Rooftop Tent on Trailer

Have any of you guys made / modified your 1/4 ton trailer to have a rooftop tent? I've seen some prices for thee rooftop tents and they are out there. I was thinking about just making a platform to assemble on the trailer then sitting a regular tent on it. Would keep you off the ground. Then just needs a few jacks to level the trailer.
I was thinking of fabing the platform from 1 x 1 square tube and for sheathing use some sythetic fiberboard or similar. There would be 2 pieces attached together so it would all lay flat in the trailer, then once assembled allow a 6x8 ft tent to be set up on it. It would also allow the tailgate of the trailer (mine has a tailgate) to serve as a table for cooking etc, and underneath could be used as a sort of sitting area.

I would just put the tent on the ground, but I hate sleeping on the ground.

I would love to see pics and read your thoughts.

 

This may be consider treason or giving aid and comfort to the enemy but check out the trailer forum over at ih8mud. Lots of thread with picture of 1/4 trailer modified in all sorts of ways.

 

well, I'm not very smart..
wouldn't this mean you have to carry a ladder/step stool of some type to gain access ?

 

Yes, jpflat2a, a ladder for accessing the tent is necessay. It actually becomes part of the support structure on the manufactured rooftop tents. Trouble with them is they are crazy expensive.

I go camping 2 or 3 weekends a year, I would just like a convenient way to not sleep on the ground and I have an old jeep trailer that I am going to refurbish for general use, including using it as my camp trailer.

Good suggetions on those other sites, I've visited them, some good ideas, just not any that caught my eye, so to speak.

Once I start the build, I'll be sure to post pics, maybe then more ideas will flow.

 

How about this?

The dude that I got the tub from has this set up. I think it is the best idea I've seen......

 

That is a nice rig. That looks like an actual rooftop tent though. They are real expensive. I was thinking more like either a home made rooftop tent or a regular tent, sitting on a hom made platform on top of the trailer.
Thanks though, gives me ideas.........

 

Boyink,

Good point about the wiggle. I was thinking 3 jacks on the trailer. One at each rear corner and one on the tongue. E-Trailer.com has stabilizing jacks just for this type of usage. Then additional support for the overhanging portion of the platform. I've noticed that the factory made rooftop tents use the ladder as additional support for the platform.

 

The blue CJ6 and trailer are mine. From my use I have actually found that all I needed was a high lift jack for stability. I put an adjustable height tongue lift on the front to level front to back. Level the side to side with wheel blocks, then put the high lift in the reciever mount on the back of my trailer and jack until the weight is enough to hold it in place. Makes things very solid with no movement as long as you chock the tires. As far as building a platform, I used 1.5 inch square tubing to build a harde tonneau cover frame and mounted the tent to that. If you built a second the same size on the top of the trailer bed on hinges to fold out like the car top tent platform you would just have to make support legs for the folded out section. That would give you a pretty large sleeping area, but be a little heavy.

 

Hi Jeepman13126,

Good info. That is a nice rig, hope when I'm done mine looks half that good.

 

If you are looking for a roof top tent, here is a source for them:

http://compactcampingconcepts.com/tentunits.htm

Small business with reasonable prices....