Truck Canopy Trailer - Updates... Solar Panel, Jack, etc.

[Jst83]

My 7 year old summed up your camper in 2 words while standing here just now. Ooooooo nice and I'll second that very clever

[vwbeamer]

Sweet, did you ever find out the weight?

[ohbugger]

- Deleted Post -

[ohbugger]

Just got the trailer weighed tonight. 840 pounds! I was worried about creeping up toward the 1,000 pound mark.
I'm happy with the weight considering it's a 6'x8' and it has nearly two layers of flooring when you consider the bed is 5'9"x6'4" of 3/4" plywood and 4" of foam.

[ohbugger]

Well ok, I've got to make the window coverings and finish the little shelves in the rear under the outlets. But I'm calling the thing finished!
The bearings are freshly regreased and the trailer has been weighed. It's time to reclaim my parking spot in the garage.

Here are a few pictures of the electrical system which was the last major thing to get wrapped up.

Put the wiring in a cheap-o toolbox to clean things up and to be safe. That's a GFCI outlet that feeds the two other outlets to keep everyone safe!


The toolbox is pretty empty, if I replace the battery, I'll get something slightly smaller that will fit inside the toolbox. The current battery is 18 amp hours, but it really only feeds the led lighting and 2 12volt outlets, so hopefully a 10 amp hour battery will be enough and fit inside the toolbox


A battery charger is kept plugged into the outlet to keep the battery topped off.


Each side has a 12 volt outlet and a 120 volt outlet fed from the GFCI. This side includes the voltmeter which is switched on/off with the button next to the 12 volt outlet.


On the passenger side, the button is the on/off for the overheard lighting, and the knob below is a dimmer.


Cup-holders... vital.



Threw some carpet on the door to protect it and dress it up a bit, also carpeted where the old third brake light was.


Finally, the portable sound system. 2 - eight inch door speakers, a highly efficient digital amp, and a lithium-ion 12volt rechargeable battery in a custom made enclosure will rock out the camp site for 2-3 days on a charge. Something I made last summer that far exceeded my expectations. Had to show it off here as it is made for camping.
EDIT - I finally created a write up on the boombox / portable sound system http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=50238 Check it out!

[jonnyo]

very cool trailer! look clean and well done! when is the first trip?!!!

[ohbugger]

very cool trailer! look clean and well done! when is the first trip?!!!

Thank you very much! I've been following your cargo trailer modification, very cool as well.

First trip? I might wait for it to warm up a bit? Or maybe not

[starleen2]

very cool trailer! look clean and well done! when is the first trip?!!!

Thank you very much! I've been following your cargo trailer modification, very cool as well.

First trip? I might wait for it to warm up a bit? Or maybe not

Warm up?? I bet you could heat that thing with a hair blow dryer Nice build

[Woodstramp]

Erik,

Where did you get those fold away cup holders? I need some of those.

[mezmo]

Hi Erik/ohbugger,

Congrats on finishing the project! It looks sharp, and has such a high
level of finish!

Call it "The Splendide", as it turned out slendidly!

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[ohbugger]

Erik,

Where did you get those fold away cup holders? I need some of those.

Amazon.com cheap! (free shipping with Amazon Prime, I get a lot from them now that everything I order has free 2-day shipping)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000Q8 ... 00_details

[ohbugger]

Hi Erik/ohbugger,

Congrats on finishing the project! It looks sharp, and has such a high
level of finish!

Call it "The Splendide", as it turned out slendidly!

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

Thanks for the compliment! Maybe I'll let my wife name it. She did spend the whole fall alone in the house while I was in the garage. She's glad I'm back inside during the evenings!

[vwbeamer]

To be honest, when I started reading your thread I had my doubts, but this has turned out very nice.

You did a great job planning it and executing the build.

Thanks for posting the weight.

[ohbugger]

For those of us who tow with an unapproved vehicle. Here's a little info that helps.

I drive a 2008 Scion XB:


It is rated to tow... NOTHING.

The same car in Australia is called a Toyota Rukus:


Same engine, same tranny, same darn car is rated to tow 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) by Toyota. Perhaps the Aussie version has a tranny cooler, but I doubt it.
Anyway, there you have it.

- Makes me feel good about the 840 pound weight I ended up with! -

[2bits]

Trolling through the build threads and I saw your build!

I have seen s few camper tops on the back of a truck bed, but building your own trailer and lower shell makes it match so much better! Mine is more than a toppper, but less than a cabover but it is so tall it unnerves me with the wind hitting it, so I might consider this.

I built an awesome teardrop, and decided to sell it for some land when I found this for $150 which is very similar to yours.. I also got it for $150, but it is alot more old school than yours. I think the defining factor is the complete rear section with the entry door, that separates them from a campertop to a camper...

Really nice work on the conversion!!! Here is mine: