Non Offroad Camper upgrades

[MDSimpson Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDSimpson]

Morning All.

Question regarding poptop campers.
There are off road and on road examples. Take the Jayco Eagle for instance.
If I were to buy the non off road version, what changes need to be done to bring it up to off road specs?
Is it just suspension and protection plates underneath? Or is it more??

Thanks in advance....

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

I have a Coromal pioneer and the sub frame is made from heavier steel as well as larger wheels and bearings.

Easiest way to spot the differences is to get on the Jayco website and compare specs. I think the mods may cost more than buying the outback version.

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[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Lot's of good stuff here http://myswag.org

[rags Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rags]

We have had a jayco finch since 2000,which was a standard road model. I 've altered it to suit our needs to travel that little bit further along dirt trails and into outback trips,fraser island etc. The mods consist with steel and rubber guards over tanks ,pipes etc underneath,removing the spare wheel from back of camper and onto a rear bar with gerry can holder,altering gas bottles and adding a toolbox,battery box and stone guard all to suit 90serie rear door to open fully but which now fouls with 120 door [grr]. The suspenion altered to suit eye 2 eye springs ,axle flip over and shocks,wheels /hubs 15' . I was intending to strengthen Aframe with a web truss underneath but have found the 4" x 2" to be adequate for a trailer of approx 900kgs. Bearings are still the combo ford/holden and have not had any dramas and easy and cheap to carry spares. The jaycos whether on or off road have many limitations ,with dust being an issue, and cabinets that shake around a bit. I guess for their budget they suit a need. Is it worth moding a camper to suit offroad use,well that would depend on where you intend to go ,do you already own the camper, if you are looking at buying one well maybe you are better with the offroad model,but if there is a cheap onroad model and your handy around the tools well that maybe better.
There are place the offroad models maybe able to go but there are plenty of places that i would not take one like the Cape York etc.I think many are really made with overkill to market and sell with features like 6" A frames etc.adding weight but not really extra strength. I have another trailer that i built in the shed approx 20 years ago for camping /gear carrying that i have used in my plumbing work,has a A frame of 50mmx 25mm C section with a web truss underneath,again with ford/holden bearings wheels to match each towing vehicle currently 16" prado rims. has carried around a ton of gear done over 300000km including trips into outback /rural areas ,for both work and rest and no problems , but does need a new coat of paint and tidy up but will never be sold.With this trailer and its life use ,i then look at some of the new stuff around and think too dear because of overkill and scare marketing/engineering. Yes a trailer like a TVAN as an example may go anywhere a prado will drag it but most other trailers are really are off bitumen road /track trailers .
cheers
Russ

[MDSimpson Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDSimpson]

Thanks guys. Russ, that is a good amount of mods.
We don't own one yet, but there is a good few grand between the std and the outback versions of the Jayco's.
So, I'm not toooo bad when it comes to the tools, I can get welding done at work...

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

Rags gives a good and balanced write up. Dont forget these things are W I D E if that is something that needs to be considered.