dazzler
9th Jan 2010, 08:39 PM
Hi all
Just before xmas I managed to finish off my Camper Trailer and used it for three weeks on the nth island. Originally the CT was designed using a ute tub and a camper tent to suit the 1000mm (ish) side height. The trailer was close to complete and with only a month before departure (ferry and accommodation paid for on the nth island) the supplier was unable to supply the tent despite having almost three months to supply.
So we were left without a tent top and the one downside of living in Tassie is the difficulty in sourcing components. The only tent I could purchase and take that day was an Oztrail 7 which suits a std height 6x4. Some quick google sketchup and I decided to use the Oztrail 7 to build a CT suited to our Rav4 (or other SUV)
What I wanted';
1. Compact size (we pay by the metre to cross the ditch to the nth island)
2. Suitable for off road use
3. A rack to carry bulky stuff
4. Seperate storage areas for bedding/clothes, food and kitchen, deflated zodiac boat
5. A bike rack
6. A water tank
I would normally build my trailer from scratch but was running out of time. Kings Trailers in Hobart had a 6 x 4 that would suit the build with a couple of modifications. It had a 75x50x3mm drawbar, 40x40x2mm chassis, treadplate floor and light guards and sides. I had them fit full eye to eye springs and leave off the tailgate so I could build a swinging one. I also supplied my own new light truck tyres on new white spoked rims.
Once home I test fitted the tent to see that it was ok;
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq249/dazzler1966/AWDCamperTrailerforupload-01.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq249/dazzler1966/AWDCamperTrailerforupload-02.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq249/dazzler1966/AWDCamperTrailerforupload-03.jpg
And then started work on the supports for the rack using 40x40x1.6mm shs;
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq249/dazzler1966/AWDCamperTrailerforupload-04.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq249/dazzler1966/AWDCamperTrailerforupload-05.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq249/dazzler1966/AWDCamperTrailerforupload-06.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq249/dazzler1966/AWDCamperTrailerforupload-08.jpg
I did the same on the LH side and then similar at the front. Forgot to take shots at the front but basically there is a full width 40x40x2mm shs that ties into the front of the trailer to spread the load across the trailer. (there is a shot of it here running behind the front panel of the trailer)
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq249/dazzler1966/AWDCamperTrailerforupload-21.jpg
Just before xmas I managed to finish off my Camper Trailer and used it for three weeks on the nth island. Originally the CT was designed using a ute tub and a camper tent to suit the 1000mm (ish) side height. The trailer was close to complete and with only a month before departure (ferry and accommodation paid for on the nth island) the supplier was unable to supply the tent despite having almost three months to supply.
So we were left without a tent top and the one downside of living in Tassie is the difficulty in sourcing components. The only tent I could purchase and take that day was an Oztrail 7 which suits a std height 6x4. Some quick google sketchup and I decided to use the Oztrail 7 to build a CT suited to our Rav4 (or other SUV)
What I wanted';
1. Compact size (we pay by the metre to cross the ditch to the nth island)
2. Suitable for off road use
3. A rack to carry bulky stuff
4. Seperate storage areas for bedding/clothes, food and kitchen, deflated zodiac boat
5. A bike rack
6. A water tank
I would normally build my trailer from scratch but was running out of time. Kings Trailers in Hobart had a 6 x 4 that would suit the build with a couple of modifications. It had a 75x50x3mm drawbar, 40x40x2mm chassis, treadplate floor and light guards and sides. I had them fit full eye to eye springs and leave off the tailgate so I could build a swinging one. I also supplied my own new light truck tyres on new white spoked rims.
Once home I test fitted the tent to see that it was ok;
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq249/dazzler1966/AWDCamperTrailerforupload-01.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq249/dazzler1966/AWDCamperTrailerforupload-02.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq249/dazzler1966/AWDCamperTrailerforupload-03.jpg
And then started work on the supports for the rack using 40x40x1.6mm shs;
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq249/dazzler1966/AWDCamperTrailerforupload-04.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq249/dazzler1966/AWDCamperTrailerforupload-05.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq249/dazzler1966/AWDCamperTrailerforupload-06.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq249/dazzler1966/AWDCamperTrailerforupload-08.jpg
I did the same on the LH side and then similar at the front. Forgot to take shots at the front but basically there is a full width 40x40x2mm shs that ties into the front of the trailer to spread the load across the trailer. (there is a shot of it here running behind the front panel of the trailer)
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq249/dazzler1966/AWDCamperTrailerforupload-21.jpg