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Explorer Box Camping Trailer

Project by schaney posted 99 days ago 849 views 2 times favorited 15 comments Add to Favorites
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schaney

10 posts in 194 days


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Explorer Box Camping Trailer Explorer Box Camping Trailer Explorer Box Camping Trailer Click the pictures to enlarge them

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


15 comments so far

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

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"

View schaney's profile

schaney

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

View thetimberkid's profile

thetimberkid

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/

View Bigbuck's profile

Bigbuck

875 posts in 148 days


posted 99 days ago

Very cool, thanks for sharing

-- Glenn, New Mexico

View Zuki's profile

Zuki

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

View tjocpa's profile

tjocpa

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

View Woodshopfreak's profile

Woodshopfreak

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

View schaney's profile

schaney

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

View Kerux's profile

Kerux

310 posts in 369 days


posted 99 days ago

Now that is a cool innovative idea!

-- http://www.LanierandSons.com

View TedM's profile (online now)

TedM

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

View Jarrod Zion Murphree's profile

Jarrod Zion Murphree

217 posts in 208 days


posted 98 days ago

Bada$$. I love that thing.

-- Jarrod, Eagle Nest, NM http://anthologyfinefurniture.wordpress.com

View schaney's profile

schaney

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

View Dadoo's profile

Dadoo

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!

View Wooder's profile

Wooder

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

View MsDebbieP's profile (online now)

MsDebbieP

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)

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