Self Build overland camping trailer

Hi All,

I am new to this forum so I start by saying hello to everyone.

I am a keen overlander and in general can´t get enough of the great outdoors.

I have almost finished a self build all road camping trailer. I have built this so I have a ´mobile base camp` for when I return from hiking in the mountains or for when I wish to undertake a long overland journey like going down through Morocco for example.

I thought long and hard about every aspect of this, dimensions, weights, layouts, etc and every single final decision has been a considered compromise between technical perfection, practical reality and cost!

The idea was to create something compact enough to tow through most óverlanding conditions´ (meaning NOT extreme off-road) yet that could also carry all the gear, food, water, equipment that I would need and offer comfortable living space for two.

It has a double bed, shower & loo, sitting area (when double bed folded against the wall) and kitchen. It also has a Safari Deck that can be accessed from the inside or outside. This provide a clean, secure rest area or vantage point whenever you stop.


I attach some photos...

I often see discussions about roof tents vs. cargo trailers etc,, so though this would be of interest.

I have made everything myself, (made a great many mistakes along the way) and would be happy to chat about my experiences and decisions with anyone who cares to comment.

all the best
JMPC

that is fantastic! shame about your motor choice tho oh and welcome to the forum

Thanks hext, yes, I know, a 90 would look good as the tow vehicle. On my Christmas list...

Welcome to landyzone mate.:welcome2:

Nice trailer. How long did it take you to make?

Hi ratty, about 2 months of evenings and weekends.

jmpc said:

Hi ratty, about 2 months of evenings and weekends.

Click to expand...

Cool

i still have lots to do on the interior, it´ll be a few more hours work before its habitable. I´ve yet to put in the water system and i think i will have to re-do the shower area.

nice trailer, shame about the tow car.

Hi Treworgey 90,
thanks, 90 on my christams list

Nice looking set up but did you not fancy buying a offroad caravan?

Hi goonarmy,

yes, I had considered that, and it would have certainly given me a better interior finish, but all the ones I could find were either very expensive or too big, or both. I looked at brands like Conquerer in South Africa, Bushtracker in Australier, (where there are many, many models) but in the end decided to go that hard route. Do you know of any here in the UK. I did look but all I could find were expedition trailers, like Globemaster from neneoverland which was not what I was after

Can you sleep in it as well?

Just a thought - but is there a reason I've never seen a twin axle off road trailer before?

Widget said:

Can you sleep in it as well?

Just a thought - but is there a reason I've never seen a twin axle off road trailer before?

Click to expand...

Yes. Twin axle trailers have more flex when cross axling.

Hi widget,

yes, sleeps 2, it has a big double bed that folds down from the back wall. Plenty of room with 2m15 of lenght to the bed. Also, the Safari Deck is the perfect size to accomadate a roof tent, so it can sleep 4 if needed.

Yes, there is a reason why you won´t have seen a twin axle on an off road railer before. Firstly, trailers like Sankeys don´t need them as they are small enough to get away with just 1 axle. (lots of offroad caravans on australia have two axles) Two axles offer a more resistant than 1, so technically tight cornering with a twin axle is harder. However, the amount of extra resistance, in my opion, is negligable and certainly worth putting up when you consider the advatages of two axles. Easier to load, you do not have to be so concious about weight distribution, greater payload all round (remember this is for overlanding), and much, much safer when travelling the 1000´s of miles onroad that you have to do to get to the good offroad areas. Like travelling down to Sahara for example. I can take up to 600kg of extra gear if I wish, I would not want a blow out at 70 mph with that much weight on a single axle!

thought it was an armored kebab van

nice work dude... u will be even happier with yourself when u get that 90 to pull it

Yep it looks very smart

Ace.

Look out for a fella round here called Redhand though - he might want to nick it and live in it anorl.

lol... 'pikey' upgrade and all.

thanks everyone for all your positive feedback, all comments appreciated, ´Armored Kebab´ included.