Travel trailer scratch build

[Double vision]

Last year I built a Tonka RV on a Slash 4x4 4S chassis as an overland rig..I had to gut the interior and the interior has been sitting on the shelf since...I've decided to use it inside of a camper trailer build and will have a portion of the top removable along with clear windows to be able to view the interior when I get that part finished also..
Here's where the build has progressed as of now..
I'll use my TRX4 to pull it..

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[Double vision]

Axle and tongue are operational, so here is a quick 'running' video.

https://youtube.com/shorts/oOyw6G159PI?feature=share



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[Double vision]

Got primary body color on..now there is a ton of detail work to do.
Windows, interior, removable roof panel, scale accessories and start paint on all the trim details.
Whole rig hooked up together is a whopping 48"

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[Double vision]

Little further along..complicated to explain but fairly simple concept..
The Tonka RV original roof was 4" longer, I had to cut it down to incorporate it into this trailer build..so I removed the frame rods and cut them down 4" also and had to re-bend them on the ends to the original shape. This procedure allowed me to use the roof on this trailer as it was intended to be used on the Tonka RV as an awning when opened...so now I have this function on my scratch built trailer..still have a ton of detail work and fine tuning but needed to get this done now to make sure it would work as intended or I would have to take a different route with the trailer..Fortunately, it works as desired.


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[B-MOW71]

Great looking trailer build!

Did you build this out of styrene? And can we see a pic of the underneath to see how you set up the axle? Thanks

Looks great in the short vid being pulled by your TRX-4!

[Double vision]

Originally Posted by B-MOW71

Great looking trailer build!



Did you build this out of styrene? And can we see a pic of the underneath to see how you set up the axle? Thanks



Looks great in the short vid being pulled by your TRX-4!

Thank you B-MOW..

I have built a trailer with a complete trx4 suspension but most of trailer builds are a simple rudimentary axle design..the most important part for me is tongue strength..I try to build all my trailers where I can pick up the whole trailer just by the tongue then I know I have enough strength in it for the purpose it will serve..

The TRX4 suspension on my tent trailer can be seen here...

https://youtube.com/shorts/xuCLWNcNRcM?feature=share

Yes, this trailer is being built all styrene except for a single piece of light plywood that serves as the base of the trailer..I'm going for a seamless look (no exposed hardware showing) so I had to use the plywood base to attach everything to..all hardware, screws and attachments are under there..
I also I try to incorporate my tongue set up to go as far back as possible so the whole trailer is involved in stress distribution instead of a couple inches near the tow vehicle. The little yellow trailer you can see the tongue goes all the way back to the spare tire mount.
Anyhow here is the simple setup I have used on this one..I still have 90* angle supports to install on the left side like you see on the right side to reinforce the portion of the trailer that hangs below the floor of the trailer..
The last few pics are the full suspension tent trailer I built..cut a TRX4 sport body in half..
The axles on the simple design trailers are a 182mm Tamiya semi axle.
Thanks for checking it out

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[Double vision]

Here's a peek at the first coat of paint and some interior mods going in current trailer build..

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[Mike Flea]

This guy: Sloski's attempt at Styrene, had a whole thread on building styrene accessories, including campers, but unfortunately due to Photobucket, only the last 2 pages of the thread have pictures, maybe it'll give you some ideas

[Double vision]

Originally Posted by Mike Flea

This guy: Sloski's attempt at Styrene, had a whole thread on building styrene accessories, including campers, but unfortunately due to Photobucket, only the last 2 pages of the thread have pictures, maybe it'll give you some ideas

Sweet, cool stuff in that thread...I have some patience for some detail, but not that much patience..
I typically don't fret on exact scale of everything..if it looks ok to the eye then I go with it..after all it's just an RC that's getting banged around.
Thanks for taking the time to dig that thread up...interesting reading for sure

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[Double vision]

Here's another trailer build I did that was an all metal Tonka RV cut down to match a Tonka metal RV tow rig on a TRX4 chassis..
Hinge rear gate, dovetail bed with ramps to help with loading and unloading, lights and matching paint..trailer tongue goes all the way to the rear of the trailer and is one continuous piece of metal. Can see that during axle mock up stage in pic setting ride height.



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[B-MOW71]

Originally Posted by Double vision

Thank you B-MOW..

The axles on the simple design trailers are a 182mm Tamiya semi axle.

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Thanks for the pics! Great job on the other trailers!

I've been wanting to build some type of trailer for awhile now and have been putting it off because I wasn't really sure where to begin. Seeing your pics now has given me the "kick in the butt" to get started on building one!

Looking forward to seeing more of this and your other trailer builds!

[Double vision]

Thanks again B-MOW

Interior has been trying to kick my arse...
I wrangled it into submission..lol

Got a few pics of bits and pieces that have arrived..I'm at the point I can put the rear end of the trailer on and start closing out my punch list for the exterior..interior was holding everything up because once I slide it into the styrene shell it can't come back out...
Propane tanks arrived and are at mock up stage..
Had to wire the whole trailer while interior was out so all I have left on that is the rear tail lights to attach to rear panel..
Have a few subtle lights inside for the interior also..one in the pic is over the dinette table.. but window trim detail is not complete.
Right now the whole trailer with interior is just under 4 lbs..with wheels, spare tire and final details I'll probably hit 5 lbs.
Last pic is what the inside of the styrene looks like..stick built framing just like the real world..but not to code..lol



Forgot this one...


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[Double vision]

Rear panel installed..
Spare tire fitment tested with rear bumper and stow basket..
Rear tail lights installed
Mock up of roof access ladder

Waiting for some detail pieces to arrive but I have plenty of sanding and painting to do until they do arrive..

Forward progress!

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[Double vision]

Still far from complete but far enough along that these pics should make sense of all the progress I have posted here..enough to show a glimpse of what I had envisioned when I started the project....top, rear and this side are the ones that are closest to completion but still need final touch ups...still have work to do on the passenger side with entrance door..
As it sits in this picture I'm at 4.3 lbs

Got the roof access ladder sanded, painted and installed.
I'll reveal full interior once I complete the other side..still a few odds and ends to finish in there also

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[Mike Flea]

Great build, looks really nice!

[Double vision]

Originally Posted by Mike Flea

Great build, looks really nice!

Thanks Mike,

Just about at completion but probably won't finish it today..basically what you see here will be it other than a few scale items and some paint touch up/fine tuning paint edges..
Probably not 100% perfect but it's close enough for the amount of time I have in it.
With the awnings and the top there are a few different configurations that can be used for setup.

Thanks for checking it out!

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[B-MOW71]

As I said before, great job on this trailer build!

All the little details turned out great and add a nice scale look!

I'm in the planning stage of attempting to build a travel trailer in the near future.

I didn't see it mentioned, but what thickness of styrene did you use for the side walls?

[Double vision]

Hey B!

All the sheet styrene on this was .040..I just ensured the frame was built solid enough to make the 'box' self supportive..
If you look close enough at the pic of the rear before that panel was installed you can see the plywood base..the trailer still has 4 sides and I set the trailer box down on top of that base and then secured everything..
100 guys here would build 100 different rigs/trailers not saying any are right or wrong, this is just how I did this one because I had the interior to deal with.
The link below is a one minute video of a continual flow for a better visual perspective instead of trying to put all the pics in this thread together..

When you get started on yours if you have any questions ask away..glad to help
Appreciate you checking it out, thanks for the kind words.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ewvg2J9SXGn5jFT88

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[Double vision]

Bits and pieces still trickling in from the mail..
Winnebago decals
Scale license plate

Nothing against Pennsylvanians but they could get 9 characters on that plate including space between words



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[B-MOW71]

Hey thanks for the info. I was thinking the styene may have been .040.

From what I see, your trailer building looks right to me! Thirty years ago I worked for a travel trailer company building new trailers. May have to revive my memory and use what I learned to build a tiny trailer version!

I'm sure once I get started I'll have some questions. I'll look you up then! Thanks!

I see you have a couple more new vids on YT. I'll get over there and check them out soon!