Feasibility of a semi-offroad slidavan build

[*Inside]

Hello all! Just joined the forums because.. dun dun.. I want to build a tiny travel trailer.

I have a 6MT 2013 Subaru Outback and want to build a slidavan type trailer. I'm expecting to use it for 80% glamping (state parks, national parks, etc) and 20% light off road. It's difficult for me to define light off road - I'm thinking rough rutted forest roads that go to developed campsites; ie: places where a stock subaru can go or places where I've seen other people drag their large fifth wheel campers.

So some questions:

1) What should I look for in picking a trailer for this? I've lurked around the forums for a while and there doesn't appear to be any places that sells explicitly "off road" trailers.

2) Will there be issues with the frame of a slidavan-type camper? It's not a solid body like a teardrop, but more of a clamshell design with two collapsing pieces. Would taking this up and down rough roads destroy the body -- and what can I do to mitigate this?

[saltydawg]

They are not a true teardrop but if you looking for new check out hiker trailers. They are true off road but very reasonably priced for the base model.

You do need to watch weight as subarus cvt trans cant pull a lot edit i see MT. lots of options out there invluding diy

[saltydawg]

upon further reading, I think you might mean "offroad trailer" you mean a bare frame that can handle off road. If yes there are people who upgraded even the harbor freight 4x8 into off road capable trailers

[Tyrtill]

To me most trailers with suitable ground clearance would handle this even a slideavan. I would recommend a box frame trailer for rigidity since the camper won't have much and just drive slow.

[tony.latham]

I would suggest considering having a welder crank out a trailer for your specific needs. It may run around $1500.



Tony

[dogcatcher]

First you want a trailer with larger tires than the 8 and 12 inch ones HF has. Back when we off roading we had the same tire and rim size as our vehicle. It doesn't happen often, but a flat in teh middle of nowhere is not any fun, 2 really sucks when you have one spare. Check your area for trailer dealers, they will cost a lot more, but they also take a lot more abuse than a HF trailer, unfortunately they will also weigh more. That will cut down on what you can add to the trailer and keep the weight reasonable.

[Pmullen503]

Make sure the body halves lock down tight. Grooves, pins, latches whatever it takes to keep things from moving when traveling.

[Modstock]

People go way too far when I comes to off-road capability. You dont need large tires.
We upgraded our 4.88x12" tires to 5.30's x12" . That's all that was needed.
If on a rough washboard gravel road for more than a mile, we would air down to 20psi, trailer too.
Smoothed out the ride and trailer.


Sent from my H1611 using Tapatalk

[*Inside]

Yeah I can see the logic in smaller tires - on a car you need larger tires so your differential/oil pan/etc have enough clearance, but a trailer already has a few more inches.

What kind of trailer do you have?

[Modstock]

It was a self built teardrop on a harbor freight frame. Sold earlier this year (BC).

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[Shadow Catcher]

Were it me I would have a trailer built. The HF trailers unless you do a good bit of reinforcement are not built to handle what you will be doing. And they do NOT have brakes. Our frame is all aluminum.

[*Inside]

Ooph. I keep waffling between a slidavan, a ukranian hard sided pop up, or a Latham teardrop.

I bought the plans for the slidavan and they are pretty weak. They are 4 times more expensive than Tony's book and provide 1/4th of the detail. I'd have to draft up my own set of plans and experiment with the which sounds expensive and time consuming. So far nobody's made one so there are no independent reports of the longevity of the design.

The hard sided pop up design is very interesting and might actually be easier than the slidavan, but the details are scant.

And - the teadrop is a classic design, but I kind of want an interior standing/lounging area