Tray length and 3 way fridge question

Re the fridge - gas gives the best cooling of the 3 modes, but a naked flame in a car does raise safety issues of course. I chose to run my fridge on 12V while mobile (with the car's alternator topping the battery up) and switch to gas or 240V when static. 12V is not bad at "maintaining" whatever cold levels had been established via the other modes (with the alternator backup) but is useless on its own - a very inefficient mode that will flatten the battery in no time.

Had absolutely nothing to do with slide on's but from your description the unit seems to be way too big for a rodeo or hilux.
As they both suffer from chassis problems/bending with heavy loads is it a good idea to even consider putting more load further rearwards?

coco,

Just measured 2 different trays on 79 series L/C utes, and they were 2230 & 2400.

Don't have any hilux here now, but reckon a 2400 mm long tray, would have a far bit of overhang. Have a mate who has a hilux dual cab, and he came up here in '06, with a Freedom camper on the back. It overhung the styleside tray by at least 500mm, so 300 mm with your camper wouldn't be too bad.

He spent some money on heavy duty suspension after the trip, and it handles it well now.

Just don't cross any steep creeks!!!!!

Hooroo,
Bob.

Thanks for the replies. The guy had it on a F100 which is what it was built for, but I really want to get a hilux or similar because this will be my only car, and I don't really want a F100 for just driving to and from work and around town. I could buy the F100, but it wouldn't really suit my everyday driving.
It is made of fibreglass, so it only weighs about 600kg unlaiden. What is a 4x4 rodeo rated to take on its tray? I guess it would be up around 800kgs once it was filled with the essentials.

Been down that track twice now, weight is a real issue with slideons.

They have to be sturdy to be able to slide on and off plus be able to be freestanding. So unless you go hightech materials you finish up with some weight. I know of at least one manufacturer working on a light weight model to suit Hilux Rodeo type vehicles for that specific reason.

Most manufacturers claim 500kg plus. Note this will be dry and totally empty.
By the time you add a fridge and contents, water, 1litre = 1 kilogram, food, beer, gas bottle, lights, clothes, toys, bedding, stands/jacks for the slide on, extra fuel etc etc etc etc etc you'll come close to doubling that.

Then there is the weight of the tray itself.

I suspect you'll end up way over the GVM of the Hilux not to mention a fierce overhang at the rear.

At the very least get the unit weighed so that you know what you have to play with, then weigh the stuff you want to take, (just pick it up and stand on your bathroom scales, just rememeber to deduct your own weight :-) )

Having said all that I reckon the slideon concept is briliant, the comfort of a CT with the versatility of camping with a wagon.
Plus you can use the tray vehicle when not going bush.

Good luck with it
Cheers
Chris

Cool, thanks for the input again. the 600 kgs the guy said it was I believe, it is fibreglass and looks light, you can lift a corner of it by yourself. The 600ks includes a fridge also. I have no way of weighing it, but the jacks that was holding it up looked about 20 kgs each, so there is a quick 80kg, and the water bladder (if i get one say at 40l) is another 40 kgs, so yeah it does add up quickly.
I think ill have to give it a miss, unless I get the F100 with it, but as I say, i'd prefer not to have that as an only car. This is a real shame, as the unit was really well looked after by the old guy.