Self build camper trailer from Europe

Hi Jim,

Thanks very much for your kind words, when you salve away on something like this it means alot to get good feeback.

I ´ll take & post some more photos soon. The fold down bed is ver basic really, just 3 pieces of equall sized 15mm thick plywood hinged together. They then fold in on themselves to lay flat on the back wall. But best explained in a couple of photos.
all the best
JMPC

The 'sun deck' would be a great place for taking photos from.
The tandem wheels seem to be close together, can you do tight turns ok ? What weight is it mt ?

I would also like to see some inside photos

KK

Hi Pesty

Well the UK is cold, but this is going to be used a lot in the south of europe and in morroco where of course it gets really hot.

I have insulated the walls with 30mm polystyrene and have another interior wall too. I am going to place a nomad type of flysheet over the roof to give the whole van shade in the hot sun. This system works very well, can reduce the temp by lots, but I have yet to use it.

Any advice you have about keeping it cool would be gratefullly received. I am always looking for self-suficient ways to run things.

I can see the idea of od the sun deck could seam strange. But from having done much offroading/ touring in mountainous regions like the pyrenees, dolomites, alps and atlas mountains, I have frequently found that although a spot may appear ideal for quick stopp off and brewup the ground may be very uneven, rocky or simply full of harsh scrub making it inconveniedn to set up a quicj camp.
With the ´safari deck´ i always have a nice , flat and clean area to relax.

Of course, I´ll look like a bit of a pratt somtimes!, sat up their on a chair looking at the view, but it really does come in very useful.

I dont miss the head room inside because it where we sit, so we would not nomall stand here. The Safari deck also is a great sixe for a roof tent, so the van could theoreticaly sleep 4, if needed.

Thanks for you feed back, and any suggestions about how to keep cool please let me know
all the best
JMPC

Hi KK

in tight turns it´s ok, but could be better. Your question rasies an interesting point that I had not taken any adice on prior to building.

Would it turn better if the wheels were space a little further apart? I can´t see it myself but am I missing something?

I just realixed I should have given some specs...

3m Long x 1.50m wide (box part) wheels and mudgaurds are 2.10m wide x 2.40m at highest point from the gound.

Kerb weight 950kg

It will prbably end up weighing about 1.400kg fully loaded.

ALB
JMPC

Hi again, I have heard other people debate the distance between axles when looking at the pros and cons of tandem set-ups. Don't know the answer myself and was wondering what your opinion was. :-)

Look forward to seeing the internal photos. I have a hi-top Troopy myself.

KK

Hi KK,

sorry for not replying earlier, I missed this post and do not often check my email, (where a notification of a reply is sent).

Hi Top, great car. I don´t see many where I am, but always look great.

Concerning distance between the tandem wheels - I guess the longer the distance the more resistance when turning, but that´s traded off against better weight distribution. I suppose the intended purpose of the trailer governs the decision, or what you have to do depending on required nose weights etc.

With such as short trailer I could have easily had it on a single axle, but I chose tandem for the following reasons.

- Better weight distribution, you don´t have to be so conscious about loading the van, which gives more flexibility when choosing where you are going to put all your gear.

- Greater payload, this is very much a trailer for overlanding and its important to me to be self sufficient, I wanted the option of carrying 500kg of food, water, fuel, generator, so I can stay away for a good while with out having to rely on campsites.

-And the biggest factor - improved off-road, and importantly, on-road towing. Here in UK/Europe it not uncommon to have to travel 2,000-3,000km on-road just to get when you want to be off-roading. Think - driving down though UK, France, Spain and then most of Morocco to get the Sahara. Round trip is up to 6,000km on the motorways.

Tandems track so much better than single axles and therefore are not nearly as prone to fishtailing, allowing you travel at maximum permitted speeds. With this trailer I can tow at a 120kph no problem, and it´s perfectly stable. Also, tandems are much, much safer if you get a blow-out. At 120kph with 1,400kg of trailer I would not want a blow-out with a single axle. Not a pleasant experience.

Concerning tandem set up - IMHO the 2 best configurations for a tandem are -

-Close coupled (load sharing), independent trailing arm - pros, no axle to catch on ground, cons, more difficult to fix than leaf spring.

-Close coupled, (Load sharing) leaf spring - pros, easy to botch repair, cons, axle to catch on ground.

Unfortunately this is not the case with mine, I have a rubber torsion system. Cheap and hopefully maintenance free!. However, I have a feeling it will need to be changed for either of the above as I just can´t see it standing up to the terrain its going to have to deal with.

Thats my 2 pennies worth, hope I´ve not gone on too much, could talk about trailers all day!

All the best

JMPC

Some of the outback tracks in Australia are like railway tracks where the rails have been removed leaving the sleepers behind. These 'horrorgations' can be REALLY bad. It will be interesting to see how the twin axle goes on heavily corrugated tracks. Look forward to a performance report when you get it off road.

KK

Hi KK

Yes, we get those in the Sahara, or at the edges anyway. Nothing tougher on a vehicle in my opion, just rattles everything loose.

That´s why i think I´ll have to change the suspension sooner or later. But I am going to try first with waht Ive got, reports and more phots on their way

All the best
JMPC

Hi Paul

you´re right, it is a little heavy. I think my choice of a 3x4 inch steel box tubing for the frame was overkill.

I do have home made roll up mosquito nets on the windows. They just roll up and are held in place with Velcro.

ALB
JMPC

Timbo,

thanks for the reply.

In the top part of the roof there is a big window that opens up enough to allow you to climb out to the safari deck, so that does offer a lot of ventilation, when open.

But yes, these two long windows should also open. I won´t make any changes to this one, because the truth is that there are so many things to do better I prefer just to build another.

We do drive on the left but the rest of Europe on the right where this will spend most of its time. If you live in England the first thing you do when you have a week spare is head for warmer weather!

ALB
JMPC

Timbo

Materials -

Walls are 1.5mm think medium grade aluminium

30mm Polystyrene insulation in walls

Interior walls some kikd of easy clean PVC sheeting.

Frame 3x4 inch box tubing

Polycarbonate windows.

Lots of angle iron to knitt everything together.

Other than the welded frame everthing is riveted.

ALB
JMPC

Hi HGMonaro

interior shots comming soon -I have a few things to sort in the interior first though, all works fine, but just looksa it grim and very 5home made´.

ALB
JMPC

nice one Muddy doe

First time i ever used photo bucket, wasn´t sure how it worked.

Much better this way. Cheers

ALB
JMPC

Muddy doe

And thanks for the positive feedback, much appreciated!

ALB
JMPC