So as some of you might of seen in my zook build thread i purchased a ex army half ton cargo trailer from manheim auctions at eagle farm. I purchased it for an absolute steal. I was searching for 2nd hand/new box trailers for about a year to turn one into a camper trailer. But it was the same ol same ol with all the 2nd hand ones being rusted out or to old and the new ones to expensive for my liking for a box trailer. I discovered these trailers from the auctions in a just 4x4 classifields magazine.
I was excited! i did some research on the net and turns out these are pretty much a purpose built offroad trailer and near indestructible and being fully sealed they can float. So i picked one up for a measly $700! They have a solid heavy duty chassis, heavy duty tub, heavy duty single bar drawbar, massive leaf packs with full shackle suspension not slipper leaf, deep tub, plenty of ground clearance, greasable hubs.
To get something like this from a trailer yard your looking at least triple from my research. Originally i thought it would be cool for the sierra but its way to heavy so it will be getting towed behind a dualcab ute that im yet to purchase. I want it to be a semi camper so i can still use it as a trailer otherwise its just a waste in my opinion. So the top will be removable.
Plans will be:
Camper tent which ive already purchased (castle campers 12 deluxe)
Heavy duty removable hinge setup with gas struts to pop it up
Making a rear tailgate that swings open from the passenger side
Some jerry can mounts
Water tank underneath with a stone guard
Slideout/removable kitchen that hangs off the tailgate or slides out and stands up but will be completely removable
A few storage boxes on the front sides and a drawbar storage box.
A couple of 12v points around the trailer. Id like to be able to setup that led rope shit in the tent and around the kitchen
Fab up some drop down legs for the rear of the trailer for stability
A few other things i guess but time will come when i start camping and using it. Ill be getting my lisence back in july so im itching to take it out and get back out there camping. Im still yet to decide what dualcab 4x4 i want as a family/work ute.
The day i got it. had to make up a tow hitch mount.
Behind the zook looks pretty wicked, it would probaly tow it around town and to dirt road access spots. But any sandy beaches or rutted/muddy tracks i dont think it would cope dragging it.
Size comparison
This is a hinge from a truck body door at the rear. There pretty heavy duty and have a removable pin
Roughly setup in the front yard. It has full walls to enclose the annex and a vinly floor. The trailer tailgate gets closed in with a piece aswell. Note how high the trailer is. Ill be pulling out a couple of the leaves from each pack. There is 9 leaves in each one. Also if it is still too high ill be taking a shove and digging two holes near the trailer wheels so it sits down another 100mm. i tried everywhere for a 1200mm high tent but anyone who had them wanted ridiculous money for them. A canvas shop wanted near a grand to modify it so i just thought fuck it ill dig the wheels in, drop the pressure and take out 2 leaves.
So my next step is to properly attach it to the tub with some of those hinges and some gas struts. They have to be 700mm and rated to 1000n apparently from the camper trailer mob!
