HHR guy in SW Florida

[Gold5one]

I built a Shanty boat and figured why not build a small camper to tow behind my 2009 HHR. I live in Cape Coral, Florida- a city of 160,000 people and several hundred miles of canals. They can't built communities like this anywmore.
In 2008 I took an early retirement package from Chrysler ( industrial electrician) and moved to the Cape in 2009 at the bottom of the housing bubble. There are both good and bad points to living here. The good= I can start my camper project and work on it all winter in an unheated garage. (it never freezes here) The bad= I could write a book on that topic.
Here is the 11ft long shanty boat I built - no plans for this, but I can tell you how I did it, if anyone is interersted. It weights about 270lbs and motors nicely with a 4hp outboard. Theoretically, I can camp out overnight on the banks, if I could keep out the mosquitos and it doesn't rain.

shalom,
Mark

[pchast]

Welcome.

[Mary C]

Welcome, If you can build that boat you can build a teardrop!!!

Mary C.

[bc toys]

Welcome to the group I to an a Electrician 36 yrs and still going (Local 357) If you can build that boat you can build a TD Well keep us posted on what to decide to do

[Gold5one]

I think I have almost figured out my floorplan - I have plenty of room now, once I realized I will be traveling solo. Anyway, last weekend I looked over the "build journals", and I felt like this little guy!


This website is a great resource for me-
Thanks!
7 years ago I was pulling a 5th wheel and getting 7mpg, but a couple stints as an RV tech at North Trail RV during retirement have pretty much turned me off of full size RVs- the high costs and repairs ( $3000 for a rubber roof replacement) are too high for my budget- Plus, I need to store my camper in the garage due to local zoning. The only solution is for me to build my own TD- or let another retirement year pass me by without taking those trips I dreamed about during those long years of hard work in a foundry making engine blocks for Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep.

[Rlowell]

HHR Guy,
Welcome to the madness!!
Keep looking through this site as there is none better for this subject.
Yes, you will get confused at first, but, a plan will come together for you as it does for all. My recommendation is "KISS".

Do not over build as I did. (I was planning on three people camping in mine.) Don't get me wrong, I love my tear.
Only thing is; My girls won't go with me.

Any way, Good luck with your build and we look forward to lots of pictures as we follow your progress.

Rod

[working on it]

a) I built a Shanty boat and figured why not build a small camper to tow behind my 2009 HHR....b) I have plenty of room now, once I realized I will be traveling solo
Mark

I can't believe I missed this thread until now...I also started my build to be pulled by my 2009 HHR (Panel), and also eventually realized it was to become a one-person camper, but much too late to overcome the constant addition of design features. Originally intended to be under 1000 lbs, it ended up at 1775 lbs (I'm endeavoring reduce that, even as I am still adding off-roading mods to it). So, no towing with the HHR! I could've eliminated a few things, if I had planned for only myself as the sole user, but added some items for the wife...at least that's my excuse. Really though, I might've added more, possibly heavier items, idiosyncratic to my own tastes. Good luck with yours!

[Gold5one]

The HHR is my tow vehicle for now. It's only got 39,000 miles on it-- a Florida snowbird trade in.
Going single will save me some weight and leave me room for a fold up camp chair inside. I don't know why the HHR is listed for 1000lbs towing, as the tranny is the same one used in the small suvs- it must be the rear drum brakes. I'll have to look into getting better rear brake shoes.
I am finishing up on my 30" front stretch of a $50 used 40x48 HF mini trailer- it's a custom build for my shanty boat. That bed frame steel is really hard to drill- I finally broke down and bought a small stick welder. I relocated the tongue 12" further forward and added angle iron for an A frame front- it's very solid.
This trailer is only for local use. I originally bought a 5x10ft lawn service type trailer for my flat bottom boat- it weighted 800lbs. I quickly realized this wasn't ideal at the ramp- way too heavy for a 300lb plywood boat . So I sold it --- this boat trailer will be closer to 200lbs when I get done.
The angle steel overlap provides a lot of strength after welds are added on the sides and cross members.

[working on it]

The HHR is my tow vehicle for now. It's only got 39,000 miles on it-- a Florida snowbird trade in.
Going single will save me some weight and leave me room for a fold up camp chair inside. I don't know why the HHR is listed for 1000lbs towing, as the tranny is the same one used in the small suvs- it must be the rear drum brakes. I'll have to look into getting better rear brake shoes.
I am finishing up on my 30" front stretch of a $50 used 40x48 HF mini trailer- it's a custom build for my shanty boat. That bed frame steel is really hard to drill- I finally broke down and bought a small stick welder. I relocated the tongue 12" further forward and added angle iron for an A frame front- it's very solid.
This trailer is only for local use. I originally bought a 5x10ft lawn service type trailer for my flat bottom boat- it weighted 800lbs. I quickly realized this wasn't ideal at the ramp- way too heavy for a 300lb plywood boat . So I sold it --- this boat trailer will be closer to 200lbs when I get done.
The angle steel overlap provides a lot of strength after welds are added on the sides and cross members.

We share some similarities. My HHR has 100,000 more miles than yours...new brakes wouldn't help it stop my heavy trailer anyhow, but the Dexter axle's brakes would. I agree that the tranny is up to the job, it is rated near to 400 ft-lbs (I researched before I bought; it's the best engine/tranny combo I've had since my Chevelle's 427 with trans-braked 'Glide, HAHA). I think that I could bolt-in 1/4" angle alongside the unibody stampings, and still pull it OK, hum.... I also started with a $50 trailer, a swap-meet special, and added a longer 3x3x.1875" tongue, and added 12" of rectangular tubing in front, 24" to the rear. Watch your weight! after I added the tongue and frame extensions, and the 3/4" flooring (and 14" tires and wheels), my roller weighed exactly 400lbs! And that was with the 1.25" square tube axle that surely wasn't up to the long-haul. Glad I replaced it, before it broke (the spring hanger broke away from the frame, first). Another similarity here...I bought a welder to retrofit my trailer....

• $50 special
• +12" front, +24" rear, 14" wheels added
• now 400lbs from 180 before

[Gold5one]

HHR Guy,
Welcome to the madness!!
Keep looking through this site as there is none better for this subject.
Yes, you will get confused at first, but, a plan will come together for you as it does for all. My recommendation is "KISS".

Do not over build as I did. (I was planning on three people camping in mine.) Don't get me wrong, I love my tear.
Only thing is; My girls won't go with me.

Any way, Good luck with your build and we look forward to lots of pictures as we follow your progress.

Rod :

That's my problem Rod. My wife doesn't have the camping bug and my 15 yr old daughter is into "her" friends and social circle, plus she would whine and moan if her iPhone and iPad lost their cell tower connection. I guess I am lucky I get a dependent's SS check for the teenager (until 18) - that helps pay those cell phone bills. If I hit all the places and people/relatives I want to visit next year, it would be over $1000 in gas alone. Might have to do a temp job for a week or two on the road, if I find an area I like.
I hope our Social Security inflation increase is better than last year. I switched from a truck to a Chevy HHR, because the fuel and insurance costs got too high for my retirement budget.
Mark

[Gold5one]

I checked out your Mechatavismus Minimus, build. Hey, you have a generator! What size is it and how much weight did it add to your build?
We also have similar dogs- mine is a Silky Terrier- Sparky is almost 10 yrs old. Our daughter is 15= the fun years.

[Gold5one]

Welcome to the group I to an a Electrician 36 yrs and still going (Local 357) If you can build that boat you can build a TD Well keep us posted on what to decide to do

I had 20 years in IBEW local 538, before I switched to being a maintenance electrician at Chrysler. I finally retired from the local last year and got my 40 yr pin and a gold watch(paid full dues every year I worked at Chrysler rather than put my ticket in the IO)- to add to the gold watch I got from UAW local 685 when I retired from Chrysler after 14 yrs. I hated my job at Chrysler the first year. I didn't know if I could stand being in one place, working 3rd shift and working with the same guys everyday. But after a few years, I came to like it better than construction. No backbiting or favoritism for jobs. I did a good job and didn't put myself out of work. I didn't wear out my car driving out of my local for work. I was inside in the winter and out of the sun in the summer. I had more money in the bank at the end of the year, too.

[CampingDad]

Just saw your post in the newbie section just joined myself today. I am over in North Fort Myers over near orange grove. Moved just outside the cape 2 years ago to save a bit on taxes. Would love to meet up with you for a coffee or a beer and talk shop with you.

[bc toys]

i to am a IBEW 357 brother 21 years I just took a convention job a year ago and can't decide if I want to go back to construction or stay at convention center the bad part about conventions it only about a 1/2 credit a year the good part is i'm off about 5 months a year 3 from july -oct but I can get in lots of camping during that time

[Gold5one]

Camping Dad- I sent you a PM
Mark