Trayon camper, 130, spare wheel location?

[POD]

Hi all, I am seriously considering a second-hand Trayon camper as the next stage in our camping evolution; too old for the rooftop tent and want to get away from knocking in tent pegs, want an undercover kitchen, the Trayon appears perfect for our needs (wants) and I also want to keep the 130 dual cab although it needs a major birthday.
I have searched old threads on this and have not found a real answer to the question- what do people do with their spare wheel / wheels in a dual-cab 130 with a fully occupied tray?

A second question...have people incorporated a boat / canoe rack with a trayon style camper? I have a 16' canoe that HAS to come on many of our trips, wondering if I can set up a rack that gets out of the way of the taryon, without re-inventing the wheel.

[Ranga]

Good choice on the Trayon. I love mine - the wife adores it! I also bought one second-hand (I think the new price is a bit over the top). Anyway, I sourced a wheel-mount bonnet originally as a second spare option, but that's all I use now. The original plan was to put it in the under-tray drawer I had built, but instead use that for storage space (after all, you can only store a spare on the bonnet, nothing else).

Allan (VNX205), another guy on here with a Defender and Trayon hand-builds fantastic wooden kayaks (Carrying the Kayak on the Camper Trailer (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/trailers-vans-and-campers/196201-carrying-kayak-camper-trailer.html)). Albeit a bit lighter/smaller than a canoe, but he worked out a way to store it on top. We've compromised by having inflatable paddleboards on a roof rack or inside the Trayon. I reckon you could fab a rack that that swings over the Trayon from the right maybe?

Feel free to contact me regarding any other Trayon/Defender info.

[POD]

Thanks for the reply Ranga. I'm also thinking a canoe rack that tilts away to the opposite side that the Trayon opens would be the go. With the spare wheel, the Puma bonnet is already high and I run 255/85 tyres, I know there was someone making a rack to mount the spare over the puma bonnet a few years ago but I reckon I would be struggling to see the road, let alone track obstacles. I didn't like having the spare on the bonnet on high-country tracks back when I had a series 3 with 7.50/16s (apart from the pose value) so I would hate this combination I think. I've been brainstorming things like a rim under the tray and a tyre hung off the back or on the roof- would suck to have to mount a tyre when it was actually needed but that is rare enough these days. Don't know if anyone does this.

I may well have a heap more questions about the Trayon but I don't even know what the questions are yet.

[towe0609]

Hi Pete - I doubt you'll like it, but on my 300tdi I carry a spare on the cab roof rack secured with a 3-point ratchet strap. Both our camper boxes have dual spare carriers on the back, but with the 300tdi we often lift our camper off the ute when 'base camped' for a few days, and still want a spare with us. Given I've never actually had to get it down, the physical challenge of getting it up/down is something I can deal with in the rare event it is needed.

On the td5 we have capacity to carry a spare on the bonnet (it has the 300tdi bonnet, and the roof is taken with the Red Dot air con) - but rarely do as the Carry Me Camper hardly ever comes off. I'm not a fan of the visibility constraints with a spare on the bonnet for off-road work either - even with a 7.50R16 - and lifting the bonnet is something done far more regularly that getting a flat!

[POD]

One of the things I will have to do to be able to mount a Trayon is to build a tray- my 130 has a 1800 x 1800 box on the back that has been great but limits the versatility of the vehicle, I have had plans to build a tray for ages but it has not yet got to the top of the job list. I'm thinking I should be able to build a spare wheel mount under the tray. I currently have a 80L water tank underneath forward of the axle- unnecessary with the Trayon having it's own tank- and a winch behind the axle. I love having the rear winch, it gets far more use than the front one, but something will have to give. I did have a spare, damaged Puma bonnet, might have been a good idea to set it up as a touring bonnet with spare and tools- but I seem to recall selling it. :)
Not sure if I could make a spare wheel plus a canoe work on the roof- fair bit of mass up high. The canoe weighs 32kg. Trips like Coongie and Carawinya would be dull without it.
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[towe0609]

If you desperately want to go down the bonnet path get in touch. It now has a few holes and a flexible solar panel pop rivetted to it (hiding a rather large dent) - but I'd return it to you if you need it.

[POD]

Yeah I seem to remember something about that dent...still using the jerry can that hit it, even after it was replaced by insurance. Call that a tiny win.
Thanks for the offer Tim but I think you have made the wisest use of that bonnet, what I should have done if I had been thinking ahead.
I just had a little experiment, put a cloth on the bonnet and sat my spare wheel on there to see what the visibility is like. It is like zero. Absolutely not an option! The top of the wheel was almost at eye level, so there is no line of sight to the road at all.
An option worth some consideration is to have the spare inside the cab, we remove the rear seats when touring and the 33" tyre would fit easily.

[vnx205]

My kayak rack is now a bit more sophisticated.

Trayon Owners Forum (https://www.trayon.com/forum/attachment.php?aid=2632)

As you can see, having a dual cab Trayon on a single cab Defender doesn't have a problem with the spare tyre. It just stays against the headboard.

Trayon Owners Forum (https://www.trayon.com/forum/thread-606-post-2972.html#pid2972)

The attachment that the legs fit into is a sturdier arrangement fitted by the original owner.


This thread has images of an even more sophisticated version.

Trayon Owners Forum (https://www.trayon.com/forum/thread-452.html?highlight=kayak)

Two drop down legs like the metal version would make it easy for two people to lift the kayak/canoe, but it would then be harder for one person. Since my kayak weighs 8.3 kg, it only needs one person to lift. My C1 is 10kg and I have used it for a 15kg kayak.

[POD]

My kayak rack is now a bit more sophisticated.

Trayon Owners Forum (https://www.trayon.com/forum/attachment.php?aid=2632)

As you can see, having a dual cab Trayon on a single cab Defender doesn't have a problem with the spare tyre. It just stays against the headboard.

Trayon Owners Forum (https://www.trayon.com/forum/thread-606-post-2972.html#pid2972)

The attachment that the legs fit into is a sturdier arrangement fitted by the original owner.


This thread has images of an even more sophisticated version.

Trayon Owners Forum (https://www.trayon.com/forum/thread-452.html?highlight=kayak)

Two drop down legs like the metal version would make it easy for two people to lift the kayak/canoe, but it would then be harder for one person. Since my kayak weighs 8.3 kg, it only needs one person to lift. My C1 is 10kg and I have used it for a 15kg kayak.


Thanks for the reply, unfortunately there's a problem viewing those photos- one has to be a member of the Trayon owners forum to see them but the administrator has blocked new registrations. Do you have the photos stored so you can add them here?

[vnx205]

Is that better? If so I will do the other set of images later when I get back from my afternoon walk.



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[POD]

Fantastic, thank you. Excellent setup. Now I think you should sell me your dual-cab trayon and buy yourself a single-cab one. :)

[vnx205]

Fantastic, thank you. Excellent setup. Now I think you should sell me your dual-cab trayon and buy yourself a single-cab one. :)

Until he bought his dual cab Trayon, Ranga used to frequently suggest that my dual cab Trayon would look better on his dual cab Defender than on my single cab. :)

I bought mine second hand, as did Ranga. As it happens their serial numbers are only seven apart.

[vnx205]

This aluminium one is a bit more sophisticated than mine.
The rack is hinged to make loading easier.
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[POD]

That's a good looking rack arrangement. Looks like it is secured to the top of the trayon for travelling. Lifting my canoe onto the roof of the 130 is not getting any easier as the birthdays accumulate; one of these years I may build a lighter canoe, already have some cedar and pawlonia set aside but the hours will not be there until I retire. The same back injury that gave me the time to build the canoe also prevents me from paddling in the kayak position, I have to kneel.

[vnx205]

Yes. The same sort of spring loaded pin that secures the folding bit in the upright position is used to secure the rack to the channel that encloses the awning legs.

I just use ropes. :)

[vnx205]

There is a lot to be said for a light canoe or kayak.

I have a Paulownia canoe that fits into the TC1 class that weighs about 11kg.

With Paulownia and a bit of WRC,with the right weight glass it should be possible to build a 16' general purpose one or two person canoe that weighs less than 15kg. Imagine how much easier it would be to lift that.

[Ranga]

I was hoping you'd chip in, Alan. I could look at your kayaks all day [smilebigeye]

Whilst I have a spare on the bonnet virtually all the time, I also have a large drawer under the tray which serves as an outdoor kitchen and storage for tools, recovery gear, spares. I made it high enough to fit a 255/85/R16 tyre in there, but have since filled it with the afore-mentioned stuff. Something like this might solve not only your spare tyre issue, but provide room for other things. A downside is the tray is now too high for shorties like the wife and I to reach the fastenings for the Trayon lid without a step, the upside is the Trayon overhang fits over the cab roof (so in the end it's essential to have the Trayon that high)

Some other food for thought - I along with quite a few other 130 HCPU owners have fitted a ~55 litre water tank inside the rear seat box. Doing likewise would give you even more room under the tray. Enjoy the ride!

[oldie]

As the proud owner of Trayon #715 since new, I can say it is the best purchase, after the MY2010 Defender cab/chas, we have made. Since we set our rig up in 2010 we have done about 100,000 km and have thoroughly enjoyed it all. We have done high country including up Billy Goat twice, the Simpson, Googs, Gun Barrel, Anne Beadell etc etc.

Like the Defender, the Trayon is well suited to lots of personal add ons.

The Defender was also purchased new and came with a steel tray and headboard but no space underneath for a spare. I carry my spare/spares on the cab roof on 2 standard roof bars to which I have added 2 ply boards such that the boards also rest on the top of the headboard to spread the load a bit. The ply is not fastened to the headboard as there is significant twist between the cab and the tray. The spares are bolted to the ply and I use a ratchet strap over the top and around the top rail of the headboard.

Until now I have managed to lift the wheels up and down but the accumulation of years has lead me to look at alternatives. My current plan is to make up a small jib which I can fit to the headboard. It will drop into a vertical tube and will swing out over the side of the cab to allow the spare to be winched up and down using a simple block and tackle with a 2 or 3 times mechanical advantage. When not in use the jib will be stored in one of the drawers under the Trayon.

I also looked at making up a frame to sit on the tow ball and fasten to the back of the tray but was a bit concerned about the additional weight so far back.

Keith


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[POD]

Just got back from our first real trip with the Trayon, part of the prep for the trip involved building a tray with a drawer underneath to carry 2 spare wheels, also built a swivelling mount system for the canoe that allows the canoe to be swung out of the way of the camper without fully unloading it.
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The front mount for the canoe uses a trailer stub axle and hub, mounted to a couple of rhino rack bars
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the rear mount is an A-frame that can be unbolted from the vehicle when we want to slide the camper off and dismantles into 3 sections for stowage
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I can untie the canoe from the rear bar and walk it around 90 degrees either way so it is out of the way of the camper unfolding. My intent was that the end of the canoe could sit on the ground but it fouls the roof gutter so has to be propped up a bit;
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It's actually better propped up higher than this, allowing access to the car doors on that side. The little aluminium ladder I had custom made years ago has 3 sections, this is with one section, 2 sections puts the canoe at a perfect height but we only took one with us!

And finally a pic of the big under-tray drawer; two 255/85R16 tyres. I thought this was going to raise the tray to a ridiculous height but it needs this height for the peak of the Trayon to clear the cab roof anyway.
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[vnx205]

Good looking canoe!

I imagine that part of the advantage of your swivel arrangement is that you only have to lift about half the weight of the canoe.

[Hoges]

Good looking canoe!

I imagine that part of the advantage of your swivel arrangement is that you only have to lift about half the weight of the canoe.

Exactly right re. the canoe!!.. it's actually a piece of fine furniture that floats![bigsmile1]

[POD]

Exactly right re. the canoe!!.. it's actually a piece of fine furniture that floats![bigsmile1]

Yeah a lot of people comment on the canoe and I have to agree it is a thing of beauty and I love using it. I always tell people, it's not beautiful because of any talent on my part- a canoe is a beautiful shape and wood is a beautiful material. Homer Simpson could build a wood strip canoe and it would be beautiful. Weight is approx 32kg. It's seen a lot of Aus on the roof of the 130, it's probably the most widely travelled timber canoe in Aus. I tell people we're looking for the inland sea.
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[vnx205]

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It's seen a lot of Aus on the roof of the 130, it's probably the most widely travelled timber canoe in Aus. I tell people we're looking for the inland sea.


You may be right.

In which case this one is probably a close second.

Since I built it in 2017, the Defender has taken it to Adelaide twice for the Australian Masters Games, and to Geelong, Adelaide and Perth for the Australian Canoe Marathon Championships.

It has also travelled on the Camry to over 50 PaddleNSW Marathon Series races. They used to be about 700km return, but for the last year only about 200km return. So about another 3,000km.

My canoe is a bit easier to get up onto the Trayon since it is under the minimum weight for an ICF C1 of 10kg when I take the seat and footrest out. Last time I went to Tasmania for the Australian Wooden Boat Festival, that rack had two kayaks; an adult one weighing about 13kg and a child's one weighing under 6kg. I don't think my system would work with a 32kg canoe. Your system is a better solution.
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[POD]

Glad to see I'm not the only crazy one! You may actually have me beat, mine hasn't made it as far as Perth, it comes on our trips up to Coongie and Carrawinya although we didn't get to Carrawinya this year; got some internet at Wanaaring and checked the park website to pay the camping tax, the park was closed for vermin control! Mine does tend to be the only wooden canoe most places we go (very few canoes in White Cliffs last month), although that seems to apply to the Landy these days as well.
I'm contemplating building a tandem sea kayak as a gift for a mate who is moving to Tassie next year and has a family shack on Bruny Island. Got any good plans?

[POD]

made some unintended modifications to the Trayon...
189141189142
Snapped the rear universal joint on a steep climb, the dashcam shows the backward slide lasting 11 seconds. The Trayon became a crumple zone.

[Tins]

made some unintended modifications to the Trayon...
189141189142
Snapped the rear universal joint on a steep climb, the dashcam shows the backward slide lasting 11 seconds. The Trayon became a crumple zone.

Ouch!. Bet that was a fun 11 seconds.

[TonyC]

made some unintended modifications to the Trayon...
189141189142
Snapped the rear universal joint on a steep climb, the dashcam shows the backward slide lasting 11 seconds. The Trayon became a crumple zone.

As John said "Ouch"
I hope everyone is OK, stuff can be fixed or replaced, people can't.

Tony

[POD]

As John said "Ouch"
I hope everyone is OK, stuff can be fixed or replaced, people can't.

Tony

Yep, both ok thank you. Just as you say, it's just stuff, no tears were shed over it as we recognised we were blessed to have stayed upright and been stopped by a perfectly-placed tree. I didn't realise for a couple of days just how shaken-up my wife had been, I was personally more focussed on the logistical nightmare that ensued.

[Tins]

Yep, both ok thank you. Just as you say, it's just stuff, no tears were shed over it as we recognised we were blessed to have stayed upright and been stopped by a perfectly-placed tree. I didn't realise for a couple of days just how shaken-up my wife had been, I was personally more focussed on the logistical nightmare that ensued.

As Tony said....

Your wife endured the same 11 seconds, no mirrors and nfi. Scary stuff.

[Narangga]

made some unintended modifications to the Trayon...
189141189142
Snapped the rear universal joint on a steep climb, the dashcam shows the backward slide lasting 11 seconds. The Trayon became a crumple zone.

Ouch! [bawl]

[towe0609]

Glad you’re both OK Peter. If I can help in any way, let me know. We have a spare canopy/camper box you could load onto your ute if that would help. Not sure how far from home you are. It’s just sitting in storage doing nothing and you’d be welcome to it.

[vnx205]

PM sent.

[POD]

Glad you’re both OK Peter. If I can help in any way, let me know. We have a spare canopy/camper box you could load onto your ute if that would help. Not sure how far from home you are. It’s just sitting in storage doing nothing and you’d be welcome to it.

That's very kind Tim. We've actually already replaced the Trayon, when we bought the last one I had been looking for months as the dual-cab model is less common, looked at the market last week and there was a very tidy unit for sale so we went up to Boort yesterday and brought it home. In better nick than the previous one. Going to try to keep it that way this time!

[towe0609]

That's very kind Tim. We've actually already replaced the Trayon, when we bought the last one I had been looking for months as the dual-cab model is less common, looked at the market last week and there was a very tidy unit for sale so we went up to Boort yesterday and brought it home. In better nick than the previous one. Going to try to keep it that way this time!

Sounds like its worked out OK ... except on the hip pocked and the psychological impacts of the accident of course. Do try to keep it and yourselves upright.