Dirtco’s Camping Trailer - Version 1.2
- Thread starter Dirtco
- Start date
Dirtco
New member
Dirtco
New member
Thanks man!
It's tall enough to stand under, but only by a few inches. I wanted to get it a little taller but there was a sweet spot that it needed to be in to still allow the tent window to function when the awning is not in use. The ARB awning sets in the void between the tent window, and the prop for the mini window awning. For the most part, I'll be hanging out in a camp chair while I'm under it and there is still room to cook, etc while standing. I still to try it out in real world conditions, but in the shop it seemed fine.
shootmymime
New member
Thanks guys! I really appreciate the kind words!
Well I can change that. Your trailer is ugly, give it to me! :wink:
Dirtco
New member
I bought a fridge for the trailer that will also serve double duty in the back of the 4Runner (at times) when the trailer is not in use. I’ve wanted a fridge for the trailer for a while, but I had a hard time justifying the cost, and the slide out on the trailer is smaller than most of the fridges out there. Then I saw the Ironman 4x4 fridges, and that the 30L model would fit the slide out perfect!
Ironman 4x4 Fridge
It was still more than I wanted to spend at $585.00 on Sierra Expeditions.
Ironman 4x4 Ice Cube Fridge Freezer 30L
Then, I was cruising around Expedition Portal and ran into this thread:
Truck Fridge sale. Prices only visible in checkout. - Expedition Portal
The same exact fridge for $399, from what I can tell it’s identical and uses all the same components. It says that it’s $479, but once you put it in your cart the price drops to $399. I was sold, you can spend a couple hundred dollars on a nice ice cooler. After all the ice I’ve bought, and all the food that has been ruined due to water contamination or getting warm, it should pay for itself down the road!
TruckFridge Model: TF31 - Portable Model
It’s a little small but the main use will be for food while I’m camping, and I don’t have to worry about ice and water taking up room inside the fridge. I’ll have another cooler with ice in the truck or back of the trailer for beverages; it’s not critical for that stuff to be kept cold and I can always cycle out a couple drinks in the fridge once the ice melts.
Here’s a couple pictures after I got it out of the box, after letting it set for a couple hours (so the refrigerant could settle from shipping) I fired it up and it took less than half an hour to go from 65 to 28 degrees. That works for me! Does anyone want some popsicles and ice cream on the trail?
It just fits on the slide out, almost like I planned it that way. I need to make some tie downs for it and wire an outlet.
Ironman 4x4 Fridge
It was still more than I wanted to spend at $585.00 on Sierra Expeditions.
Ironman 4x4 Ice Cube Fridge Freezer 30L
Then, I was cruising around Expedition Portal and ran into this thread:
Truck Fridge sale. Prices only visible in checkout. - Expedition Portal
The same exact fridge for $399, from what I can tell it’s identical and uses all the same components. It says that it’s $479, but once you put it in your cart the price drops to $399. I was sold, you can spend a couple hundred dollars on a nice ice cooler. After all the ice I’ve bought, and all the food that has been ruined due to water contamination or getting warm, it should pay for itself down the road!
TruckFridge Model: TF31 - Portable Model
It’s a little small but the main use will be for food while I’m camping, and I don’t have to worry about ice and water taking up room inside the fridge. I’ll have another cooler with ice in the truck or back of the trailer for beverages; it’s not critical for that stuff to be kept cold and I can always cycle out a couple drinks in the fridge once the ice melts.
Here’s a couple pictures after I got it out of the box, after letting it set for a couple hours (so the refrigerant could settle from shipping) I fired it up and it took less than half an hour to go from 65 to 28 degrees. That works for me! Does anyone want some popsicles and ice cream on the trail?
It just fits on the slide out, almost like I planned it that way. I need to make some tie downs for it and wire an outlet.
Jon
New member
Ok Dirtco, send me that trailer and I will give you my 4Runner! Tow that bad boy around behind this. LOL
I wish I was good at Photoshop!
That is ONE sick build of a trailer and Ive been tossing the idea around for a while. Don't know how I've missed this build. I run right by a legit military off-road trailer every day on the customary 36.5's and I just want to see it hooked to my rig. I'm still good with sleeping on the ground, but I'd like to free up space in my shrinking 4Runner.
I'd name and explain why I like EVERYTHING that you've done with it but you forgot Sat TV so....... Next mod right?!
But fo real tho.. I'll trade one of my kid for that trailer!
I wish I was good at Photoshop!
That is ONE sick build of a trailer and Ive been tossing the idea around for a while. Don't know how I've missed this build. I run right by a legit military off-road trailer every day on the customary 36.5's and I just want to see it hooked to my rig. I'm still good with sleeping on the ground, but I'd like to free up space in my shrinking 4Runner.
I'd name and explain why I like EVERYTHING that you've done with it but you forgot Sat TV so....... Next mod right?!
But fo real tho.. I'll trade one of my kid for that trailer!
Dirtco
New member
Thanks! That was the main point of building the trailer, to get the camping gear out of the 4Runner and make the whole camping process easier. I really wanted to be able to pack up some clothes, hook up the trailer, pick up my supplies (Gas, food, wood, etc), and hit the road. It's nice not having all that crap bouncing around inside the truck and once you figure in my daughter and the dog riding along, I hardly have room for any camping gear.
No TV for me, everything I have done was to make the trailer easier to get out of town and more comfortable/easier once I get to camp. But, I'm still sleeping in a tent out in the woods; I don't have a generator, TV, AC, etc. Everything on this trailer is what your normal tent camper would have (there might be a couple exceptions
), it's just based around a trailer instead having everything thrown in the back of a truck.
limamike
New member
Dirtco - awesome trailer! I'm building-up a Ruger that I bought, and my first main project is to install an aux battery in the trailer so that it can be self-sufficient for a bit. My plan was to use one of these guys to keep the battery topped-off while driving. I simply planned to tap the 12V aux line running out of my 7-pin to charge. But, now that I've seen your shore power setup I'm thinking about running the 12V setup and a 120V setup.
I looked through your build thread here and the one on Yotatech, and I didn't see many details about the power system. Do you have any recommendations based on how your system is setup?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
I looked through your build thread here and the one on Yotatech, and I didn't see many details about the power system. Do you have any recommendations based on how your system is setup?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Dirtco
New member
Thank you sir! Your right, I didn't really get into the 12 volt charging system off the truck and to the trailer. To start out I have two trailer plugs, one is a standard 4way flat for the lights, the other is the aux plug that has the reverse light, rock lights, and battery charge wire. I did this because I have 7 circuits and no trailer brakes, if I needed to pull the trailer with another vehicle that had a trailer brake system, I did not want it sending voltage to something other than brakes (lights, etc).
Now for the battery charge wire. (For reference, both my batteries are Die Hard Platinum's, and I don't discharge the trailer battery much below the trucks battery level)
I also looked into the link you have for the Toad-Charge, but after doing some research I felt it wasn't really required for my application. Read this thread: Trailer - Light Charging Wire - Expedition Portal
I have a 4 gauge wire going from the trucks battery to under driver seat where my amp is mounted, from there it goes to a distribution block where an 8 gauge wire goes to the amp and another goes to the rear cargo area where I have an aux fuse block.
From the fuse block I ran a 12 gauge (I think) wire to a HD switch in the cargo area. (Just below and to the left of the fire ext. in this picture). From there the wire runs through the plug and directly to the trailer battery.
Dirtco
New member
A couple small updates...
The handle on the firebox box was super light duty, and I was never a fan of it. So I built one that was a little more heavy duty.
I used to tie a trash bag to the side of trailer, but I got sick of the thing making noise in the wind during the middle of the night. I also figured it was only a matter of time before some little rodent made a hole in the trash bag and got inside. So I got a Trasharoo; it works perfect with my new handle, and overall should be a better setup.
And I installed a real bottle opener!
The handle on the firebox box was super light duty, and I was never a fan of it. So I built one that was a little more heavy duty.
I used to tie a trash bag to the side of trailer, but I got sick of the thing making noise in the wind during the middle of the night. I also figured it was only a matter of time before some little rodent made a hole in the trash bag and got inside. So I got a Trasharoo; it works perfect with my new handle, and overall should be a better setup.
And I installed a real bottle opener!
Dirtco
New member
With a fridge in the trailer I wanted a solar panel, mainly to extend the amount of time between charges. I don't have enough room for the 60-80 watt panels needed to make the trailer self sufficient, but the 20 watt panel should help, and pretty much run the fridge as long as the panel has sun.
There is only one spot where I could install a panel, and that was next to the tent on the top of the trailer. I had always wanted to bedline that upper diamond plate section (mainly for looks), but I didn't want the top of the trailer that gets direct sunlight to be black. The diamond plate reflects sunlight and heat a lot better than flat black, and when the fridge is directly below that panel it makes a difference in how hard the compressor has to work. But the new solar panel will cover most of that panel and there will be an air gap below it, so I hit it with some Dupli-Color bed liner. I also added a crossbar to protect the panel from getting bumped, or rocks from the 4Runner tires hitting it.
There is only one spot where I could install a panel, and that was next to the tent on the top of the trailer. I had always wanted to bedline that upper diamond plate section (mainly for looks), but I didn't want the top of the trailer that gets direct sunlight to be black. The diamond plate reflects sunlight and heat a lot better than flat black, and when the fridge is directly below that panel it makes a difference in how hard the compressor has to work. But the new solar panel will cover most of that panel and there will be an air gap below it, so I hit it with some Dupli-Color bed liner. I also added a crossbar to protect the panel from getting bumped, or rocks from the 4Runner tires hitting it.
Dirtco
New member
Since I had the bedliner out I also hit the leading edge of the fenders with several heavy coats. I had recoated them before my last trip, and you can see how bad one or two trips tear them up. We'll see how well it holds up, I really don't think it helps that I like to play "Baja race car driver" and get the 4Runner and trailer sideways through corners! (Only when appropriate, of course! )
Before
After
)Before
After
LINY4Runner
New member
This thing is brilliant. I will build one. I have absolutely no use for it. But I want one. That is all.
bob3dsf
New member
Color me impressed along with everyone else. I'm encouraged to know you taught yourself welding. I'm interested in learning that as well. I've been wanting to for quite a while now and figured I ought to just get a welder and start building weird stuff for practice. I understand that for doing any real structural work that a 240v unit should be used. What type of welder did you start with?
I cannot speak for Jeremiah here, but I welded for MANY years back home on trailers and used a Miller 110. It works great for this type of activity.
Dirtco
New member
My first welder was a Lincoln 120v and it served it's purpose well. I still have it and use it for smaller stuff, or when the shop welder is down. If you can afford a larger welder I would buy that, it's easier to use and you will not have to upgrade down the road (and you will want to, trust me). You could build a simple trailer with a smaller welder (with some practice), but if you plan to build your own axle or weld anything over 3/16" you will want a good full size welder. It's an investment and you get what you pay for, I have saved thousands of dollars by building my own stuff and not buying it.
