Shonky's Camper Trailer Build-up [The maiden voyage!]

[OffRoadDave]

Here's a few shots of my current camper trailer build-up, it all started when I was looking round at camper trailers and I found the cost camper trailer mobs were asking to build these things seemed a little on the expensive side, so I figured I'd have a crack at building my own.

I looked around for prices on tents to suit the trailer and these also seemed pricey too until I came across an importer at the caravan and camper show at Caufield racecourse a few weeks back, they had their tent there on sale at $2300 and I thought to myself it aint a bad price, then something in my head clicked and I thought I'd seen these same tents on Ebay so I headed home after a few hours looking round the show and checked out Ebay and sure enough it was there for auction, the same tent, so I figured what the hell, I'll have a crack at the auction.

Long story short, I won the auction and got it for $1675 plus $70 shipping, this left me with a big grin and so the camper project begins in earnest.

So after a few days of researching suspension and pricing, I decided just off road leaf springs would do the job, while I liked the independant setups I just could see the need, so I ordered all the bits I needed, electric brakes, axle, LC hub drums, springs, hangers etc.

Anyway, here is today's effort (excuse the quality of the phone pics), about 7 hours work up to this stage.

[Matty R]

Nice work, looking foward to the rest of the build

[TassieXJ]

Looking good, cant wait for more

[OffRoadDave]

Today I finished off the steelwork on the trailer, had to modify the rear of the trailer to lift up the the water tank, where I initially planned for it to be mounted was not really high enough above the ground so I chopped out the rear and moved the tank mounts up 50mm so it sits between the chassis rails rather than below them. Once I got that out of the way I gave it a lick of charcoal hammertone with the spray gun.

I've also begun work on the aluminium tub that goes on top, but I forgot to grab a photo of it so that will have to wait.

[Deadly GU]

Top work there mate I'm planning on building my own camper trailer in the not to distant future, so i'll be keeping an eye on this thread for sure
Cheers.....Dave

[patrol4500]

Nice work mate, you sure don't muck about. I will be watching this with interest.

Cheers, Dan.

[royboy]

Looks good mate. I cant get over some of the prices they charge for campers and all the options. Good on you for having a go. Will watch with interest.

[Green Rodeo]

I really admire people that can do this sort of work.

Should be a great project to keep an eye on.

[OffRoadDave]

Thanks for the kind words guys, hopefully info in this thread will help others get the urge to get out and build their own.

Here's some shots of the treadplate aluminium tub I'm fabricating to sit on the trailer.

Still a fair bit more work to do on this, have to finish off the rear and work out what I'm going to do for a kitchen area, fridge area, still need to cut in doors in front of the mud guards to allow access into the front of the trailer, plus a bunch of other stuff that I'm sure I'll dream up in the not too distant future.

[Deadly GU]

Awsome stuff mate Is there going to be any frame work inside the tub to stiffen it up? What size aluminuim tread plate are you using?
Cheers.................Dave

[OffRoadDave]

Originally Posted by Deadly GU

Awsome stuff mate Is there going to be any frame work inside the tub to stiffen it up? What size aluminium tread plate are you using?
Cheers.................Dave

Cheers, at this stage I don't think it will need any framework other than what will be needed to support the bed board, once the back corners and a strip across the bottom are welded in place it will stiffen up immensely, so far it's all 2mm tread plate, but the uprights I need to put in at the back will probably be 3mm as they need to support the weight of the door and kitchen that will swing out with the door.

I will be setting up the door/kitchen so that when it is closed it will be sitting on some teflon skids fixed to the floor so that the hinge won't have to carry the weight of it all while in motion.

[PajAdam]

Despite the name there's nothin shonky about that mate ..- I have been mulling a very similar design for ages now and had a couple of aspects i hadn't figured out yet. I hope you don't mind if i use a couple of your ideas.

Keep the pics coming mate.

[steveandviv]

yea, we need more pics - hurry up will ya :-)

[Deadly GU]

Mate, just wondering what size RHS you used for the chassis?
Cheers........Dave

[bop smoo]

Looks like 50 x 75 x 2.5 or 3mm and 50 x 50 x (id say ) 3mm.

Come on Dave you should know that.

Good built mate, watch deadly, i think he is sniffing out another bargin.

Keep up the good work.

[Deadly GU]

Originally Posted by bop smoo

Looks like 50 x 75 x 2.5 or 3mm and 50 x 50 x (id say ) 3mm.

Come on Dave you should know that.

Good built mate, watch deadly, i think he is sniffing out another bargin.

Keep up the good work.

Yeeeeaaaaah, i was just making sure Dan
Not this time Dan , although it never hurts to keep an eye out for things, you never know what sort of bargins you can get

[Green Rodeo]

Is the wheel track the same width as the tow vehicle's?

[OffRoadDave]

Originally Posted by PajAdam

Despite the name there's nothin shonky about that mate ..- I have been mulling a very similar design for ages now and had a couple of aspects i hadn't figured out yet. I hope you don't mind if i use a couple of your ideas.

Cheers for that Paj, my intention that the trailer would be near on bullet proof, last thing I want to happen is break the drawbar off it when I'm hundreds of ks from the nearest welder. Pinch ideas all you like, if some likes what they see and they reckon they can put it to use on their own project that is fine by me.

Originally Posted by Deadly GU

Mate, just wondering what size RHS you used for the chassis?

boppa is on the money, main rails are 75x50x3mm, and the spreaders are 50x50x3mm. I've also used 6mm plates on the outside of the mitre where the A frame joins the side rails.

Originally Posted by Green Rodeo

Is the wheel track the same width as the tow vehicle's?

Indeed it is, that is why it may look a little narrow to some, it matches up with the D22 Navara, I've also covered the wheels with the guards by a fair margin to allow for a wider vehicle in future and I can just try to match it up by using wider offset rims. The rims on it atm are 10mm positive offset so I can push out a fair way if the need arises.

[OffRoadDave]

Spent another couple of days work on trailer, slow progress at the moment which is driving me nuts, lots of thinking before cutting going on but if it saves me blowing away $$$ in aluminium sheet, it's worth it.

Got some doors cut in to the trailer now, and the kitchen is in progress, also fabricated the shelves that the 2 Waeco CF-35's will sit in.

[DoctorI]

That looks anything but shonky.
Keep up the good work and keep thinking.

Doctor I