campertrailer modifications

Hi Foxer, we have a basic model tent campertrailer (Updating to a Kanga off road deluxe in about 10 weeks, yippee) as well and for more storage my husband Geoff bolted one of those 1 tonne ute tool boxes on the drawbar. We then put rubber matting in the bottom of it and it works really well. We store our generator and things like that in there, and there is a heep of room. If you are interested in seeing it I can email you some photos.
Kind regards
Karen
(Happy holidaying)

Foxer,

Do you intend on doing any substantial off roading with this trailer?? If so I have seen so many of the spring hangers just break off 'real' offroad trailers so I would hate to see how a slipper with lightweight springs would do!

Plus if you upgrage the springs and fit matching 4x4 rims/tyres the tent will not reach the ground!
One solution is to fit the ALKO suspension and then you completly do away with the spring hangers altogether, Im looking at doing this with my off road camper just because of the breakages I have had!

Extending the drawbar is good for towing, but again I dont know how you would go structurely?? Have you looked at lifting the camper off and selling the trailer and gettin a new base for it! The tent is the dearest part!!

Goodluck anyway!

Matt.

Foxer,
Hi,
I have had a lot of problems with a camper I bought years ago and unless you know the design limits of the original unit you could run into trouble., see my post 5786 dated 2 nd July.
I was able to re-build my trailer because of private access to resources etc. There is good advice above in other replies, If you add extra gear, more weight etc you have to up-size in some of the structure areas. At the end of the day It may pay you to flog the trailer as a box trailer & get a new trailer built to match the tent with all the other bits (extra gear storage etc) built in with off-road wheels, hitch etc..
Don't rush into it, do a bit of research, especially when money is short.
Regards & good luck,
Donald

we have a swing out tailgate on our tralior witch we have built a kitchen on so just swing open the gate and the kitchen is all set up we used a gal toolbox so the lid swings down and mounted a 2 burner stove on top witha long hose to reach the bottles mounted at the side rear also have addad a50lt water container froma caravan inside at the front .Born to drive a 4x4 , not a keyboard
Peter York 4x4

Foxer, have you got an email address I can send the photos to?
Kind regards
karen

Actually Foxer ours is up for sale after this weekend, we are upgrading to a brand new one and I have just place ours in the trader section of explore Oz.Kind Regards
Karen & Geoff
(Happy holidaying)

Foxer,
I also have some photos of how I customised our trailer to fit additional gear such as: 2nd spare Wheel/gas bottles/tool box/Jerry cans/water tank plus pump and a space saver kitchen with 3 burner gas stove mounted on the swing out tail gate. Set up for the "Wilderness" or just a weekend.
I must of done the kitchen OK...cause my misus is a city slicker...and hates tent camping immensly but loves the camper trailer...so if you can keep in the good books with the cook you must have some sort of a winner.
I am more than happy to share photos of the customisations so let me know your email address if you are intertested and I can send them to you.
Regards
Donald

Hi Foxer,

Our previous campertrailer was an offroad rear opening, soft floor type which we modified over time to suit our needs. Mods included addition of pull-out kitchen in side, changing wheels/tyres to match car, removal of spare-wheel carriers on both sides to one carrier on drawbar in front of storage box/jerry can holders, addition of gas cylinder holders on side and inclusion of full length shelf in underbed storage area for tables, chairs and poles. New owners have since added a Deep cycle battery and water tank.

After much research we realised economically it was worth doing the mods as opposed to a straight upgrade (did this later to cater for our growing family) and they were worth there weight in gold. Made our trips so much easier and more comfortable.

Thing was though, we had a very good off-road trailer to start with (Treg built trailer, same mob of the Treg off-road hitch fame). If your trailer is too light-weight in basic areas like suspension, drawbar etc I wouldn't bother. Take the tent off, sell the trailer then go to a manufacturer and have a new trailer made to specs. I've seen more than a few garden variety trailers masquerading as off-road trailers come to grief.

:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper