M101a2 Trailer meets 1970 Alaskan Pop up Camper

[2INSANE]

The idea is to build an easy, effective and comfortable Off-Road camper trailer.
It's a work in progress but here we go!

The Trailer:

Got some 35/12.5/r16.5 Bfg a/t tires and alum rims

 

[2INSANE]

Cut the fenders so the camper could fit.

Additional fender cutting for the extending part of the camper

Cut 2" off the front lower lip of the camper for a snug fit on the trailer and to get the tailgate to close

Mock up

Married

Lowered and there's a 1 1/2" gap between rails and camper that I'll fill in with wood later.

Took her on the interstate at 70 mph and she rode like a caddy! She could use some more hd shocks I'll get later. But so far so good! Can't wait to test her on the trails!

I'll post more updates as I giterdun

 

[tRustyK5]

Awesome!!

 

[goathearder]

This is a fantastic idea! I have been thinking about building a camping trailer from scratch with a roof tent on it but I like this way better!

Where did you get the actual camper from?

 

[Deuling]

Those trailers are sweet. I need to find me one. Subscribed this is BADAZZ.. You going to put one of those fancy ring hitches on?? (idk the real name for them)

 

[2INSANE]

This is a fantastic idea! I have been thinking about building a camping trailer from scratch with a roof tent on it but I like this way better! Where did you get the actual camper from?

These campers are hard to come by. I got lucky and found one on a local sale.
I know a guy in Utah selling a fiberglass Alaskan Camper that's more modern looking and more aerodynamic. $900 is what he wants

Those trailers are sweet. I need to find me one. Subscribed this is BADAZZ.. You going to put one of those fancy ring hitches on?? (idk the real name for them)

Thanks!! They are called "Pintle". The military trailers come stock with them but the last owner put this ball hitch on. I'll have modify it...

 

[dremu]

You going to put one of those fancy ring hitches on?? (idk the real name for them)

Pintle hitch.

-- A

 

[dhcomp]

You going to put one of those fancy ring hitches on?? (idk the real name for them)

Swivel pintles are cool, but w/o the swivel, they are really just loud, and not that useful.

There is a lot of slack in a pintle setup.

 

[2INSANE]

The best idea would be to have a ball hitch for On Road use and a Pintle for Off Road use. I'm working up ideas on how I'm going to fabricate a system that is safe, strong and swappable.

 

[2INSANE]

The M101a2 weigh around 1200 pounds empty. The Alaskan Camper is in the 2000+pound range. So total of 3000+ pounds. Kinda heavy for my taste. So this is what I'm going to do.

I'll take off the bed of the m101a2 frame and modify the frame to fit the camper. That should reduce around 400-600 pounds I believe. Then add some fender wheelwells to keep it legal.

The trailer bed, I might sell it or swap it out with my pickup truck bed since the stock truck bed is all beat up.

The camper is vintage so I'm having a hard time convincing myself to gut some stuff out of it...

When my blazer is out of the shop and legal, I'll work more on the Alaskan/Trailer build.

 

[sweetk30]

2" reciver welded in the tounge and slide in a pintle ring thay offer and then make a 2" or 2 5/16" hitch to slide in when street time.

 

[2INSANE]

I went to Moab and towed the camper trailer. 289mi at 55mph-60mph. She rode great! Blew a tire though... The 35" bfgs were kinda old anyhow... But got a new tire and rim from Les Schwab and finished the trip! I'm going to keep the Alaskan on the Trailer bed. Very happy with the set up! I also filled the 1 1/2" gap between the bed rails and camper with treated 3x 2x4x8 boards. I used a table saw to turn them into 2x3x8 and secured them with bolts. Filling the gap really helped a lot with the sway and body flex of the camper.

Mounting was easy. I bought 8 eye bolts with locking nuts and 1"-3" washers and drilled on the inside of the bed and camper. Then used chain with adjustable nuts to tighten. I'll get pics here soon:-)

 

[chalet2506]

That is a sweet setup, nice job on the trailer.

 

[2INSANE]

That is a sweet setup, nice job on the trailer.

Thanks man! I need to get some pics of it close up and with the trailer popped up and of the inside.

 

[Avery4jc]

Cool! I always like to see how guys build a nice cozy place to rest while wheeling. This kinda looks like it was meant to be, especially behind your blazer.

 

[2INSANE]

Cool! I always like to see how guys build a nice cozy place to rest while wheeling. This kinda looks like it was meant to be, especially behind your blazer.

Thx! Here's a few more pics for ya!

 

[2INSANE]

I love my camper build so much! I thought it was going to be a bad idea... But turns out it performs amazing well off road. I'm surprised no one has recently built such an awesome idea! While I was up in the mountains I kept getting compliments on both the blaza and camper. I recommend this build idea to everyone!

 

[2INSANE]

The blazer will be out of the shop soon. I want to put an A/C unit on the top of the camper. Any ideas? I also want to take out the fridge and turn that space into a shelving closet for more cargo. A solar panel system would be bad azz! I need to do some electrical work. Add a few batteries and run wires/relocate so I can charge the batteries when hooked up to truck or blazer. Also got to wire up the running lights. I would also like to add a forced air heater. The rad heater can be dangerous.

 

[TerryD]

That's awesome man!

 

[2INSANE]

That's awesome man!

Thanks Terry!

Not many have done this build, less then 5 people world wide... But seriously, I love it!

I like the fiberglass Alaskan camper design a little bit more. They are super hard to find. More aerodynamic and the rear door just looks cooler and more rounded. Maybe one of these days I'll find one for sale in my area.