Casper's "I did a bad thing" micro off road camper build

Hello everybody! I'm going to try and tag this along with the truck build. I waited almost a year before I started the build on the truck and had to do alot of back tracking so I figured I'd just start this at the beginning.
My wife and I decided that since it's just her and I now that it's time to do some adventuring. She would have been completely happy with tent camping, however, with a bad back, shoulders, and having to sleep with a CPAP machine it is not only difficult but uncomfortable. With 17 years of being Girl Scout leaders we have done our share of camping and thought we had more than enough equipment, wrong. Christie has been an Outdoor educator for the scouts for years so she has a fair grasp on what we actually need and don't need.
We decided we wanted something compact and basic yet cofortable. We got a bit of inspiration from @Wild Crow and his wife. What a dynamic duo who I hope I don't drive nuts with questions. A special thanks to @Cypherian also for his guidence through some of the needs we have and some do's and don'ts.
After looking at several teardrop campers and some pop up's we stumbled upon a local dealer who carries a mix of regular campers and a good selection of off road campers. We settled on a Tiger Moth micro off road camper by Taxa. It's kind of an ugly box (Christie thinks it's cute) but it met the requirements. Off roadable designed for trails with 15" tires and 12" ground clearance. It's constructed out of aluminum with wood only marine grade plywood used as the floor, storage boxes under bed, and storage in the cooking area. I'm not going into all the specs on the camper if interested check this link for it

https://taxaoutdoors.com/ultra-light-trailers/tigermoth-camper-trailer/

Almost forgot a secial thanks to @TacoFMS for helping me realize an rtt was not a really good option for me perhaps the most important step


Mods:
Pg 2: New connections - wiring in the 7 pin connection
Pg3: Rack 'em up--cargo basket on the thule rack REMOVED for solar panels
Pg3: Hasika awning instalation and review
Pg9: Grilling solutions
Pg 13: Kitchen Mods
Pg 19: kitchen Mods V 2.0
Pg 23: Auxillary lighting
Pg 23: USB solutions
Pg 24: Tongue exstension and Lock n Roll install
Pg 24: Spare tire mount relocation
Pg 25: Table mounted to the spare
Pg 27: The BOX, storage box for fridge and supplies
Pg 29: Electrical supply/ batteries and solar
Pg 33: Getting Jacked up-- New front jacks
Pg 41: Need a lift? Dexter lift install, wheel adapter install, toyota wheel install
Pg 42: Mud flaps
Pg 43: New tires
Pg 48: Remote solar panels

Adventures:
pg 10: Maiden voyage Outlander's campground
pg 16: The Anvil campground in Williamsburg
Pg 19: Westmoreland State Park
Pg 23: Outlanders River Camp 2018
Pg 30: New River Junction August 2018
Pg 30: Flag Pole Knob August 2018
Pg 35: Mathews Arm Shenandoah National Park 2018
Pg 35: Mathews Arm again? 2018
Pg 37: AOAA 2018
Pg 43: Outlanders 2019
Pg 45: Pochahontas State park 2019
Pg 46: Lewis Mountain Shenandoah National park June 2020
Pg 48: Loft mountain Shenandoah Natonal Park July 4th weekend 2020
Pg 50: Country Place cabins and River camp Sept 2020
Pg 51: Outlanders 2020
Pg 51: Loft Mtn September/ labor Day 2021
Pg 53: Bear Creek Lake State park 2022
Not shown: Outlanders September 2022
Pg 54: Powhatan State Park June 2023
Shenandoah River State Park August 2023
Pg 55: Luray RV Resort
Now on to the picture dump:

At the dealer picking it up yesterday 7/20/2017



Got it home! 4cyl towed it like a champ trailer only weighs 900 pounds dry weight. For a short trailer it tracks great and even backsup well







cooking area pulled out 4' it has storage for stove and cook ware inside it plus a water container with a pump




looking through the large side hatch with the bed folded into a bench. The side hatch raises up and forms a "porch roof"


bed folded out roughly queen size



tongue storage box plus a rack, another rack on the roof these are rated for 200 pounds plus a set of thule bars (already have plans for them) so good outside storage



interior storage under bed


sitting on bench with both doors open


Christie already at it trying to figure out cooking area storage this may be our first challenge



All lighting inside and out LED


This may not be everybodies idea of an "off road camper" but i think it suits our needs well. It's prewired for solar power so when I figure out my power needs That is on the list. We're going to hit campgrounds for now but the plan is to have the bugs worked out by next year and be off to the woods for up to a week at a time.

Thanks for stopping by more to come some mods already done and some in the works.

Have a wonderful day!

 

I really like the size and features of this but I have to ask is there more of these unfinished edges around the unit? I also have to ask about that wild mounting of the A/C unit. Could you write a review on each feature as you use them and show some detailed pictures of the A/C mounting?

Good luck, and happy camping!

Edit: I mean unfinished edges because it looks like they laser cut this and it has sharp edges.

 

Neat lil camper you got there. Like the gen1 tundra rims on the taco too.

 

Sure just getting started here. The AC mounts where a window was. The walls of the camper are layered aluminum, insulation, aluminum so from what I was to understand ths was a braced area for installation. They also added more bracing on the interior. I asked why not mounted on the front and was informed the Ac's had been struck with too much road debris for it to be practical. As for unfinished edges, everywhere you may come in contact with has had rubber trim put over the edges to prevent any contact. This example is a small logo mountied at the top of the rear door where there should be no contact

 

Thank you sir I got the wheels on a good trade

 

Here are pics of AC mounting. The took great care in fabbing adequate aluminum bracing on the outside and sealed well. The inside is plated and supported with marine grade plywood

 

I like it, but it is a little unsightly. Was is it designed by Picasso?

 

I guess it ressembles me ugly but functional

 

Yeah it looks to be sandwiched in there pretty good.

 

Thanks

 

That's a nice little shaggin wagon for the woods!

Just need to make sure that does not become the new dog house on occasion....

 

I checked it out pretty good as how sturdy it is for hittling some trails in the future is a valid concern

 

Oh yes it is! The dog will be with us she may find herself tied up outside for a while

 

just in case I made sure it had AC

 

Can you bring a collapsible kennel along?

 

Sure she
's a little dog and usually sleeps with us. When you fold out the bed it's pretty much the whole inside of the camper

 

I swear I saw one of these in Fl back in April around Yankeetown some where I thought it was a teardrop