Thread: Must Have camper Trailer features?

Back to basics...
I'm sure you have done this task at least in your head and maybe on paper.
Where do you want to go with your trailer?
Who will you be taking with you?
How much comfort do you need?
How long will you be away from civilisation?

A lot of your requirements will fall out of these questions.

All the suggestions here are sensible. Along with drawbar length consider the clear space between drawbar obstructions (boxes etc) and rear of vehicle to enable a sharp jack-knife when reversing to avoid damaging the tug.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

KISS

Don't over complicate things.

What I did was get a trailer, put some drawers in it and then put a camper top on it.
My camper top was more complicated than I wanted.

That was my plan but then i would have to get off my arse and finish the trailer then buy a camper top, it was easier to buy a good pre used example - best $2100 i've spent.
I do like simple though but the wife and kids want a little more than simple.

For a long trip in remote areas, a 4" vise can be a very useful device indeed! I welded a 4mm steel plate (100mm x 150mm) to the cross member on the draw bar and above which normally sit the spare wheels. The vise lives in a wooden box in the camper but can be retrieved and mounted on the plate with wing nuts in less than a minute.
My only advice is to NOT be too obvious if you have to use it while other campers are around... you may be swamped with beers by complete strangers vying to become your "new besty" while they carry out all manner of repairs using said vise...

some good replies.

Questions around AGM and Tent.

for me Ill be running a second fridge in the trailer, so AGM to power that and all the lighting in the camper and to charge other things.
my AGM in the defender struggle after a few days stopped in one place and there really isn't enough room in the car for a third battery.
sure, add solar. . but what if you are setup camp and get hit with lame weather for a few days? I suppose I could run the car. . . but again easier to have the 3rd battery, also allows for more current draw if for some reason i need to use high power 240V accessories. . .

as far as tent goes, eventually ill put a roof top on mine, but its not a necessity swag or tent is fine, if I am on a trip where I will be stopping and going every day then ill get a RTT before I go and fit to the top of the trailer. but most of my camping is a few days in one place, sometimes take the car exploring while others stay a 'base camp' another reason for having on board power in the trailer.

Leroy.

Most "240V accessories" are applicable in reality to mains power found in caravan parks as highlighted by PhillipA. If you want 240 volt luxury from a deep cell battery, remember even a modest 1000W toaster will draw about 100A (including efficiency losses from the inverter...remember: you can weld steel with 50 Amps !!) ) So you need high capacity cables to feed the inverter...

With ALL 240 V in a camper, an earth leakage switch is a must... e.g. the orange 4 plug safety boxes used by a lot of tradies on building sites are ideal...

Here's my list;

100AH battery is fine, with 12v outlets, rig the battery up to charge from the car while driving through the ignition, that way you don't flatten the car battery.

If you don't have a fridge in the camper(one in the car will do) get a small solar panel(20w) to keep the battery topped up(our setup is like this)

If you do run a fridge in the trailer, you'll need bigger solar panels, never needed this so someone else will know more than us.

Water tank(60lts is fine) plumb it to the kitchen and have a filter from the tank to the tap and a small 12v pump is fine or even just a hand pump.

A good kitchen is a must, on a swing away tailgate, have a look at Drifta Kitchens.

Jerrycan holders for extra water.

9kg gas bottle holders (2 minimum)

12v lighting(LED is perfect)

A fully enclosable awning for flys and mozzies.

Stone guard for the front

Don't go over board.



Our setup is pretty basic;

12v is 100ah battery, this runs lights and water pump for the sink and shower, with a 20w solar panel the trickle charge the battery when camped.

2 9kg gas bottles

kitchen with sink.

12v and 240v outlets

3 jerry can holders across the front of the trailer

1 60ltr water tank

Never needed anything else, been like this for 11yrs almost now.

The question on bad weather when camped, if it does happen for more than 3 days or so, what I used to do was hook up an inverter to my second battery in the car and run a small 240v charger of it and charge the camper battery overnight, in your case with a fridge in the camper, it would be wise to turn the fridge off overnight while doing this, I have done this for 2 to 3 days in a row, keep in mind you'll need to go for a drive in the morning to charge the car up.

Baz.

Originally Posted by Hoges

Most "240V accessories" are applicable in reality to mains power found in caravan parks as highlighted by PhillipA. If you want 240 volt luxury from a deep cell battery, remember even a modest 1000W toaster will draw about 100A (including efficiency losses from the inverter...remember: you can weld steel with 50 Amps !!) ) So you need high capacity cables to feed the inverter...

With that in mind, you may consider a 24V system. 2 batteries in series. Halves the current. Can be charged from solar panels.
You might even be able to install a 24V generator in the car.
My Perentie, being a FFR, has a 24V system for the radios. I'll be using that for the inverter supplying 240V AC.

2 9kg gas bottles

Holy moly Batman, without a gas fridge that is enough for about 6 months cooking!
I got rid of one of my 4Kg bottles because they take up so much weight and space and 1x4Kg lasts about 6 weeks.
All you do is make sure the one is full before going into the bush, and it is rare to go 6 weeks let alone 6 months.
All you do to check them is open the valve a bit and see how much they tip before mist comes out.
You can get gas just about anywhere. I didn't fill in Broome as Swap
and Go had no dated/tested cylinders there and was able to get at the next stop which was of all places Imitji Store, and I still easily had enough for Mornington and on to Kununurra.
I am afraid I think it is overkill to have all that weight and bulk on the drawbar when not needed.
Regards Philip A