How bad of an idea is this?

"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
09/08/2016 at 11:31 • Filed to: campers

A little backstory. After a couple years of ownership, we sold our family’s hybrid camper after realizing just how horribly they are built. My long term plan is to get an enclosed aluminum cargo trailer, something around the size of 7x16 feet, and convert that into a camper. We have the money to do that, but my wife wants me to remodel our kitchen instead ... which if I’m honest is a much better use of our money.

I’d like to do a small scale version to take to races in the meantime, but I’ve been shocked to see that even a decent 6x12 trailer is still well over $2k. I just want something that I can build a couple bunks in, have room for a cassette toilet, and MAYBE room to put my scooter in.

Scrolling through trailer ads last night, I had this idea. What if I buy a snowmobile trailer, something like !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! that’s about 8'x8', and build the rest of the camper myself on that platform?

On a scale of “Are you really asking us this question?” to “Have you lost your cotton-pickin’ mind!?!” ... how bad of an idea is this?

DISCUSSION (36)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 11:57

Might make more sense to expand on an existing trailer with sides, or just to build the lower box, then stick a truck bed cap on it. That way you get a rigid upper structure and don’t have to engineer a roof. Bed caps are plentiful and would allow you to get some windows in.

vicali > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 12:02

My FIL is a sledder, a few of them went together and bought one of these;

Kinja'd!!!

Then they converted the front half into living space with bunks, an airtight stove vented outside, and a card table. It still carries 4 sleds as well. They use it all winter to camp on the mountain..

I think you could rig up a pretty comfy set up for summer camping yourself. There are also a ton of plans for DIY teardrop type trailers out there.

shop-teacher > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
09/08/2016 at 12:03

It definitely would be a better result to start with an existing enclosed trailer, but they’re a lot more expensive than I was wanting to spend. The truck cap is a good idea, although they’re a lot narrower than I want the camper to end up being.

shop-teacher > vicali
09/08/2016 at 12:05

That’s the idea long term, but that will be a lot more expensive than I want to spend right now. The racing camper I want to build to get me through the next few years will be for me and a friend to use, so I really don’t want to share a teardrop with him.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 12:09

I know that it’s not uncommon for people to make teardrop style trailers from . I would imagine with height, space, and more vertical walls, comes complexity from needed strength. I’ve actually debated making one. I like tent camping but I could see the benefit of a little sleeping trailer.

CalzoneGolem > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 12:13

What’s your budget for this camper, all in?

CobraJoe > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 12:14

I’m sure small custom campers have been done many times before, there’s probably some very helpful forums or websites out there that could answer questions better.

Personally, I’ve dreamed of making a small teardrop camper to pull behind my project car, but my wife doesn’t like riding in it and the small teardrop wouldn’t have room for the kids, so we’ll stick to a tent for now.

I’d only point out one thing on your little sketch: don’t forget about aerodyamics. That is a large flat surface in the drawing, and it would surely cause some horrible gas mileage if not causing the whole rig to be unstable.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 12:18

I vote for a log cabin in the back of your pickup.

Kinja'd!!!

But I totally support your idea.

I’ve been having similar ideas for a while. I can’t shake the idea of some unconventional sleeping arrangement for urban camping and whatnot.

A camper or RV is just too mainstream.

shop-teacher > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
09/08/2016 at 12:47

As much as I like the log cabin idea, they’re too heavy! :)

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 12:49

Kinja'd!!!

My bad idea in camping/adventuring. I want one side to have bunks that hinge and can be stored away and the other to have bike holders.

Also, http://www.ebay.com/itm/2017-Happy…

shop-teacher > CalzoneGolem
09/08/2016 at 12:51

I’d like to do it for $1200, but I could push it to $1500.

shop-teacher > PotbellyJoe and 42 others
09/08/2016 at 12:53

I like that idea too. For myself, I don’t want to maintain an entire extra vehicle, especially since I already own a truck.

shop-teacher > CobraJoe
09/08/2016 at 12:54

I’ve been to the forums and such for home-built campers, but the stuff they build is always unwieldy and hard to tow. They’re really mean to be parked.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 12:55

Kinja'd!!!

Something like this work?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2017-Happy…

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 12:58

Just find an old camper frame and build. You can get them pretty cheap compared to something more useful like a snowmobile trailer.

https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/tro/5772124053…

I say go for it though. As long as you know what you’re doing, why not?

shop-teacher > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
09/08/2016 at 13:17

That’s not a bad idea.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 13:19

For that budget, you’re not gonna get much of a trailer... whether you buy it or build it yourself.

For your budget, one of these for the truck bed:

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/rvs/577195…

And then have a small used box trailer for your scooter.

Or start with an old tent trailer like this one for $550 that needs new canvas:

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/rvs/577184…

And modify it the way you want it.

CalzoneGolem > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 13:22

You can get yourself a decent pop-up in that range. Or a shitty pop-up and you can fix it up.

CalzoneGolem > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
09/08/2016 at 13:23

Dude is nuts if he thinks that cab over camper is in ok shape.

shop-teacher > PotbellyJoe and 42 others
09/08/2016 at 13:29

That’s exactly what I want, but my experience with factory made campers tells me they’re built like garbage. At that price though, it’s tempting.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 13:32

I’ll be honest, at that price, I feel like I could cheaply address a few of the shortcomings with some DIY and come out ahead.

That or talk to the local U-haul guy about trailers reaching EOL.

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 13:44

Please make it under 1k pounds so my smart can tow it!!!! :D

shop-teacher > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
09/08/2016 at 13:45

The more I’m thinking of it, the more I think a cheap pop-up is probably the way to go. My truck has a 5'8" bed and a 4.8L baby LS motor, so a drop-in camper ain’t happening for it.

shop-teacher > CalzoneGolem
09/08/2016 at 13:46

The more I think about it, a cheap pop-up is probably the way to go.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
09/08/2016 at 13:47

I would love to see that. You could certainly build a teardrop to fit that requirement, but that’ll be too small for me and a friend to share.

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 13:51

And 1,600 pounds...heavy for such a small trailer. Factory built campers are freaking heavy, yet somehow built like crap.

Source: I just towed my parents’ new 35 foot travel trailer from IL to OH...and goddamn does the thing feel so fragile...yet it weighs several tons.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
09/08/2016 at 13:52

It might fit your Smart in it though.

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 14:04

I agree with your assertion that factory built campers are crap. My parents’ new travel trailer weighs 7500 lb and is 35 feet long not including tongue. I just towed the thing from their house to Sandusky Ohio for a labour day trip. And my gosh...how can something so heavy be so shoddy in quality? You have to be careful with like everything because the entire thing is basically brittle.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
09/08/2016 at 14:06

They all seem to be that way, except for Airstreams. Garbage. Just garbage.

CalzoneGolem > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 14:14

I think that’ll be our next toy.

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 14:18

Even the new ones are crap. Like, our camper is a 2007. The wheel well liners are so brittle they’re splitting off, the steam and moisture from the shower is warping the trailer’s outer skin, you can’t hang anything on the walls because they aren’t real walls, and all of the trailer’s equipment is so fragile that a wrong bounce on the highway can break something.

The only well built factory campers are either Airstreams, or cost well above 100k. Which sucks, because I love that camper like crazy. It’s cozy, stylish, and a hell of a hoot to tow (mind you, I’ve never towed anything in my life until labour day weekend).

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 14:21

The only thing of concern with the popup trailer link... the seller said “might trade for bang bangs thanks”

Now he could either be referring to guns or sex. I’m not sure which.

LOL

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter
09/08/2016 at 14:54

Mine was a 2000. The weight of the walls was causing the floor to buckle, there were almost no floor joists, things were brittle, etc. I basically had all the same problems except the shower one. Our shower was so small we used campground showers instead.

Die-Trying > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 15:05

could you round up an old bed mount camper, and an old truck bed trailer?

Kinja'd!!!

shop-teacher > Die-Trying
09/08/2016 at 15:18

Hmmmmm ... maybe. That wouldn’t be much fun to tow, but that it a possibility.

Die-Trying > shop-teacher
09/08/2016 at 15:23

it has a nice, not MUCH assembly required aspect to it..........