Should I bother? Expedition trailer. (1 Viewer)

[daner]

Posting this as I have been waffling about whether I should bother to put an effort into this as a "expedition" build:

It is a circa 1950 Willys truck bed with a funky 1960s camper shell. It's a little rougher in person than the pics show. It has a few rust holes on the floor.

My plans are to install a drawer with cooking/storage, a sleeping platform, and a rack on the front tongue to carry a small motorcycle like a TW200. Maybe a awning that rolls up. Basically keep it simple and cheap.

Should I bother? Is it too ghetto?

Thanks, Daner

 

[kirvesmies]

daner, it's only ghetto if you think it is. build it n to blazes with any naysayers. i'm really likin' the old school grandpa topper, plenty of height for sleep platform over good depth drawer system

 

[cmck]

I’m liking the idea of a resurrected Willy’s truck bed as the cargo portion.

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

put some lifting struts and some tent sides on it and call it a day! With the tailgate down, and the hatch up, looks like enough room to sleep, no?
give it a nice frame and suspension and paint it to match the 40.

 

[daner]

Thanks, feeling inspired with the ideas and feedback. Since I know nothing about building an "expedition" style camper, looks like I need to do some surfing to educate myself....stay tuned

 

[skidplate]

That will be a cool build! What is the tank on the starboard side? Gas? Water?

 

[thebigredrocker]

Cool!

Any idea’s for that fuel tank? Perhaps turn it into a mini Traegar smoker

Will the roof hold much weight? If so, I’m thinking build a roof storage rack with tall rails. Make it so you can also sleep up top if you have kids. Build stake pockets into the rack. Fab up a simple collapseable ridge pole system that uses stake pockets. You could throw a tarp over in wet weather.

Do you have a welder?

 

[daner]

Good ideas-keep them coming! The fuel tank on the side holds about 15 gallons-and as I run diesel should give me at least 700 miles of range. I like the idea of sleeping on top too. My wife and I don't mind sleeping outdoors, we just hate being on the ground with creepy-crawly things. I would need to reinforce the roof and install a ladder, though.

 

[The Phoenician]

If it's not rusted, that can be made to be very useful and cool. You have the base, the rest is up to your imagination.

 

[cjmoon]

Front rack check... I don't see it as getto as long as you don't cut corners to make it getto. I would have kept the old school camper like ypur but needed the versatility of 3 bikes. Drz 400 across the front of the trailer in this pic just before 900 miles. To start COBDR

 

[POTATO LAUNCHER]

Do it man. Different, built to your needs and not store bought is where it's at. We drive Cruisers to be different from "those other guys".

 

[Willard]

I would not hesitate to build that into a Expedition trailer. Looks like a solid base.
It does not look much wider than a M416 and lots of people build these up. Heck you even have the advantage of the longer tongue.
Good place to start Expedition Trailers - Expedition Portal

 

[AlaskanWheeler]

Not to go off topic but... @POTATO LAUNCHER, any documented information on your trailer?

 

[daner]

Thanks again for the encouragement.

I played around with the sleeping platform and replaced the failing 1960s faux birch paneling with a fiberglass material that will be a bit more moisture and bug resistant:

The last pic shows the funky jalousie windows, which still work smoothly. I do have concerns about this thing being an oven in the summer.

View attachment 1605252

 

[Kofoed]

Does it look like the camper shell is able to survive extensive washboard?

 

[daner]

I think so. The P.O. Welded a subframe under the camper shell out of angle iron. The weakest part is that lift door, which I think will need some help-or if I get ambitious I may fabricate some ambulance doors.

 

[kirvesmies]

hey daner, have you given thought to insulating that shell with either a rigid foam product or urethane foam. a good guy on the gun should be able apply 1" without too much ado. i personally would do the urethane, but not until all seams n joints were resealed, any loose fasteners replaced, yeah pretty much rebuilt structurally

 

[Willard]

. I do have concerns about this thing being an oven in the summer.

I would get one of those camper vents for the roof. that would get the heat out of the camper. If you can wire a 12V fan (or make it solar powered) to pull the air out of the camper.

After seeing the inside of that, there is no way I would not make it a Expo trailer.

 

[daner]

Apologies for not getting back sooner-
I did stuff some insulation in the front, everything else was insulated. Not thick insulation, but hopefully better than nothing.

It does have a roof vent. I plan to install a fan in it and install a solar panel on the roof. More research needed-but this is kind of fun!

 

[POTATO LAUNCHER]

It has taken 16 years to get mine where it all works for me. More practical, useful and unique is the direction, keep going man.