Custom cargo trailer as slide in camper

[Canine]

Am thinking outside the box here...

I have considered and am considering other ideas, but want to focus on this one idea for this particular thread.

Buying a cargo trailer is my second choice for a home for the many reasons that have been posted on various threads and Bob's blogs with the primary reasons being great quality for the dollar and building it in a way that is frugal yet practical such as using a 5 gallon bucket for grey water instead of a holding tank. I would most definitely go this route, but I want to have a slide in camper for mobility purposes.

So, I'm thinking. Since Trailers Plus does custom builds, would you think they would make one that isn't a trailer, but make a 5th wheel style cargo trailer that doesn't have an axle or a hitch and make the dimensions so it sets on a 9 foot flatbed? It would be just like a cabover slide in camper only for a flatbed. Comparing it to their cargo trailers, I estimate it would cost less than $3000, which is reasonably affordable. Then I could add the jacks, insulation, solar, and whatever I want however I want within my budget. Would Trailers Plus be able to accommodate such a build? Or would they laugh and laugh at me if I posed that question to them?

I don't mind if you guys laugh at me, though!

 

[acfdexpo]

I think it's a great idea.  I've seen some custom stuff like that on http://expeditionportal.com.  I would buy one tomorrow for 3 grand, but I feel it might be significantly more.  Heck, I would consider it for twice that amount if it was reasonably well built.

 

[Bdog1]

Probably be cheaper to buy a trailer and strip off the axle and fenders. Custom is always more, and they might be nervous about liability. Expo had some builds like you mention. Military trucks have the dry boxes. How about a box truck?

 

[Canine]

I can't find a fifth wheel/gooseneck that is 9 feet long not counting the "cabover" part. The boxes on box trucks have all been too large and the cabover part is short because they originally come off of a van body style not a truck style. I will definitely be taking a closer look at expedition portal to get some better ideas and references.


If pressed for why I want a this custom build, to avoid liability concerns, I thought about approaching it by saying I have a 5th wheel trailer and want to use the front of the trailer for covered storage leaving the rear for pallets of brick, shingles, etc. But sometimes need the whole bed, so want to be able to remove the cargo area. I don't want to make this more complicated than necessary, but I don't want to be denied because someone is afraid of getting sued.

I also may salvage the z channel and skin from a wrecked semi trailer and build my frame on a flatbed trailer sans axles, ramps, and hitches. Semi trailers are built strong and the materials would be more than strong enough for a wussy slide in camper. I could easily do this build if I had the money; I'm not struggling to get by, but I'm nowhere near flush with cash.

 

[LowTech]

I've seen trailers turned into boxes on flat-beds. Even seen some that were put on w/ the back end toward the cab and cut into a cab-over. Something to think about.
Take the doors, or ramp, off the back, cut it as needed, frame and reskin it.
It does leave the side door on the drivers side (not my fav) and it opens backwards.

 

[LeeRevell]

Check on the fiberglass egg trailers. Scamp has a wee fifthwheel, that may well fit on a flatbed truck. Finding one used for a decent price would be the difficult part.

 

[IGBT]

It is not hugely expensive to build your own shell...the inside stuff is what gets expensive.

I estimate our garage pod, which is 8'4"x10'x7.5' high and sits on a flatbed was about $3000 in materials for the shell (I have the receipts but haven't totaled everything up for just that portion of our build).

 

[Canine]

LowTech, that is an interesting idea. Because of the weird door thing, I don't think I'd do that. Having the door facing traffic could become a problem.

Iggy, I've thought about that a lot. My concerns are rotting wood and weight, but newer full size campers are 2500 pounds plus. Even if I wasn't careful about dry weight, a camper could be built at half that weight. I can also upcycle a bunch of the materials. I've pursued using those composite/plastic type panels, but the cost of the panels alone is $10,000 and more!! That doesn't include any adhesives, fasteners, molding, mounts, etc. I have a feeling I will be using plywood, 2X4's and good old fashioned screws. It does make for a strong structure.

 

[IGBT]

Rotting wood not an issue if you build out of steel and aluminum (although we do use marine plywood for the floor (and under the aluminum roof to allow walkability).

I think you could build a steel/aluminum basic shell in your dimensions for around $3k and it would weight under 1500 pounds.   This is if you figure out some other fastening method than we used.   We attached the aluminum skin to the steel frame with Sikaflex 252.  It works great and requires no fasteners but is hella expensive (figure $1000 in Sikaflex + primer/cleaner before you are done).

 

[Canine]

I don't have access to a welder and don't know how to use one, though. I looked into those connectors, but from what I've read they are hard to keep square. Most are for shelving or something similarly small. I looked into modifying a garage port, but those are expensive for what you get.

$1000 in Sikaflex!? You must have arms like Popeye to have dispensed all of that! Lol

 

[Seraphim]

My biggest concern would be if the jacks could hold the weight. Something to research before you start investing money. The rest is doable.

 

[IGBT]

I don't have access to a welder and don't know how to use one, though. I looked into those connectors, but from what I've read they are hard to keep square. Most are for shelving or something similarly small. I looked into modifying a garage port, but those are expensive for what you get.

$1000 in Sikaflex!? You must have arms like Popeye to have dispensed all of that! Lol

Heh, no.  What happens is you dispense 1/4 of one tube, put an icepack on your hand for a bit while you use the other hand to browse the internet and find out there are pneumatic powered caulk guns, order one of those and use it to dispense the remaining 100 tubes.

 

[Canine]

My biggest concern would be if the jacks could hold the weight.  Something to research before you start investing money.  The rest is doable.

Do you mean will the jacks stay screwed in the wood? I've never had good luck with just screws; they always seem to work loose from the camper when it is wiggling on the jacks. I would bolt the jack mounts on using a backing plate. If you mean the jacks themselves, I would use the heaviest-dutiest ones. Am favoring Rieco Titan 2000 pound jacks.

Am also interested in the EZ Pickup loading system. He is still in the development stage. While this system and traditional jacks each have their advantages and disadvantages, the EZ Pickup system wouldn't be a bad choice. Hopefully, the cost won't be outrageous.

 

[highdesertranger]

I believe igbt has the best advice. however if you can't weld that's a no go. mig welding is not that hard to learn and you could find a used one for reasonable price. just a thought. if you went this route in the end you would not only have exactly what you wanted but another skill. highdesertranger