[Birdman1985]

I need some personal ideas/preferences from you guys.

The wife just drove to Coffs for the weekend and decided that she wants to start getting up that way more (even though i have been trying to tell her for ages ).

She really wants a pop-up caravan but i still really prefer the idea of a Camper trailer.

I really really really like Zukenutters camper trailer build up, merely for the fact that the Pajero would eat it up but the Cricket could still tug it along when im on my own . I hate pop-up vans. I don't know why, they aer so bulky.

The second thing is would it be best to go the same route and start with half a sierra (and build it up as light as possible) or simply buy a small light trailer and go from there?

Mitch.

[atari4x4]

something like Joe's Trailer set up would be ideal, box trailer with a roof top tent attached to it.

[Joe]

Ill say go the camper trailer as they can be made lighter.....like you said you want to be able to tow it behind the jim
Just go for a small light trailer and build it up from there, if ya haven't seen my one yet have a look in my build thread, even though its only a rooftop tent its still very roomy and comfy and all our gear goes into the trailer

[Joe]

Old slow Joe typing with my thumbs again

[mighty_vites]

personally i wouldnt be caught dead with a pop top. camper trailers look alot better and with the option of building one from the ground up you get exactly what you want with out the added BS however im lookin into roof top tent for an Aus wide trip i have on the drawing boards (prob gonna get a bigger 4x4 for this tho)

[steve]

I vote for the pop top camper, you have a kitchen, benches, table and beds. You can leave all your plates and pots in the cupboards. I've never owned either a pop top or a camper trailer, but i reckon a pop top would be faster and easier to set up. I'm not sure if a camper trailer would be any lighter either because of all the crap that people put in them.

who cares if you don't like the look, people here drive Sierras and they're worried about looks?

[hutch]

My sister and her family had a poop top... she got rid of it because of the hassle and now has a tent...lol

The issues she and her husband had were:
1. finding a nice flat spot to set it up or chocking lifting one side when arriving at camp (15+ mins)
2. poping up the top a little bit (5 mins)
3. climbing inside on hands a knees to get the awning/ropes etc (5 mins)
4. sliding the awning on + cursing it all the way (5 mins)
5. trying to stop the kids from destroying it while still setting up (constant)
6. Winding the top up, then finding the windy think has broken, again. 2 adults to assist walking around and check whilst it is going up (10 mins)
7. unlocking the door from its postion and getting it all sorted (5 mins)
8. unzipping windows (5 mins)
9 stop kids from fighting whilst both parents are busy setting up (constant)
10. set up kitchen table and fridge on gas (5 mins)
11. set up awning, ropes, poles, spreaders, pegs etc (10 mins)
12. unhook pop top from 4bie and park (10 mins)
13. take kids to toilets
14. set up beds (10 mins)
15. tidy up (10 mins)
16. set up stove outside as cooking inside is smelly and a bit greasy (5 mins)
17. fit with roof vents (5 mins)
18 calm kids down ready to get into bed
19. get fire going for marshmallows
20. eat marshmallows and crack 1st beer
21. calm kids down again for bed
22. Put kids in bed.
23. Have a nice weekend
24. Sunday morning.. start paking up early because you know it is going to take a long time
So 1hr 45 mins to set up! and just as long to pack up.

Next time you go camping watch all those with pop tops and compare them to tents.
It didnt matter how many times my siter and husband set up their pop top it didnt get any faster. Essentially the only thing that it was used fr was sleeping in as the cooked and ate outside. The fridge was useful too but it is not important to have that in a poop top.


By comparison they now have a tent which takes 15 mins to set up including the beds.
The rest of the gear is in a trailer that is easy to access.

Hire a poop top or borrow one and see what it is like for yourself.

[morpheus]

I own a camper trailer and love it. I bought it for $1400 and spent $2500 on it and now it's a monster, does everything I need, and is the only one like it. Has 2 double beds, kitchen I can have inside or out, 12 and 240 v system with surge arrestor and earth leakage, it's own charger, 4 Jerry can holders, gas holder and 120L water tanks underneath. No tent pegs required and none of it folds out on to the ground like other trailers on the market.

A friend I go camping with has a pop top camper trailer, the kind where the beds come out the side and are canvas. And while very nice. It takes him and his famy a good 45 minutes to get it all setup. Whe I had my trailer up and a coldie in my hand within 15 minutes.

[bazook]

and if you could try and find an alloy box trailer to start you build on that will drop the weight, but im guessing it would be $$$$

[atari4x4]

morpheus wrote:

I own a camper trailer and love it. I bought it for $1400 and spent $2500 on it and now it's a monster, does everything I need, and is the only one like it. Has 2 double beds, kitchen I can have inside or out, 12 and 240 v system with surge arrestor and earth leakage, it's own charger, 4 Jerry can holders, gas holder and 120L water tanks underneath. No tent pegs required and none of it folds out on to the ground like other trailers on the market.

A friend I go camping with has a pop top camper trailer, the kind where the beds come out the side and are canvas. And while very nice. It takes him and his famy a good 45 minutes to get it all setup. Whe I had my trailer up and a coldie in my hand within 15 minutes.

Get some pics up, i thought it was a sweet set up JP... at least that *cough* Land Rover can comfortably tow it.

[45tr0]

I grew up traveling around Australia with the olds in a pop top and agree with the rest, they're mongrel bloody things. Never go up or down easily, always have issues, compromised space. If you want a van, buy a van. If you want someone smaller and easy to tow, buy a camper trailer

I Borrowed a mates pod trailer camper for a trip to Dargo recently.
http://www.podtrailer.com/products_cam.html
As soon as I've got some coin, I'm dropping it on one of these! Not the cheapest option but Perfect behind a Suzuki cos it's so light.
Plus the bloke who makes em will build whatever you want - apparently he'll build the axle to suit your track width and bolt pattern so you can run the trailer on whatever wheels and tyres you run on the car.

[Birdman1985]

Thanks for the comments guys, alot of good ideas and opinions.

No offence but Joes trailer idea is good in theory but still not the prettiest, just like those Podtrailers.

I was going to go a light aluminium trailer, bit of a spring or coil lift. A box on the drawbars for the spare batteries and charger systems to run the lights and fridge in the trailer.

The trailer would maybe have a slide out unit with cooktop burners and a sink and cuttingboard. On the same side other end some cupboards with pots, pans, plates and cutlery.

Have gas struts on the camper so i can lift the whole unit up to see inside the trailer for the bigger gear.

Obviously dunno if the weight will hold....but that is my dream and if Martin Luther can, why cant i?

Opinions.

Mitch.

[Moph]

My trailer's in my sig. Again 'not the prettiest' but does the job very, very well. Aluminium's great weight wise but may fatigue if you're tackling corrugated roads - may be a concern.

I had grand plans for mine too (onboard battery / lighting / electric pumped water / etc) but gave up on the idea recently. Works well as is and would rather spend the time camping than building

[morpheus]

ok. photos of my trailer.. the first 2 are what it was like when i first got it..

[Chop]

Do yourself a favour and buy the latest 4wdaction magazine, it has a campertrailer dvd that shows you a whole heap set up and their gear.
If your gonna be using a pajero i wouldnt worry about a pissy little thing for behind the jimny.
And a podtrailer aint ugly

Chop

[ca18zook]

This is my camper tailer that i made my self over the last 3 months on weekend and some nights. A mate and i have made 3 in the last year all the same.
The tent is getting made right now

[Birdman1985]

I'll take it. How much... hahahahahha

Very neat, absolutely love it.

Yeah i know it is getting towed behind a Paj too but i still want to test the Jimny and be able to get out on my own every blue moon or so in a little comfort.

But hey, podtrailers ARE ugly!!!

[ca18zook]

The tent is all finished today
Hopfull if the weather is better on the week end ill take some pics
Trent

[hutch]

ca18zook wrote:

The tent is all finished today
Hopfull if the weather is better on the week end ill take some pics
Trent

not a chance... rain rain rain...lol