Could this trailer be made to work for a Campster 12?

[tianac2]

Hi everyone! This is my first post, but I've been lurking for months now! I have hubby sold on eventually getting/building a TD, but he seems to think that its financially out of our reach at the moment. However, I've been working on convincing him that we could do it little by little and it wouldn't be so bad....

So, my question is, (before I go pointing out to him all the ways that $75 isn't a bad price for the size of trailer we'd need....) could this trailer work for a Campster 12, or would we need to find a way to better support the forward corners:

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/boa/1258178501.html

Thanks!

[jdarkoregon]

if you could only tell us the width and length. It looks like it would work, but that boat isn't very wide?????

Welcome to the Forum

John

[bobhenry]

The drop axle and tires are worth twice that.

This IS you first build go for it

number 2 will be even better

Seriously though your floor may have to be a little beefier to compensate for the lack of metal frame in the front but there are many on this board that have built on a boat trailer. I would cantilever the body 2" to the rear to better place the centerline of the wheels. The only alterations to the frame may be to shorten the tongue a bit. However as it set it will tow like a dream at interstate speed thanks to the long tongue , rearset wheels and low center of gravity. Too bad it in the far end of the world it would be gone. ( In my driveway)

[bobhenry]

if you could only tell us the width and length. It looks like it would work, but that boat isn't very wide?????

Welcome to the Forum

John

The wheels on the campster 12 are under the body so you will be able to easily build 6 to 8 inches past the outside of the tires. I have a 5' 7" wide out to out trailer built on a 4' Harbor Freight frame and axle and it rolls down the road just fine. Ironicly I paid exactly $75 bucks for my frame as well . It was used and bent and I had to do some serious modifications.

(see my album if curious about what to do with a handrail)

Sleeping side to side might be a bit of a stretch depending on the out to out of the tires on this trailer. Home built designs can always be modified.
As to $$$ Chubby was just under $1000 and was built April to October of 07. I did the math once and it figured something like $4.83 a day was spent. This is less than a lunch out so if you are serious just brown bag at work and the build will pay for itsself. You will have $10,000 worth of fun with it , I know we are.

[Dale M.]

It will "probably" work if you are willing to make some compensation for the trailers original design along the way......

Go for it......

Dale

[tianac2]

Thanks everyone for the great replies, that's what I needed to know!

I showed it to hubby this morning, and it seemed to scare him into the fact that I'm really serious! So, we went over our wants/needs again, and decided on something smaller than the Campster - largely because it will be toeing the line of our towing capacity...

We're thinking about trying to use this trailer to do a 5X8 with dual roll-up cots for the kids like the one "john" built, but with a table that drops into the floor. I know I saw a tear that was built by a couple that had a young son that they made with a table that dropped into the floor, but I can't find it now! I'm gonna keep looking though!

Thanks again everyone!

[Chip]

Of course it will work,,,, I built on a frame very similar and it does great,,, I did have to put a new axle under it (4" drop) and a lil wider but its no big deal,,, I wanted mine as low as I could get it and still use car tires,,, Tell hubby,,,,,,,,,,, nevermind ,,, just do it,,, there is a pic on page three in my album of trailer

good luck and happy camping