The little/light Camper Trailer Thread...

Maybe I'm the exception but their website doesn't give me any where enough information to justify a $3500 price tag.

If I'm spending that kind of money I want to know how the thing works. I want to see cut aways. Not just some pics of a shiny tin can with a bunch of claims as to what it can do.

Tongue weight with the DRZ on it will be slightly over 600lbs, yeah a bit heavy, but I've done a lot of research and with a WDH it will be fine (and I already have air bags). I was already thinking of a rack for the back, just don't want to end up with a trailer longer then what I wanted...........oh wait I already did that
Good idea on checking the tire rating, I have put a lot of thought into this, but that is one thing I overlooked.

The kids are grown up and if we take any grand kids with us they can sleep in a tent although there is 2 bunks that we plan on using for storage......moto gear and such.
I'll post up more pics after we get it home, there are some here in this link http://www.forrestrvs.com/inventory/135978/New-2012-Jayco-Jay-Flight-Swift-SLX-154BH.aspx

I've been looking, just not sure which ones to get yet.

Any way you could put a rack on the back that would take a DRZ? Sure would lighten your tongue weight?
Lyle

Not enough tongue weight is not good either. They recommend 10-15 % of the loaded trailer weight.

Does it have a negative affect on handling?
Lyle

It sure as hell can! It is worse with light weight, short wheelsbase tow vehicles, and "light" single axle trailers, because a shift of that much weight compared to the total trailer weight could easily put you into a negitive tounge weight. That would be very bad because it pulls up on the rear axle of the tow vehicle (and it gets maginfied over bumps), which leaves the majority of the weight on the steer axle and the trailer axle making for an 3 ton accordian on crack. My 21' (about 4000') tandem trailer when towed with my Titan would get VERY squirlly with a 240lbs ish dirt bike on the back rack. Did it once, and never again. Cross winds were particularlly hairy.

As for the WDH, for that setup just about any of them will be fine. The truck and hitch (assuming you aren't pulling on the actual bumper) is probably rated for 500lbs tounge, 5000 lbs total WITHOUT a WDH so a WDH hitch wouldn't have to work that hard, if the 600lbs are correct and there are already airbags, I would get fairly light spring bars espcially if you are going to be on rough roads. I would be far more concerned about the bike touching the truck in tight corners (like backing into a camp spot).

Everything DWayne said. It's very dangerous especially for a single axle trailer to be too light on the tongue. Like he said plus it greatly increases the possibility of severe sway or fishtailing, which can lead to really catastrophic events.

Make sure your welder guy knows what he's doing to modify the tongue and definitely get n accurate weighing on it before you tow at highway speeds.

Too much or too little tongue weight are both bad things. Actually too little is worse. If you don't have towing experience, you might consider a WDH and a sway controller. Or just stay off the interstate until you have a good feel for the setup.

Don't want to jack the thread but I've got a question. I've been thinking of a small trailer like that. Would it be possible to extend the tongue for a small bike like a DRZ & extend the rear for another small bike. That would balance pretty well. I need to haul 2 bikes & I don't really like ramping them up into the bed of the truck. The trailer would be much lower, easier to load. What do you guys think? How can a person tell if the frame could handle the weight? What should I look for? Any other ideas would be helpful.

Thanks, Murf

Look for a very substantial sub frame. Most little/light trailers are made to be little and light and they skimp on materials. I don't think I'd hang even a small bike off the back of my Casita without some serious modifications. That being said if you are clever or know a good welder the sub frame can certainly be beefed up on most trailers.

It's certainly doable, but I'd have to defer to "eyes on the job" to know if any particular trailer can handle such a thing. I'd say there probably aren't any that would do so without being beefed up a lot.

If you pull that off, I'd like to hear about it!

The tires looked good (they were parked where they did not see much sun), but I will take a better look at them.

Still need to do more research on this, after the modification the tongue weight will be around 600lbs with the bike and the GTW will be around 3,300lbs
And yes I will make sure the bike will not be in-bedded in the truck or trailer if it is jack-knifed.

I onced (years ago) towed my Baja, less motor, but with the transaxle hanging over the back on my 3 railed trailer............all was good until I got up to speed on the freeway :eek1

And I have a few friends that are great fab guys, but I am taking the trailer to a place that specializes in modifying trailers to make sure it's done right, the trailer frame will be getting beefed up from the tongue to the rear bumper.

Oh boy! Someone's taking me camping!

*fixified...

Inside pics road rash?

Anyone know of a comparable but much cheaper version of a little stove like this Kimberly? (post1712/1713)

It looks like a fancy version of a "rocket" stove

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_stove

You gots yer own bunk

Hmm...............not a bad idea

I'll post more pics when I get her back from the fab shop, but here is a link for the trailer, click on the pics, not the video.

http://www.forrestrvs.com/inventory/135978/New-2012-Jayco-Jay-Flight-Swift-SLX-154BH.aspx

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kevin-cyr-camper-bike

Made a visit to the Fab shop yesterday to check on the progress.





The center channel tubing runs all the way to the back of the trailer that will have a receiver hitch attached to it for carrying a bicycle rack or maybe TG's Ruckus if it doesn't affect the handling.
I am also upgrading the wheels and tires to 14in to handle the added weight.

Oh heck yeah! That'll do the job.

BTW, if you could fit 15" wheels and tires on there you'd have a lot more tire options.

Looking great!