Project Camper Trailer 2020

I purchased a second hand tradesman trailer that is lifted and the plan is to clean up the rust and configure it for camping.

The hope is to add a

Roof top tent
Water tank
12 v battery
Lights
Awning
Table
Storage

Let the work begin :o)

Step 1 deconstruct to allow rust removal, painting and planning.

Step 2 remove rust and prime

This is a good start but there is much still to do

So here is a Saturday’s work of work. Decent MIG welder makes a difference.

So after cleaning rust and testing repairs the top is not viable so found a replacement online, still needs some work but solid.

Working on the new top today.

All was going great then the welder stopped :o( ran out of wire.

New roll of wire + a good gas bottle and the welding continued.

Spent this afternoon putting the tailgate on

Now it can be locked up as the top is also bolted on.

Uprights for ladder racks installed, cross beams attached, another good afternoons worth of work.

Well spent 2 days and here are the changes

number plate frame and light made and fitted

front back rails for ladder rack locator tags fitted

Work done

wire brushed the under side
treated the underside with rust converter
2 coats of under body paint
refitted the axle after it was cleaned, rust treated, and 2 coats of under body paint
fitted new hubs and bearings packed with new grease
refitted wheels
tail light brackets made and fitted
number plate frame made and fitted with light
gas strut brackets made and fitted
spare wheel bracket remade and fitted
ladder rack front to back rails tags fitted

19/07/2020

So spent the tax refund and purchased

Roof top tent
Annex for roof top tent
Awning 2.5 x 2.5
Power box (cheaper to buy complete than build)
2 x 40l water tanks

Most of the fabrication work is now complete

front to back ladder rack rails finished

Today’s round up

Front to back rails on the ladder racks done to hold the roof top tent
All 4 gas struts now fitted and adjusted
Removed old tabs that were used for locking (no more hitting the head)
Add tabs to allow lifting the top off

So next to do is

Locking handles
Cleaning up the welds
Add more lock down bolts for the top
Finish the spare wheel carrier (bolts to hold the wheel)
Fit water tanks
Remove rust
Apply rust converter
Apply primer paint
Apply top coat
Fit tail lights
Register trailer
Install power
Install roof top tent
Install awning
Go camping :o)

Have a good day all

20/07/2020

Water tanks (80 liters total) arrived during the week and purchased a Seaflow 21 water pump, new work too do :o)

Steel rods for locks on the sides.

23/07/2020

Fitted handles removed ladder racks for painting

Today I did the following

Removed the shelf
Removed poles for holding doors open
Removed bracket for holding doors open from doors
Fitted handles to the doors
Removed the ladder racks
Painted the ladder racks where they were drilled, cut and welded
Put the fittings on the tanks and connected them together

So very close to the painting time.

26/07/2020

Spent Saturday and Sunday on

Cleaned striped and repainted the rims
Cleaned then rust treated the trailer
Primed the painted the trailer
Made space for mounting water tanks

and doesn’t it look different now

All most ready for registration.

2/8/2020

Well at the end of an epic 4 days working on the trailer and doesn’t it look different!

Passenger side with tap, filler and overflow

Has been registered.

Work completed over the 4 days

Cleaned striped and repainted the rims
Cleaned then rust treated the trailer
Primed the painted the trailer
Cleaned and rust treated top inside and out
Primed and painted top inside and out
Made space for mounting water tanks
Mounted water tanks
Mounted water pump
Plumbed tanks to pump, tap, filler and over flow
Fitted tail lights and wired them
Registered trailer
Reattached ladder racks
Finished spare wheel mounting with lock

Now for electrics, tent and awning next weekend

4/8/2020

Mounted the tent today and started on the internals

8/8/20

Another productive time, looking good for camping next weekend.

Had limited time today but was able to

Finish fitting the battery monitor to the power board
Added connections to the power board for battery and charge
Fitted the awning
Added a seal for the rear gate and adjusted the locks for the extra space
Finished the storage for cups, plates etc and fitted it

9/8/20

So the last 2 nights I have completed the following small items

Mounted 12V power board
Finished and mounted 4 channel remote switch to cigarette lighter sockets (for the lights)
Run power to the water pump
Fitted plywood around the inside of the trailer with 3 dividers for storage

Yes having remote controlled lights is nerdy but that’s me :o)

11/8/20

So first trip

All worked well, some changes are needed to improve.

16/8/2020

Over the last week I have

Raised the awning
Added sail track above the awning (will make a cover from there into the middle of the trailer)
Mounted a gas bottle holder
Made a sink with tap
Mounted the solar panel (picked up a 180W for $35.00)
Mounted the MMPT solar charger I had
Added some tied downs in the body for the battery and general area
Remade the storage box (pics to come)
Used the fittings from an old awning to have a sailtrack across the end
Added tent pole storage tube at the front

31/8/2020

Camping 13/9 to 15/9

Trailer setup is coming together, the solar panel needs to come forward, still need a filler cover for the front but the old awning works as an extension at the front.

Need an extension out the back, and some cover for the side.

15/9/2020

Some finishing work this weekend.