Wisconsin Camper

[Section 8]

Hello,

I am a tent camper who is getting older (I guess ) and am finding that aside form the act of getting onto and off of the ground, more often than not campsites are all hard packed dirt or even (Gasp!) gravel, not so flat and mostly dirty. So I just want a different place to sleep.

I intend to build a bed that you can sit on the edge of while dressing. I will be pulling it behind a jeep wrangler, and while I don't enjoy the ground part of camping, I still like the tent, i will be using a truck bed tent for shelter and a lower center of gravity for the trailer which will be used offroad, equiped with the same wheels and tires as my jeep for spare tire purposes and ground clearance.

I have a post in the offroad section with more details and questions if you care to help, instead of having a discussing about trailer specifics here.

Lots of good reads here.

[elmo]

Welcome and you idea looks pretty interesting!

Where are you at in Wisconsin?

[Roly Nelson]

Oh boy, Section 8, kind of reminds me of what they threatened us with when I was in the Army....... If you are considering building an off-road teardrop to be pulled by a jeep, it would be benificial for you to check out this website of Larry Sorrenson, here:

www.outbackteardrop.com

There are a number of teardroppers back there in the Wisconsin area, and if you can make it to one of their TD Gatherings, you will see some teardrop trailers andmeet some great folks who can give you all kinds of regarding a teardrop build. Welcome to the board, let us know what area you live in, in the Badger State, and take lots of pics of your construction efforts. Oh yes, and post 'em, we love pics.

Roly, remembering the great times spent as a teenager at the Wisconsin lakes with my 8ft racing hydroplane boat, back in the 50s .

[jagular7]

Check out the Non-Traditional Designs section of the forum. A lot of different layouts of what you are talking about have been discussed. I'm a wheeler also, and drive a 4cyl/auto TJ when I go camping. My camping is usually associated to trailriding in the TJ.

Also, another option could be a motorcycle tent camper. Schaney (member) has designed his own and actually fabricates the canvas. Check out this discussion.

I myself am looking at a walk-in, stand-up, 10-12' long rolling bed for 3-4. I've actually picked up a fiberglass ambulance body from a Pinzgauer to convert. Potential options for you could be a utility trailer with some side walls, add a pickup camper top for a little hardside security or a variation of that with canvas or the motorcycle tent camper or if you like the canvas style, build something larger than a commercial motorcycle tent camper. A roof-top tent camper are available and mate that to a utility trailer. I've seen only 2 pickup camper tops that have the flip-top canvas tent on top that is integral of the topper.

All kinds of options depending on your time frame and cost.

Welcome

[Section 8]

Thanks.

I'll check out all the links.

As for the car top tents... It was my first thought. While I am not afraid to spend a little money, Just about every one I found was approaching $1000.00. I couldn't sell it to she who shalln't be named.

I am in Milwaukee. Wisconsin.

[Ira]

I couldn't sell it to she who shalln't be named. .

I love this guy already.

Can you please grant me official permission to use this quote in the future on other sites and to my friends at the bar?

[Mike C.]

Welcome Section 8,

Being a seasoned adult, I understand the discomfort the hard and sometimes graveled ground presents, which is why we built a larger trailer. Hope you enjoy the forum and if we can help with questions, just ask. Just think of us as one big dysfunctional family.

[Section 8]

I couldn't sell it to she who shalln't be named. .

I love this guy already.

Can you please grant me official permission to use this quote in the future on other sites and to my friends at the bar?

Absolutely. (Be aware that it is a gender switch from the Harry Potter novels, so it isn't all that original....)

[MrBuzz]

Hello From Eau Claire!!
I felt the same way about tents, getting older and having a decent place to sleep.
Loving the TD that I built this spring...highly recommend it. I kept the build fairly simple, just wanted the equivalent of a "hard-shell tent". The only drawback is all the people who want to see it, talk about the process, etc evertime we camp or even stop for gas.
Good Luck
MrBuzz