Kombi Trailer

Vanders · Kombi Trailer

Brookie asked me to put up some pics and info on the trailer project I have going on (amongst other projects - none of which I currently have time to work on).

The idea is to build a flat-top trailer that will be used as the base for a trailer tent, such as the Oztrail variety (http://www.oztrail.com.au/trailer_campers/camper9.php). Using the back of a kombi has some advantages over a normal box trailer:

1) it's a kombi. It will look pretty cool being towed by a full-sized kombi.
2) the rear deck over the engine is pretty much the perfect height, and covers half the floor area.
3) the kombi chassis rails can be used to attach the a-frame towing posts so that you are not pulling on the body or the wheel assemblies directly.
4) the engine compartment can be turned into a lockable tool/spares chest
5) the fuel tank can remain and be used as a spare fuel holder with a pump and some hose
6) same sized wheels and interchangeable parts with other kombis.

Now, a lot of people would be horrified at the idea of cutting up a perfectly good kombi, so the right vehicle was needed as a base. I wasn't really searching for it, but the opportunity to purchase such a vehicle came my way.

Here it is (or now was)

I bought this bus for $200. It had no motor, gearbox, doors, interior, and most parts that move had been removed. The owner wanted the front suspension back (it was a drum brake setup from a lowlight), the rear hubs, and the wheels (wide 5 pattern). That was fine as I didn't need them.

This is how she looked before I started cutting:

By this stage I had also removed the glass, slider and rear door, as well as stripping out anything else that could be removed. This bus had basically been a parts car, and it would have taken a whole other bus to restore it, so I was reasonably happy to continue on.

So, off goes the roof:

Then chop it in half:

A bit of tyding up and this is what's left:

Some more work and here we are:

Since then 50 x 25 RHS steel has been welded into the channels between the panels on each side. 25 x 25 RHS will be welded in across the front.

You can see it was cut back to the seams in front of the rear wheel arches. This gives a nice edge to slide a piece of 4mm checker plate aluminium sheet behind the folds left.

Because the seams are close to the rear wheels, the trailer is not long enough, and weight distribution would be all wrong. The platform will be extended over the front of the structure and a checker plate ute tool chest put in front of the body underneath the extended platform.

The trailer is currently at my parents place while the builders are working on our house. But with that drawing to an end soon I should be able to move it back home and continue working on it fairly soon. I'll post up some more pics as I go.

Cheers,

Paul

Maharg · Re: Kombi Trailer

Scotia

this is amazing can't wait to see the next installment.

Archeress

FANTASTIC watching with keen interest..

66split

great work there. cant wait to see more pics Cool

Diddlie

What a brilliant way to save a kombi

BJ

Fantastic! are you going to put some sort of lid on it? Perhaps part of the roof on hinges?

samblers

if thats a trailer where does all the stuff go...?

i'm prolly being thick but i would have thought that was the worst bit of a kombi to use for storage...?

watching with interest Very Happy

Vanders

There will be a marine ply base on the top, screwed down onto the steel rails put in place on the sides between the inner and outer panels. The base will be approx 1700 wide and 2100 long. The trailer tent sits on top of the base, with the extra length sitting over the front of the trailer. There will be an access hole and lid to get to the storage area at the front of the trailer where the rear seat normally goes.

The trailer was cut down to the level shown because it needs to be approx 1100 high from the ground. The rear deck is that height. I agree about the storage in some respects. It's a compromise. The engine area will have a floor built in and be used to store spares, tools and other stuff. The spare wheel will bolt up underneath the new floor where the motor and box normally hang down. Having trailing arm suspension means that this is a substantially large area. As I said before the fuel tank will stay in place as a carrier of spare juice, and the forward storage area will be accessible through the floor base (all trailer tents have an access hole through their base). There will a a large checkerplate upright ute tool box on the front to hold bulkier items like chairs, tables etc.

I have seen trailers that use the full height of a kombi used for sleeping, and I toyed with this idea. I had some concerns about the height, weight and centre of gravity of such a trailer and decided against it. By putting a trailer tent on top of the flat base it means that the centre of gravity remains low, it will be lighter (steel and glass are heavy) and give us and the kids more room when the tent is folded out.

I'll hopefully have it ready for summer. That's the goal anyway.

Scotia

we have been toying with buying one of the trailer tents for a while now, but after seeing what you are doing I think we might have to consider something similar (if you don't mind). It is such a great way to use an old body.

Vanders

I don't mind at all. You will probably finish before me at this rate.

Brookie

Did you modify shocks/mountings ?
I guess with motor, tranny and halfshafts removed the existing suspension etc hasn't much weight to support.

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Vanders

No mods to shocks or mounts. The tent will weight 100-200kg, so there will be some weight over the wheels.

Brookie

Every time I look at this it becomes more tempting.
Just sent off engine hatch of 73 and have buyer interested in all doors so instead of being a garden ornament like BJ has it may become a trailer and the rest can be the ornament. Smile

Paul must have some updated pics soon

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Vanders

There would need to be progress made to warrant an update.

School holidays are in September, and am planning my attack for then.

Kombi Trailer

Re: Kombi Trailer