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Thread: Trayon camper, 130, spare wheel location?

  1. #1
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    Trayon camper, 130, spare wheel location?

    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.

  2. #2
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    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). 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.

  3. #3
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    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.

  4. #4
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    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!

  5. #5
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    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.
    Bore track 2.jpg

  6. #6
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    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.

  7. #7
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    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.

  8. #8
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    My kayak rack is now a bit more sophisticated.

    Trayon Owners Forum

    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

    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

    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.

    1973 Series III LWB 1983 - 2006
    1998 300 Tdi Defender Trayback 2006 - often fitted with a Trayon slide-on camper.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by vnx205 View Post
    My kayak rack is now a bit more sophisticated.

    Trayon Owners Forum

    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

    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

    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?

  10. #10
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    Is that better? If so I will do the other set of images later when I get back from my afternoon walk.



    IMGP2660.jpg

    IMGP2662.jpg

    IMGP2663.jpg

    IMGP2665.jpg

    IMGP2667.jpg

    1973 Series III LWB 1983 - 2006
    1998 300 Tdi Defender Trayback 2006 - often fitted with a Trayon slide-on camper.

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