lfhoward
Member
- 65
- 39
- 18
- Location
- Philadelphia, PA
Hello SteelSoldiers,
This is my first post. I've been lurking for a while, as I bought an M116A3 flatbed trailer at auction in March and this site is full of good information. Thanks! I am posting today because I'd like to get your feedback.
I want to create an off-road camper out of my M116A3. I am considering building a wooden, aluminum-skinned shell on top of the trailer with windows and electrical capabilities, big enough for a queen sized mattress. I've chronicled my ideas over on http://www.tnttt.com, the teardrops and tiny trailers forum: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
The reason I am posting here is that I came across a new idea as I was browsing SS last night. I could take an entirely different direction with my off road trailer build and want to know what you all think of this option. I am not saying I am definitely going to take this direction, just looking for ideas and feedback because it seems quite good. So here goes...
I discovered that the military makes communication shelters that can fit on trailers or the backs of humvees. These communication shelters are made of aluminum sandwich with foam insulation between, so they come already waterproof and weatherproof. Because of the aluminum construction, they can be as light as 600 lbs! With some simple modifications, I could attach one to my trailer and have a ready-made camper. Here are the details:
As I understand, there are two models of shelters, the S-250 communications shelter which is designed for an 8 foot truck or trailer bed, and the S-788 lightweight multipurpose shelter (LMS) that is designed for the back of a Humvee. These are made by a company called Wenzlau Engineering. I found one of each for sale at a surplus/salvage yard not too far from me, for $1500 and $1300, respectively.
S-250: http://www.wenzlau.com/S-250.htm
Pics:
S-788: http://www.wenzlau.com/S-788.htm
Pics:
The S-250 communications shelter has been made into a camper before, but using an M101 trailer with sides on it. Here is the website for the build. It is quite cool!
http://www.sanlee.com/jeep/S250camper/default.htm
Here is one of the author's photos:
Either shelter could potentially fit on my flatbed trailer, but some modifications would be required.
Some measurements of my M116A3 flat bed trailer (pics from KsM715 on SteelSoldiers):
The M116A3 trailer is 96 inches long and 83.5 inches wide at the fender. The measurements of my trailer match the S-788 best. The S-250 is about 10 inches shorter than my trailer, and since my trailer doesn't have sides, the space under the benches (where the trailer sides would go) would not be used as indoor space. I could potentially build toolboxes that fit there. The S-788 makes use of this space, and is only 3.5 inches longer than my trailer. According to Wenzlau's info, the S-788 has approximately 50% more usable interior space than the S-250.
Both of these shelters require 48.5 inches between the wheel wells, and my trailer is only 45.5 inches across in that location. Here is where modification would be necessary. I would need to cut the inside of the wheel wells and move them out 3 inches or so. There is lots of physical room to do this, but it would require some metal fabrication, which I would need to pay a welder to do. I would also need to find a way to safely fasten the shelter to the trailer.
So... I think a lightweight multipurpose shelter might be a viable way to have a watertight, durable camper without having to build a shell from scratch... Would you do it? Which shelter model would you go with? Thoughts?
Thanks, All!
This is my first post. I've been lurking for a while, as I bought an M116A3 flatbed trailer at auction in March and this site is full of good information. Thanks! I am posting today because I'd like to get your feedback.
I want to create an off-road camper out of my M116A3. I am considering building a wooden, aluminum-skinned shell on top of the trailer with windows and electrical capabilities, big enough for a queen sized mattress. I've chronicled my ideas over on http://www.tnttt.com, the teardrops and tiny trailers forum: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
The reason I am posting here is that I came across a new idea as I was browsing SS last night. I could take an entirely different direction with my off road trailer build and want to know what you all think of this option. I am not saying I am definitely going to take this direction, just looking for ideas and feedback because it seems quite good. So here goes...
I discovered that the military makes communication shelters that can fit on trailers or the backs of humvees. These communication shelters are made of aluminum sandwich with foam insulation between, so they come already waterproof and weatherproof. Because of the aluminum construction, they can be as light as 600 lbs! With some simple modifications, I could attach one to my trailer and have a ready-made camper. Here are the details:
As I understand, there are two models of shelters, the S-250 communications shelter which is designed for an 8 foot truck or trailer bed, and the S-788 lightweight multipurpose shelter (LMS) that is designed for the back of a Humvee. These are made by a company called Wenzlau Engineering. I found one of each for sale at a surplus/salvage yard not too far from me, for $1500 and $1300, respectively.
S-250: http://www.wenzlau.com/S-250.htm
Pics:
S-788: http://www.wenzlau.com/S-788.htm
Pics:
The S-250 communications shelter has been made into a camper before, but using an M101 trailer with sides on it. Here is the website for the build. It is quite cool!
http://www.sanlee.com/jeep/S250camper/default.htm
Here is one of the author's photos:
Either shelter could potentially fit on my flatbed trailer, but some modifications would be required.
Some measurements of my M116A3 flat bed trailer (pics from KsM715 on SteelSoldiers):
The M116A3 trailer is 96 inches long and 83.5 inches wide at the fender. The measurements of my trailer match the S-788 best. The S-250 is about 10 inches shorter than my trailer, and since my trailer doesn't have sides, the space under the benches (where the trailer sides would go) would not be used as indoor space. I could potentially build toolboxes that fit there. The S-788 makes use of this space, and is only 3.5 inches longer than my trailer. According to Wenzlau's info, the S-788 has approximately 50% more usable interior space than the S-250.
Both of these shelters require 48.5 inches between the wheel wells, and my trailer is only 45.5 inches across in that location. Here is where modification would be necessary. I would need to cut the inside of the wheel wells and move them out 3 inches or so. There is lots of physical room to do this, but it would require some metal fabrication, which I would need to pay a welder to do. I would also need to find a way to safely fasten the shelter to the trailer.
So... I think a lightweight multipurpose shelter might be a viable way to have a watertight, durable camper without having to build a shell from scratch... Would you do it? Which shelter model would you go with? Thoughts?
Thanks, All!