Camping Trailer Redo

I bought an older m101a1 a few years ago and turned it into a camping trailer for my by-yearly camping trip with some keeping buddies. I used some troop seats I scored for free for the sides and made my own bows out of conduit. Small tool box on the front hold gear and a battery. Ammo can on the fender well holds light switch, charging port, and the fuse block. The first four seats fold down and allow for a sleeping platform (I’m short lol). I lightened it up every way possible and have pulled it a few years with the 74 cj5 I had. You just had to pay very good attention to your speed and other people! In a few weeks I’ll be pulling it with the wife’s jku. The tarp is starting to leak and I can’t seem to find any new replacements so I’ve been looking at vintage camper tops are maybe one of the old small slide in campers. Anyone tried this yet?

 

Thinking something like this.

 

Yeah weight will be my enemy for sure. Right now the troop seats are the heaviest part of my ad ons. My wife’s JKU pulled it great this weekend. The fact it’s a six speed helped a lot I think. We had a big windstorm sat night and had some limbs come down near camp. A few of them would have came right through that tarp.

 

Inside of trailer as it sits. Still searching for camper top.

 

Yeah my buddy did that and it wasn't too expensive but its way to heavy. He used wood, I think you could use aluminum and reduce weight a lot but price would go way up.

 

This is kinda my idea....

Military/ expedion trailer

 

Another thought would be to find a WilderNest topper. I used one on top of a Comanche pickup bed to match my truck.

Comansion Build Thread

 

That's not too bad a price!

 

Picked this up this weekend

Looks like it’s gonna fit pretty nice. It needs a little sprucing up but it’s in really good shape. It was on a 73 c10 long bed. Guy said it’s been on there since the truck was brand new.

 

Got some 3”x5” angle welded onto the sides of the trailer to compensate for the extra width this weekend. Also got the inside primed. Plan is to get the inside painted and then test fit the camper top. I have to replace one 2”x6” on the top. It’s one of the ones that bolts to the bed. I don’t really know how I’m gonna replace it but I got to.

 

If I understand what you are doing, you should be able to take the outer trim and skin loose by unscrewing it and pulling it away from the bad framing. I'm guessing the inside has paneling, should be able to peel that back too. I've repaired/ rebuilt a couple old campers, you can pick it apart, replace the bad wood, and put it back together.

 

That picture kinda of reminds me of the old Alaskan Telescopic campers...........I had one for years.....pretty neat inside 8′ Non-Cabover – Alaskan Campers

 

That's the plan i'm just wondering how to support it while i remove the 2x6 that is the base for the whole camper top. Maybe some sort of tall sawhorses or something

 

For inspiration you might check out "alive outside" on YouTube. The one guy built a sweet camper on a similar platform, you might get a few ideas from it!