Elmo's New Toy Hauler Build

elmo_4_vt

Explorer
Hey All,
I just put my deposite down yesterday on my new trailer. So I thought I'd start a long winded build thread for some help and ideas when needed and documentation of the build in case it helps anyone out like all the threads I've already read on here.

For the past couple of years, I've been camping around with this:

img_5812.jpg


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It is/was an all aluminum utility bed on a custom frame (that is still for sale), with an Eezi-Awn Globetrotter on top. It was a great setup, and could follow my Bronco anywhere, but setup/tear-down was a bit more time consuming than I liked, it's still canvas, so rainy weekends sucked, and it didn't work out as well with a young kid and dog as I would have hoped. Also, I wanted something that would allow me to take my motorcycle with me. I contemplated just extending the tongue and placing the bike sideways up there, but in the end, I figured that wouldn't work out very well because of the extra width of the bike (7'-3”) and the tongue weight it would add.

So I started looking at new ideas. Taking what I like about my old trailer and my new requirements, these were my criteria, basically glamping:
- Off road/rough road ability. Rough forest service roads and short trails, not the Rubicon.
- Ground clearance.
- Tires matching the Truck (35x12.5)
- Track width and overall width matching the truck
- Outside kitchen
- Hard sides
- Comfy mattress
- Heat and hot water
- Able to fit the motorcycle
- Beefy Frame
- Storage for equipment

Maybe a pop-up? A used Coleman Graphite (10' box) almost came home with me one day, but I'd still have the problems of the canvas and the the cycle being sideways. A teardrop? Really like those, especially the kitchens, but still the problem of the cycle.

What I decided that I wanted was a toy hauler of some sort. My problem is that I'm towing with a '96 Ford Bronco, and the size weight of most available toy haulers would REALLY hurt my highway driving ability even with a nice 351 V8. I hate the fact that almost everything in the RV industry is SO large. I mainly just want someplace to sleep, keep supplies, and get out of bad weather. I came close to buying a brand new toy hauler that I found on-line that was only 13' long x 7.5” wide. Went to the dealer, and the company stopped making them “because they were too small”. That was still bigger and wider than I wanted and would require trade-offs from my criteria.

Then one day I saw this:

1609-mod-pod-camper.jpg


I thought that was such an awesome idea. Called the company and almost bought one, but they stopped making the narrower ones too. The smallest they make now is 6' wide. With the tires, the overall width would be more than 8', and they don't make the canvas package anymore. I also found and tried one of these:

quicksilver-vrv-exterior-open.jpg


They were cool, but I was a little concerned about the alum. trailer and not being able to work on or modify it because I can't weld alum. Also, the sizes they offer were either a little smaller at 5x8 or larger at 6'x14' than I wanted. Neither were ideal.

I thought I'd have to build my own, which I could do, but there is only so much time between work and family, and projects are taking much longer than they used to. So that is what brought me to standard cargo trailers. I continued looking around and found some places that would add custom touches. I wanted something 6' wide, but with the tires inside instead of outside. I could add the windows and doors myself, but wouldn't mind it being done for me if the prices were fair. I got some quotes from the major manufacturers that took care of most of my wishes, and would only require a few compromises and after-sale modifications.

After looking around on a tear-drop forum, I found trailershowroom.com. I really liked that I could pick all the options on-line and get a solid price quote. Going back and forth with some of the dealers was a real pain because they always seemed to make a mistake, or mis something, or just couldn't give me the options I wanted. Besides, only a couple companies will place the wheels inboard on a 6' wide version. I was able to spec the trailer out almost exactly the way I wanted it. Here is what I ordered yesterday:

- 6x12 w/ a V nose (I know it's huge, but a 6x10.5 is the smallest that would work, and they don't get THAT custom)
- 6' height (wanted to keep it as small as possible, but cycle requires about 5'-6”, and the 6' height give about 5'-8" of opening at the ramp door)
- Inboarded wheels
- RV door w/ Screen
- Two 36x22 windows
- 2'x2' luggage door
- Extended tongue (5') w/ three tubes so my tailgate and spare tire clear
- another 24” door in the front for storage
- 2"x4” frame (stock is 3”)
- 0.050 thick alum outer skin
- screw-less exterior
- custom axle position for better weight distribution

Here are a few drawings of the trailer setup I sent to the factory, and of the interior layout:

angle-side-view001.jpg


curb-side-view001.jpg


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plan-view001.jpg


I'm going to try and sketch something up in good sketchup, but I'm not that good at that CAD system.

Basically, I'm going to build a fold up bed in the front like member Glenlivet from mikenchell.com (hope he doesn't mind me borrowing his picture)

CIMG0814Medium.jpg


Cabinets down one side in the back with clothing drawers and storage.

Heater under one side of the bed

5,000btu wall mount AC above the cabinets in the back.

As my son gets older, I'll make a tent/porch out of the rear ramp door like the one pictured above, but for now he'll just sleep under our bed.

Storage for batteries, EZ-up, propane, chairs, porta-john/bath tent, etc. up front in the V closed off with a wall from the rest of the trailer.

Water tank, on-demand water heater, pump, and outdoor shower.

A car/boat stereo w/ TV and DVD player.

Jacks at the back corners and on the tongue to level things out.

Custom suspension and new 3500lb axle with electric brakes and cable parking brake (I didn't want to try to explain to the company I was going to put 35s on it, and why I wanted a "special" axle, so I'll just sell the stock axle and buy a new one).

A slide out kitchen coming out of the 2'x2' door on the side like this:

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The trailer was supposed to be finished in mid to late January, but I just got told today it will be done by the end of the year, and I'll have to take a 12 hr drive down to Georgia to pick it up. Not really a big deal since we can just make a mini-vacation out of the trip. It's a little nerve wracking to buy something like this off of the internet, but I've heard good things about them and I've got my fingers crossed.


I think that's pretty much it. Not the typical trailer we see here, but I spend more time on here than any other site, so I wanted to add my build. I'll be getting and filling in some additional info here as I make plans. Let me know of any questions or comments.

Don

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Fresno

Adventurer
What is the make of the little trailer with the ramp door and the side pop out tent?
quicksilver-vrv-exterior-open.jpg
 
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elmo_4_vt

Explorer
What is the make of the little trailer with the ramp door and the side pop out tent?

Yeah, that's a picture off of the VRV Website. While the box is labeled a 5x10, I think the 10' mark is to the very front of the "V", so the main box is less. With the 6' wide variety, the company wasn't willing (not that I blame them) to make it with the wheels inboard, which meant after adding my bigger wheels the package would be wider than 8'. With the inboard wheels on the 6' wide model, the whole package will be right about the width of my truck +/- 2". My truck is about 6'-8" outside-outside of the bumpers.

Also, I was surprised that you really didn't save much weight with the Alum. cargo trailers. I'm sure it would add up on the larger trailers, but on these smaller ones, it was only a couple hundred pounds at most.

The stock 6x12 trailer from Trailershowroom.com is listed as 1200lbs empty. My options will increase that a bit, like the ramp door, thicker alum. skin, 2"x4" frame instead of 2"x3" frame, and of course the V nose, but I don't see it being more than 300-400 lbs more. Add the interior finishes, and I'm hoping to be under 2,200lbs before I load up the cycle (another 350lbs). So this will definitely be heavier than my old setup, but should still be manageable.

Subscribed. Did you sell the trotter?

Yes, sold the Globetrotter to someone that is going to put it on top of a military style trailer. So I still have the Utility trailer and am trying to sell that separately.


Don

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bob

Adventurer
elmo,

I am interested in the slide out kitchen set up. Any info on who makes them locally.
 

elmo_4_vt

Explorer
There are a couple places, I think Blue Sky makes something similar, but I will be making this one myself. I'll search around and look for other vendors and add them here if I find any... Most of the places I think of are from Oz... Like Drifta. I know they used to send them here, but don't see any mention of that on their site now.

Don

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Titanpat57

Expedition Leader
dona.jpgdonb.jpg

looks good Don...sounds like you thought it through.

As promised...maybe this will help as it unfolds....
 

elmo_4_vt

Explorer
That's awesome Pat... Thanks. It's really nice to see it shown in Sketch-Up, especially for the wife. I appreciate the effort, but honestly it's not necessary. The other one I had told you about was different and I couldn't visualize how it would look with a pop-top... This one is really just a cargo trailer. Unfortunately, it's not going to be much of an eye-catcher. I was planning on matching the truck though with some vinyl wrap once I get things settled, you read my mind. :victory: I'll have to throw some kind of graphics on there to spice things up. Maybe the off-road tire tread like I've seen on a couple other builds lately.

Don

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bob

Adventurer
If you like mine, contact Rick at AVI graphics. He can forward the stuff to your local guy. I paid for the design so all you should have to pay for is the actual vinyl. And maybe the installation if you are not confident about doing it. Let me know.
 

elmo_4_vt

Explorer
Thanks Bob.. I appreciate the info. I'll give it a shot if I go that way. The graphics you put on yours really make it look great and broke up the all white.

Don

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bob

Adventurer
The graphics are the Goodyear Wrangler Kevlar track, and supposed to look like coming out of turn/slide. We did it by spray painting a piece of heavy paper and then just backing up on it. Have fun.
 

SWITAWI

Doesn't Get Out Enough
and a few more with a little progress.......

Man you are such a bad influence, lol. You're like some shady guy in the entrance to a dark alley with a bunch of trailer ideas under his long coat...
:rolleyes:
Psssst! Hey, buddy. Need a little 'Sketch-Me-Up' to get you by?
 

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