I built (not bought) my sailboat. Since I was already doing the “roll your own” approach, didn’t buy a regular sailboat trailer. I’ve been fiddling with various transportation alternatives with mixed results. Most of the time the boat rides in a “cradle” I made of 2″ x 4″s and padded with foam from pool noodles. The cradle is tied down in a firewood hauling utility trailer. It looks incredibly redneck but has worked for thousands of miles. I’m still refining solutions for bypassing boat ramps (I dislike being tied to boat ramp infrastructure).
I’ve spent a lot off time looking at homemade trailer designs. Now that I’ve got more “state park” / “overland” camping gear I want to get more organized (especially for carrying my huge Teton Cot and giant Gazelle T4 tent). Many ideas are to be found if you look.
About a month ago a reader, who’s clearly got his shit together (and carries a Teton cot too), sent me these photos:
Very cool! Here’s the description:
“The Harbor Freight kit is pretty popular for DIY motorcycle trailer projects – inexpensive, assembles easily, and pulls nicely.
Some folks build them with car-top carriers, but the TSC tool box worked better for carrying the Coleman 8-person Instant Tent and the Teton cot – the tent is about the same size as the when packed for travel. I put the cot on one side, the tent on the other, a folding chair on top of each, and bungee them down to the eye bolts.
The cooler rack is homebuilt and fastened to the tongue with u-bolts – a couple of bungee cords hold the cooler.”
I’m telling ya, I hit camping nirvana, when I built this little guy
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=63145
Northern tool 8×5 is the base, harbor freight 8×4 are common as well as long as you dont want a real queen bed inside.
You are still a dirty bugger though, you have me revisiting boat builds which I most definittly do NOT have time for, although I still have a gallon and a half of epoxy… hmmmmmmm
Every guy has a mental list of projects that would be fun to do. 🙂 You fret over the unbuilt boats and I’ll fret over the teardrop camper that I’ve been meaning to build but haven’t found the time. In fact, the “supertent” I bought this spring for my walkabout was a “short term” compromise to talk myself out of building a camper. No regrets; with the awesome cot and mattress and huge tent I’m in relative luxury now.
I like what you built, it looks like a blast to make. I like teardrops but have the wrong tow rig. It would look silly behind my humunga-Dodge.
I like your build discussion. If you want “Curmudgeon level internet fame” shoot me an e-mail with a photo of your teardrop and I’ll post it as an example of what people who are cooler than me can build. 🙂 If you’re not interested, that’s OK too.
The Harbor Freight trailers are actually quite tough (and cheap). I built a 4×8 enclosed trailer on their frame to drive across the country From Washington to Florida. The entire build came in under $1000. Compared to trying to buy a comparable factory built trailer at $2500.00. Not a single problem during the entire trip. Just remember to keep the hubs greased regularly.
The biggest complaint I’ve seen about the HF kits is bearing failure – turns out most folks think the bearings are ready to go and don’t repack them before installing the hubs.
They are only coated with a light preservative grease to keep them from rusting during the slow boat ride across the Pacific.
The bearings on my kit looked like they’d been lightly packed with vaseline. I went ‘old school’, with a quick slosh in a coffee can of gasoline to strip the factory grease, air dried them, then repacked with fresh synthetic grease and have had no problems.
How about a collapsible minimalist trailer/caravan?
https://www.woodenwidget.com/Slidavan.htm
It will hunker down behind the truck, give good rearward vision and virtually no wind resistance. Pretty secure too for the stuff inside.
You KNOW you want to build one … >};o)
Oh damn I really do want to build one. This is not good. I’ve other projects on the front burner that much happen first!
In an earlier life (lives) I’ve had great fun with a pop up tent camper, a van (down by the river!), a self enclosed camper, several backpack tents, tarps and grit, and an array of other redneck/budget travel options. Lately it’s mostly me solo and I’m not into backpacking or the pop-up anymore. I settled on a big ass T4 Gazelle tent (sets up in 90 seconds!) as the easiest/cheapest “fix” for my craving. I wanted luxury but fast setup and got what I wanted. I lovingly call it my “supertent”.
I still enjoy “window shopping” various options between a canned ham, hardsided teardrop, or a roof tent on a trailer. If y’all forgive the costco video here’s another option I found: https://video.costco.com/v/6890/65043-lifetime-tent-trailer/
I bought a Lifetime utility trailer (5’x8′) about a decade ago and I’ve been working it like a rented mule all that time. I have overloaded it with firewood, used it in fields and snow, and taken it on multi-state trips hauling my little boat. It just keeps rolling. (Proper care to the axles of course.) It’s wearing out (rusting) now but considering the abuse I’ve put it through I got every penny’s worth and more. I’m pleased with it. I’m grudgingly willing to give Lifetime some brand loyalty. That said, it’s always caveat emptor.