| Project by schaney | posted 93 days ago | 1127 views | 5 times favorited | 17 comments | ![]() |
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I’ve come up with a new design for a Tent Topped Camping Trailer. Similarly to my Explorer Box, it’s compact and tailored to smaller vehicles. For this one, the front galley area has been removed and replaced with a nose box.
As with the Explorer Box; it uses a glue and screw construction method with corner blocks. The screws are used as clamps during gluing and left in place for added strength. I use trim head screws to minimize the hole size and avoid the extra step of counter sinking the holes. For durability I used a roll-on bed liner material to coat the exterior.
On my web-site you’ll find a complete build story at http://www.cttct.com/explorerpod.htm
-- Scott, Camping the "Compact Way", www.cttct.com



































17 comments so far
dbhost
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610 posts in 126 days
posted 93 days ago
Okay, so what do you do for a kitchen / galley?
-- Trying to follow the example of the master.
kjwoodworking
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202 posts in 781 days
posted 93 days ago
Sweet! I like it.
I’m gonna have to build one of these for a mother-in-law suite!
I hope she doesn’t have trouble with the ladder.
She only has one leg you know.
-- Kirk H. -- http://www.kjwoodworking.com
kolwdwrkr
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2249 posts in 484 days
posted 93 days ago
Very cool. For a while I thought I’d have to build one of these to live in. LOL. It’s still not a bad idea. Nice work, and thanks for sharing
-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~
a1Jim
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16776 posts in 471 days
posted 93 days ago
Very Cool
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
schaney
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24 posts in 603 days
posted 93 days ago
Thanks …
dbhost, use a folding picnic table and Arko-Mils storage containers to organize stuff.
Actually my trailers see regular service as a spare bedroom for guests. Kids especially like “camping” out in the pasture. kjwoodworker, if shes a good hopper, just build a ramp :)
-- Scott, Camping the "Compact Way", www.cttct.com
ChrisN
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155 posts in 667 days
posted 92 days ago
Very Cool. What is the hitch weight?
-- Chris N, Westford, MA - "If you won't eat something from your fridge that turned green...why would you eat something that started out that way?"
mtnwild
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2013 posts in 421 days
posted 92 days ago
That’s sweet! Great idea, great job, cool seeing that.
I like that you sleep off the ground. You also get a view.
-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.
MsDebbieP
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14156 posts in 1055 days
posted 92 days ago
that’s awesome!
compact—perfect!
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Betsy
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2386 posts in 790 days
posted 92 days ago
All in all a good idea – nice and compact, easy to move and easy to manuever into those small camping spots. But what about a stiff wind? I think I might be afraid to stay in it if the weather suddenly turned bad. I’ll have to check out your website. Thanks for posting.
-- You can't get a hug from Facebook.
RouterManiac
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75 posts in 175 days
posted 92 days ago
Pretty slick, don’t tell my wife or I will have to have you build me one!
-- Ken, Florida, www.theroutermaniac.com
schaney
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24 posts in 603 days
posted 92 days ago
The Explorer Pod dry in about 435 lbs, with a GVW of 1000 lbs and tongue weight is 90 – 110 depending on how you pack it.
Sleeping off the ground has better views, tent stays much clean, no water trying to run in side when it rains and gets you out of the critter zone.
The tan tent unit has held out to 50 mph+ winds down in Baja with no problems.
Ken, building you one is no problem, it’s the drive from Oregon to Florida :) Better yet, build our own and do a build story on your web-site.
-- Scott, Camping the "Compact Way", www.cttct.com
Kent Shepherd
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813 posts in 180 days
posted 91 days ago
Looks like fun. ——————-Where’s the bathroom?
Nice job
-- Kent Shepherd * The goal is-----More Tools!
ND2ELK
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6176 posts in 668 days
posted 91 days ago
Nice looking unit. You did a great job on it. Thanks for posting.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
schaney
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24 posts in 603 days
posted 91 days ago
Thanks … I use a PETT toilet setup away from the trailer sometimes.
-- Scott, Camping the "Compact Way", www.cttct.com
mcoyfrog
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809 posts in 488 days
posted 89 days ago
thats awesome
-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug
Roz
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461 posts in 681 days
posted 88 days ago
Now that’s functional woodworking!
-- Terry Roswell, L.A. (Lower Alabama) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."
schaney
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24 posts in 603 days
posted 85 days ago
Yes, this one is coated with a roll-on bedliner poly material for a very functional camping finish. You could use fancy plywood with a clear marine varnish finish and make it a rolling (and functional) work of art !
-- Scott, Camping the "Compact Way", www.cttct.com