What would you guys do?

[DrMoab]

So as some of you know. I bought this trailer.

It isn't here yet but I'm running ideas through my head as far as what to do about a few things. First off is a lid of some sort. Obviously with the Thule rack, I can't just put a simple hinged lid on the top. My tent will be on top of those racks so I wouldn't have any way to get under them. One idea I had was to build a drawer system of some sort that would slide out of the tailgate. Around the sides, and in front of this drawer I could put things like a water tank, battery system and other items that wouldn't need constant access. Then just put a semi permanent lid over the top of that.

Anyone else have any other ideas?

Here are a couple of pics. So far its all I have. The trailer is still on it's way from Texas.
You can kind of see how I need to build the lid somehow around the Thule racks.

 

[LilKJ]

If you build a sturdy lid, you can mount the Thule rack to the lid. That's the way my trailer is and it's been great. I can open the lid with the tent opened up without any troubles. Strong struts will hold it up without any trouble.

 

[Expedition.Report]

Maybe you could skip the hard top lid and go with a snap-on canvas tarp.

Go to an upholstery shop that does boat covers and get them to do the same thing accross the top of the trailer and around the Tule Rack Poles.....

Just an idea

 

[discosleuth]

hey i bought some sun shade the same material that they make a jeep top out of and made a tonneau cover on my m101a2 worked awsome

 

[gasman]

im not too familiar with those racks but i dont think you could mount them to the top of the lid that just aint gonna work..
i think those racks move up and down right?.. how do they do that ? are they crank up or do you adjust each corner individualy..
what if you built your lid over the racks and used the the racks to lift your lid open.. or some kind of canvas cover that went up and down with the racks.
i remember some time ago some guy with a red trailer with a black canvas top kinda like a covered wagon,

 

[DrMoab]

I should have mentioned that I need to build something that is secure. There are times I will be leaving the trailer in camp and I would like to be able to lock up my trailer and the stuff inside it.

 

[DrMoab]

im not too familiar with those racks but i dont think you could mount them to the top of the lid that just aint gonna work..
i think those racks move up and down right?..

Yep. You can see in this pic where the tube goes down into the inside pocket of the trailer.

 

[HenryJ]

What about a snap on tonneau cover? It could be taylored to fit over and around.

 

[Romer]

If it were me, I would want to make sure it was watertight. Thinking of that as a priority, seems you would need to have part of the lid fixed (Not movable) around the Thule racks. Maybe two it in two levels. Some fixed Horiztonal pieces around the thule racks to the lip, with another piece on top that is movable.

Movable and how will be another challenge as you wont be able to open it like a Chaser with the racks there. So you need to decide if you want to have half a lid that slides out (I think a full one would be too much). Or you could do several Access hatches.

 

[Nay]

Honestly, I would sell the Thule racks and build a full lid. They were a great idea for an open trailer, but a lot to work around for a desired closed trailer.

I think you'll end up building a lot of compromises around this design that will lead to limited long term functionality if you design goal remains a secure locked setup.

 

[DaJudge]

Ryan,

One of the guys I work with had a lid made for his 416 that would hold his RTT. It had hydraulic pistons (like the ones on your hatch) but stronger. It was hinged down the side and worked great. I will ask him if he has pictures of it.

Glen

 

[OverlandZJ]

Honestly, I would sell the Thule racks and build a full lid. They were a great idea for an open trailer, but a lot to work around for a desired closed trailer.

I think you'll end up building a lot of compromises around this design that will lead to limited long term functionality if you design goal remains a secure locked setup.

Dave?

Doc, i have to agree here. I dont think the Thule setup would work with a hard lockable lid. Wouldnt you want a third crossbar under the RTT's center anyway?

I know you love the fact you can raise and lower the RTT as needed but i dont see how your gonna pull this off.

 

[john101477]

being water tight and lockable is the main priority IMO. A hard top is a must and I would sell the thule and buy or make something that works better...

 

[Nay]

Dave?

Yup :sombrero:

Kids are finally old enough to really start thinking about some expedition trips...need to get or build a good trailer now...

I looked pretty hard at this one, but the open top design kinda blew it for me especially given it wasn't local...

 

[DrMoab]

Doc, i have to agree here. I dont think the Thule setup would work with a hard lockable lid. Wouldnt you want a third crossbar under the RTT's center anyway?

I know you love the fact you can raise and lower the RTT as needed but i dont see how your gonna pull this off.

Actually, the ability to raise and lower the tent is pretty important. My kids sleep in the annex below my tent so I have to have it quite high in order to use it.

If I wouldn't have bought this trailer, I would have done something similar to the other 416 I bought.

This trailer has a tailgate that folds down flush with the bottom of the floor. This is one reason why I thought rack or some type of sliding system...a lot like you see in the back of pickups where the whole floor slides out.

Sort of like this...

Obviously, it wouldn't be that big and the tailgate is smaller than the upper outside width of the trailer. I was thinking though, that I could use that space for the electrical, water and other items that would not need regular access. Then the lid could be built around the racks and such.

I was mostly interested in how any of you would go about building a hard cover around those racks. If I go with some sort of a sliding floor I wont need constant access to the trailer from the top.

Also, John you said something about a middle crossbar for the tent. I don't plan on bolting the tent directly to the racks. I'll build some sort of support system that will cradle the tent somehow. I haven't quite got my head wrapped around that yet.