for dishes, and the Katadyn will filter out all the sediment etc. to make nice clear drinking water.

Hot water. I've done camping without (canoe-camping), and hot water / shower is a must for me -- especially for longer trips. Cold showers and washing with a towel etc. gets old real quick.

A large fridge. I chose the National Luna 74L, and will also have an ARB 45L in the Jeep. The small section in the NL will be for fruits & veggies, the larger section will be colder, and the ARB will be the freezer.

The kitchen is pretty nice, although not an essential for me. You could do the same with a nice table and some storage bins, etc. I'm getting to appreciate it more and more though - especially for lunches by the side of the road -- you have access to your whole kitchen quickly and easily.

The stainless body and 3CR12 frame will be nice to have over the long run. It'll certainly last a life time.

Although the weight was a consideration, I felt the lower CoG could actually be an asset off-road. My usual MPG around town is about 14.25, and towing the trailer with 44 gals of water and 10 gals of fuel, my MPG was 13.44 on the highway and 13.84 MPG with next to no water (coming back).

The Campa is expensive, no doubt about that, so you have to consider how often you'll use it, for how long, etc. I've always believed that if you have something, chances are you'll find occasions to use it.

js.

 

[teebes]

Good to see the Campa in action! :smiley_drive:

By any chance, do you have any shots of the Omega / water heater setup and how the lines are setup for the shower? Do they have quick disconnects and such?

:costumed-smiley-007

 

[jsmoriss]

By any chance, do you have any shots of the Omega / water heater setup and how the lines are setup for the shower? Do they have quick disconnects and such?

The basic idea is that all water flows through the water heater. If the heater is on, you have hot water, and if it's off, you have un-heated water. There's an output tap on the corner with a quick connect. You can use it for a shower hose, or for dish water, etc. There's also a line going to a small sink. The sink used to T off the pump's output, but I moved it to the heater output. That way I can have hot water at the small sink too. Generally the flow is: water tank -> pump -> water heater -> various outputs (corner valve / quick-connect, small sink tap). There's a separate line from the water tanks to the water filter, of course - you don't want to send hot water to your water filter.

BTW, anyone know what I can use to treat 44 gals of water at one time? Filtering water for drinking is one thing, but I'd like to use un-filtered (hot) water for dishes, and in some areas, that could be a problem. I would need to treat that un-filtered water somehow. Hm....

js.

 

[jsmoriss]

This week-end, with Mike's help (my very handy father-in-law), we removed the center bin lids on the trailer. When we first got the trailer, I noticed several rivets used on the top lid hinges had a hole through them. I used some silicone as a temporary fix, but knew something had to be done longer term. My first plan was to remove all the rivets, lay down a bead of silicone, then rivet the hinge back on (25 rivets per side). In case anyone's interested, there's a trick to removing rivets -- use an over-sized drill bit, use a slow speed, move the drill body around so the bit bytes more, use cutting oil (so you don't wear out the drill bit), and when you get through any part of the rivet head, use a small punch to finish the job.

Before:

And After:

Then yesterday I finished replacing all the water hoses -- Campa used a new type on my trailer that tended to crack around barbed fittings. I also added some rubber boots to most of the switches and changed a seal on one side bin -- the original was made up of two pieces instead of one. I'm waiting on another seal for the other side bin -- the current one is a different type which is a little thinner and doesn't match the others. The sink's drain tube also had a small leak, so I took it apart, added a bead of silicone, then put it back together. No problemo now. I also washed out the water tanks using the breathers as inputs:

That's when I discovered another leak:

So today Mike and I removed the center section, and proceeded to replace all loose rivets (9 in total), silicone all the seams, and re-install the lids. We used small button-head bolts instead of rivets for the hinge -- the head on my pop-rivet tool wouldn't fit in the space available.

Here's where the leak mentioned above was coming from:

There are a few minor details to take care of, but finally Mike and I have started to plan some mods. First up is a mount for the Partner Table...

js.

 

[Rokbitr]

Amazing! Very nice/clean/efficient rigs I have seen. I love the storage mod you did in place of the rear seats. I have been considering something similar with my XJ.

Also, that trailer is a work of art!

Keep up the awesome work and updates!!