Popup trailer remodel for BM

[nixiebunny]

I recently bought a 1977 Starcraft StarFlite 6, an 8-foot-long-box popup trailer. The plan is to take it to BM with my lovely wife next year, and also get out of town to do some camping in the summer and maybe the spring too. I live in Tucson, so the desert is no stranger to me.

It has the standard propane stove, sink with small freshwater tank, icebox and dinette. No clothing storage to speak of. I'd like to make it have more usable storage and move the kitchen outside. I'd also like to make the utilities more desert-friendly, such as solar power and water heating and an outdoor shower. I'm an engineer, so that part doesn't scare me.

Have any of you reworked an old popup to these ends? What was it like?

[TT120]

Sounds like a fun project. I'd like to watch the progress with pics....

[LowePro]

Cool! Please post some pics what you come up with.
I'd recommend highly subbing out the icebox with a propane-powered fridge, if you can find a used one at an RV store or elsewhere. The travel trailer will be a greenhouse during the day and you'll go through a ton of of ice and you'll have to deal with the melt water. Propane fridge is fantastic at Bman. Other things that come to mind: a bucket swamp cooler, curtain rods to hang stuff inside, and making sure the windows seal well to keep dust out. Solar setup is easy, there are kits online or you can assemble your own with a panel, Deep cycle battery, charge controller, and inverter.

[Eric]

First, read every thread on ePlaya about keeping dust to a minimum in tents - those pop-ups are basically tents with wheels, and all that mesh is just begging for you to be buried in playa.
2 - if it's just your wife & you, why are you worried about clothes storage? Convert one of the beds to a storage area using bins (or even a rod hanging at the high point about the table). Just make sure you don't put too much weight there and you should be fine.

I used to camp in those as a kid, they should work fine.

[nixiebunny]

Eric, that's a good point about the bed. This trailer's beds are each 4 feet wide, which is usable by 2 people, but is not the luxury to which we've become accustomed at home.

I am thinking of making a fold-out extension for one bed, to turn it into a queen size. That would free up the other bed for clothing.

This is why I'm working on this project now, instead of July.

[fernley1]

Thats a good idea to extend the bed out. I used a pop up last year, worked out real good, but having only full size beds, it was cramped. I might check out extending one bed out also.
Thanks for the idea.

[Captain Goddammit]

I'll "third" that idea. I use a truck camper, and the king size bed is one of the best things about it.
Screw roughing it, I think decadent sleeping accommodations are great on the playa!

[Jackass]

Behold, my empire. 1980 Jayco, restored and adapted for my liking. 4 burns under her belt...

Burning Man 2013 041.JPG

[fernley1]

Love your setup, looks comfortable and inviting.
That what I am aiming for next year.

[Jackass]

Thanks, I'm quite proud of it. That's after 4yrs of adding on and a few adjustments...I'll probably be adding on another center porch over hang, giving me an additional 120sf of covered area this year (14 legs). The EMT set-up is awesome because you can reconfigure or add on in any direction frum year to year, all you need is more/different connectors and more EMT.
1st year: 8 legs

BM2010 081.jpg

2nd & 3rd years: 10 legs

Burningman2012 006.JPG

This year: 12legs

Burning Man 2013 031.JPG

[Thecatman]

[quote="Eric""]First, read every thread on ePlaya about keeping dust to a minimum in tents - those pop-ups are basically tents with wheels, and all that mesh is just begging for you to be buried in playa.[/quote]


Nice pictures Jackass!


What are the Downsides of Pop-up Campers?

• Setup and takedown times can get tiresome. The person in the campsite next to you may pull in with a 5th wheel and only have to spend a few minutes leveling, anchoring, and hooking their camper up to any available amenities such as electricity and water; while you need to unfold, slide out, and crank up your pop-up camper before it's usable.
• Limited amenities. Because they are a soft side camper and more of an entry level camper, amenities will be limited. Although a popup camper isn't as luxurious as some of the higher end campers, they are also a lot easier on a person's pocketbook.
• Not so great in windy and inclement weather. If a storm comes up while you are camping in your pop-up camper, it can start to feel like you are on a scary amusement park ride because a strong wind will rock the camper and will likely cause some unwanted breezes to blow through the canvas sides.
• Lack of privacy. It's hard to get much privacy in a pop-up camper. Even the bathroom (not available in all pop-ups) is usually only enclosed by a curtain or a thin wall that is definitely not soundproof.
• The mattresses on the beds are definitely not 5 star hotel quality. Most popup campers have thin mattresses. The first few years we owned a pop-up camper we used those eggshell type mattress pads to make our beds more comfortable. After that we invested in high quality air mattresses which made sleeping in the camper much more enjoyable and restful.

Copied from http://www.campingearth.com
Wish you and yours the best in your project nixiebunny!

I've been thinking of going this route as well.

[Captain Goddammit]

Pop ups have their strong points too. The bigger ones are quite roomy. They can be pulled by smaller vehicles, and if space is tight where you live, it's nice that they pack up so small. Cost is relatively low.
I still think a hard-side regular trailer is a lot better, provided you have the tow vehicle, but if you don't, I've actually seen small pop-ups towed by motorcycles.

All things considered, I'd only get one if my towing and storage facilities absolutely prevented anything else, but given the choice of a pop-up or a tent, the pop-up wins for sure. Set up isn't that big a deal, and it beats having to set up everything from scratch like you do when tenting it.

[Jackass]

With my four-banger Nissan and the tent trailer, I can and have crossed the toughest trans-sierra passes in the state of California, and I bet there are more than a few places I can get into that larger trailers couldn't get to without severe damage if at all. They're cheap and can be stored just about anywhere you can fit a mid-sized car. Never used a trailer before this one, now I spend about 3-4 weeks in this thing per year camping and exploring. It gets my vote for biggest bang for the buck! I refer to it as luxury minimalist...this one has no shitter in it and I believe that's for the best. That part you have to figure out for yourself.(Radical Self Reliance and all that bull-mess)

P.S. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays...Fuckos

Burningman2012 307.JPG

[EspressoDude]

Is that the poop deck hanging off the stern of land barge?

[Jackass]

Is that the poop deck hanging off the stern of land barge?

No, that's the auxiliary adventure chest. We use the blue rooms or vault toilet like the rest of the common folk. Although two years ago a girl that camped with us had to have her own can, which she arranged to have dropped off at camp. That was pretty elegant if you ask me. I didn't object in the least. Apparently some of the surrounding neighbors enjoyed it as well.

[Captain Goddammit]

Hey, if she wanted her own "executive washroom" and made her own arrangements for it, I say job well done!
I'd do that myself if my camper didn't have one already… but like most folks, it's reserved for that late night or early morning wee, never any deucescolis. No one wants a shizola that close to where they eat.

[FIGJAM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKLnhuzh9uY

[media]

[Thecatman]

this one has no shitter in it

Just a suggestion "The Bumper Dumper".


Cool setup you got there.

[Jackass]

My rig for the burn is kinda like that little clown car at the circus that the clowns keep piling out of endlessly

[Captain Goddammit]

The Bumper Dumper… now what we have raht thar is the best way to discourage tailgaters I've ever seen.

[Thecatman]

Well, they are available from a few retailers in south Texas, and online. For a few dollars more one can get a "privacy tent".
http://www.bumperdumper.com

[Canoe]

When the lid's down, it doesn't block your license plate...

... For a few dollars more one can get a "privacy tent".

Save your money. It's a XXXXL poncho.

[Thecatman]

those pop-ups are basically tents with wheels, and all that mesh is just begging for you to be buried in playa.

The same, or similar, can be said about pop-up campers that would go in a pick-up truck. They might be a bit more solid since they weigh more, plus the weight of the truck.

[Thecatman]

Saw this recently. "The Teal Camper." You assemble the panels with a Phillips screwdriver in your utility trailer......and you decorate it to your desire. Bed, couch, dining area, etc. In a nutshell it's basically shelter. There's really no room for a refrigerator, stove, bathroom, potable and grey water storage.



Can also be assembled in the bed of a pick-up truck

[mgb327]

Hey kids, thought I might toss my 2 cents in here. I have this 1996 16' Jayco and just love it. It tows well, low so you can see the car behind you in the rear mirror, no wind resistance, light weight. I tow about 7,000 miles round trip to BM. I removed the AC unit, and got rid of the propane refridge. I didn't like it at all. Maybe it wasn't the best out there, but it was heavy and ate fuel for not much cooling. I use 3 coolers, and have had no issues with food/drinks. I do buy 4 bags of ice around Friday, tho. The photo of it at BM is before I put up my shade structure over it. Not too hot in the day, dust is manageable with some simple diligence, and the bed is a queen. I use the other bed area for clothes/storage. I don't haul the second bed mattress to save weight, and I don't need it anyway. I set up a good solar rooftop charger with a good battery. Indoor shower is nice. I set up an outdoor propane stove for bacon and coffee. I spent some prep time getting it just the way I wanted it, and removed a lot of weight that wasn't needed. It was living in luxury, can't say enough about a pop-up for cost efficiency, comfort, and towability. I will be bringing it this year again.

[fernley1]

Does anyone tie down their tent trailer in case of a big wind storm?
I was thinking of tieing down my tent trailer by using 2 straps over the axle, one by each wheel, tied off to two stakes in the ground. Stakes would be pounded in near the front and back body area of the trailer, in line of the wheels, where you can swing a hammer.

[mgb327]

I never gave much thought to any tie-downs. I can "drop" this to the compacted size in less that 4 minutes. I think if there was a storm with that capabilities, I would just lower my profile. I have a 45 gallon water tank low in the frame, as well as 20 gallons in 1 gallon jugs, and the coolers. I think my center of weight is adequate and as low as possible. If all shit breaks loose, the trailer is still attached to the Suburban with the trailer hitch. If that isn't enough, we are all just fucked anyways.....

[Captain Goddammit]

I looked up that "Teal Camper" modular thing just to confirm my suspicions - prices start at $4995!!! For pretty much nothing!! Forget that!!

[FIGJAM]

Happens every time I get curious about something and get sticker shock.

For a quarter of the cost I can build it as good and customized to my needs.

[Captain Goddammit]

My situation makes a slide-in truck camper the right type for me, and I'd love to have a brand new one... but Jeebus H. Christ, they run $25 to well over $50k! I don't want one that bad!
Brand new RVs of almost any type are one of the worst investments ever. Value drops like a rock and they deteriorate rapidly.
In that respect, tent trailers seem a pretty good way to go. The walls are replaceable canvas with much less area for hidden rot and they are the easiest to work on if you do have a problem.
Ever tried to remove the fridge from a truck camper? They don't fit through the door! I've had to remove walls to do it.