There are various frame alternatives that provide a sufficient foundation to build from. Small flat bed utility trailers can be purchased from many sources; mail order bolt together, “box” stores, trailer dealers or custom made. If you’re a proficient welder, plan sets are also available from various sources

For many home-builders, a bolt together frame kit is a cost effective way to go. They are available in a 4’x8’ model from many sources, Harbor Freight is probably the most well known in the Pacific Northwest I prefer the Fred Meyer or Bi-Mart versions because of their straight tongue design. In our Frames section we have a write up from a customer available on shortening them to be 4’x6’.


Tires are an area many people don’t think about, you should.  You want tires that aren’t so small they’re turning at warp speed or so big they add unnecessary weight. We like 5.30 x 12 B rated trailer tire and steel rims.  This combination provides a substantial load carrying safety factor and good weight verses revolutions balance.  Attractive 12” aluminum rims are available that shave 3 lbs off, but cost three to four times what a steel wheel does.  It’s also possible to put matching tow vehicle tires/wheels on in many cases.

Lastly, leveling / stabilizer jacks are an important item for ensuring a good nights sleep.  Normally a tongue jack and a pair of rear stabilizer jacks are sufficient for leveling a compact trailer.

Trailer Boxes

When discussing trailer boxes I like to start with, how will they be used and what do you plan on taking? What is your camping style? Are you off the beaten path, in designated campgrounds, road-tripping / doing rallies, in a different site every night or going somewhere and setting up for a while?

Perform a gear and equipment inventory of the items you take camping and any planned new ones, also don’t forget toys such as kayaks and bikes. If you normally camp at locations with amenities such as picnic tables and water, and you go somewhere and stay a few days, a basic box may be sufficient.

The focus is more on providing the extra space necessary for hauling everything.

If you like to camp off the beaten path or are on the move every day, an outfitted box may better fit your needs. Think of it as a “camping box” on wheels with built-in storage compartments for organizing food, cooking supplies, plates, utensils, etc. You’ll need counter top space for food prep, cooking and clean-up. Also don’t forget water storage.

Now lets look at trailer box building materials. My personal favorite is marine plywood. For DIY’ers with basic woodworking skills you can build a durable, strong and attractive trailer box from marine plywood, waterproof glue and a few screws.

For skilled woodworkers, wood strips and veneer open the door to creating functional works of Art. I use marine grade BS-1088 Okoume plywood when building boxes and Titebond III or epoxy based adhesives.

Here are several of the ways you can finish a trailer box: Textured polyurethane (roll-on bed liner material) is easy to apply and forgiving of surface imperfections. Exposed wood allows for a beautiful finish, although this takes more prep, yet is still straightforward. It’s also possible to apply boat enamels and automotive type paint although the prep is lengthy if you want a glassy smooth finish.

Roof Top Tent Units

Regarding roof top tents; outside of the usual, quality construction, good ventilation, and a dry nights sleep, there are a couple of things I look for in rooftop tents:

First, ease of use and rapid setup. Can you simply take the cover off a rooftop tent and pull it open?

Second, will it mount on top of the trailer and not require unloading of the trailer box to use. These become very important, when getting into a campsite late, when you’re tired and just want to go to bed. You can literally pull into a level spot and have almost instant accommodations.

We have a few approaches for providing a dry, comfortable place to sleep out of the critter zone. The first one uses an expedition style rooftop tent system typically found in Australia and South Africa. The folding design of these roof top tents make them ideal for mounting on top of small trailers.