A few more with the Frame coming together

 

This trailer will set the off road group on its ear I think. Nothing like
it. The only problem is the width, so it will most likely become a base
camp trailer, capable of any road, but to wide for some trails. Still a
slight bit narrower than the FJ, but not as trail worth as my expedition
trailers.

I should have walls done today, they are being bent at All Pro. I am
stopping at Stellar trailers today to look at the fiberglass pannels. If
they are what I want I will order them Thursday with a one week turn around.

The water tanks are under the trailer, and will have access from inside the trailer, under a trap door.
22 gallons of water at axle level will help stability of the trailer for sure.
I am very excited about this trailer.

 

Wow. This has all the hallmarks of his earlier work but taken in a slighly more basecamp direction (as he noted). I like it. Can't wait to see the final product!

EDIT: So... what are we looking at so far for overall length, width, height? Just ballpark measurements...

 

EDIT: So... what are we looking at so far for overall length, width, height? Just ballpark measurements...

So the base of the frame where the box sits is 51"x99"
The total width including the grid platforms is 80"
From end to end the length is 161"
Yes, it is a solid base camp trailer with over 24" of ground clearence
(more than the FJ)

 

Trailer is coming along quite well. Waiting on some parts to put in, stove, water heater, shower.
The tanks are in and set under the floor.
The back wall is up, but have noticed a correction needed on the roof.
Will have to cut the front cross member and move it forward 1/5 inch.

The wiring will be the next project, speaker wires for outdoor speaker,
upper marker lights, porch light, outside lights, and interrior lights.

 

Stopped in at the "Skersfan Compound" and am amazed at the progress Bob has made in such a short amount of time. Just stand back and let'er rip!

Picked up plywood for the walls and roof today, picked up hot water heater.
Should have the shower, water heater door, stove and sink tomorrow. Hope to
have them in by tomorrow nite. I have not heard from the glass guys for the
walls, so will give them a call tomorrow.

 

The guy has a serious problem... :lol:

 

Ruby red Squirt, my number one addiction. Love the stuff and now they sell it in California, after 5 years of begging them to bring it in. It is still like gold here, gone the instant it hits the shelf. Stater says they can not keep it on the shelf!!!!

 

Anymore updates or pics before TOTH? Any ideal of selling price? This would be perfect of the Alaska trip!!

 

Here are more pics as Bob is moving at the Space shuttle speed. He thinks its too big for the trails and wants to call it "OURAY BASE CAMP". A little too early for any pricing questions. Will advise.
I think it will go on 98% of the trails most of would actually go on with our FJs.

Skersfan builds them up for the HAMMERS. He is going to put on everything but the kitchen.............oh wait. He has one of those on there too.

 

Ouray Base Camp, Space Shuttle, Shuttle Pod. No matter what the name, she looks like she is almost ready to take off.
Top and front panels installed along with the fenders.

Lights and speakers and handles installed.

 

That is awesome looking!
Curious to how the sleeping setup will look.

 

Amazing, and it only took how long to get to this point?? When Bob say's its to big for the trails, can you clarify that? Too tall, long, departure angles? How does this compare in size the the SOCAl tear drops? :bouncy:

 

Bob is amazing. Whenever he sets his mind to something, he attacks it with fervor. Knowing his history and personality, this will be a top rate trailer when it's all done. I got some early pics from Bob and may add some photos later. This isn't a home built trailer. It's very professional.

 

Hey guys thanks for the positive comments and thanks to motordrive for putting this together. Just do not have time for it with work and building this.

overall length tip to tail 161 inches. Height is just under 7 foot and width is 80 inches.

It is structually strong enough to go anywhere. But due to the width, trails like the Rubicon, John Bull and others would be off limits. Towing it up imogene or engineer in Ouray would be no problem. I weighed it this morning and it hit the scale at 1400 pounds with 20 gallons of water on board. My guess fully loaded it will hit 2000 and the axles is set at 2700.

It seems easier to tow than the box expedition trailers and I am thinking it is because of the nose on the trailer. Less wind drag. I hope to find that out by gas mileage.

I have towed it around and it will stay arrow straight at 90 miles and hour. It tows in the narrowest of drive thrus. I have not had it off road yet.

Layonn, it has a tempurpedic type mattress in it. and the whole front is the bedroom like any tear drop. Memory foam is 8 inches thick.

I will try to get some pictures of the back to you guys tonight. I built the door and now have to skin it with the fiberglass.

Still a lot of work to do on it. But it is pretty quick to build compared to the box expedition trailers. And more cost affective for the builder as far as time committed.

Sleeping is a 75 inch by 48 inche area. It will have stereo, TV and lights inside. I am putting a Restava memory foam mattress in it. That will make it seem wider due to the fact that you normally do not move around much on that type of mattress.

It is wired for air conditioning with heat strip, but that is out of my budget at the moment. I am waiting on ARB awning to finish it. The top will be rubber like the new motor homes and trailers. Want to be sure to tie it all intogether and not have to take the awning off.

I will be able to work on it a little tomorrow I hope, but then I am off to Utah for ten days. I will follow the thread while on vacation when possible, so if there are any other questions don't hesitate to ask.

 

Got back this morning and have worked on it most of the day. The back door is nearly finished, with trim and seal. Still have to do the bottom of it, but will pick us some alluminum angle for the bottom. ARB awning will not get here until after the 25th, so I am starting on the top as we speak. Have a good start, will hopefully finish it tonight and have it at the linex shop in the morning. Screwed up on the tire carrier, as I had the trailer setting sideways in the garage, it has a forwar slant for water to run out so I welded the main bar slightly crooked, will fix it tonight also. May have time to work on it tomorrow if possible.

Still have the 120 wiring and some 12 volt to do. Trying to decide if it needs a center license plate holder with light. I am beginning to think the back is to blagh for me.

Will check on the graphics for it tomorrow also. They will come as standard feature, and will be color matched to the tow vehicle. Still have some plumbing left, but after tonight I should be able to use it if necessary.

There are things on it that will be changed on the production/sale model. Just things that I do not like, but wanted to get the basic idea out to try and see how it all works.

I am putting foam rubber on the roof for insullation. It is high quality and supposed to last 30 years, I will have rolled it several times by then would be my guess.

Any comments or ideas would be greatly appreciated. I had planned on out side water access, but the wife nixed that idea. May put a single fauce for draining the tanks quickly. I have not figured out the plumbing for the sink yet. May use a small holding tank in the bottom or try to figure one out under the trailer.

Still have stereo to wire and install, TV cable to run and acces from outside to it. Will pick up CB for it and a flag holder.

 

Since Bob was kind enough to share the latest pics I'll return the favor by posting them up for him.

By this point the bedliner had been applied and all the protective plastic had been peeled off the outer skin so this thing's really looking sharp. I'm really digging the serious BASE-CAMP nature of the build. Water, twin generators, recessed lighting, outdoor speakers, CB Radio, and an 8-inch thick memory foam mattress?.. My apartment should be so well appointed (I just have track lighting).

:hitit:
Don't know about the rest of you, but I'm looking forward to seeing the completed kitchen and interior, some vinyl graphics splashed down the front and sides (color-coordinated to his truck, of course), and this thing set up at an outdoor location with the ARB awning deployed. :cheers:
Any suggestions on a design for the back door?

 

What do you think the weight of this guy will be, or have you had a chance to get it weighed?!? (sorry if i missed it so far )

Also, was about to ask if you plan to have or will have the option of adding shocks and then i looked at the rear axle and got super confused expecting to see leaf springs, haha.

This "looks" like a portal axle. But from the pic, there are no leaf springs. Is it some kind of torsion bar setup inside the housing?!? What is the weight capacity of the axle as well?!?

 

What is the fabric-y nature of what we're seeing here?

 

Could be insulation because he stated his intention to have an A/C & Heating unit at some point. Haven't heard yet about the possibilty of skidplates, but this hasn't been a half-@$$ build so far...

 

Certainly not! And not my implication, just wondering...

 

No worries, tibaal. I wasn't thinking that you were thinking that I was thinking that you were thinking that anyway... :lol:

My comment was just my silly/sarcastic way of saying 'I wonder just how far this thing can go?' At this point it would hardly surprise me to see him plumb race-car air jacks to a CO2 bottle and adapt them for the self-leveling of this thing!

Hmmm... Now that is an idea. :up_to_something:

:cheers:

 

Well I have the mattress in and a lot of the wiring wrapped up. Mattress makes the trailer, I found a like mattress called Restava, cheaper and they would cut it and fit it with a cover for a lot less than the tempurpedic. It feels the same and has a longer warranty.

Stereo is in, but having some problems with it. Taking it to best buy in the morning. Picking up new charge controller tomorrow and in house battery charger. All wiring for it is done, just have to plug that puppy in.

Hope to take it to several events in the next month.

 

Adding a few more pics from skersfan today...

Interior work...

The stereo, electrical outlets, and tempurpedic mattress...

Drip rails...

Checking the light footprint...

:cheers:

 

Skerfan - You are a mad man and I mean that in the best way possible. This is a kick-butt base camper.

My shins and knee caps hurt just looking at those steel corners. Are you thinking of putting any kind of bumper on them?

 

Very nice and functional looking. I have been thinking about a base camp/dog trailer. Seeing this may just inspire me to give it a try.

Again, VERY NICE.:bigthumb:

 

I love how well he uses space.

 

That's a really nice design. I see what you mean about the way you tied your frame together. I can't wait to see it in person. I like the design better than most of the teardrop trailers I have seen. It looks like you have more head space above you
Great job :cheers:

 

Again, Thanks, Tony and Don for all the positive comments. I know how meticulous you both are, so your comments mean a lot.

I plan to market this trailer, I will be filing a LLC in the next couple of days, setting the web site and applying to the forum for information on being a vendor.

I need to finish this thing in the next couple of days, so back to work.

 

That is beautiful! You should be very successful with that design. That is the best expedition type trailer I have seen yet. I would be right at home in it. Almost too nice for the type of camping I'm used to.... ALMOST!

:cheers: