Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Just looking into building a tray for touring, will be 7'6" long and 6'6" wide, looking to have a bed at the end and sleep across, 2 35" tyres upright at the front, 2 engels on one side, storage set on the other with room for generator, chainsaw, cooking aswell

Hoping to go aluminium roof, with canvas sides and an awning of to inside, the slip in type, with a few poles, just wondering if anyone has pics of anything similar, mainly interested in the aluminium roof and canvas ideas

Thanks

I reckon a hard top canopy and then a rooftop tent on top would be the go. I have found sleeping in the back of the tray on my gu (has a vinyl canopy) can be a bit stuffy unless you have the sides open...which lets all the insects in. Also everything rolls around in the back of mine, hopefully some space cases will improve that, but I think some tie down points sunk into the tray would be helpful aswell.

chunks wrote:I reckon a hard top canopy and then a rooftop tent on top would be the go. I have found sleeping in the back of the tray on my gu (has a vinyl canopy) can be a bit stuffy unless you have the sides open...which lets all the insects in. Also everything rolls around in the back of mine, hopefully some space cases will improve that, but I think some tie down points sunk into the tray would be helpful aswell.

Thought about roof top, but not real keen, like the idea of having a ready made bed, if I had to set up, I'd just swag and stretcher, when I get the canopy done, I'll be getting full flywire also

Will be recessing tie downs, an underside draw aswell, with undertray water tank, main things I need to know, is how to build the roof, still open for ideas on what works though

I was reading up on this as it interests me and i like the idea of building a touring back.

seems most places dont use alloy as it fatigues, most places boast about using timber/fiberglass panels. im not 100% sure but i was assuming they mean say 3ply laminated in glass, which is easy and cheap to do. easy to seal and repair should something go wrong, can make any shape.

I personally like the idea of the top lifting and having a ready made bed in that, that way you dont lose the tray for storage kitchen set up etc.

I was imagining making one with a flat timber sheet with matress on it just below the rof line, then having a hard roof over that with canvas sides, lift the roof on an angle probably a 2 min set up on gas struts or poles and ready made bed, but still have a full tray.

I made a mesh cage with 25mm light rhs to frame the doors, had a canvas cover made with shadecloth steitched in it to stop the wire rubbing the canvas, and it was excellent for touring. I swag it when on remote trips, but slept down one side in the back on weekends and week trips when required. I sunk the fridge in the tray on the LHS and had a fold down becnh for kitchen.

Got any pics of inside of the tray Darren?

Will have a look, not sure.

Got some from outside I found, I mounted an extra 90 lt standard tank above the original where the spare wheel opening was for bigger trips, put the spare on the back, and 2 jerries for showers and washing hands that could be filled from anywhere.





And the top would lift off, sides back on, back to tray. [not me beside it either]

Auto-Craft wrote:I made a mesh cage with 25mm light rhs to frame the doors, had a canvas cover made with shadecloth steitched in it to stop the wire rubbing the canvas, and it was excellent for touring. I swag it when on remote trips, but slept down one side in the back on weekends and week trips when required. I sunk the fridge in the tray on the LHS and had a fold down becnh for kitchen.

hi autocraft, im in the middle of building/adding things to my tray for doing touring type of stuff. i have a bit of room under the tray where i am thinking of cutting a section of the tray out and making a boxed in area underneath, maybe for storage, or as you have done put a fridge there. any chance i could see a pic of the underneath, cheers