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  • Jeff

    Jan. 8, 2010 12:05 p.m. Jeff Dork

    So I'm thinking of building a camper that would roll on and attach to my car hauler when it's not being used. Something simple, table, beds for four, place for chemical toilet, think a wooden tent. I figure that I can build in wheel wells with wheels that lower to roll on and off and raise up in the wells while it's anchored to the trailer. Wood frame, glued and bolted, MDX sheeting, painted a glossy white. A door and two or three windows. Over time it could be made more fancy, but probably not.

    Anyone here do this? Thoughts? I think my family will be happier and warmer (insulated) with solid walls then they are in a tent (they don't like that much).

  • Jerry From LA

    Jan. 8, 2010 12:23 p.m. Jerry From LA HalfDork

    I guess the question is not how well it would perform as a shelter but more how it maintains integrity at 80 mph.

    Or you can buy better sleeping bags.

    Too much money? Try these. They come in three sizes.

  • sachilles

    Jan. 8, 2010 12:32 p.m. sachilles HalfDork

    How about a truck bed camper? You could drive the trailer under it. Probably end up cheaper to just by a used pop up camper.

  • oldsaw

    Jan. 8, 2010 1:13 p.m. oldsaw HalfDork

    Post some pics and the dimensions of the hauler so people don't go all blank-slate and blue-sky on you.

  • bludroptop

    Jan. 8, 2010 1:17 p.m. bludroptop Dork

    Ready made version - non runners are dirt cheap. Winch it on and go!

  • alfadriver

    Jan. 8, 2010 1:19 p.m. alfadriver Dork

    sachilles wrote:

    How about a truck bed camper? You could drive the trailer under it. Probably end up cheaper to just by a used pop up camper.

    +1. Or take the wheels off a pop up camper.

    I've also seen trailer campers that double as car haulers. Pretty cool set up, but I would imagine the stench could be bad with a dripping car.

    E

  • Cotton

    Jan. 8, 2010 1:31 p.m. Cotton HalfDork

    bludroptop wrote:

    Ready made version - non runners are dirt cheap. Winch it on and go!

    this is actually a damn good idea.

  • Dr. Hess

    Jan. 8, 2010 1:35 p.m. Dr. Hess SuperDork

    I've seen a truck bed camper on a car hauler. Still had room for the bike, too.

  • Duke

    Jan. 8, 2010 1:54 p.m. Duke SuperDork

    bludroptop wrote:

    I'd be worried about that holding up at 80mph too, since one's probably never been that fast before.

  • Supercoupe

    Jan. 8, 2010 6:00 p.m. Supercoupe Reader

    I second the pick up slide in. It would hold up fine since it was built to be bouncing around on the back of a pick up.You could even build a few storage boxes to fit under the side overhangs to double as more supports if you want.

  • xci_ed6

    Jan. 8, 2010 6:14 p.m. xci_ed6 HalfDork

    bludroptop wrote:

    Ready made version - non runners are dirt cheap. Winch it on and go!

    As long as you're not planning on going anywhere fast.

    If you really want one, my friend's dad was (i think still is) selling one, and it's in mint condition. '84, 40k miles, but he wants $11k.

  • Jeff

    Jan. 8, 2010 10:00 p.m. Jeff Dork

    Thank you for the ideas! I had not thought of the pickup camper (slapping head with heel of shoe). While the westy is way cool, and pulling it on a trailer is the only safe way to drive in one, I think the camper wins

    I love this board!

  • Ian F

    Jan. 8, 2010 11:15 p.m. Ian F Dork

    Have you priced slide-in campers? While I'm sure deals can be had, in general they seem to hold value really well. And because so much of the bits are small and specialized, repairs can be a bitch... re: the cheap ones usually need expensive repairs...

    I've had thoughts similar to yours, although my idea was to use pre-fab insulated foam panels similar to those used in cold boxes.

    If you've ever seen the structural guts of an RV, it gives me the feeling that any of us "GRM-building" one would probably make it much stronger... and heavier...

    Finally... IMHO... having wasted many years dreaming about these things... sell the open trailer and get an enclosed one. Presto: big tent... Get some portable camping gear to go inside... cots and whatnot...maybe a bench with some utilities on the front wall... and then you only have to store one big object...

  • akamcfly

    Jan. 9, 2010 8:16 a.m. akamcfly Reader

    There's a forum called teardrops and tiny trailers - or something like that. It's home built campers around the size and level of complexity you're after.

    It's sure to give you lots of ideas as to how to pull this off.

    link

  • 924guy

    Jan. 9, 2010 10:38 a.m. 924guy Dork

    Ive seen the areo lite type trailers at decent prices for used and abused. these are the ones that expand vertically, and keep a nice low profile while towing. add a few jacks and remove the axles, and youve got a nice rectangle to strap to the car trailer...

    It will be far cheaper to find a used camper camper trailer that already has the camping stove, fridge, etc in working order if you want that stuff, than buying it all elsewhere.

  • Feb. 26, 2010 2:12 a.m. Timbernee

    I have just purchased platform beds for all the bedrooms in my home and I'm not sure what type of bedding to buy. I don't want the comforter, quilt, Metal Beds whatever to hang over the platform of the bed as the platform extends past the mattress and is really what I love most about the new beds

  • mtn

    Feb. 26, 2010 3:09 a.m. mtn SuperDork

    What kind of bed would you put in a canoe?

  • foxtrapper

    Feb. 26, 2010 4:17 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

    I think you would do far better with an enclosed trailer that you simply put a table and such into when not loaded with a car.

  • JFX001

    Feb. 26, 2010 8:15 a.m. JFX001 Dork

    mtn wrote:

    What kind of bed would you put in a canoe?

    Ummm....air mattress?

  • BoxheadTim

    Feb. 26, 2010 8:23 a.m. BoxheadTim HalfDork

    Don't you think stacking three air mattresses into a canoe might make it a little top heavy?

  • JeffHarbert

    Feb. 26, 2010 11:11 a.m. JeffHarbert New Reader

    Ian F wrote: Finally... IMHO... having wasted many years dreaming about these things... sell the open trailer and get an enclosed one. Presto: big tent... Get some portable camping gear to go inside... cots and whatnot...maybe a bench with some utilities on the front wall... and then you only have to store one big object...

    I like this idea. You could use an enclosed trailer for so many things - car hauling, cargo, camping. Me likey.

  • Hal

    Feb. 28, 2010 6:16 p.m. Hal HalfDork

    Jeff, Your idea is certainly plausible. As others have mentioned I have seen slide-in campers mounted on a car trailer but you could make yours custom fit the trailer.

    Personally I would go with an enclosed car trailer and modify it. I have seen them with cabinets built in across the front for a fridge, stove top and underneath storage for the toilet. They also had fold-down bunks along the sides.

 
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