Explorer Box/Pod build

[abqlloyd]

After months of lurking I broke down and bought the first piece of my build:




Like the commerical with the faucet, now all I have to do is design a build around the hinges!

[abqlloyd]

On one end I'm planning to integrate this:



I'm thinking of adding a little extra foam insulation around the outside to help combat the desert heat. It is 42" wide. 4' wide box, less 1.5" for side material leaves me 4.5" extra. If I pull the handles off, I can easily add 1.5" of foam on each side. It is 20" tall, which leaves room for another piece on the bottom of the lid.

On a 8' build, the cooler will use a full 2'. With three kids, the biggest issue when we camp is not having enough cooler space. We end up taking a couple small ones because the large one gets too heavy. It also takes up a big chunk cargo space in the truck.

Ice can last a long weekend if we camp in the mountains. Out at the lake, even the MAX coolers struggle to make. I read that the cooler ratings are based on not actually opening the cooler. I wonder if this is really true.

[schaney]

Wow those are some nice looking hinges What are you planning to do with them?

Are you planning a Gear Hauler or Tent Topped Explorer Box/Pod trailer?

[DrCrash]

Those look like finger removers

[abqlloyd]

Wow those are some nice looking hinges What are you planning to do with them?

Are you planning a Gear Hauler or Tent Topped Explorer Box/Pod trailer?

I'm thinking a hybrid gear hauler with a tent on the top.

[abqlloyd]

Those look like finger removers

Luckily I have ten!

[abqlloyd]

Ordered an 18 gallon tank to bury in the middle over the axle. Total weight of water is ~160 pounds, plus another 20 for the tank.

When we camp in developed areas we take empty 6 gallon jugs and fill them close to the final site. If we are heading to a remote area we fill at least 3 six gallon Jerrys for a 2 night trip. We're pretty frugal with water.

This is should make it easier to haul water. Most of the developed campsites have a threaded pump. I've seen the tent campers fill up with a short hose.

I ordered it untapped until I figure out what I'm doing.

[abqlloyd]

Anybody with the HF trailer running 14" tires? Any guidance appreciated.

[schaney]

Look forward to seeing it take shape.

[abqlloyd]

Does anyone know if the Smith's CPES is the same as the CPES from the Rot Doctor?

[schaney]

Smith Co. is the manufacture of CPES. They also market it under the name MultiWoodPrime. Rot Doctor is a reseller of CPES.

[abqlloyd]

Smith Co. is the manufacture of CPES. They also market it under the name MultiWoodPrime. Rot Doctor is a reseller of CPES.

Thanks!

[schaney]

abqlloyd, so how is the project going?

[abqlloyd]

abqlloyd, so how is the project going?

Got off to a good start, but had some things at work take priority. Hope to be back on it soon.

[abqlloyd]

Thinking outside the box...

I don't want and don't need anything more than an Explorer-type Box with a tent. The wife, on the other hand, has some health issues and a serious aversion to the cold. Also, I've taken a few late October / November camping trips in New Mexico and the temps have been cold, cold, cold! It would make a great hunting rig with some bigger tires and a rack for dead animals on the back.

I'm not a fan of any of the heaters that you burn inside a tent. I don't care what they say, I don't trust them.

I was thinking of possible solutions. My latest thought was to install a Suburban or similar like this NTS unit:

http://www.offgridappliances.com/rv-app ... burban.htm

into the storage area under the tent unit. It would vent from the side at the front of the unit. Using a flexible, ducted vent I could feed the heat into one corner of the tent unit through a 4" round hole in the top. Since the unit will always have the tent and tarp on top, I'm not too worried about water.

If we went with a larger tent that my wife likes, I could duct out the back or side and heat the main volume of the tent area, allowing the heated area to rise to the sleeping platform.

Any thoughts from you experts?