[PJ.zook]

Looking good so far! Keep posting up the pics.

[luhrsy]

Hurry up I wanna steal this for a weekend!

[Luhrsy68]

Stephen - I too agree my shape is less work than Keiths. The rounded shape is made by putting several small cuts through the first 3 layers of ply (I think welders call this filleting) and then using epoxy and fibreglass to fill and strengthen the curve. This actually makes his van significantly stronger than mine. The outer skin on both vans is 1mm plate alloy. The walls and floor are 15mm ply and the roof and bulkhead for the kitchen is 12mm ply. The standard 2400 x 1200 sheets are what has limited us in both width and internal space. We are toying with the idea of building two more when we get back from the Cape with a wider 1500mm body for more interior sleeping space but the added weight is no good for Sierras and we are very consious of that.

Luhrsy (Son) - You will have to wait till after our trip to get a go.

[jonno_racing]

Love it!
what is the measurements of the sleeping mattress

[atari4x4]

these bring a whole new level of awesome, keep the updates coming.

[Luhrsy68]

sierrajim - Unladen weight approx 350kg. Total maximum weight approx 750kg.
jonno_racing - Mattress by Ikea (Futon) size 1850mm x 1200mm fits perfectly and folds in two with a zipper so we can still carry chairs, tables without putting on mattress.

[Scales]

+1 To making a cutting list/plans etc and sell the disks to people on here/ebay/wherever.

[atari4x4]

Luhrsy68 wrote:

sierrajim - Unladen weight approx 350kg. Total maximum weight approx 750kg.

that's WAY over the sierra's towing capacity especially once the sierra is loaded... hell the vitara is only legally allowed to tow 450kgs, braked & unbraked.

[shep]

Sierra is max 450kg even if braked which is one of the reasons my camper has brakes. I reckon the ply trailers will be ok except I wouldn't be useing slipper springs.

Awesome concept and i reckon they take Sierra campers to a new level.

[zookprojectfnq]

X2 on the slipper springs. My old man ran trucks up and down there for 20 years, and one of the body trucks had a Hiab and he was forever bringing home trailers with broken slippers springs and axle stubs that had collapsed bearings with chewed shafts. Please take at leased one spare Hub with bearings and a spare complete spring and definetly a spare set of U bolts and a thread file. Most people bolt the spare spring to the a frame and use the hub with grease bearings to mount the spare.

[missmyljdaze]

zookprojectfnq wrote:

X2 on the slipper springs. My old man ran trucks up and down there for 20 years, and one of the body trucks had a Hiab and he was forever bringing home trailers with broken slippers springs and axle stubs that had collapsed bearings with chewed shafts. Please take at leased one spare Hub with bearings and a spare complete spring and definetly a spare set of U bolts and a thread file. Most people bolt the spare spring to the a frame and use the hub with grease bearings to mount the spare.

A workmate of mine bought an old trailer that had a single centre drawbar, the trailer had a hard to find rattle - turned out to be a spare axle stashed inside the hollow drawbar.
A timber block at each end had died of old age- letting the hidden spare axle rattle around.

Top marks for thinking of places to store spares!

[zukenutter]

These are fantastic. I had drawn plans for a teardrop before deciding to go down the traditional camper trailer format, mainly do to wind drag.

[Luhrsy68]

I guess we will have to get them weighed prior to the trip and see how heavy they actually are..
The doors installed after sides fixed into position

[Luhrsy68]

The lower plate fitted

[Luhrsy68]

Just tail lights, mud guards, finishing strips, roof cage and jerry can holders to go, then rego.

[zukenutter]

Planning to install a rooftop awning?

[Luhrsy68]

Probably just a rolled up tarp initially with two tent poles over the kitchen area in case of rain.

[Luhrsy68]

OK after some clarification from my cousin the weight of the camper fully laden will be approx 350kg and the unladen weight should be approx 220kg. I had the figures arsed up. Anyhow we will be good to go in June.
zookprojectfnq - Great idea to carry a spare set of springs bearings etc.. I sure would not want to be caught short on the way north.
Thanks for the feedback
Luhrsy

[sierrajim]

Could also just be the pics, the tyres look very close to the body.

Body roll, bush wear etc could damage tyres pretty quick.

Nice job though, how much bed length do you have?

[Luhrsy68]

Black finishing strips fitted and tail lights soldered (thanks Scooter)

[Luhrsy68]

Rear view

[Luhrsy68]

From the front - jerry can and box to be fixed to draw bar

[Luhrsy68]

Sierrajim - I think we have enough space between tyre and body. (Hope so anyway) I only have to get the guards on and then rego. The bed size is 1850mm long and 1170mm wide. Just enough to sleep in as I'm 1820 long and my feet rest on the inside of the bulk head. Looking forward to getting this completed and then we can work on finishing my cousins' before Easter.

[VITFan]

how hot does it get in there? is it insulated or anything like that?

[Luhrsy68]

We have installed vents which have a fan built in.
Dad an Keith working on his van

[Luhrsy68]

The cuts to ensure the ply bends easily

[Luhrsy68]

These are to be filled with epoxy and then glassed

[Luhrsy68]

The rear all squared up

[Luhrsy68]

Hatch for fan and vent cut into roof

[Luhrsy68]

Keith's boss trying the camper on