offRoad basecamp build

Alright, here it goes.

The original plan was to build a 5x9 teardrop like trailer. I had plans drawn and almost everything figured out.





Then we moved back across the pond and reality set in.

8 months after getting back to Colorado I was browsing Craigslist and this one posting came up.
6x10 utility trailer, no title, decent shape, great price. I had to basically redesign the entire camper, but that's alright. I love the process. Here is a more current rendition.



Since I had a shop back up and running I thought, why not?

Pulled the trigger on the trailer and off she goes.

First, a whole lot of cutting and welding. The frame needed to be modified to take Timbren suspensions and 31" tires. And because I didn't want to be wider than ~90" we needed to bump the tires in.

A friend helped me with the fabricating portion, since I know NOTHING about working with metal other than how to drill it.

 

The Timbren System has a weight rating of 2200lbs and I am guessing the trailer loaded will have somewhere around 1700lbs.
It will have a pullout kitchen, something to the likes of a pullout drawer system for truckbeds. It will have room to sleep two adults and 2 children, all though I am anticipating a RTT at some point on top of it. I don't see our 8 year old sleeping in there for more than a few years. If even.

Next steps were grinding and sanding the frame to the point where it is no longer a hazard to touch. My fabricator friend and I hauled butt that day at his shop, so now it was time for me to clean up the mess. It took a lot longer than I anticipated and I wonder if buying the frame and modifying it was time and cost-effective.
BUT, it worked out and after one coat of enamel primer and 2 coats of enamel the frame was done.

 

Looks good to me!

 

Next steps were sort of a no brainer. Layout the floor and insulate.

I used 15/32" plywood sheeting from the big box for the outer sandwich layers of the floor and then milled down 2x4's to a true 1" thickness for the frame in between.

On the underside of the floor we used a 25/75 mix of Poly/MineralSpirits to seal the plywood, then painted it with exterior house paint 3 times. The seams between the 3 pieces of plywood that make up the entire 6x10 floor are sealed with an RV sealant.









The inside of the framing is insulated with 1" foam boards and then another 15/32" layer of plywood is laid on top for the actual inside floor of the camper.

 

Here come the walls.
I am working to get walls and ceiling built as individual pieces before setting the cabin on to the frame. I don't have inside storage during the build for the entire trailer, so I gotta make sure I have a functioning structure once the walls and ceiling go up.


A first mockup of the size with the walls just built. They still need to be framed out for doors and windows and such, but this was a great moment. Seeing the size for the first time in real life makes it come to life.



But there is a lot more work on the walls necessary. The wife is equally excited about this, so every moment we get we sneak to the shop to get some work done.

 

later.

 

And.

 

Another.

 

one.