My offroad Camper

[Steve F]

Got my ORAC (Offroad All Conditions) hitch on today Decided to make it bolt on rather than welding it on. Amazing how easily a nice sharp drill bit will cut through 10mm of plate (6mm mounting plate and 4mm on the hitch)

It allows 360 degrees of rotation and plenty of movement vertically and horizontally. The centre pin is is pulled out to disconnect it from the hitch. It also has a bush going through the hitch to allow it to swivel.



Also added a cross brace to the A-frame as after welding on the plate for the hitch the a-frame still flexed and I was worried about the welds on the plate eventually cracking.



It is the length of the A-frame and the two very separate sections that allowed them to flex independently, the cross brace has made a huge difference.



Cheers
Steve

[Cliffmeister2000]

Sweet!

My brother and I are debating whether or not to lap the plywood over the 2x4 plaform on the floor. I notice you did not (which is my choice). Can you tell my why you chose not to?

My brother contends that lapping the ply over the 2x4 will add significant strength. I worry about exposed plywood edge and weather, especially edges aimed at the ground where splash-up would soak and abrade them quite a bit.

Thanks,

Cliff

[angib]

It is the length of the A-frame and the two very separate sections that allowed them to flex independently, the cross brace has made a huge difference.

That makes complete sense - until you added the cross brace, you had two strong beams connected by a trampoline! Flat plate is very weak out of its plane.

Andrew

[Steve F]

Sweet!

My brother and I are debating whether or not to lap the plywood over the 2x4 plaform on the floor. I notice you did not (which is my choice). Can you tell my why you chose not to?

My brother contends that lapping the ply over the 2x4 will add significant strength. I worry about exposed plywood edge and weather, especially edges aimed at the ground where splash-up would soak and abrade them quite a bit.

Thanks,

Cliff

I didn't run the ply over the sides as I wanted the first thing to hit the ground (if anything does) to be the steel of the frame. I preferred to keep the ply up out of harms way. I also plan on running checker plate around the edge at the base overlapping the frame and the ply for extra protection. From a strength point of view even as my walls stand now with no roof framing in they are very solid.

Cheers
Steve

[bobhenry]

It allows 360 degrees of rotation

Cheers
Steve

180 degrees is all that is necessary so if the Jeep is upside down the trailer is still on it's feet !

[Steve F]

It allows 360 degrees of rotation

Cheers
Steve

180 degrees is all that is necessary so if the Jeep is upside down the trailer is still on it's feet !

Other way around, the idea is if the trailer rolls the Jeep wont follow it

Cheers
Steve

[MSG Hall]

Steve I am real impressed with your whole build. I have been watching and taking notes… when I get back from the war, I am going to start my build and a lot of what I have seen in yours will be incorporated into what I do… thanks

[Steve F]

Well the host of my images has been down a while so I've stuck a few in photobucket.

Just won this window for across the front on ebay $6.01AUD and it winds out and everything. I just need to make a fly screen for it and a cover to protect it from stone damage, or possibly replace the glass with acrylic. The window is 1.2m across and 40cm tall, perfect for the spot It's going which is 1.50m across and 60cm tall.



And a couple of images of where I'm at, the doors are framed now, except for the window opening as I haven't decided on the size/type yet. I have the hinges, hopfully I'll also win some led tail lights on ebay today and the insulation is on its way. Once these bits and pieces arrive it should go from this to ready for paint pretty quick



Cheers
Steve

[Steve F]

Hooked up to the jeep for the first time to check for clearance for the Jeep tyre carrier etc and to check how it will sit. I'm pretty happy with it. Been relying on the tape measure up until now.







Cheers
Steve

[sseaman]

lookin good so far, i had seen you start this on myswag, and now seeing it on here i can keep up better, cant wait to see it complete

[bve]

Looks awesome behind your XJ, great proportions to the Jeep.

Looks almost ready for this kind of terrain PirateJeep - Dave's Big XJ. BTW These guys have a ton of great video on U-Tube too PirateJeep.

And so as to not thread-rob your build with those links above... any chance your other pics will be back up anytime soon?

[Steve F]

Looks awesome behind your XJ, great proportions to the Jeep.

Looks almost ready for this kind of terrain PirateJeep - Dave's Big XJ. BTW These guys have a ton of great video on U-Tube too PirateJeep.

And so as to not thread-rob your build with those links above... any chance your other pics will be back up anytime soon?

I tried to make the rear hatch match the shape of the jeep hatch and the front match the jeep windscreen

Did a little more, got my $6 window in to see how it looks, gotta love ebay sometimes





Cheers
Steve

[Miriam C.]

Oh wow! What a great window Can't wait to see it finished. It looks wonderful with the jeep

[Steve F]

I'm starting to get into this woodwork thing now Lucky as the early stuff will be covered up. I'm using hardwood for some of the framing to add some additional strength but it is noticeably heavier over the pine.

Here's the latest bit, window frame done.



The interior will be stained, the hardwood should come up nice so I'm trying to make as much a feature of it as possible with a wider frame around the window.



Cheers
Steve

[Wright]

BUMP.... how'd that framing come out.... lemme see... lemme see... lemme see...