THE LIGHTEST COMBINATION SPYDER HAULER CAMPER ON THE PLANET

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

CHANGE IN PLANS

Well after an exhaustive search I discovered the el-cheapo metal kitchen cabinets of old have gone the way of the DOUGH-DOUGH (?) BIRD and are no longer made. howeveeeeeeeeeeeeeeer......they now make them in PLASTIC which is pretty sturdy and has the bonus feature of never rusting.:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:......and I think it's even lighter than the metal ones were...............Which was why I wanted them in the first place :yikes::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack: Wish me luck on this.......It will be at SPYDERFEST 2013.......:2excited: along with Deanna 777 :shemademe_smilie: :agree: :yes::yes::yes::yes::yes::yes::yes:Mike :2excited: :thumbup:

 

[Bob Denman]

:congrats: Sometimes the alternatives can even be better than the original idea! :thumbup:
Glad to hear that your escape vehicle is taking shape! :clap:

 

[asp125]

I was thinking the very same thing! :2thumbs:

They can be a bit tough on the back if romance blossoms during the camp-out though...

Well... then there's extra points for getting... um... creative.

 

[draboo]

We bought an '08 enclosed trailer with rampdoor,8.5X16..mainly for moving, since we tend to not stay put for more than a year or two.

Aaaanywaaay..we decided to turn it into a toyhauler. We used it last summer on a ride from OR to Upper Michigan.

I wired it with 3 outlets and an overhead light and wired in a heavy extension cord to plug into a 110V outlet at the campsite. . One faux pas was I forgot to wire a switch for the light by the access door, but we worked around that easily.

We would back the Spyder and Sportster out, blow up the air mattress, and call it a night. We have a small propane 2 burner thing for cooking, two coolers,one standard and one 12V. We went to sleep in it in Boise around the first week of August (the very first night), and disaster, thanks to ol' Mother Nature, struck with a vengeance:

We had absolutely no insulation(Faux Pas #2). We took our portable air conditioner along and it did not lower the temp one iota. The ceiling was so hot you could not touch it. We were MiserableX100!

So, My Suggestion to YOU is to INSULATE! INSULATE! INSULATE!

 

[Bob Denman]

But he's trying to keep this vehicle super light...

Fill the tires with Helium to offset the weight of the insulation... :thumbup: :roflblack:

 

[arntufun]

Draboo is right. I insulated mine with 3/8ths Syrofoam insulation. It weighs hardly nothing and helps greatly.... :thumbup:

 

[Deanna777]

WEIGHT

But he's trying to keep this vehicle super light...

Fill the tires with Helium to offset the weight of the insulation... :thumbup: :roflblack:

Yes Bob, as I commented earlier to one of your many helpful Posts ....Great Minds think alike.....Buuuuuut Not Always :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:.......Mike......Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd I am actually planning on using 2 inch foam board 24 inch on center, more for ridgidity (in place of heavy plywood) than for the insulation factor.....but I'll take the insulating benefit also:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::2excited::agree:................................Thanks Mike.....:shemademe_smilie:

 

[Bob Denman]

Are you saying that my mind might be "great"??

I've heard tons of adjectives to describe it over the years; that ain't one of them that's ever popped up much! :roflblack:

 

[Dragonrider]

I bought a "custom" enclosed trailer. 12x7.5x7 single axel, with full electric brakes, RV side door, and ramp rear door.

I ordered it with full interior, including roof vents, interior lighting, front & rear "gas" vents, and E-Trak at 6" and 48". I can move the trailer when parked, and it cost me about $3400 out the door. When I got it home, I bought 10 2x4 E-trak hangers and aluminum cabinets from E-bay. I had a rectangular truck bed tool box, which I mounted on the floor (lots of storage), and used the hangers to build a shelf (7'x2.5') and put the cabinets on it. We applied bed liner material to the floor and ramp, and deck paint to the walls.

I have a roll up table, folding chairs, two large cots, a LCD TV (with iPod input), a 2K Honda generator, and a port-a-potty stored in the trailer. With the Spyder out, we can sleep, cook, and generally use the trailer as a camper. With the Spyder in the trailer, we can string 2x4s (3) over the Spyder, place a sheet of plywood (pegged not to slip) on the 2x4s, and sleep over the bike.

Since I had the camping stuff, the total cost was under $500 above the cost of the trailer… Loaded weight: 2874#.

 

[Bob Denman]

So less than a ton and a half to tow... :2thumbs:
I'd sure like to see some pics of this beauty!

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

HEAVY LOAD

So less than a ton and a half to tow... :2thumbs:
I'd sure like to see some pics of this beauty!

Yes,....Way less.....I'm going for 1900 lbs with the Spyder inside.....I did some preliminary weight estimates and I think this is do-able......After it's done I plan to have it weighed....:2excited: :b2b::agree: :yikes:....Mike...& Dee:thumbup:hyea:Remember Bob This is supposed to the lightest combo Spyder hauler Camper Trl. on the Planet

 

[Bob Denman]

Mike,
I can't wait to see your results! :2thumbs:
Question: What are you towing with that makes weight such an issue?

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Mike,
I can't wait to see your results! :2thumbs:
Question: What are you towing with that makes weight such an issue?

First rule : Weight = less speed ,( drag racing days haha),.. But also less GAS mileage.....and We plan to tow with a Chevy 1/2 ton w/a V-6 and that will have a Spyder in the BED also.......So LIGHTER IS BETTER :agree: :2excited: ray: :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack: M & D :thumbup:hyea:

 

[Bob Denman]

It makes good sense now; those GM v-6s aren't known for their overwhelming torque... :shocked:
(Got a Silverado with the 5.3; I'm good up to about 3 tons... :thumbup

 

[Dragonrider]

Did I mention that the trailer sits on a RV pad next to my house & is used to store the lawn equipment for the winter??

I've towed this trailer to Yellowstone and back - 2181 miles - with my F150 1/2 ton Eco-Tech V6, with an overall 18.6mpg…. and I was not a conservative driver…. the single axel and radial tires on the trailer make it a dream to pull.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

GOOD FOR TOWING

It makes good sense now; those GM v-6s aren't known for their overwhelming torque... :shocked:
(Got a Silverado with the 5.3; I'm good up to about 3 tons... :thumbup

Yes it is.......But her V-6 gets almost 22 MPG ..............OMG.....:yikes::yikes::yikes: :clap::gaah::yes::yes::yes::yes: :2excited: Mike :2excited: Bob..........I think so far out of the BOX I don't even remember where the BOX is....:shocked: :agree:

 

[Bob Denman]

22... :thumbup:
I get a touch over 21 mpg when that V-8 starts shutting off cylinders... :shocked:
17 if I'm deep in the throttle body!
I agree; you bring an entirely new perspective to every discussion in here! :firstplace: :bowdown: :2thumbs:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

NEW PERSPECTIVE

22... :thumbup:
I get a touch over 21 mpg when that V-8 starts shutting off cylinders... :shocked:
17 if I'm deep in the throttle body!
I agree; you bring an entirely new perspective to every discussion in here! :firstplace: :bowdown: :2thumbs:

HaHa, I'm not so sure wether that's a good thing or not :gaah: :yikes: :roflblack: :roflblack: :roflblack: :roflblack: :roflblack: :roflblack: :agree: Mike :thumbup:

 

[Deanna777]

Towing Lighest Spyder Hauler Camper

First rule : Weight = less speed ,( drag racing days haha),.. But also less GAS mileage.....and We plan to tow with a Chevy 1/2 ton w/a V-6 and that will have a Spyder in the BED also.......So LIGHTER IS BETTER :agree: :2excited: ray: :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack: M & D :thumbup:hyea:

Correction on Chevy 1/2 ton ,It is a Vortec 5300 V-8...Deanna777 & Mike :thumbup:hyea:

 

[Deanna777]

Towing Lightest Spyder Hauler

Yes it is.......But her V-6 gets almost 22 MPG ..............OMG.....:yikes::yikes::yikes: :clap::gaah::yes::yes::yes::yes: :2excited: Mike :2excited: Bob..........I think so far out of the BOX I don't even remember where the BOX is....:shocked: :agree:

Correction on Chevy 1/2 ton It is a Vortec 5300 V-8...D& M hyea: :thumbup: