Off road suspension modification

Has anyone done or heard of modifying the suspension system to provide greater ground clearance and off road performance for the camp-inn trailer?

Will the factory do such custom modification?

Thanks for any advice or assistance.

 

They do have a "off road" suspension option that gives it an additional 3" of clearance. I have it on mine and I think the clearance is pretty good. I will grab a pic of it and added it to my imgur folder (see signature).

I ride off road (Yamaha WR250F) and plan on using our trailer frequently for camping trips with the bike. I don't anticipate any issues as the clearance is pretty good. Now, I would not plan on taking it on any "real" 4WD adventure trails but certainly should not have a problem getting it to a camp site and down even some moderately rough and rocky roads.

 

Here is a picture of the undercarriage.



Here is another of the storage bins (under the mattress



The storage bins are the lowest point on the underside. They have about 10 3/4" of clearance. The axles have 12" of clearance.

So I think unless you are going over some massive rocks or serious elevation changes that might highside the trailer, you should have plenty of ground clearance to get to your campsite.

 

Thank you very much for the photos... Much more helpful than the Campinn office was inclined to be...

 

Geez, can’t believe no metal skid plates protecting the wood and plastic under there.

 

The new campinns have a spray in bed liner material due to perceived need. The old ones use a heavy high quality varnish that stands up to abuse. There are still early production models that are on the road and are working fine without any problems.

In fact Bear just traded in his old trailer which has been a test-bed for Camp Inn. It had something like 400,000 miles on it and has been lived in full-time for well over a decade. Think I can find the thread? Nope. geezer syndrome setting in I think.

 

That would be a different camper!

As I understand the market position of the CI, it will go anywhere a car or car-based SUV will go and a bit more.

There are teardrops that are set up for four-wheeling on trails and overland - you’d want a heavier frame, perhaps a framed body construction, Timbrens independent suspension, big ‘ol tires, and some adaptations for always boondocking. Those designs are out there.

But most people out on those trails don’t want to tow at all! In-bed campers on pickup trucks and roof-top tents are common. We previously owned a 4-Wheel Camper (4WC, FWC) popup on a pickup truck, it wasn’t very convenient for our style of camping.

A CI is a great design, built to a high level of quality, we love ours, but it isn’t for every one or every use! If you are camping where you need metal skid plates you really do need a different camper.

 

I’ve got a lifted 2019 Subaru Outback 3.6 on BFG KO2’s which nets me about 10” of clearance to my skid plates.

 

Anyone looking for a towable that could go most places an overland-modified 4WD truck/jeep could go should be able to find many options!

In my region we have Oregon Trail’r, Oregon Trail'R - Beautiful & Rugged Custom Teardrop Trailers

We looked at them before choosing Camp Inn. They seem to be a great builder for the overland market.

For those unfamiliar with the overland, it’s a gear-oriented approach to the trails of the desert west. “Trails” meaning that no one with any sense takes an unmodified vehicle on them. Some of it is on the former mining roads of Utah & Colorado, some following the horse trails of Arizona. “Where we’re going we don’t need roads” is certainly one of the mantras!

Here’s a quote from coloradoteardrops.com (link) about what features are needed for an off-road teardrop:
The Summit Pinnacle Trailer is an upgraded edition of our Summit trailer that includes the following:

• Hickory hardwood interior and galley (vs. maple)
• Powder-coated steel rock slider bars
• Lock N’ Roll articulating trailer hitch (vs. ball)
• Timbren Axle-less Suspension provides an extra inch for a 21″ clearance

These features allow this Teardrop to hold its own in even the most demanding off-road terrain.
It also includes 33” tires on 17” wheels… and a welded aircraft aluminum cabin frame. Its dry weight is 1850LBS., versus the CI560 at 1250 (typical).

Off-road capable looks really cool! On the other hand, we do a lot of paved roads, gravel roads, and a few dirt roads. To each their own.

 

True overlanding and serious off roading requires specialized equipment for sure. Larry Running recently posted that he has broken his frame multiple times off-roading with his CampInn. Sighting - Taking A 550 Ultra Off-road.

Keep in mind that serious off roading also requires a modified 4WD tow vehicle as well as lots of recovery gear like a winch, tow strap, traction boards, high lift jack, compressor for airing down, etc. Even the most modified tow vehicles can get stuck and then there is what to do should your TV break down in the middle of nowhere. Lots of overlanders travel in pairs or groups so that a broken down vehicle can be towed out by one of the others. Roof top tents are very popular with overlanders as opposed to the use of trailers. Overlanding has really grown in popularity in the West which has an abundance of BLM and National Forest trails. That said, I’m sure the CampInn would be fine on reasonably maintained dirt roads, fire roads, etc.

Lots of very cool teardrops out there for serious overlanders. I really like the Escapods.
Escapod Trailers: Off-Road Teardrop Trailers

 

I should add, I used to think that I wanted to get in to overlanding. Watching various YouTube videos it is amazing the beautiful. campsites that it opens up. I finally decided that I probably couldn’t handle the uncertainty of it all. Just going to a campground without a reservation gives me great anxiety!

 

I have to say, its definitely nice to boondock for a few days then go to a well maintained state (or military base) park with power, security, laundry/showers and closer to civilization for groceries, a coffee shop, dining out...variety is nice!

And as to "reservations anxiety" I get ya- last long trip across country I just planned ahead the morning of departure for 2-3 places along my route and called those I could get to by dark as the travel progressed...just got lucky, I guess. I figured worst comes to worse I'd plus into a truck stop or find a back road or two Bear style, if the campground was full- like in Blackwater State Park recommended here...ended up on a dirt road pullout in nearby county restoration/hunting land with it all to myself.

And one advantage of the teardrop is many RV parks aimed at family recreation will fit you into a tent site spot when all the RV spots are full...I just tell them its like a "aluminum pup tent on wheels"...

I also got a tip on the Corps of Engineer campgrounds book. Havent yet stayed at one yet but these look like a less well known and more simple option, so would be hopefully "less packed canyons of 12" tall aluminum boxes with humming generators exhausting C02 and snaking sewer hoses just past my picnic table" RV park.

And my guess is now the Covid pay for funvacations is over, we might see more reservations opening up...as well as fewer boondockers on dispersed lands where some over-use/abuse has led land managers to restrict access...

Or- not; the "Back to Nature movement/VanLife while working remote" phenom may be this generations best lasting memories for kids who enjoyed it with parents, who were reminded what matters and will continue to get out there...its a blessing.

2023 shaping up to be another "interesting year"...

 

Years ago, heading west pre-covid, we happened upon a CoE campground right on the Arkansas River just east of Fort Smith. The Aux Arc campground <G>. Might have been a weekend but it was darn near full. We called them about an hour out and the nice host said she'd hold a spot for us. Delightful, right on the bank of the river. When I asked about fire wood, she got her husband on the radio and told him to bring us wood quick (no charge). He brought enough for several nights even though we only stayed one.
The river had quite a number of *very* long barges heading into a lock we could see just down river. There were also some majorly long trains heading both ways on the other side of the river, complete with blowing whistles. Being a sucker for a train, I probably didn't get a whole lot of sleep that night. But I'd go back in a second. Barges, locks, trains, river - yep, go find a CoE campground.

 

CoE campgrounds are hidden jewels....at least the ones we've visited. They honor National Park passes too, so our stay was half-price. Usually located near some interesting Corps of Engineers project so you have a built-in must-see while at the campground. We found staff to be helpful, friendly, and happy to share their joy in living/working in beautiful sorroundings. Our most recent stay was at Ball Mountain Lake in Jamaica, VT. These places are most often off the beaten path so, another plus. A few years ago we bought "RV Camping in Corps of Engineers Parks" Roundabout Publications, PO Box569 La Cygne, KS 66040, 800-455-2207. Not sure if still in print, but a great resource for us. They note: "644 campground 210 lakes and 34 states".

 

Here is a link...

https://www.amazon.com/Camping-Corps-Engineers-Parks-Campgrounds/dp/188546469X


Also noticed on that page they have - Bureau of Land Management Camping

https://www.amazon.com/Bureau-Land-...b2-bc1f-8302a3e3ef78&pd_rd_i=1885464819&psc=1

&

National Forest Camping

https://www.amazon.com/National-For...b2-bc1f-8302a3e3ef78&pd_rd_i=1885464800&psc=1

 

Just for fun I tried a search for Aux Arc on the AllStays Camp & RV app.

It’s there, but to find it I needed to google to find that it is by Ozark, Arkansas. It would be different if I was on the road and wondering “what corps cg is near here?”

View attachment upload_2023-1-9_18-51-47.png

 

allstays is exactly how we found it but we were on the road and looking at the map. As much as I really like allstays, the search function leaves a lot to be desired.

 

MAHKWA/Bear pops in and out all the time --- he's a bit of a free spirit, that I admire. I've been following his posts for a long time now, hopefully, someday we will share a campfire.

I know that he has dragged his old camper all over the place - it's been a test bed for a lot of what we enjoy today.

 

Same- hoping to see him on the trail:
"Walk in Beauty" Bro Bear