Home Built Toy hauler using pop-up camper
going to build my own toy hauler using a 24ft flatbed and an 8ft popup folding camper. Mod Edit: removed non photo link.
Forum Discussion
Been through different ways of hauling family and atvs. don't do tents. tried the truck slide in camper, pain to take on and off. It was ok when 2 people were going with trucks, one would haul atvs, one would haul camper. That wasn't always the case.
I can't afford and don't have the need for a true "toy hauler", finally, our atvs get muddy and don't want to pull a muddy atv into a "camper". This is the reason for the build, plus I have the trailer, found the camper on CL after a summer of searching for $900.
If you put the camper sideways, you will need to cut off the tongue and bumper. You can keep it long ways and not have to cut the tongue off, this way it would still be useable as a pop up.
I originally found a 10ft camper and was going to use it, but it took up too much of the trailer with the crank system it uses to lift the top. It sat just behind the jack on the trailer, which added another foot, and I need 14ft for atvs, and the trailer is 24ft, which only left 13ft.
I then found an 8ft pop up. This one is 102" wide/long, which is max legal width. As a result I had to cut off the rear bumper and will cut the tongue off this weekend. Rewire some marker lights to amber on the original front and back of the pop up and then use turn buckle style locks/bolts to mount it.
The challenge will be to re-engineer the slide out supports as they are the correct length to mount to bumper and tongue. Not a big deal. Also the crank on the 8ft on on the passenger side rather than the front, which helps, but I have to raise the camper up off the trailer to accomodate room to swing handle, still not a big deal.
I will post photos soon. Promise.
I can't afford and don't have the need for a true "toy hauler", finally, our atvs get muddy and don't want to pull a muddy atv into a "camper". This is the reason for the build, plus I have the trailer, found the camper on CL after a summer of searching for $900.
If you put the camper sideways, you will need to cut off the tongue and bumper. You can keep it long ways and not have to cut the tongue off, this way it would still be useable as a pop up.
I originally found a 10ft camper and was going to use it, but it took up too much of the trailer with the crank system it uses to lift the top. It sat just behind the jack on the trailer, which added another foot, and I need 14ft for atvs, and the trailer is 24ft, which only left 13ft.
I then found an 8ft pop up. This one is 102" wide/long, which is max legal width. As a result I had to cut off the rear bumper and will cut the tongue off this weekend. Rewire some marker lights to amber on the original front and back of the pop up and then use turn buckle style locks/bolts to mount it.
The challenge will be to re-engineer the slide out supports as they are the correct length to mount to bumper and tongue. Not a big deal. Also the crank on the 8ft on on the passenger side rather than the front, which helps, but I have to raise the camper up off the trailer to accomodate room to swing handle, still not a big deal.
I will post photos soon. Promise.
