DIY Camper Trailers

Submitted: Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 14:43

ThreadID: 37777 Views:14718 Replies:6 FollowUps:16

This Thread has been Archived

oldbaz

Just reading all the moaning about the cost of caravans ,campertrailers etc in a recent post leads me to tell you that my DIY campertrailer will be on the road, (& off it) registered, insured, kitchened, carpeted,Tregged, toolboxed, tarped & annexed, for under $5500. Yes the trailer is new, & yes the camper top is probably
Chinese, & yes I built the kichen (for under $100), & I do admit the annex was once part of a Primus Tent.
My point is please look at the available options & consider the time you are going to spend in the thing. How you justify those $20k plus setups unless you live in the thing is beyond me. Mine has all the attributes of the $10k jobs & set me back
about half that, & I am only your average DIY bloke , but twice as miserable with a
buck when I cant see the value. I am more than happy to share the details with anyone interested enough to ask.
Regards... Baz.

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: fisho64 - Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 15:13

Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 15:13

where did you get the camper top from? Do you have some photos available? I have been looking around for something to use with the family, but need something a good size as we have 5 kids under 7 (last one born friday nite) and want to start doing those sort of things again in about 6 months to a years time.
Been thinking about getting a top and doing the rest myself?

AnswerID: 194928

Follow Up By: oldbaz - Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 15:29

Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 15:29

fisho64, Hi, I got the campertop on the "DREADED" Ebay, it is an Oztrail Camper
9 & may be a little cramped for your brood. I believe they make a larger version
as well. Google Oztrail for details or try www.australianoutbacksupplies.com.au.
Photos available there. Campertop must be matched to trailer height, so check that out. Mate, with that breeding regime you need a bloody holiday, (and your
good lady too, of course. Regards..Baz.

FollowupID: 452982

Follow Up By: Member - Bware (Tweed Valley) - Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 16:55

Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 16:55

Fisho64, congrats on your new addition.
Perhaps you need to look at something like this LOL http://www.nafeco.com/trailers/elmore/large/elmore_trailer.jpg

FollowupID: 452993

Follow Up By: Member - Bware (Tweed Valley) - Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 16:57

Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 16:57

Hmm, why didn't the link work?http://www.nafeco.com/trailers/elmore/large/elmore_trailer.jpg

FollowupID: 452994

Follow Up By: Member - Bware (Tweed Valley) - Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 17:03

Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 17:03

This? www.nafeco.com/trailers/home.aspx

FollowupID: 452996

Follow Up By: fisho64 - Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 17:34

Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 17:34

HAHA, thought you were serious there for a minute, I think either the "Department Support Unit" or better still the "Mobile Command Centre" would be the go!

Seriously, we will probably end up with a camper plus an extra tent or zip-on annex, as when go camping we probably wont be moving around. Got to rent one and do a couple of weekends I think first

FollowupID: 453002

Follow Up By: JJ - Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 20:18

Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 20:18

fisho64, how about this? copied from a post on here a while ago...

http://www.kookynet.net/media/IMG1238%20INSOLITE%20bus%20&%tentes%20de%20toit%2064pix1.jpg

hope this works. I don't know how to shorten it!

FollowupID: 453032

Follow Up By: fisho64 - Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 20:37

Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 20:37

cut and pasted that but it comes back as
"Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand."

FollowupID: 453040

Follow Up By: JJ - Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 21:07

Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 21:07

http://www.kookynet.net/media/IMGP1238%20INSOLITE%20bus%20&%20tentes%20de%20toit%20640pix1.jpg

Give this a burl...just copy & paste. Problem was I missed a '20' after '&' in other one.

FollowupID: 453048

Follow Up By: fisho64 - Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 22:21

Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 22:21

dont bother knockin-when ANY of these tents are a rockin! specially if those shockies are knackered! youd be seasick in about 3 seconds flat!

FollowupID: 453072

Reply By: awill4x4 - Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 16:06

Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 16:06

Baz, as they say in the classics "this post is nothing without pics"
Congrats, did you build the trailer yourself? Is the trailer braked? What axle and spring setup are you using?
I'm sure I'm speaking for all that we'd like to see the pics of what you have built.
Regards Andrew.

AnswerID: 194936

Follow Up By: oldbaz - Monday, Sep 18, 2006 at 13:31

Monday, Sep 18, 2006 at 13:31

Hi Andrew, sorry no pics, will work on it. No I didnt build the trailer, just an average DYI is me, but I researched the market & purchased an Off road setup
with full ch.plate floor/guards etc. axle is 40mm sq,springs are heavy duty 5 leaf
eye to eye shackle type, tailgate swings sideways, has 9kg gas bottle holder, 3
jerry holders (useless but will modify), not braked. I didnt consider this as necessary as my all up weight will be under 800kg. Hubs are new standard 6 stud
with quality bearings (cant remember the grade), came with 15 by 7 new sunrasia
rims & 3 30 by 10 tyres that are legal but ordinary and wont be making the Kimberley trip next year, but OK locally. Treg hitch. Dimension 7 by 4 with 50cm
sides. Vertical mount spare gives provision for tool box. Will fit wheel carriers
under rear to accomodate 2 16" split rims as this is the configuration that will be
used on serious escapades.. You may be interested that I opted for a full bolt on
attachment of the camper top, I thought the latches,hinges supplied were not a safe & enduring proposition & the side access afforded did not counter those problems. I will not bore you with details of other mods but happy to do if requested. Regards..Baz.

FollowupID: 453160

Reply By: Member - Bruce and Anne - Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 16:57

Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 16:57

Iam with Baz, mine cost $6300 new trailer, brought a good jockey wheel. spare wheel and tyre, a 87 litre black poly water tank, tool box on the front from SC and a Robust camper top with annex, poles, pegs rope etc (this top come on there $13,000 alloy trailer it cost $4300 fitted with support legs) O and a Treg hitch add that on to the cost. I probably would not tow this trailer to CY but a couple of $ spent on it no worries. I had a relo park there Ulti on my front lawn and thought I still would have change after buying my MU and Wizard and camper trailer than the cost of one of them, but then again Iam not very well off haha.
Cheers Bruce.

AnswerID: 194937

Follow Up By: Member - Bware (Tweed Valley) - Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 17:15

Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 17:15

It certainly sounds like the way to go now that we're considering a trailer.

FollowupID: 452998

Follow Up By: Member - Bruce and Anne - Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 17:37

Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 17:37

We probably had the trailer for 12 months before we put the camper top on. Put a false floor in it, had a mattress that fitted and put a torno cover over the top. Use to put a tarp over every thing, work great till we could fit the top. We brought the trailer for $1600 reg, it is classed as a semi off road, has slipper springs, it does what we need at the moment. Will be give it the test soon as we have just fitted a locker to the front of the MU and will be able to tow it to places we could not before, up bigger hills etc.
Cheers Bruce.

FollowupID: 453004

Follow Up By: oldbaz - Monday, Sep 18, 2006 at 13:40

Monday, Sep 18, 2006 at 13:40

Way to go, Bruce & Anne, it doesnt take rocket science to put together a useful setup, & the money saved can be used on essential elements of outback touring..
like fuel & bundy. (Sorry, wrong order, but you see what I mean)
Regards..Baz.

FollowupID: 453162

Follow Up By: Member - Bruce and Anne - Monday, Sep 18, 2006 at 19:00

Monday, Sep 18, 2006 at 19:00

Just change the bundy for the scotch and I recon we've got it right Baz haha.
Cheers Bruce

FollowupID: 453239

Reply By: Mark Taylor - Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 17:28

Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 17:28

I had a trailer built for around a grand (light weight - not going across the Simpson) and a twilight trailers camper top made for it for 2300 with a 10 foot annexe.

Suit me

Cheers

M T

AnswerID: 194940

Follow Up By: Moggs - Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 23:12

Sunday, Sep 17, 2006 at 23:12

Did you put a Fujitsu ac in it? ;-)

FollowupID: 453077

Reply By: Mark Taylor - Monday, Sep 18, 2006 at 07:52

Monday, Sep 18, 2006 at 07:52

Not yet... it's coming!

Cheers

Mark taylor

AnswerID: 195010

Reply By: Alan S (WA) - Monday, Sep 18, 2006 at 14:49

Monday, Sep 18, 2006 at 14:49

Baz

I am with you. We had a perfectly good Oztent and all the setup so i built one myself.

I started with a second trailer built to carry a lighting plant, came with 2tn axles, hyd brakes, enclosed and with a engel fridge fitted by a previous owner for $2500. And 240 volt/12 volt electrics, professionally wired.

I added built in kitchen that slides out the side, commonwheels to match the patrol. Actual bough new tyres for the patrol and fitted the 1/2 worn ones to the trailer.

I added store box and jerry can holders, canvas awning on the side. Awning built by a canvas shop and attached by myslef. Any specialist work such as welding i paid but just got it done at a jobbing shop so it was relatively cheap.

Bought the paint and painted it myself for that final finish.

The oztent is carried on trailer and buts up to the trailer side.

Total cost under $5000

!MPG:3!

AnswerID: 195092

Follow Up By: oldbaz - Monday, Sep 18, 2006 at 15:34

Monday, Sep 18, 2006 at 15:34

Well done Alan, I'm not digied up camera wise so cant show you mine, but yours is
another example of how a useful setup can be achieved without costing a motza. I dont begrudge the makers of camper trailers a margin of profit, but I know my trailer maker got his cut, so did the manufacturer of the top, so where does the other 50% go. I dont wish to offend the brands that may support this fine site but I've never shirked giving an honest opinion either. Regards..Baz.

FollowupID: 453185