Pop-up camper frame...is it too heavy to start

[NismoGriff]

Hey this looks familiar.

The mechanism that puts the pop up is surprisingly heavy. Does it have brakes? Mine does, remember these were built to tow behind a small car. As for the floor you will not stand on it, once built your weight will be put on the floor through a mattress. Think light. My other tear has 3/8 ply on top, 1by ripped to 1.5 wide standing on its end, and 1/8 ply on the bottom. Still holding up fine, with close to 20,000 miles on it. Next time I would use 1/4 ply on top.

hope this helps del

Yea, they are very similar....was that an old coleman also? Mine did not have brakes on it. The axle doesn't even have baking plates although I am sure some could be welded on if I wanted to add brakes to it.

I am trying to think light, I just have this almost obsession with making sure something will hold up and I am afraid it's going to cost me added weight in the long run, that's why I am asking questions now and trying to come up with a plan that will facilitate a lightweight build.

One question if I may, where is the vin number on the frame?

It's not on the trailer anymore. I bought the camper with no title but the intention on building a teardrop with it. I was told and read that I could register it as a homebuilt trailer. SO, after removing the camper aspect of it and rewiring the lights back up, I had it weighed and headed on down to the BMV. She asked me if some questions...."does it have a vin #" was one of them. I said no, thinking it was some sort of trick question, lol. Well, I got my plates and was on my way. Later, when I was just looking it over, I noticed a small metal tag on the crossbar where the LP tank would mount..you guessed it, VIN tag. I thought to myself this could cause a problem if the law is ever looking at the trailer for some reason (accident, inspection, whatever) so I removed it. Not sure if it was the legal thing to do, but I figure once this thing is built, it shouldn't really matter.

[del]

Yea, they are very similar....was that an old coleman also? Mine did not have brakes on it. The axle doesn't even have baking plates although I am sure some could be welded on if I wanted to add brakes to it.

I am trying to think light, I just have this almost obsession with making sure something will hold up and I am afraid it's going to cost me added weight in the long run, that's why I am asking questions now and trying to come up with a plan that will facilitate a lightweight build.

One question if I may, where is the vin number on the frame?

It's not on the trailer anymore. I bought the camper with no title but the intention on building a teardrop with it. I was told and read that I could register it as a homebuilt trailer. SO, after removing the camper aspect of it and rewiring the lights back up, I had it weighed and headed on down to the BMV. She asked me if some questions...."does it have a vin #" was one of them. I said no, thinking it was some sort of trick question, lol. Well, I got my plates and was on my way. Later, when I was just looking it over, I noticed a small metal tag on the crossbar where the LP tank would mount..you guessed it, VIN tag. I thought to myself this could cause a problem if the law is ever looking at the trailer for some reason (accident, inspection, whatever) so I removed it. Not sure if it was the legal thing to do, but I figure once this thing is built, it shouldn't really matter.

Why yes it is a Coleman, or was. As for brakes there are two camps, a group, that includes me, that likes, and sees a benefit in brakes. Another group says those are silly, and add too much weight to a light weight build. Of coarse a lot depends on the tow vehicle, I tow with a small Subaru. Thanks for the idea on the vin #. Now as far as asking questions, keep it up, remember a dumb question is one you do not ask and screw something up because of.

keep on plugging away you will be camping in no time.
del

[NismoGriff]

Why yes it is a Coleman, or was. As for brakes there are two camps, a group, that includes me, that likes, and sees a benefit in brakes. Another group says those are silly, and add too much weight to a light weight build. Of coarse a lot depends on the tow vehicle, I tow with a small Subaru. Thanks for the idea on the vin #. Now as far as asking questions, keep it up, remember a dumb question is one you do not ask and screw something up because of.

keep on plugging away you will be camping in no time.
del

I wouldn't mind having brakes, I am one of those if it's only a 1000 lbs,
I wouldn't mind not having them. If I start getting near the tow vehicle limit (1500lbs) then I would like to have them.

As far as the VIN #, I guess it would depend on what the process for getting a home built trailer registered in your state. Nobody looked at it here, except for the guy that ran the scale and he was only making sure I pulled it up far enough on the scale and he just worked at a recycling place. No state/DMV person ever laid eyes on it.

Oh, I will be camping by the end of the month.....it will just be in my pop-up

[del]

Why yes it is a Coleman, or was. As for brakes there are two camps, a group, that includes me, that likes, and sees a benefit in brakes. Another group says those are silly, and add too much weight to a light weight build. Of coarse a lot depends on the tow vehicle, I tow with a small Subaru. Thanks for the idea on the vin #. Now as far as asking questions, keep it up, remember a dumb question is one you do not ask and screw something up because of.

keep on plugging away you will be camping in no time.
del

I wouldn't mind having brakes, I am one of those if it's only a 1000 lbs,
I wouldn't mind not having them. If I start getting near the tow vehicle limit (1500lbs) then I would like to have them.

As far as the VIN #, I guess it would depend on what the process for getting a home built trailer registered in your state. Nobody looked at it here, except for the guy that ran the scale and he was only making sure I pulled it up far enough on the scale and he just worked at a recycling place. No state/DMV person ever laid eyes on it.

Oh, I will be camping by the end of the month.....it will just be in my pop-up

You definitely do not live in Washington, where the SS (state patrol) want to inspect everything. And the fees would have exceeded your $100 purchase price. I have an instate title, so the fees will be cut in half.

del

[canadian_gypsy]

mine was a Kal-Bar or something like that.... yea its a bit heavy but strong....also gave me a bigger frame cause i wanted a bigger tear.....HEY the price was right..

cheers[/img]

[del]

mine was a Kal-Bar or something like that.... yea its a bit heavy but strong....also gave me a bigger frame cause i wanted a bigger tear.....HEY the price was right..

cheers[/img]

Welcome gypsy to our madhouse. Is a Kal-Bar a tent trailer?

del

[be_a_jayhawk]

Just a note on removing the vin. I am not aware of a federal law but there is a law in most states if not all that carries a felony offense.. Here is my states law on vin tampering: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2013_1 ... 01_0016_k/

[CarlLaFong]

You do realize that this thread died over 4 years ago?

[be_a_jayhawk]

Yeah I was reading old threads doing research, but I thought I would add that in case anyone else was doing the same thing. I would hate for someone to remove their vin thinking it was no big deal, take it in for an inspection and become a felon.