Trailer modification for camping/expedition use

[Gavlad]

More of a idea generator thread than a look at what I've done thread for the moment but having acquired the trailer built in THIS thread & having used it on a camping trip last week, I am now going to modify it to make it more expedition friendly.

My first thoughts, in no particular order, are:

1. widen the body so that the wheel wells/tubs are inboard of the actual body;
2. lid required;
3. drawer/slider for fridge & maybe stove...
4. lengthen front triangle for cubbie box;

I'll post some pics of our trip later on but having started this, I have to pop out for a bit...

Laters
Gav

 

[Gavlad]

Our camping set-up for the long weekend... The tent is pretty good & packs down to a good size but its a bit of a phaff to put up & there's not a great deal of living space for wet days & six of us so I hope to replace it with an JetTent for next years camping season. The Coleman tarp did well though

I spy a trailer...

It had my Airtop tent fitted before the trip & I put that Thule rack on top rather than haul the Airtop around; dinky little rack

I managed to keep rain off our kit with a cheap tarp for the journeying but that won't do for an extended trip.

 

[Gavlad]

Slideouts from the side??

So I am considering the mods to my trailer a bit more now; I'm thinking of mounting my fridge to a slider that comes out of the side of the trailer at the front... In the blue painted section on the pic below

Has anyone done this sort of thing already to save me re-inventing the wheel?

Am thinking of making the trailer wider by sheeting in the area above the tube all round the trailer... Mmmm, curves...

 

[ntsqd]

Somewhere in this thread you'll find a pull-out kitchen:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-te...expedition-style-trailer-build-up-thread.html

 

[Gavlad]

Indeed, its been a while since I first went through Rezarf's thread - I'll have thrutchel...

Thanks

 

[rusty_tlc]

I'd plan some way to carry water and extra fuel. If you want to use the trailer as a utility trailer Jerry cans are probably the way to go, if not look at RV water tanks. You may want to carry fuel in cans anyway but I like the idea of a fuel storage tank in the trailer. This solves the issue of securing the fuel and keeps it out of harms way. You can also locate the tank low to keep the COG down. A simple 12V transfer pump would be needed to move fuel.

Electricity is usually a welcome thing, consider where you plan to go and think about your needs. Size the storage battery for at least 10% more capacity than you think you will need to account for add on's.

You will want a way to maintain the charge in your battery. Solar is nice because it is silent and free, but it depends on a fairly constant supply of sunshine. Generators are somewhat noisy and requires fuel but they are independent of the weather. If you break camp and move every day as we tend to you may be able to maintain your storage battery from the vehicle.

If you plan on taking wimmens with you think about some kind of privy, in my experience this is the BIG thing wimmens want when camping. A PETT toilet and an Outback Porta Privy will gain you much man points and maybe get your SO to go with you more often.

A word about the Outback Privy; If you don't want to wind up like this guy practice folding it at home a few times before you go.

 

[deepmud]

I took a camping motorcycle trip thru UK once , your pic made me double-take - that looks just like Bainbridge Ing, Yorkshire - but I suppose all farm-yard campsites looks the same.

I like the Coleman awning/tarp thing - can't find it available in the U.S., just on U.K. and E.U. sites - bummer.

I'm a fan of dual-use camp/work trailers - mine is a flat bed, with a slide-on box for kitchen/dry storage. What about a slide-IN box on yours, a bit like an American truck-camper, in miniature? Storage of it might be an issue but I tend to keep my box on the trailer, and slide it onto saw-horses when I need a utility trailer, so it can occupy the same space as the trailer does. My box has a flip-down door that functions as a camp-kitchen/work space, and I just slide the stuff inside when I close it up.

 

[rusty_tlc]

I took a camping motorcycle trip thru UK once , your pic made me double-take - that looks just like Bainbridge Ing, Yorkshire - but I suppose all farm-yard campsites looks the same.
...

Both those sites are about as far as you can get from a farm yard.
The first is on top of a ridge in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the second is in the middle of one of the toughest 4WD trails in N America.

Here is another view of the first site

Notice that the battle of the privy was raging.

Here is another view of the second camp

 

[deepmud]

Both those sites are about as far as you can get from a farm yard.

Sorry - I was talking to the owner of the thread - as in this pic:

 

[Rubiconcruiser]

My scratch build expedition style build thread by Rezarf. This thread will give you everything you wll need to start and complete your build, and he does it with style. Have fun

 

[deepmud]

My scratch build expedition style build thread by Rezarf. This thread will give you everything you wll need to start and complete your build, and he does it with style. Have fun

You know, I read that thread, and it's awesome, that is a SWEET trailer and it got posted up for reference TWICE in this thread alone - but I would hesitate to just put on all threads about expedition trailers... "go read this thread, and you will know all you need to know, nothing else can be learned".

 

[EVILSPOTTER]

I think that in the case of putting a whole lot of camping features into a small trailer Rezarf=all you will need to know!

 

[The Jade Bean]

A slide can be added for sure, as several people here on MUD have done it. I dig the idea of a side door/slide but I don't personally like the idea of not having a large bed area for large hauling. Just my 5cents... Side note: a buddy texted me a pic of your trailer so I could copy your side tree tubing protection (and I'm going too). Did you build your trailer?

-Daniel

 

[deepmud]

I think that in the case of putting a whole lot of camping features into a small trailer Rezarf=all you will need to know!

I say again - a great read - but really? all you need to know? Should Gavlad wait however long Rezarf is going to take to build his kitchen before he builds his own? Rezarf does beautiful work - but his thread is 4+ years old and still going strong - it could easily be another year before he's done with the kitchen slide - or longer! He's had kids along the way too - that stuff slows you down - I know!

More than anything the lack of inventiveness being prescribed is what disappoints me - there are many good builds going on Mud, and many more on other sites and - GASP!!! - some aren't even on the Internet! But there will always be opportunities to improve, to make just right for your own purpose - if we keep looking for them.

 

[Gavlad]

Blimey, where have I been for the last few weeks!!! Thanks for your inputs gents - all good stuff

@ deepmud, not Yorkshire but North Wales near a town called Bala I'm surprised that tarp is only available outside the US Let me know if you want one posting over to you

@ rusty, we don't really have the back country camping available like that - love to be able to but... Great pics & I have one of those pop up tents which I have spent some time wrestling into submission upon occasion!!!

@ Daniel, I didn't build the trailer; it was included in the deal I got when I bought my hundee earlier in the year. My buddy Wildsmith built it to go with the truck he built & when it came up for sale I had to jump on it!!! He designed the trailer to suit an Airtop Maggiolina - this is how I rigged it up:

However, the tent is too small for us & I needed the cash to be elsewhere so I have to move the tent on recently. I did get to sleep in it & it is an awesome tent

Most of our camping will be on sites with very occasional forays into wilderness areas so my plans are to try & equip it accordingly to carry the six of us (me, the wife, our 3 girls & 1 boy) with all we need for the trip.

I don't know how far to go along the lines of an all out trailer & the slide out box does seem a reasonable idea.

My job is taking too much of my time up at the moment but once we hit a quiet patch, I hope to be able to give it some serious thought.

Cheers guys
Gav

 

[Admartin]

interesting build. looking forward to updates