Gordinho80's Offroad / Camping Trailer Build

[v7guy]

I've done quite a bit of fiberglass work, you'd just want to cut it, feather the edges and then put a backing where your going to glass it back together. tear some steps of chopped stand mat, apply resin with a brush using a stabbing motion. let it cure then do a skim of filler to level it. would only take afternoon.

[darring70]

Looking good

[Gordinho80]

Wanna come to jersey? Lol

[navigator]

if you narrow it though you would also have to worry about what to do with the glass/plexi-glass and the rear door.
I like the path you are heading.

[v7guy]

Wanna come to jersey? Lol

I ain't opposed to it. could probably figure something out after TECORE, I'm only an hour and a half away.
If the Windows are plexi they can be taped and cut with very little drama in my limited experience.

[Gordinho80]

Started working on the side boxes.







I'm picking up these doors from Craigslist...





$50 for all 3 doors! Just have to figure out sealing and the latch... Once I have them in my possession, it should be pretty easy to figure out. Hoping to have them by this weekend.

With the boxes, I ran silicon along each joint before screwing the pieces together. I'm going to cover the boxes with the same material as I used on the wood on the trailer. The tails will be housed on the back panels of the boxes, keeping them out of the way and easily accessible in case of failure.

Once the boxes are completed, going to mount the cap, after I paint it, of course. The question is... what color do I paint the cap? Same color as the boxes(grey) or as the steel on the trailer(black)? Then I need to focus on water setup and tailgate.

[navigator]

I would go with something lighter than black to keep the heat down.
You might try something close to the scheme you have on your TB.

[Gordinho80]

I'm leaning toward the same grey as what is currently on the wood portions of the trailer, but without the texture. Whatever is closest that is available at Depot.

[scorpio1]

Love the build so far, great work.

If you wanted to get "green" so to speak with the build, you could put a solar panel on the top, front, even the sides of the camper shell, or in place of the windows, that would link to your battery as a charger for when the trailer is parked or un-hooked from the vehicle. The panels would absorb heat and keep temps lower inside the box in warmer weather.

The cost would be a downfall though, not sure what the pricing on panel setups could be, but I bet its not low, being green costs green.

[v7guy]

I think he should put a small diesel generator on the trailer, the world needs to be warmer.

[scorpio1]

Hahaha, that would work too, though honestly the benefit to the solar is more the renewable free energy, I could care less about being green myself.

[Gordinho80]

I've thought about doing a solar panel as well, but it would have to be detachable as I don't want to always have the trailer directly in the sun.

I picked up the doors over the weekend and they are in really great shape, especially for $50. They all work off the same key, which was included. I'm hoping to work on them this week.

[Gordinho80]

Now I need to add a lip along the inside so I can seal the doors. I'm holding up a small piece of 1x2 as an example but I think I'm going to make it out of steel. I also need to add strikers for the latches. Sorry for the blurry pic...

[Trail X]

Can the lip also be the strike?

[Gordinho80]

Yes... the lip will be the strike as well. Just a matter of making it long enough to strike the latch.

[Gordinho80]

Testing out the lip/striker...



It works GREAT! Just need to add side lips. I'm planning on putting a small Aluminum angle along the outside as a gutter to assist in keeping water out of the door. It will also act as a giant washer, spreading the load of the bolts uses to hold the lip in place.

I then checked to see if the stove will sit on top of the door properly... and it does. The stove is a little larger than the opening for the side box, but it fits inside just fine. Couple of bungees to hold it in place when travelling. Rest of the box will be used to store kitchen type products and propane hoses.

[dvanbramer88]

Nice!

[Conner299]

Just noticed this, and might be something to think about... The tops of those side boxes look like possible good areas for water to pool, when it rains, and its not moving.

[Gordinho80]

Thanks.. Going to seal as best I could. I might use some bondo or fiberglass resin, cause for some reason, I have a container of each untouched in my garage.

[Cable810]

This build is awsome!! It has me thinking