Building a Squaredrop camper
Discussion
My dad shows up on Thursday and we’ll be leaving Saturday for our road trip so I spent today finishing some stuff off. Picked up a tool box for the tongue to keep some essentials in - spares, axes, other camping paraphernalia. Messed around with the stove drawer a little and refitted the drawer for the cooler, though the cooler still doesn’t fully open. Longer slides could be the ticket.
Also spent some time rationalizing kitchen things and getting some stuff built ie spice rack, cutlery holder and a couple of pieces to keep plates, pans etc from rolling around inside cupboards. I think we’re pretty much good to go now (though the wooden things could use a lick of varnish)
Also spent some time rationalizing kitchen things and getting some stuff built ie spice rack, cutlery holder and a couple of pieces to keep plates, pans etc from rolling around inside cupboards. I think we’re pretty much good to go now (though the wooden things could use a lick of varnish)
samj2014 said:
My dad shows up on Thursday and we’ll be leaving Saturday for our road trip so I spent today finishing some stuff off. Picked up a tool box for the tongue to keep some essentials in - spares, axes, other camping paraphernalia. Messed around with the stove drawer a little and refitted the drawer for the cooler, though the cooler still doesn’t fully open. Longer slides could be the ticket.
Also spent some time rationalizing kitchen things and getting some stuff built ie spice rack, cutlery holder and a couple of pieces to keep plates, pans etc from rolling around inside cupboards. I think we’re pretty much good to go now (though the wooden things could use a lick of varnish)
Hope your trip goes well, the camper looks great! Also spent some time rationalizing kitchen things and getting some stuff built ie spice rack, cutlery holder and a couple of pieces to keep plates, pans etc from rolling around inside cupboards. I think we’re pretty much good to go now (though the wooden things could use a lick of varnish)
Well, 5 days in to our trip with well over 1000km on the trailer now there have been a couple of teething problems (more on those later) but it’s doing what we need it to do, and the bed is incredibly comfy. The battery works well and stays charged, it drives well and the Jeep pulls it decently. All in all, very happy. Just needs a few tweaks when we get home.
Edited by samj2014 on Friday 2nd September 06:03
CharlesdeGaulle said:
That looks somewhat 'Mad Max'; really cool.
Just a thought, but might the black make it harder for other motorists to see and perhaps more likely to hit on the road?
Never crossed my mind honestly. There’s enough black cars out there and it’s pretty hard to miss. Just a thought, but might the black make it harder for other motorists to see and perhaps more likely to hit on the road?
Black bear for scale
Ghost town of Sandon:
|https://thumbsnap.com/dHqoETEx[/url]Ferry across Arrow lake:
[url]
It's fixable... said:
Was that ferry from Shelter Bay to Nakusp ?
If yes, we took the same ride a few years ago road tripping from Calgary to Seattle...
Yes exactly. BC has some very cool ferry crossings and that was one of the more unique ones. The road south down the lake was a nice drive too, even with the trailer in tow.If yes, we took the same ride a few years ago road tripping from Calgary to Seattle...
This road trip has me looking for V8 options… the 4.0 tows pretty well but a little extra power on the hills would be nice…
Edited by samj2014 on Wednesday 7th September 21:04
samj2014 said:
Black bear for scale
I don't think this little detail is getting quite enough appreciation. 
It begs the question. How bear-proof is your camper? I mean the kitchen looks a bit like you could be vulnerable to attack from behind when little Boo Boo decides to try to relive you of your hot dogs whilst you're cooking them...
Re V8 option...
For our road trip we hired a top spec Dodge Durango with Hemi RT V8 / slushbox, it was a big sofa that just effortlessly powered through everything.
The fuel bill for the trip was shocking mind you, but we thought when would we get the chance to do it again and with spending a lot of time in the vehicle, why skimp on comfort / effortlessly eating the miles :-)
For our road trip we hired a top spec Dodge Durango with Hemi RT V8 / slushbox, it was a big sofa that just effortlessly powered through everything.
The fuel bill for the trip was shocking mind you, but we thought when would we get the chance to do it again and with spending a lot of time in the vehicle, why skimp on comfort / effortlessly eating the miles :-)
R56Cooper said:
Mighty impressed by what you have built. Looks really good.
Any ideas on final costings?
Not 100% sure on the final cost as I got a little rushed towards the end and lost track a little but I think $9k CAD is about right.Any ideas on final costings?
While we were in Nelson a guy offered to buy it for $15k.
Bannock said:
I don't think this little detail is getting quite enough appreciation.
It begs the question. How bear-proof is your camper? I mean the kitchen looks a bit like you could be vulnerable to attack from behind when little Boo Boo decides to try to relive you of your hot dogs whilst you're cooking them...
I wouldn't be too worried about bears whilst actually cooking, unless you have a Grizzly in the area (that's another story altogether) black bears aren't very confrontational so I'm not worried while cooking, and I'd hope that a layer of fibreglass and almost an inch of plywood (plus 1.5" batons) would keep the bears out. The hatch deadbolts shut and is sealed all round so long story short, not worried about bears. It begs the question. How bear-proof is your camper? I mean the kitchen looks a bit like you could be vulnerable to attack from behind when little Boo Boo decides to try to relive you of your hot dogs whilst you're cooking them...
It's fixable... said:
Re V8 option...
For our road trip we hired a top spec Dodge Durango with Hemi RT V8 / slushbox, it was a big sofa that just effortlessly powered through everything.
The fuel bill for the trip was shocking mind you, but we thought when would we get the chance to do it again and with spending a lot of time in the vehicle, why skimp on comfort / effortlessly eating the miles :-)
The fuel bill for this trip was pretty high... The Jeep did about 13L/100km or 21mpg, the last big trip we did in a similar area. 17L/100km or 16.5mpg with the trailer attached, which isn't a big increase in my mind... the claimed mpg difference between the 4.0 I6 and the 4.7 V8 is only 1mpg different, so I'd hope it would work out roughly the same since the V8 wouldn't be trying as hard - I really had to thrash the engine up some of the bigger hills to keep momentum, and there were plenty of big hills. Plus it would be nice to own a V8 before it's totally impractical.For our road trip we hired a top spec Dodge Durango with Hemi RT V8 / slushbox, it was a big sofa that just effortlessly powered through everything.
The fuel bill for the trip was shocking mind you, but we thought when would we get the chance to do it again and with spending a lot of time in the vehicle, why skimp on comfort / effortlessly eating the miles :-)
Edited by samj2014 on Thursday 8th September 22:35
Quick little weekend getaway to Pemberton. Had the camp spot to myself. Temperatures got down to -3 last night and it stayed warm enough inside, though I'm thinking about fitting a diesel heater - partly just to combat condensation and eventually mold.
Also I finally fitted lights to the kitchen and man am I glad I did. Made a world of difference.
Also I finally fitted lights to the kitchen and man am I glad I did. Made a world of difference.
Bannock said:
I am still scared of the bears. I'd be bricking it and looking over my shoulder the whole time. Especially with the lights on. Soft limey city boy that I am.
Hah. I did have a can of bear spray with me the whole time - can’t be too careful. I’m more worried about cougars though. Bears are only going to approach you for your food. For a cougar, YOU are the food. And they’re freaking huge.samj2014 said:
Bannock said:
I am still scared of the bears. I'd be bricking it and looking over my shoulder the whole time. Especially with the lights on. Soft limey city boy that I am.
Hah. I did have a can of bear spray with me the whole time - can’t be too careful. I’m more worried about cougars though. Bears are only going to approach you for your food. For a cougar, YOU are the food. And they’re freaking huge.Bannock said:
samj2014 said:
Bannock said:
I am still scared of the bears. I'd be bricking it and looking over my shoulder the whole time. Especially with the lights on. Soft limey city boy that I am.
Hah. I did have a can of bear spray with me the whole time - can’t be too careful. I’m more worried about cougars though. Bears are only going to approach you for your food. For a cougar, YOU are the food. And they’re freaking huge.
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