Camp trailer build

[Anton Rogers]

Specs are 2000# 4x8 harbor freight  trailer. Top surface is 5'x 8' 4". And has front storage. Center utilities. Rear galley. Fold out solar panel area houses (2) monocrystalline 45W 36V panels @ 1.25A ea. Tied to a MPPT 20A charge controller. They charge a mini battery bank of (4) 12V 12ah wired in series and parallel  to get 24V 24ah. That runs through a 60W 5A step down converter and a 120W 10A step down. Those then run an accessory  outlet which runs 12V items and charges via USB. It also has a 16gal. food grade tank for water, pumped by a marine 1.1 gpm @35psi  12V pump. Rear galley has a sink, and cooking area. Sink is 15x15. Dual 15A GFI 120VAC outlets and the 12V socket. The hole in top holds the small green propane tanks and single burner at a lower and more stable height. Trailer also has a side prep table.. tent..its a 5x8 REI evergreen called starry night. Other odd stuff is 1000# front jack, rear stabilizers, tire carrier and things i probably forgot. top is painted with elastomeric sealer, then covered with 3 layers of Grace ice/water shield 25mil. For a 75mil. Total. Then topped with astro turf that is wrapped under the edges and screwed so nothing pierces the top. Ladder is 2x6 construction and steps are coated in a sand/stain mixture for traction.  Still not finished but slowly getting there. I haven't taken any recent pics because of weather but will soon. Other build pics on my facebook page but I'm clueless on linking to them.

 

[WriterMs]

Wow. This is incredibly ingenius. And you designed and built this yourself?

Do you use it mainly to camp for short trips or will you go fulltime? We've had a few threads in the last year on vans or jeeps with tents up top for sleeping, but I've never seen this sort of rig.

What part of the country do you use this in? We hear often about how tents don't hold up well in the desert wind and sun, but your pics don't look like desert country. LOL

It looks fun and spry!

 

[rvpopeye]

Welcome aboard the forums !

Sweet looking home built "popup".

 

[VanDwellerMod]

Welcome to the CRVL forums Anton Rogers! Clever build. And thanks for the pics. You can just type the links to your other builds and they will show up as clickable URLs.

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started.

We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[Queen]

Welcome. Man, that is quite the spiffy set up!

 

[masterplumber]

That's a pretty cool light weight little rig, and considerably less expensive than the company built adventure trailers.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Uhm, Harbor Freight, huh?  Did you bolt the frame together or did you weld it?

The HF frames are pretty well known for shaking themselves apart if you only used bolts and nuts . . .

 

[masterplumber]

Ah yes, but a good bolt is stronger than a bad weld, and not everyone can weld. Just check the bolts periodically and use red loctight on any that are working loose.

 

[ArtW]

good bolt is stronger than a bad weld

Priceless

 

[rvpopeye]

How about both ?

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Ah yes, but a good bolt is stronger than a bad weld, and not everyone can weld. Just check the bolts periodically and use red loctight on any that are working loose.

If he used the bolts and nuts that came with the kit from HF, the odds are very high that he didn't get GOOD bolts, he got the CHEAPEST bolts the Chinese could scrape up.

Don't be surprised if they start shearing off . . .

 

[Anton Rogers]

I don't plan to full time in this but a person probably could if the tent was canvas. I can't remember the name but there is a small company starting out that makes tents using a reflective material for the fly, which looks to be good for deserts. This is a test build of sorts to see if building a better one is worth the effort. If not perhaps a teardrop or reading style vardo would work.  And it is just bolted even though i have a welder. There are 12 carriage bolts holding the deck to the frame so I'm not worried about it coming apart. If any lower frame or suspension bolts fail or get questionable I'll replace with grade 8 and new locknuts. It's a budget build so if it just isn't for us i will take less of a loss selling it to the next person. I like to design and build even though I'm no pro carpenter so I'll keep building until i get what works good enough for possible full timing. I've owned and lived in just about everything so this round i want something different. I havent read up on adding links but if you wanted to, you can search anton rogers on facebook (same avitar) and i have pics of my previous mini camper and my school bus build. Plus other pics of this one. I'm thinking a 2 or 3 month trip in this trailer will let me know if i want something different.

 

[highdesertranger]

carriage bolts are grade 2. I would replace now. highdesertranger

 

[Canine]

While we are nit-picking your trailer.......I don't think that tent will last long when you hit the road.

 

[AngryVanMan]

This is super cool! It's like a practical, inexpensive, quick-build alternative to a teardrop.

I think I have the same HF trailer and probably have put close to 30,000 miles on it behind my little car, I use it for everything that doesn't require a 3/4 ton+ truck, easier to load and far better mileage than a pickup. Mine is bolted together with red locktite in addition to the lock nuts. It's proven to be extremely versatile and long-lived for something so cheap. Lots of teardrop builders seem to use it for the smaller builds, too. I've thought about using mine for a little teardrop project at times.

Nice work!

 

[Anton Rogers]

While we are nit-picking your trailer.......I don't think that tent will last long when you hit the road.

Lol..its a platform top. I will store it for travel. I also have a larger cabin tent stored away if i need more room. The galley pushes in and solar panels fold over top. Fairly compact when tow ready.

 

[Anton Rogers]

This is super cool!  It's like a practical, inexpensive, quick-build alternative to a teardrop.

Thanks. My previous trailer was more of a teardrop style just a bit boxy so i could add a tip out section for extra room. Rear galley also along with solar heated water and solar power. Another fun build.

 

[AngryVanMan]

My original plan was to tour the continents in a pop-up teardrop (for partial standing height) I was designing and going to build for behind my diesel car. While that would have been a supremely efficient traveling rig, I got bit by the potential convenience of being able to reach the camper from the cockpit while on the road (quick bite of lunch, emergency bathroom, etc) and not having to "set up" to get inside each day. Once they came out with these new high top vans I couldn't resist. It's a steep price to pay for an extra dose of travel comfort/laziness. I still marvel at the tiny campers all the time, I love them, and your two designs here are some of the most innovative I've seen!