Mini Camping Trailer?

[chieftmc]

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

Neat how many different people can read the same thing but define it differently. I imagined the car top tent going on the trailer instead of the roof to avoid exactly what you mentioned from the owners manual.

MY thoughts, exactly !!!

[BigWarpGuy]

Originally Posted by chieftmc

MY thoughts, exactly !!!

They have light weight trailers at Smart Car Universe. It shows it with a roof cargo box on one.




Here is a Lite Tent Camper being pulled by a motorcycle and another by a sub-compact car.

[Neonspinnazz]

I'd say, the tent on a trailer idea is actually a good one, your Smart won't be unhappy, and your wallet can stay thick.

[BigWarpGuy]

Here is the rack and roll from Smart Car Universe. One could put one of those 'car top' campers on it and would have a light weight camper?

Here is a car top camper from Lofty Shelters.

Since they fold flat, they would not offer much air resistence.

One could possible use a small tent on top of a board placed on the rack and roll trailer(?).

[gbryers]

Originally Posted by BigWarpGuy

One could put one of those 'car top' campers on it and would have a light weight camper?
Since they fold flat, they would not offer much air resistence.

One could possible use a small tent on top of a board placed on the rack and roll trailer(?).

I would be hesitant to use that trailer for a couple of reasons:
1. it is a very light-weight trailer - once you park your carcass in the tent with another person, you might have some stability issues;
2. There is no good way to stabilize it with a tent on it.

The solution I posted earlier (which was mis-interpreted) uses a utility trailer - standard box frame. I plan on putting small trailer jacks on each corner to address that issue, and the platform I am building on the frame will both raise the tent a bit, and provide a storage space underneath.

But that is far from the only answer. I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but I have a tent designed to hook up to the back of a hatch back (used it with my Saturn wagon this past summer). You can disconnect the car from it, and just zip up the side wall, or leave it hooked up, and have access to the car radio, extra storage, etc. I plan to see if I can make it work with the smart...

[BigWarpGuy]

Originally Posted by gbryers

I would be hesitant to use that trailer for a couple of reasons:
1. it is a very light-weight trailer - once you park your carcass in the tent with another person, you might have some stability issues;
2. There is no good way to stabilize it with a tent on it.

The solution I posted earlier (which was mis-interpreted) uses a utility trailer - standard box frame. I plan on putting small trailer jacks on each corner to address that issue, and the platform I am building on the frame will both raise the tent a bit, and provide a storage space underneath.

But that is far from the only answer. I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but I have a tent designed to hook up to the back of a hatch back (used it with my Saturn wagon this past summer). You can disconnect the car from it, and just zip up the side wall, or leave it hooked up, and have access to the car radio, extra storage, etc. I plan to see if I can make it work with the smart...

I remember seeing similar trailers from Home Depot. With the Smart car seats folded forward, one would have easier access to the radio and one could possibly use it to put a small board to have sleeping bags on? One could probably make a very light weight box to hold the tent and other things?

[gbryers]

Originally Posted by BigWarpGuy

I remember seeing similar trailers from Home Depot. With the Smart car seats folded forward, one would have easier access to the radio and one could possibly use it to put a small board to have sleeping bags on? One could probably make a very light weight box to hold the tent and other things?

I think sleeping inside the smart would be less than optimal, especially with the limited weigh the tailgate can handle (150lbs). What I have in mind is shown below (I grabbed some pics from a car-top camper dealer)






As you can see, it doesn't take a big trailer. The trailers I have seen at Home Depot, Lowes, et al, all tend to be bigger and heavier than you would want to pull with a smart. The Harbor Freight trailer, OTOH, is pretty small and light, and is used by bikers too. I figured on building a box to rise above the wheel wells, like in the first pic, with a hinged top, built to support the weight of two people. Then mount the pop-up tent on top of that, which gives me some storage below, and the tent on top. Add some stabilizers to the corners of the trailer, to give it a nice, firm base when parked, and you have a reasonable sleeping area. Add a screen room, and you have a covered "living room", and it still comes out significantly lighter than a teardrop camper. (Sleeping on the ground is not a great option for me with my back, and setting up a tent in the rain sucks...)

Well, that's the plan. I get the trailer hitch installed on the 18th, I already have the trailer (use it with my Saturn currently), and hopefully can pick up the car top tent in the spring. Then it is off to the mountains of NC to do some serious weekend flyfishing! (or I can take my wife, and we can just spend a couple weeks on the Blue Ridge Parkway...)

[flsmartie]

I have been lurking around and I am interested in this subject

Lil El
DGW: 700LB
taylorcoach(dot)com

Quicksilver 5.0
DGW:520
www (dot) livinlite (dot) com

Anybody knows of any european manufacturers that make trailers for the smart? Just would like to get some ideas incase I decide to build one

[forestacademy]

This would be my Choice for a Sleek pop up camper/ toy hauler.
SylvanSport GO | MOBILE ADVENTURE GEAR

[Dunerunner]

flsmartie - you can look here Tent, Camping Trailer Tents, Folding Campers, Vango Tents and Camping Equipment Sales