Trek Freedom Camper- only 485 lbs

[Gold5one]

Rear door is finished, hinges and lock, too. I am looking at building a small fold up rear ramp for the door- Just in case I need to load up, chickens, or goats, or baby pigs, llamas, or a pony.
Looks like, I'm basically done with the camper body.
Next step is to get it weighted.
I think I rushed this project really well- 22 days of work since I started this topic>
I returned an armful of lumber to Home Depot today- didn't need it after all. Every time I looked at my pile of salvaged wood, I saw a way to use it. Last year I ripped down long 2x4s ceiling boards from a remodel job- getting two 2x2 with a 1-1/2 by 5/8" center piece left over. Rather than scrap them, I saved them. All clear material, not like the crap in the stores now.
I'm going to coat the roof again and another coat of paint/stain to the outside for good measure.
Click to enlarge-

[Gold5one]

Today was graduation day!
I made an easy trip on Saturday to Loves truck stop to get it weighted- 460 scale weight and I allowed 25lbs for the pretty light tongue= 485 lbs empty-
The trailer tongue will be a lot heavier when I'm loaded for a trip. A steady fuel economy mpg reading was 29 mpg just cruising at 50 mph.
I expect it will be closer to 22 mpg at 62 mph when finished and loaded with grub/ice and camping gear. I only drive 62mph in the right lane on the interstate. I have a 2020 Dodge Journey with the 2.4L 4 cylinder engine. The 4 speed OD transmission allows for manual tap shifting when you need that. I have the normal 4 cyl factory towing limit of 1000 lbs. It's geared reasonably low based on the tachometer rpms.

[featherliteCT1]

Nicely done!

[twisted lines]

Having the same towing capacity this is very comforting to see numbers & walls.
Thanks for sharing.

[bdosborn]

Wow, that's a light one.Good job.

Bruce

[Gold5one]

Thanks everyone!
Bruce, I don't think there are many 4x8 sized builds in the 500lb range.
I took a couple days off to think through my problem- How to prop open the roof hatch? Yesterday I saw the 4 Harbor Freight end panel 2x4 cargo brackets left over- and I immediately saw my solution! (maybe this has been done before?)
The scrap 2x4 I cut up for test purposes gives me 6ft at thge end and stand up goes back almost two feet= enought to put my jeans on in the morning. .
Now to close it in- I will use luan for the end, with door height extension to make entry and exit easier- and maybe screened vinyl with snaps for the sides. I will rig up a couple of strong bungee cords to make sure a strong wind doesn't flip it open.

[Hepcat]

Clever solution. Do you have any detail pics of the lifting and locking mechanism? I am currently thinking along tho most simplified lines for the rear hatch of the Bop-a-Tear...like just two loose poles supported by the galley work surface or so

[Gold5one]

Lifting and locking parts are not done, nor will they be for a couple months- My gall bladder came out on April 3rd and this is the first time I have turned on my laptop since I got violently sick last Friday- I will be in recovery and rehab mode for awhile,

[TimC]

Mark, Godspeed on your journey to full recovery!

[Gold5one]

Thank you Tim for the encouraging words.
Once I am off this 24/14 antibiotic shoulder carry infusion pump I will know that I am cleared for takeoff.
I had an epiphany while in the hospital- I can make a helper hatch lifting device using a small spare garage door opener spring - one spring and two pulleys connected to two metal side arms.

[Gold5one]

We sold our house on June 30th- Cash, as-is buyer- we have a month to live here rent free, to pack up and get moved- my Trek Camper build will end up being a cargo trailer to help move some of the small stuff 600 miles to a rental home, then a U-haul truck for the rest.. Cash talks, it was way too much $$ to pass up. Camping is a lot better where I am headed too.

[pchast]

Sounds like a good deal..
Good luck in the new location.

[bdosborn]

Cash talks, it was way too much $$ to pass up. Camping is a lot better where I am headed too.

Now's the time to do it, I'm betting that housing prices are headed down. Where are you going?
Bruce

[Gold5one]

Word is , home prices will be trending down a lot soon. I think the FL panhandle is the last quiet place left in Florida- so far the developers have avoided that area.