a new,smaller, non subaru related project

vidler · Post by **vidler** » Sat May 24, 2008 5:14 pm

here's what i bought today. plans are making it into a camper. its a well body off the back of an import Ford F250 with a flexi glass canopy. its 8ft x 6ft and about 1100mm tall inside when canopy is on. plan is to have a roof top tent on top, use the tray/canopy for luggage/storage/dogs room, and make it with a nice extended draw bar for some custom checkerplate storage system up front.

got the tray, liner and canopy for $1100 which i reckon is a steal. gonna be making it into a basic trailer first for moving house stuff and taking stuff to the tip etc etc, then eventually make it into a camper

there is 2 outlets visible in the second photo, one will be the filler for a water tank and the other either a power plug or outlet. will probably set it up with some kind of 12v system.

vidler · Post by **vidler** » Sat May 24, 2008 5:15 pm

canopy is a bit saggy in the photo but once bolted onto tray it stiffens up heaps apparently

gx_rex · Post by **gx_rex** » Sat May 24, 2008 6:46 pm

Pity you didnt get this a few months ago. I was working for pioneer campers and could have hooked you up with cheap bits and pieces...

vidler · Post by **vidler** » Sun May 25, 2008 7:43 pm

got it to my house today. Have measured and drawn up the chassis i need to mount it, nice long draw bar for future addition. found a 70L water tank that'll fit in nicely up high and between my chassis, mounting that behind the axle coz i figure when its loaded to go camping, most the weight will be in front of the axle so put it behind to counter weight.

then i just have to hitch it to the back of my car, get it level and sort out what suspension i need to keep it the same height as the car.

probably start making the chassis tomorrow depending on other commitments.

its gonna be one hell of a trailer/camper.

vidler · Post by **vidler** » Sun May 25, 2008 7:44 pm

also tossing up whether to go for the more expensive heavy duty independent suspension.

Matatak · Post by **Matatak** » Sun May 25, 2008 7:59 pm

better give it an Orange paint job

looks like itll turn out good, cant wait to see it behind ur car

Subafury · Post by **Subafury** » Sun May 25, 2008 8:27 pm

should be interesting. i wonder how the weight will compare to a similarly sized/capacity camper trailer. its not too heavy it it?

SuBaRiNo · Post by **SuBaRiNo** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:20 pm

Im interested in this water tank Jay... im still trying to find one for my camper.

Dave

Subaman · Post by **Subaman** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:36 pm

I just picked up a water tank for under my trailer from Super Cheap of all places, they have 2 sizes available, mine is the smaller one at 59 litres and there is a larger one looks to be about 90 litres or so. I think I paid about 60 bucks for mine.
Cheers
Grant

SuBaRiNo · Post by **SuBaRiNo** » Sun May 25, 2008 9:42 pm

Subaman... PM sent.

Dave

gx_rex · Post by **gx_rex** » Sun May 25, 2008 10:05 pm

Used to buy the water tanks from camec. They are in welshpool. Pretty sure they deal with the public also...

vidler · Post by **vidler** » Mon May 26, 2008 5:53 pm

ordered the steel this arvo, picking it next wed when i fly back in, probably have the chassis made that day, worst case on thursday. depending on funds will also get the running gear and get it rolling

vidler · Post by **vidler** » Mon May 26, 2008 8:27 pm

here is the chassis design

gonna be strong as a mongrel. will be kitting it with standard trailer suspension now and independent at a later date

vidler · Post by **vidler** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:31 pm

here's my progress today, ran out of gas so couldn't weld it. thats on the cards tomorrow.

only bad thing i think is the distance between the springs and the hubs. probably should have made the frame wider but too late now. I cut the steel to length at the place i bought it from so i had to stick with what i designed

vidler · Post by **vidler** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:35 pm

overall length from tow ball to back is 4570mm, so its a huge trailer, but once i box up the front and turn it into a camper, it should look decent

SuBaRiNo · Post by **SuBaRiNo** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:20 pm

Far out man... your keen to get this thing on the road. Good stuff man.

Dave

vidler · Post by **vidler** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:57 pm

yeah, hoping to get it on the road by the wknd. but i gotta find $200 for another bottle of gas somewhere.

seagull · Post by **seagull** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 9:14 pm

just take that bottle back & say it has a leek , works for me

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:58 am

Wow Jay very impressive progress there! I think i might have to hit you up for a little more welding work soon, on my own long overdue trailer project! The L series Wagon rear end. I want to turn that into a camper too, kitchen etc.
(Also a little more on WackyBug

)

vidler · Post by **vidler** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:11 am

i'll have to start charging for gas now that i no longer get it free though:)