Barnseys Escape Pod

[Barnsey]

(If this doesn't belong here, can the Mods move it please)

This is my new trailer I picked up in a local caravan yard in Townsville for $3900. As you can see it's a heavy duty 6 x8 (?) trailer with a home made frame and steel roof. It's a pretty solid construction. The canvas work is professionally done, and in the tool box on the front, there's and additional 6x6 annex with flys etc.

My wife and I have nick named it "The Escape Pod" . We intend to have it set up with all our camping gear, non perishable food, first aid kit, and everything else, so all we need to do when we want to piss off, is to throw in some perishables such as meat, bread, milk and BEER!!!, hook it up to the 4WD and go!

So in the short term, we need an inner spring double mattress, a second hand caravan 3 way fridge and a gas cooker. These will be purchased in the next few weeks. The first trip away will be on queens birthday week end.

Long term, I intend modifying the rig to suit off road and outback travel. On the wish list, is:

Independant suspension. It currently has a solid axel, only a few feet of clearance.

Sunraysia rims and 30's, 2 spares mounted on the front wall.

Treg hitch.

12 volt lighting inside.

Various interior mods. My bro in law is a cabinet maker, and accepts bribes of 4x for materials and work.

Anyway, here's some pics of it in it's current form.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/barnseylynda/Escape%20Pod/EscapePod015.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/barnseylynda/Escape%20Pod/c22bd5b9.jpg

looks like a nice ride there

[Barnsey]

We looked at some off road campers and some pop top vans, but they were thousands beyond our budget. We were only window shopping, actually, and we've distressed the credit card a bit by grabbing this. Too good to miss I reckon.

In NQ, I cant really see the point of having a van, or a camper really. They're set up to spend a lot of time INSIDE of them.

In Townsville, the best room in the house is the back deck. I reckon I spend more time out there than anywhere else, although it's getting cold lately. (down to 15 last night!) The same applies with caravans. We'll be only sleeping in it, and spending most of the time sitting under a tarp or the shade of a tree in our camp chairs. So what's the point of a delux comfy van?. It will have a fridge and a stove. The rest is over kill for conditions up here.

Apart from that, I'm a tight arse, with 5 kids and limited funds.

I'll post more updates and pics of improvements and mods as they happen.

[DoctorI]

The trailer looks good. It does however have the same problem as most larger trailers and caravans -- it's aerodynamically shaped like a brick. That front panel is going to catch the wind, so (long term) you may want to add some sort of nose cone or deflector to reduce this effect and safe a bit of fuel.
Having said that I'm sure you are going to have some great camping adventures and memories to keep for the rest of your lives.

Doc

[Barnsey]

Do you reckon I could fit 6 stud Nissan 31's under the wheel arches?

I'd have to change the stubs, but I'd like to have compatable wheels with the Patrol, plus some more clearance for going off road.

The tyres on my new Patrol are el cheapo road tyres, a brand I've never heard of, so I assume they're crap, but they'd be OK for the trailer.