| Project by schaney | posted 99 days ago | 849 views | 2 times favorited | 15 comments | ![]() |
A few year back I searched for a nice compact two person camping trailer, no one made one, so I designed my own.
It’s design is a combination for vinage tent and teardrop trailer, I call it an Explorer Box. It’s a rolling camp box of sorts. It has a kitchen / galley area on the front that includes organized, shelved storage compartments and counter space. In the rear is a large general storage compartment for bulkier items and storage containers. On top I again used an expedition style roof top tent for sleeping quarters. The Explore Box is great for extending our Subaru’s storage space and at just under 400 lbs dry it’s a breeze to tow.
The Explorer Box uses a straight forward glue and screw corner block method of assembly. The floor is made from ACX Radiata Pine, shelves are from Baltic Birch and the exterior is made from 9mm BS1088 Okuome for its light weight, strength and beautiful Mahogany finish. It’s sealed with CPES and top coated with a new oil-based, water cleanup varnish from Target Coatings called HybriVar.
I’ve had some much interest in the Explorer Box that I created a construction manual for DIYers.
-- Scott, Camping the "Compact Way", www.cttct.com
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15 comments so far
CharlieM1958
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4192 posts in 703 days
posted 99 days ago
That is really cool. Not for the pampered motor-home set, though. :-)
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
schaney
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10 posts in 194 days
posted 99 days ago
Yes, if you need a microwave and big screen TV to go camping, an Explorer Box isn’t for you :o)
-- Scott, Camping the "Compact Way", www.cttct.com
thetimberkid
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1520 posts in 188 days
posted 99 days ago
Looks great!
Thanks for the post
Callum
-- Look great, get your TTK merchandise now! http://www.printfection.com/thetimberkid/ Check out my site http://thetimberkid.blogspot.com/
Bigbuck
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875 posts in 148 days
posted 99 days ago
Very cool, thanks for sharing
-- Glenn, New Mexico
Zuki
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855 posts in 562 days
posted 99 days ago
I have alway liked Teardrops . . . but they look like a considerable project.
This however is really neat and looks much easier to build.
Thanks for sharing.
-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them
tjocpa
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10 posts in 182 days
posted 99 days ago
This looks great. How does one get your construction manual? I tried your website and it did not work.
Thanks.
-- Tom O'Neil, Celtic Saw Guy
Woodshopfreak
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329 posts in 227 days
posted 99 days ago
Great way to have a collapsable camper! Make your own. How long did it take to build?
-- Tyler, Illinois
schaney
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10 posts in 194 days
posted 99 days ago
Zuki, much easier to build than a teardrop. The Explorer Box has a big advantage over a teardrop, when you pull into camp, you don’t have to unpack stuff out of the trailer before going to bed. You just pop the tent open and it’s ready.
Tom, I found a typo in my sig, http://www.cttct.com/Explorer%20Box.htm takes you to the Explorer Box page which has ordering info on it.
Tyler, the first one took a few week and some rework to get the design right. Now I can build one in a few days. Putting the finish on actually takes longer than building the trailer box.
-- Scott, Camping the "Compact Way", www.cttct.com
Kerux
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310 posts in 369 days
posted 99 days ago
Now that is a cool innovative idea!
-- http://www.LanierandSons.com
TedM
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1371 posts in 217 days
posted 99 days ago
Very cool! I can see myself in one of these… now if I can only convince the wife. :)
-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - http://www.woodworkersguide.com
Jarrod Zion Murphree
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217 posts in 208 days
posted 98 days ago
Bada$$. I love that thing.
-- Jarrod, Eagle Nest, NM http://anthologyfinefurniture.wordpress.com
schaney
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10 posts in 194 days
posted 98 days ago
TedM, you would be surprised how many wifes see the Explorer Box at a show or when we are camping, think it’s just “so cute” and go get their husband’s to show it to them. At a Earth Day show we did this year, there was a wife that was doing the convincing of her husband that they had to build one. So far the wifes love it :o)
-- Scott, Camping the "Compact Way", www.cttct.com
Dadoo
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1536 posts in 475 days
posted 98 days ago
Cool idea Scott! If you add to the tarp on top, you could have a dining fly as well!
-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!
Wooder
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163 posts in 671 days
posted 97 days ago
I built a similar design myself 35 yrs ago to pull behind a ‘66 VW!!!!
Very much like yours.
My 1st wife and I spent many nites in Yosmite and vicinity with it. Brings back many great memories.
Too old now. Need too thick a pad in tent floor….(<;
Jimmy
-- Jimmy
MsDebbieP
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11925 posts in 645 days
posted 95 days ago
this is awesome. Everything seems to be very accessible. Amazing.
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)