"Light" expedition trailer build...

[topdown4runner]

I have a year + build going on with this trailer. I know, small tires. But the thing is light so I can drag it over stuff.
If I find a great deal on some taller 4 lug tires / rims, I'll upgrade then.

This is what I started with over a year ago...



This is what it ended up being at the time, since I had no roof top tent to put on it. Being a cheap build and all, that was all I did. The Wife got sick at the begining of the year, so no attention to the trailer build. Just sat in the back yard.



Picked up a RTT off of craigslist cheap, so getting back to the build. The Wife is nearly done with her treatments, so will be camping again.

Raised & extended the tongue.



Mounted some legs to stabalize it when stationary. Mounted the cargo carrier on a set of long drawer slides to get out from under the RTT when opening.



Will post up more pictures as the build wraps up soon...

 

[G.I.G.]

Great project, keep us posted on your progress.

I hope your wife is doing better!

 

[topdown4runner]

Thanks G I G. She is doing better, just slow to recover. It's been a tough year, so we hope for better things in 2011.

I didn't get the tent mounted last night, but did put some fresh green paint on.
I did the fenders too, but that was after dark so the pics were crappy & got deleted.

 

[G.I.G.]

Very cool. What type of tent are you putting on your trailer?

Do you happen to have a dog that you bring camping with you? I have thought about the roof top tent or one that goes on a trailer, but our dog is part of the family so she sleeps with us and anything with a ladder is a no-go. That's been the only thing that has kept me from a roof top tent, like an Eezi-awn.

 

[topdown4runner]

I don't remember the name of it, but they are out of business now. I'm at work now, so can't just go look. I tried to look them up while I was researching it before I bought it.

The guy I bought it from said it was his brother in laws. It was a sales demo that was never mounted or used.
The brother in law has been dead over 10 years and it was just sitting in his sister's garage. She said to get rid of it.
It does not have a lot of the fancy features of the newer models, like Campinglab's, but it will do for the price

Nope, no dogs, and I don't think the cats would appreciate the camping experience so much.
I take it you have BIG dogs? If they are small, just pick them up and put them in. It is a tent after all, so they should not be just running in and out of the tent anyway.
I have friends who camp with their sheppard. He just sleeps outside and is happy.

 

[topdown4runner]

Bolted the tent to the trailer Wed. night & took some pics.

Still some tweaking to do, but coming along nicely...

 

[Mr. Leary]

Very neat little trailer build. Using the cargo box is brilliant. Looking forward to action shots!

 

[topdown4runner]

Very neat little trailer build. Using the cargo box is brilliant. Looking forward to action shots!

Thanks Mr. Leary!
Thats high praise! I liked reading your trailer build over on Expedtion Portal. Very cool...
How much did it end up weighing un-loaded?

I hope to go get mine weighed this weekend before I put camping stuff in it.

 

[3MPHToy]

VERY cool little build!

 

[Mr. Leary]

Thanks Mr. Leary!
Thats high praise! I liked reading your trailer build over on Expedtion Portal. Very cool...
How much did it end up weighing un-loaded?

I hope to go get mine weighed this weekend before I put camping stuff in it.

I'm not totally sure. I guess I had better run it down to the truck stop and weigh it. My guess is around 600-700 lbs unloaded, and a little over 300lbs of gear with the tent and stuff. I only notice its back there during steep hill climbs.

Please post up with the weight. I know a couple hunters who use little camping trailers behind their quads, anxious to see if the weight is in the same ballpark... < 500lbs loaded.

 

[topdown4runner]

Got the trailer lighting issue straightened out on the 4Runner, re-wired the lights on the trailer. She is now road worthy, and even has a spare tire.

Went for the first run over the weekend.... to the transfer station to get it weighed.

380 lb. empty. No bad.

Here are some more pics... not camping pictures yet... they will be taken this weekend. :cheers:

 

[illzoni]

Very nice setup. I wonder if I could find a tent to adapt for use on my utility trailer.....?????

 

[topdown4runner]

You can buy them all day long new, but they are expensive!!!

I got this one off craigslist for $350, and it was a steal.

I was going to copy a friend of mine's and make my own until I found this one. Saved me tons of time.

 

[Mr. Leary]

Very nice setup. I wonder if I could find a tent to adapt for use on my utility trailer.....?????

All &gt 4x4 & Offroad &gt EXPEDITION > TENTS AND ACCESSORIES - Toyota of Dallas - TRDparts4u accessories for your Toyota car, truck, 4x4 or SUV with Genuine Toyota and offroad specialty parts.

Talk to Jacque or Barb. I have been very impressed by the quality of my Mombasa tent. There are a few cheaper tents out there, but it is kinda hit and miss whether you get a high quality one or just a cheap one. Looks like topdown got lucky. I know a few folks who didn't and ended up having to buy a new tent after a few trips.

As far as mounting the tent, I used some cold rolled bar stock to attach to the rack on my truck bed trailer. Almost all rooftop tents (All Mombasa tents I know for a fact) have sliding attachment points mounted to rails on the bottom of the tent. All you need is something for them to mount to. Notice how topdown mounted his on those support bars.

 

[topdown4runner]

Took the new camper out this weekend. Had a blast ( damn it was cold! )

The 4Runner acted like the camper was not even there. Mission accomplished.

 

[Casper421]

That trailer is freakin sweet!!:bravo: Awesome camp site as well!!:cheers:

 

[Mr. Leary]

That trailer is freakin sweet!!:bravo: Awesome camp site as well!!:cheers:

x2. Very nice setup.

 

[topdown4runner]

Thank you,... thank you very much ( in my best Elvis voice ) :cheers:

 

[illzoni]

You have my head spinning with schemes to use a normal tent on an additional platform on my 5x8 trailer. Of course 8 hours of saddle time on my motorcycle yesterday gave me plenty of contemplation time.

 

[topdown4runner]

My original plan was to build my own tent platform. I even bought some light weight plastic hurricane panels ( 7' X 7' ) to make it with, along with the aluminum I would need. Sourced a 7x7 tent from craigslist for $20 to mount on it.
The Wife got sick, so that went on the back burner.
When I came across the RTT for cheap, I decided the time was worth more than the $, so I bought it and mounted it on the trailer instead of engineering my own.