The little/light Camper Trailer Thread...

[RandoCommando]

If you're going to tow something like that behind ya, why not just tow a pop up or regular camper trailer? LOL

[hppyfngy]

It's way fancier.


Plus you can detach the canvas you have one helluva kite.

[Mav]

Originally Posted by RandoCommando

If you're going to tow something like that behind ya, why not just tow a pop up or regular camper trailer? LOL

A regular camper trailer is a lot bigger to store, and because of weight and aerodynamics, is a much bigger deal in terms of towing load.

[RustySpokes]

I just got an email AND a phone call from a real live human that these are now in limited production.

http://www.tealinternational.com/Tea...m_medium=email

I think they were mentioned early in this thread. Interesting concept, don't know that I would buy one though...

[longtallsally]

Well, as it turns out, I don't need to do any modifications to get the little bike on the pop up. I'm pretty happy and will be taking it to Death Valley for the first run with a bike on the front. Ooh, comfort camping. What's next?







I might put a plate on the under side of the hooks, but this is with zero modifications, so I'm pretty happy about that.

[Hueychief]

longtallsally,
Nice setup!
I did the same thing with my KTM on the front deck of my E1.
Did you measure the tongue weight? I only checked the fit and didn't measure my tongue weight so I'm just curious.
The tiedown rings in the deck seemed a little sketchy also so I'm going to reinforce these in a way yet unknown. I also mounted a bike shoe and the wheels lined up perfectly on top of the frame rails so no issues with bike weight stressing the deck. I have a few more ideas and live in Minnesota so have all winter to get it done.

[GerryL]

What's the tow rating on the Sprinter? We've got a 17' Casita and have been loving it, but I need an easy way to take a bike along too. I could surely fit one in a Sprinter.

Originally Posted by hppyfngy

Bwaahaaahaaaa!!!

Finally found a Sprinter.

I'm going to kit it out as a weekender/portable office. I can fit the DRZ inside and run over to the Nat'l Forest and have a big old box to sleep in if the weather gets nasty. And on longer trips I can haul my Casita.

[drm]

Originally Posted by CodeMonkee

this guy made his own:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-tech...ler-build.html

Wow, what a work of art. I need a more civil version to pull behind my subie.

[Jurgen]

Originally Posted by RandoCommando

If you're going to tow something like that behind ya, why not just tow a pop up or regular camper trailer? LOL

You can't sing La Traviata in a regular camper. It is against the rules.

[ducnek]

Originally Posted by longtallsally

Well, as it turns out, I don't need to do any modifications to get the little bike on the pop up.

Man that's one super sweet set up you got there.

Looks like you could squeeze another smallish dual sport on there facing the opposite direction. Any idea what the tongue weight is? Looks like the camper is biased slightly toward the front, and adding the WR at around 250#, does it sag, or do you have heavy duty rear springs?

[hppyfngy]

Originally Posted by GerryL

What's the tow rating on the Sprinter? We've got a 17' Casita and have been loving it, but I need an easy way to take a bike along too. I could surely fit one in a Sprinter.

IIRC, the single axle 2500 is rated at 5000# towing and the dually 3500 at 7500#. You shouldn't have any issues towing your 2500# Casita. I have a friend with the same setup and he says he gets 27 mpg not towing and 20-23 towing.

I just got mine and don't have my hitch installed yet.

Oh, mine is pre-'07 with the 5cyl diesel. The newer ones have a 6cyl but I don't think the towing cap has changed.

[CodeMonkee]

Originally Posted by RustySpokes

I just got an email AND a phone call from a real live human that these are now in limited production.

http://www.tealinternational.com/Tea...m_medium=email

I think they were mentioned early in this thread. Interesting concept, don't know that I would buy one though...

Neat - a little spendy for a kit though.

I will keep it in mind, but I might do better for my purposes just getting an S-280 shelter and adding insulation.

[longtallsally]

Originally Posted by ducnek

Man that's one super sweet set up you got there.

Looks like you could squeeze another smallish dual sport on there facing the opposite direction. Any idea what the tongue weight is? Looks like the camper is biased slightly toward the front, and adding the WR at around 250#, does it sag, or do you have heavy duty rear springs?

Thanks! I might be able to get a trials bike up there, but as everyone talks about, the tongue weight comes in to play and I think would be too much.

So to answer Huey, I've not measured it, but I'm sure it's in the 3 bills area and I've just got a Class 2 hitch, so it has to stay there.

I have a very mild spring lift on the Jeep that I only put on to compensate for the winch up front and even kept the stock tires (I'm a fuel economy nut as well). I've not driven around with the setup yet, but it really is the same as when I put the bike on the hitch carrier.

This is with the stock suspension:



In terms of better securing the bike on the tray, I also debated a channel and/or a wheel chock up front. After getting the bike up there and secured, I don't see a need. The WR weighs basically the same as a 500EXC (yes I want one as my next bike) so the results should be the same. What I mentioned I might do is put a plate on the underside of each of the tie down points. The tie down points I'm using have at least one bolt in the steel frame, so they are secure, but the second bolt is in the plaster board. So I'm going to add in a plate on the underside as a means of tying both into the steel frame and just as a precaution. There are plenty of thread left in the tie down bolts on the underside to do this, so it should be a simple process.

In terms of getting a second bike on the trailer (when the wife starts to ride again as the baby grows up a little) I'm thinking I'll add a receiver hitch to the rear of the camper. I'm still in the brainstorming phase of design, but have some mild to mildly wild ideas on how to do it. The real benefit of putting the second bike on the rear of the camper is the obvious weight distribution. The Jeep is rated to 3500 lbs and the camper is ~2300 lbs dry, so I should have enough for a full water load with both bikes and a couple other nick knacks. The family and dogs will go in the Jeep in total comfort, so I'm excited for future family trips.

[Hannda]

Originally Posted by longtallsally

Thanks! I might be able to get a trials bike up there, but as everyone talks about, the tongue weight comes in to play and I think would be too much.

Can you extend the frame of the trailer out the back and weld on a "tray" to hold a second bike off the back of the trailer, in effect counter balancing the tongue weight?

[Hueychief]

Can you extend the frame of the trailer out the back and weld on a "tray" to hold a second bike off the back of the trailer, in effect counter balancing the tongue weight?

The frame of the E1 is boxed rectangular tubing which makes it easy to extend and very strong.

I'm thinking I'll add a receiver hitch to the rear of the camper. I'm still in the brainstorming phase of design, but have some mild to mildly wild ideas on how to do it.

I built this tray to house misc stuff in between the rear frame rails and put a 2" receiver on it also for my plug in bicycle rack. With a minor modification it would also be able to hold another motorcycle with no problem.

and

So to answer Huey, I've not measured it, but I'm sure it's in the 3 bills area and I've just got a Class 2 hitch, so it has to stay there.

I kinda thought that's where mine was also, but haven't had the chance to measure it yet.