Hi all - I have a Daxara 107 which was a great size camping trailer when we started, but as we have accrued more and more "essentials" its starting to get a bit on the small side, the roof box is jammed too and the kids are now completely wedged in place in the back of the car.
Extended mesh sides, or top bars and covers seem to be a ridiculous price for what they are, but I'v seen people making their own high sides out of wooden batons and marine ply.
I'm a pretty competent Diy-er, so was wondering if anyone had any do's or dont's, any really good ideas they have seen, or anything they didn't do that they wish they had done before they built their own extended sides.
Just looking for a heads up, or any good ideas while I still have a blank canvas!
Any pictures you have would be handy too please - lets see what you have done!
Ta for your input!
Ben.....
I built my own trailer 37 years ago using a steel chassis etc with WP ply bottom and sides and a PVC cover held on by bungee.
30 years later I replaced the ply with T&G floor boards and 2 coats of yacht varnish. Painted the steel frame and bought a new cover. Looks very smart considering stored outdoors.
You could use ply or T&G floor boards with a suitable frame.
You can make a 2x2 wooden frame which drops into the main trailer box then add panels etc around the side and top (which can be lift out. You'd also need the back panel extension removable for loading any awkward items. It can be difficult to make waterproof with movement, joints and air pressure when moving so you'll need a tarp (can be a faff to strap) or full fitted cover. I suspect though you'll quickly run out of room and then have nowhere to go which is why I'd recommend you trade up now rather than build up.
Sounds as though the car is fully packed already so you could do with moving some of that to the trailer with space to extend = bigger trailer.
I have a Daxara 122 with high side mesh extensions I'm about to replace with a bigger trailer as I'm tight on space and the roof box is also stuffed. It was originaly my tip trailer, then when I got a big tent and went family camping with young children, the highsides were the quickest way to expand however as the tent is so big and heavy it pretty much has to go in first then pack everything around it.
When I arrive at site, I have to empty the trailer, then get the tent out. When packing up, I pile everything on a tarp so I can put then tent in first then pack the trailer after I've packed the tent. Not the easier option in the rain.
I currenly favour a Brenderup 1250 XL either with or without the hard top. Though there are a couple of Erde 193's about with raised sides that may swing me for the right price.
Here is a image of different trailer volumes for some common configurations I made a few months ago so I could compare. My Daxara 122 with high sides actually has more volume than an Erde 193/ Daxara 197 in base configuration so I really need to go wider and up!
Dimensions are internal in cm and the voume is in litres for comparison of options. Dimensions are based on my best guestimate and what info I could find on the internet. Caution particularly advised for any hard top as then internal dimesions are uneven so I just took a reasoned guess.
HS - High side
HT - Hard top / ABS
Mesh - Mesh sides
PS. It's an image as I could find no way to get any sort of formating pasting the text in!
I concur with Decto, time to upgrade, adding more structure to the Daxara 107 is only going to limit the load capacity even more, the gross of the trailer is just 350kg to start with, you could end up with a load capacity as little as 200kg.
That’s a great chart btw Decto, I spent ages working out volume of trailers back in 2009, before I went for the £800 fully loaded Lider Alicante from Red Cap Garage Blackburn.
I have been really pleased with the Lider, although any 750kg gross, 13” Wheel with “A” Frame design and ABS locking lid is going to do the business.
If I was in the market today, I would either go for the Lider Saragos with side extensions (a must for any camping trailer), or I would take the plunge and go all out for a Saris DV135 Van Body the specs of which are awesome for what is a fine braked trailer.
Total weight. 1350kg
Load capacity. 920kg
Internal sizes.
Length 256cm
Width. 134cm
Height. 150cm
The Saris is not silly money either at around £2,200 new, although hard to source in the UK, so would probably require a trip to Holland if purchasing one.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Old topic, new thread - camping trailers!
its starting to get a bit on the small side, the roof box is jammed too and the kids are now completely wedged in place in the back of the car. 
