[christover1]

BOB the trailer, don't be a wimp

My tent top base is poly styrine(sp) sandwiched with aluminium
It insulates very well,
but can get a little damp under mattress in extreme weather.
Never gets thru the mattress tho.

[atari4x4]

trailer was bobbed when i got it... see it's got a cute bum.



sure it's not you making the bed wet.

i'm keen on having a flip top lid to access the stuff in the trailer, rather than trying to dig shit out from either end.

[christover1]

I didn't notice the bob job till now, it is rather a cute bum

I may be converting mine to flip up hingy tpe thing,
it is a pain to drag stuff out.
I use a dodgy draw system,


a big bit of hd tarp, that everything sits on.
And drag on it to get stuff forward.

Not a fool proof system tho )

[Moph]

atari4x4 wrote:

Mr Moph, just wondering what thickness ply you used & did you have any issues with the back of the tent getting damp where the lower flap is resting on the ply during that wet Easter weekend away?



I'm going to have to do something similar due to the tent only being 1400mm long & having to cover the full 5 foot (1524mm) of the box. I'm guessing you used the supplied rails that are used for the roof rack mounts to raise it up off the plywood?

Was 19mm ply from memory ... can't remember the grade, but just the best of what Bunnings had. Form ply would be better yet if you can get it in the size you need - I couldn't.

I have had moisture track up that flap once, when we were in Exmouth and it dumped 1" in 8 hours. Wasn't much though and I just moved the bedding away from that edge. If it'd kept raining then I probably would have got keen and poked some sticks or somthing under there to lift the flap off the ply.

Yep is the supplied rails. I can actually slide the tent off the ply top, but it's easier to knock out the three hinge pins and lift it off complete.

[atari4x4]

thanks Tim, pretty sure bunnings had a full sheets of 17mm form ply 1200x2400 for about 50 or 60 dollars when i was building my drawers, will have to check it out again.

how much higher would it have to go to just clear, flap looks like it's about 50mm deep?

[Moph]

Another 30mm would see it hang clear from memory. You'll be able to mock it up once you buy a tent and have the rails sitting there anyway - you could just use two strips of 70x35 pine or something like that as risers with the rails on top?

The dampness still wasn't bad though - far better than being in a normal dome tent in the same conditions. I wouldn't get hung up about it myself.

[zukenutter]

Looking good. I went heavy duty on the Axle and hubs but kept everything else within reasonable-for-use engineering to save as much weight as possible. I'm also quite over sliding shit in so I bought this Hinge Set for our camper, yet to be installed

[christover1]

zukenutter wrote:

Looking good. I went heavy duty on the Axle and hubs but kept everything else within reasonable-for-use engineering to save as much weight as possible. I'm also quite over sliding shit in so I bought this Hinge Set for our camper, yet to be installed

added to my wish list it never gets any shorter, only longer

[Chop]

Mine has a lid

[zukenutter]

christover1 wrote:

zukenutter wrote:

Looking good. I went heavy duty on the Axle and hubs but kept everything else within reasonable-for-use engineering to save as much weight as possible. I'm also quite over sliding shit in so I bought this Hinge Set for our camper, yet to be installed

added to my wish list it never gets any shorter, only longer

It's my to-do list that's bugging me. Lots of stuff sitting in boxes and all on hold until I get the landscaping finished

[atari4x4]

Moph wrote:

Another 30mm would see it hang clear from memory. You'll be able to mock it up once you buy a tent and have the rails sitting there anyway - you could just use two strips of 70x35 pine or something like that as risers with the rails on top?

The dampness still wasn't bad though - far better than being in a normal dome tent in the same conditions. I wouldn't get hung up about it myself.

cheers, i think i'll look at spacing it up to get the clearance just for peace of mind.

zukenutter, that flip top lid kit is cheap... added to my wanted list.

chop, you could just chuck a foam mattress in the pod & close the lid like a coffin.

[zukenutter]

atari4x4 wrote:

Moph wrote:

Another 30mm would see it hang clear from memory. You'll be able to mock it up once you buy a tent and have the rails sitting there anyway - you could just use two strips of 70x35 pine or something like that as risers with the rails on top?

The dampness still wasn't bad though - far better than being in a normal dome tent in the same conditions. I wouldn't get hung up about it myself.

cheers, i think i'll look at spacing it up to get the clearance just for peace of mind.

zukenutter, that flip top lid kit is cheap... added to my wanted list.

chop, you could just chuck a foam mattress in the pod & close the lid like a coffin.

For that money I figured I couldn't put it together myself for less.

[atari4x4]

this is my first trailer, am i doing it right?





should have painted the bearing caps.

[christover1]

Its not fair, your trailer tyres are better than my Vitaras treads

Man its lookin good though.

[atari4x4]

thanks chris, it was your trailer build on outers that really made me start thinking about a light weight off road camper, simple but so effective.

the chunkys are only retreads & my god they're heavy... i was thinking about carting around the 2 other one if touring just in case it got a bit hardcore some where i could swap them onto the zook, but the weight of them is ridiculous. i'll chuck one on the scales tomorrow to see what they weigh!

talking about spares, where do you carry yours?

[christover1]

Only carry the one full spare on the car.
I can throw on/in a tyre only if needed.
Had a tyre only in the trailer for the almost Beachport trip.
Not many places for a full spare on trailer, tho on draw bar may work.
Decided under trailer was a bad idea for lots of reasons.

On my Moke camper I had a kind of roof racky thing,
which I could occy strap stuff to.
Usually my (ex) wifes off road wheel chair and a spare tyre.

Tyres don't fail like they did in the old days.
So don't bother with an extra spare, unless going real far away.
In emergency, trailer would run fine on 2 flats,
with the trailer tyres on the car.

[atari4x4]

i've got a full tyre repair kit & a compressor... would save a truckload of weight.

[christover1]

atari4x4 wrote:

i've got a full tyre repair kit & a compressor... would save a truckload of weight.

Yes I gave the spare tyre a lot of thought,
and decided one of the main reasons for running same tyres on trailer is to share the spare.
Along with handling and ability.
Also, 31's or 750/16's are a common size if needing to buy a new tyre in the outback.

I think for a Simpson crossing I'd strap a tyre only on the Vit roof rack,
Or as many do, to the Vits spare..
Tho as a single bloke thats used to tiny Mokes,
I'm finding I never use all the trailer space.

[atari4x4]

christover1 wrote:

I'm finding I never use all the trailer space.

^^^this

i think i'll be in the same situation, even in the swb. i've always travelled pretty light but it will be nice to spread the load.

might look at using the spare tyre to counter balance the fuel when doing the long hauls, find the sweet spot & bolt it to the floor.

i was looking at outboard motor boat fuel tanks before on ebay... 40 odd litres & about the right size. a trailer bouncing around would be no worse than a boat at sea, wonder how well they seal?

wonder what the legalities are... it's not that different to towing a boat with full tanks or jerry cans?

[christover1]

Jerry cans scare me a tad,
Would never sleep above one.
Its either in the car,
or taken out of the trailer at night.
Bit afraid of gas bottles under my bed too.
But no big deal to take them out of camper for nights.

I like the boat fuel can idea, flatter andd thus easier to slip into the trailer.
For now my Jerry/s will be in back of car.
Leaks and fires are less scarey when up n dressed,
rather than asleep and vunerable.


I thinks my anxieties may be showing thru

[buzbox]

atari4x4 wrote:

i was looking at outboard motor boat fuel tanks before on ebay... 40 odd litres & about the right size. a trailer bouncing around would be no worse than a boat at sea, wonder how well they seal?

wonder what the legalities are... it's not that different to towing a boat with full tanks or jerry cans?

The tank I had in my boat was ok, but I did notice that it leaked a little. You'd be better off with jerry's, Have a look at bunnings, I got mine from there it's not the tall one's but small and big (like me) Scepter I think the brand is. Built in nozzel so no chance of it being lost.

[atari4x4]

like this? http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sparex-10lt- ... 33704194c4

[christover1]

A number of small jerries is better than large ones.
Spreads the risk if one breaks or leaks out.
Damn site easier to pick up, and to pack, also.

I do the same with water.
Save all my visitors coke bottles,
and carry lots of them.
No big deal if one gets lost.

[buzbox]

That's the one.

I want to have 2 x 10L on both sides behind the wheel arch's.

[Joe]

Have you guys come across any good designs for stone deflectors?

[royce]

buzbox wrote:

That's the one.

I want to have 2 x 10L on both sides behind the wheel arch's.

You can get a short version of a steel 20l jerry can thats 10l

While I am here, how many roof top tents are accessible from the end that doesnt fold out? and has anyone thought of having theirs so it folds forward over the draw bar?

[atari4x4]

Moph uses the backdoor.



most of the tents are 1200x1400m & open out to 2400x1400mm, hence the side opening on a 5' long trailer

[christover1]

Mine has doors both ends.
Very useful at times

[christover1]

With mine, folding over draw bar meant the draw bar would be way too long,
if wanted back door clearance as well

[atari4x4]

buzbox wrote:

That's the one.

I want to have 2 x 10L on both sides behind the wheel arch's.

i like the shape of these ones, mini jerry's & they'll fit into those flash adjustable holders of joe's.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Fuel-Can-10- ... 25696ddeb5