This series has given me the inspiration to build my own! I'll probably watch these videos 100 times during the process. I have an old camper frame I plan to use.
In addition to a drawer slide next to the fridge, I'd put a slide on top of the drawer/cabinet to make access even easier. Kind of like a truck bed slide.
My suggestion for the area of your camper you wish to possibly put a drawer slide in, in which I love your idea. My suggestion would use a two-tiered system. Double decker slide out drawers. Using the same mesh system that you used for your full down exterior table on your trailer. You can still put sides on them if you wish, okay maybe I would put sides on them. But using that material it would keep your system light, very strong. Also you wouldn't have to lock yourself into one certain anchoring points, giving you more options on how and where you store your items. Meaning you could use a mesh tie down system / or even just simple bunches. Using the mesh material as your drawer slide, you be able to have endless anchor points for your supplies. You can move your stuff around freely, from upper shelf to lower shelf, seeing how it travels, without having to worry about how to mount down your items, keeping them in one place. Anyway, that's just my lame idea. Absolutely love how you used a variety of materials, I believe this is probably one of the best offroad campers I've ever seen, no joke. That suspension system is amazing, I loved how it got all flexy out on the trail. Love all the other ideas you're coming up with. Welding out on the trail, now I've got to see that one. Keep us posted on what solution you came up with on your drawer system, very interested in seeing what you have chose. Blessings to you and yours, safe travels.
Definitely 2 drawers, and for the angled area in the back, flat containers, like for under bed storage, with maybe a rail setup to hold them so they will not flop around. Then add some kind of strap/handle that lets you easily pull them up and lower them down…
Just came across your channel on my feed randomly, After 2 minutes of watching I immediately knew you had something special. Your channel is by far the best content I have come across yet. I Have a 22 Gladiator Rubicon that I have customized personally being a welder and carpenter. I just purchased a trailer that is gonna be my project for the upcoming 23 deer season in Michigan. I love the ingenuity and awesome ideas that you implement in all your videos. I have a similar mind and I'm constantly creating one off items to make my rig that much more personalized, and purpose driven. Your editing is top notch as well bro keep it up!
I built a full size slide out (like your fridge slide out) on top of our Decked drawers and it is great for more easily getting crap that's in the back of the bed. we have added things like fork mounts for bikes as well. A smaller version for your trailer space could work a treat.
Home sick and just basically bing-watched this series and loved it! I may not have done everything the same, but I'm not the one who uses it. Great job!
seems not long ago that at 80% through the trailer build you announced you were done with youtube 😯… it’s awesome you were able to continue with youtube , and we got to follow the build until completion !!
Great job on the trailer. I built one from scraas well. Spent 8 months building it and another 8 months tweaking and modifying it as we're using it. Actually finally finishing it up this weekend.
I have Espar bunk heaters in all of my semi sleepers. They are hands down the best. They are expensive but the quality, reliability, and temperature control is unmatched by others. The only time I've had issues is at over 12,000 feet. I have seen high altitude models but I do not have any experience with them. I won't travel without one. I haul in the mountainous west and even in the summer I've used it at night.
A Wolfbox rear view mirror might be a nice addition. Nice to have a rear facing camera to keep an eye on things. Yes the Jeep rear camera will do it but it turns off to fast.
Here's some ideas you might find worth looking into. On my little remote steerable camper trailer I used a removable computer mount that hangs on the right rear side of the camper near the rear kitchen. The Kitchen is in the rear with a raising hatch, My Coleman Propane stove clamps onto the computer stand. (A computer table ike what the Police use to mount their computers in their cap cars.) This frees up my counter space! And makes a nice table for other things, because it swings out so I can even put my laptop on it and bang away on the INternet or watch a movie on it. Don't do that much, but I can. And I also have a 12" x 20" table that mounts with a square tubing type reciver hitch to the other side of the kitchen, near the left side sink. The male end is bolted to the underside of the table and fits in the reciever mounted to the bottom of the shelf. Makes a great cutting board area too! The freezer slides out under the center of the counter top. The top of my camper raises and swings open like a ammo can (only much bigger) and has the foam matteress strapped to it's underside when roading it. I used a cut down nylon floorless tent for the actual top of the camper, with fiberglass bows to hold the tent roof up. And the tent goes over the bed that is now flopped over toward the front trailer tongue. There are 2 suppport poles that set in pockets under the roof/ bed and to the trailer tongue like a pop up camper bed to prop up the main bed. My hot water heater mounts on "T" pins on the left rear side of the camper body and all the hoses are in a frenched in compartment behind a side door. I can run a regualr campground hose to it or draw from the onboard water tank. This way I have hot & cold water to the sink, and I use a shower wand to inside a hoola hoop with 2 overlapping shower curtains that hang off thelt left side of the camper to use as a privacy shower. My shower floor grate is a small "sanded and varnished 30" X 40" pallet" that actually fits in the bottom of my trucks roof top luggage rack for flooring when traveling. With the kitchen hatch is raised I can hang up mosquito netting to keep the bugs out, but thinnking of investing in a 270 degree side awning for it so it even has an awning over the side entry door. And with the side curtains it will make a nice little bug free room in the right side of the camper. My camper is a little taller than the white one in the video and the side entry door makes getting in easy. Inside it there is a place for 2 people to sit at a small fold up table, and a Hassock toilet in the end wall under a cross cabinet. For your application, this set up could be converted to bedding and matteress for the Kiddoes while Mom and dad sleep up in the bed. Which will make you think of a pop up slide out bed. Only higher off the floor! With the bedflopped open and the tent up, standing up inside is not a problem. This sounds real top heavy but most all the weight is stored nearer the floor to keep it from getting tippy. And since I use the front suspension from a torsion bar suspended pickup I can just crank the torsion bars to raise or lower the trailer depending on how heavy I pack it. The remote steering is the most fun, as I can put my Marlin Crawler in dounle low and let my spotter steer the trailer while i follow his directions driving the Rig. Going around trees and big rocks is a breeze, My 4 X 4 Rig is a 1993 SAS'ed Isuzu Rodeo. Great fun, but I too still have things I want to finish on it. Like spray bedliner on the exterior for sound deadening and stiffen up the walls. Oh and hook up the solar panels to the kitchen hatch. It already has 2 Optima AGM batteries mounted under the floor, and a 26 gallon water tank under there between the frame rails too. I've spent the last 20 years perfecting this little camper! And just thought I'd add some ideas . Your little camper turned out really nice!
For small diesel heaters, look to Webasto and Eberspacher / Espar. They make a lot of them in different sizes for semi trucks, and even the small engine preheater size units might work well for what you are looking for.
none of those ideas you have are weird. just been enamered with this build. congrats on trailer build. great to see family out there Atwell. looking forward to more episodes.
This trailer is just like any jeep/truck/ 4x4 build. You get it on the trail and USE IT. Then you modify it to better fit how you need it to function while on the trail. Great video with the family and the "maden voyage " of the trailer Nate. 👍 it's close to perfection and travels well on the trail. Congratulations!! 👍❤️🇺🇸
I saw you driving through West bound on I90 through Spokane. I was headed to Montana on vacation with my wife. Super cool to see the trailer in person! Looks awesome!
I started building a camper trailer when my girls started walking :D Its been 12 years now and the trailer has just got better as our needs change and I tinker:) So many great memories. We have really enjoyed your series. Make it yourself!!! Thank you for showing us your talents Nate.
Sitting in Manitoba watching this series. and gotta say I'm pretty jealous of all the trails and lands, and off road parks you folks have all across the USA, for doing this type of thing. Great series!!!!
13:15 Your wife uses the front camera to see where the Jeep is going. You use the rear camera to see how the trailer you built is performing. Understandable. 😁. Great video
Because you decided to access the storage from the front of the trailer, that back hatch does not make for easy access to the rest of the storage area. I do not know if you could make a slide out for the front without running into frame and other components, but a slide out on that storage compartment in front would be a good thing. Your angled section in back could have a second hatch (opening downward) that gives a place to stuff folding chairs and such. You could add a shelf and make the existing hatch a separate compartment. You have a good idea of adding more storage to the kitchen shelf side. I have been looking at the Northern Tool Ironton trailer for a couple years now with similar thoughts of building a chuckwagon trailer. Your own project has given me some thoughts about revising my own plans a couple times now. Design tweaks are happening here and there. I will however be building based on rear access with a full camp kitchen in back, a shower on the front right, and a canopy covering the left and rear sides allowing the right side to be social area and electrical access (up to 4 batteries in a tray and an electrical panel above them) on the front left side opposite water pump, water heater, and shower head (I am looking at one of the built in shower heads used for boats) Because I plan on using a contractor rack instead of the typical "overland rack" on my Tacoma, I have designed a custom roof top tent to set between the side rails with storage space below the bed platform. To simplify matters, when I build the trailer, I plan on including a custom rack designed to the same dimensions as the bed portion of my contractors rack allowing it to open to the right and use an annex curtain for dressing room and shower (though the port-a-potty will be set well away from camp) My RTT design includes a "headboard" that is styled after the old waterbeds with space for electrical connection for charging phones and such (though my camera gear will have a recharge station that I will keep in the truck), and a ducted vent to allow a fan or heater to blow air into the tent depending on weather conditions. I found an overhead LED strip on amazon to provide light inside, and designed the shell to be 3 layers (insulation hung from the shell, shell attached to external frame with plenty of windows for potential air flow, and rain fly over the frame. But since my father (and a couple of my friends is no longer safe on ladders), I will also be making a tent that attaches to the awning like an oz tent (or more specifically like an old baker tent) so he/they can sleep on cots or other folding beds at ground level. Due to my awning design, I will be able to attach it to either the left side or back of either truck or trailer as I plan on making an awning for the trailer, and a second one for the truck since I will not always travel with the trailer) I have already designed a small camp kitchen module that I can fit in the bed of the truck so it is accessible from the right side bed cap windoor. I have seen a pivot hitch design that limits how far the trailer can roll but I have also seen trailers take their tow vehicle with them. Independent suspension also seems to tame the body roll on trailers from what I have seen in other people's builds. It seems to allow more articulation. We have a tunnel like that in East Tennessee called Nemo. I have not heard an update, but some idiot tried driving across the active rail line that is next to the tunnel and stalled out resulting in a collision with a train (no one was hurt thanks to a photographer who witnessed it warning them to get away from the track as the train approached), and the rail road is not happy, so they are looking at closing the trail. Around a mile with curve, so there is a stretch where no natural light passes through. It is a fun drive. It is flooded just like that tunnel. As always, I look forward to seeing more.
Would be interested to see a rear camera mounted on the rear of the trailer with a screen on the dash of the jeep with a disconnect at the hitch like the lights. Give you a little better view when navigating obstacles.
I have a set of the decked boxes from my Ford that I really wanting to build a trailer around, wishing I had a set of the narrower ones from a gladiator/ Tacoma though to slim it up a little. 👍🏼 great series keep it coming
Nate,this trailer has been the inspiration on my Lowes 3x5 utility trailer build and given me the confidence to piece together videos of the progress Ive made. Thank you for what you do! “Off or From Adventures”
I’ve done that tunnel…. Look for my buddies video on Mt Offroad for some vids. Gotta watch the end of that tunnel. There’s tons of like landscaping Timbers in there and they’ve got massive nails in them.
My first thought as you were building the trailer was how difficult it was going be to not only organize the inside of the trailer but to get everything in and out. Im surprised you didnt put slide out draws similar to the set up for the fridge. We run slide outs in all our fire command and utility vehicles for better organization and ease of use. If your looking to save time this is a great option. Best wishes and thank you for you content. Awesome
Well, what an exciting build what a great platform that I suppose will be a constant work I progress! And hey, limitless content opportunities!! BTW always have enjoyed your cinematography and editing but, this video was on level with that guy from North of you 😝maybe some campfire talk rubbed off!! Great job as always
Hey Nate great build the ideas your thinking about on your trailer sound good that's how I would do it a little suggestion on your leveling issue. You might think about swiveling trailer jacks like your hitch one on the back corners also air bags for the truck that can air up separate. Just some suggestions 👍👍👍👍👍👍
This is my favorite build series on RU-vid by far. I have always wanted to build one of these and seeing how you did this one on a budget and made it super badass has been an inspiration. Now I just need a shop so I have the space to build my own 😂
Swapping axles in my TJ soon, this series makes me want to use that axle and build a trailer off of it from scratch. You have some awesome ideas, keep them coming!
"What do we do when we go in a tunnel?" My thoughts were... no way is Nate's family going to holding their breath for 1.5 miles creeping through the tun... oh, yeah, honk. That's what you do in a tunnel.
I just learned about the holding your breath in a tunnel. I’ve always just honked. Being in a tunnel AND holding your breath is just anxiety waiting to happen lol
So I have to say I have really enjoyed this series for this trailer! I love your fab skills and your ideas. It reminds me of the "good old days" when I was your age-(ish) and I had my 1973 bronco (which I miss dearly... makes me sick to my stomach that I got rid of it.) And I did a lot of fab work and camping. Now I have a 2008 Tacoma TRD Off Road that is my daily driver and I will never take it true off reading. They just aren't as good as the old bronco!. Anyway I love your vids, you have a great gift of making them, and frankly, I am astounded by the cinematography! Who does all your camera work?? Also, you do a great (outstanding) job on production! Nice work! I look forward to other mods to this trailer and your future vids. Great freaking job!! (Now I really want to go camping again and I'd love to go up to Montana and go through that tunnel! So cool! )
I think both ideas for another drawer and a second side box are good. Keeping in mind weight distribution would it be better to put the second side box on the opposite side.
It's funny you say that, I realized the same thing when editing. The fridge still kills the battery in a matter of hours where as the same fridge would go a day and half on the factory tacoma battery. I've got some new batteries on the way 😁
@@DirtLifestyle You should just build a LiFePO4 battery. Very easy and inexpensive. ~ 600 including shipping and BMS for ~ 3.7KW. Smaller and lighter weight (more energy densisty) than any of the other commonly used batteries in USA. Will last 5000 recharge/discharge cycles before loosing 20% capacity. You can utilize 95% of the capacity every time you discharge. Doesn't catch fire. These batteries are the ultimate 12V replacement. I've been running two of these home built setups in my spare tire well for years now, with constant off-road abuse and zero issues. RU-vid has plenty of videos to demonstrate battery assembly. To comment on your surprise when you saw the battery voltage drop - totally normal under load and even when a battery is fully charged it will equilibrate down to its nominal voltage over time. Educate yourself and then produce a vid for the masses showing this LiFePO4 option. The overlanding community doesn't seem aware of how accessible this far superior option is..
Coming in from your back hatch on the trailer, what if you built a deck in there that had a false bottom? You'd still have a triangle shaped "junk drawer" under the false bottom but it would give you a nice flat surface to put some small totes, bags, or anything else on either side of where your snorkel internalizes. I'm picturing the false bottoms being made out of something light enough that it's easy for you or Mrs. Dirt Lifestyle to pop out, maybe 1/4" ABS?
@Dirt Lifestyle Awesome.!! At 06:26 the video shows the suspension working and that panhard bar took the shake out of a quick side to side jolt. It worked great. Very nice. Hope you all have a safe, fun trip. What is the brand of those extension ladders.??
Always been curious why fab guys never seem to use aluminum? All that frame structure for the trailer could be nice light weight aluminum, and it’s not really enough material for the price difference to be a deal breaker.
That's interesting. I got the same voltage switch set from Amazon and I'm trying to monitor the Jeep alternator charging. The dash gauge stays dead on full charge while this digital reader flactuates between 8 and 12.4 volts. Maybe that reader is just not reliable?
Question for you love the trailer and set up with the gladiator but you said in the video you had 4:10 gears with the diesel rubicon and was wondering if you re geared it to that or stock because my 2022 eco diesel gladiator was special order and they would not let me order it with the 4:10 gears and 4 to 1 transfer case that the rubicon’s normally have because of the diesel wonder if you changed gears or some how was able to get the 4:10s ?
