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 Post subject: Build your own camper?
PostPosted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 11:39 am 
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I've been looking at some options for a trailer for the FJ. I looked at just having a box bed with all the essentials and a platform for a tent and then one of my work mates bought an offroad camper. I started looking into that and I have found a ton of people that have built their own. Usually a 4X8 or 6x10 bed in either a nox or teardrop configuration about 4' high overall.

Anyone here ever built anything like that? I have done fab work back in my younger years but haven't welded in a very long time. I think that I am going to make a winter project out of this!

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PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 4:12 pm 
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Sounds like a good idea. If you do please document it here so we can watch. You may even find some help. I've been contemplating a trail trailer for tent camping.

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PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 6:36 pm 
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Will do, Justin. When I get back to work, I'll get the links and post to the sites where I am getting some ideas from.

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PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 11:44 am 
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This is pretty much exactly what I have plans on building:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/s ... hp?t=18142

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http://www.facebook.com/LasVegasAmsoilDirect

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PostPosted: Mon May 02, 2011 9:02 pm 
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looks like it will work, AND be fun to build.

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PostPosted: Tue May 03, 2011 8:21 am 
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I think it will keep me occupied this winter! I am an aviation electronics guy by trade and have never done a lot of wood work so that should prove a nice challenge. I want to make it useable and try to keep the budget as low as possible. I'll keep exlporing low cost alternatives on the basic trailer bed. I don't think it will have the galley added as I want to use as much interior space as possible.

By all means if anyone wants to toss in thoughts and ideas, please do!

Nick

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PostPosted: Tue May 03, 2011 11:57 am 
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I think that steel frame is exactly what I have in mind for my trail/utility trailer. 31'' tires and wheels to match the jeep, 18" sidewalls, lots of tie downs, some jerry can holders (gas/water), support jacks front and back, pintle hitch, plenty of rhino liner and a spare. Now I just need to learn to weld :roll:

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PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 8:33 am 
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Justin,
I am looking at some of the bolt together trailers from Harbor Freight and Tractor Supply. I have heard a lot of good results even using them offroad. Most people that do have the trailer tongue extended and put the three axis coupler on them. I know how to weld, but for as little welding as I need done, I think going to a local muffler shop may do it. Last time I did that they charged me $25 for about a half hours work.

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PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 7:19 pm 
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Many of the teardrop builders actually recommend that you use the Harbor Freight 4x8 folding trailer with 12" wheels. Then weld the foldable part permanently straight to make an inexpensive 4x8 bed. I have been doing some research into building an offroad trailer, and I settled on the Harbor Freight 4x4 trailer (for offroad camping equipment carrying). It cost me about $230 delivered (I had a 20% off coupon) and that was less than I could buy the axle, springs, mounts and hubs for online. So, in the future, I might modify the trailer itself into a longer/ shorter/ wider/ thinner size. Or maybe run better hubs and larger tires (15x30). But for now, it is a good enough starting platform to get my gear out of the Wrangler to provide room for my wife and dog both. (The dog never complained, so you figure it out.) I also own a 4x8 Harbor Freight foldable trailer with 12" wheels. It has been extremely useful for the past 5 years to do pretty much everything. On sale you can get the basic trailer for around $300, and the local store carries it in stock. I also weld, built my own bumpers, rock rails, and roof rack, so this concept of playing around with a trailer really isn't too much of a challenge. If you feel like having me fiddle around with your design with you, then drop me a PM.

Travis

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PostPosted: Wed May 04, 2011 10:11 pm 
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Very cool, Travis! I'll take you up on that. I was browsing the plywood today at Home Depot! :D It will be the end of summer before I start building in earnest. I think the 5 x8 or 5 x 8 may be the way I go as well. It doesn't have to be huge. I agree on adding some tire size to it though. I don't see me adding the galley to the back either. Looking at a 12V electrical system with soalr charger today too. I know it will go through a million design changes before I build it. :lol:

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PostPosted: Thu May 12, 2011 8:22 pm 
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This subject came up before on here (do a search and you should find it), but I'd be leary of any tires under a minimum of 13" tall on any trailer. Especially off road.

I cut up an old truck bed for mine, but I'd look at picking up a used trailer for a good platform to start with. I owned a 5x8 1 ton Carson trailer I bought for $900, but I see them all the time on ebay, craigslist, etc for $3-400. And that'd be a great platform IMO. Or look at buying an old truck that you could cut down for a trailer. I'd hit up a junkyard even.

I had hoped to get mine done, but moving has delayed my process. I used a utility bed (like this one http://www.3wtruckandequipment.com/imag ... C01255.jpg ) and like the idea of being able to store my camping stuff and lock it up.

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PostPosted: Sat May 14, 2011 8:20 am 
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Gary,
I've actually gone back to the route of building a purpose built frame so that I can make itfit what I need and be durable. Tires...it'll have the same tire height as the FJ but narrower. The box itself is going to be a simple 4X8. That'll give me room to sleep and room at the end for adding a shelf for a stereo and possibly a ham radio setup. The trailer will be 10' and about 4'2" on the frame. So far my plans have led me to adding a least a 1X1 "exoskeleton" tube to the fore and aft sections of the box. I got that idea based on a friend of mines little guy camper. The extra 2ft on the outside is for mounting a utility box and generator.

So that is where I am at so far.

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