This customer was told it could not be done! Somehow I found a way.
I was consulted by a customer who has a tiny teardrop camper which was perfect for towing behind her Subaru Crosstrek. The customer wanted to know if it would be safe to add a bicycle rack to the camper which can carry two bicycles. RV dealers and bike rack suppliers said it could not be done!
Of the many rejections, from warnings of being overweight, to being structurally unsafe, my customer just wanted a carefully calculated appraisal.
We weighed the camper in the exact way it would be loaded for a trip away into the national parks. The actual weights including axle and tongue weights were compared to the manufacturers’ specifications. Those of both the Subaru and the camper. I found there was satisfactory weight allowance for this bicycle rack to be fitted to the A-frame on the tongue of the trailer. Measurements confirmed the chosen bicycle rack will fit.
In the meantime, my new customer also mentioned she was also being rejected by RV repair businesses and dealerships for other general repairs. All saying that they do not maintain or repair small campers of this kind. We met at the customer’s storage location and ran through a complete list of repairs and maintenance items. Everything from minor leaks to routine bearings and brakes maintenance. There was some minor surface rust showing on the frame and suspension components, and the customer just wanted some assurance that this rust could be mitigated and made to look better too.
I happily accepted to attend to this long list of items. The list became long due to the idea that she could not find anybody who would help. I promised full and detailed attention to every item and offered to inspect and recommend anything that might need attention. I offered to contact the customer if there was anything beyond the list so that we could agree on the estimates.
The customer supplied the bicycle carrier of her own choice. Her purchase came with the assurance that if the rack did not fit, she could easily return the item for a full refund.
My first task was to check the agreed location and the rack was installed within the hour. I did have to remove the spare wheel and it’s associated mounting bracket to make room for the bicycle carrier. Okay, this did lead to a quandary of where the spare wheel might go now, but I was confident a solution will be available somehow.
The bicycle rack fits perfectly! But where is this spare wheel going now? (Pictured below.)
Leaks: There were many signs of leaks and some were running from the windows and onto the bedding inside this tiny camper. The bed covers the entire floor of this minuscule home on wheels, so this meant that water was simply flooding the place! As a safeguard, I removed one window to check for any damage to the wall structure and unfortunately found signs of water soaking into the plywood.
I sent photos to the customer immediately and we agreed the other window needed to be removed and inspected too, just to make sure. Modifications were made to the windows to solve the leaks and the plywood was first dried thoroughly, then sealed with PVA glue to restore the minor damage to the plywood. When all was set and dried, the windows were installed and fully sealed with urethane sealant.
Wheels were removed and bearings checked and repacked. New wheel seals were installed and a treatment was applied to the surface rust on the suspension and axle. I explained that this treatment will wear off over time, but this will significantly reduce the effect of rust and make the appearance like new. Annual inspections and reapplications will keep this surface rust minimized for the life of this RV.
The customer added some accessories to the list, fitted just like the factory!
The spare wheel! Where is that wheel going to be stowed? With all those other tasks complete, the list is almost done. The manufacturer of the camper had no suggestions of where we might stow the wheel, so I had to take a complete step back and work on a solution. Fast!
Against the front wall of the camper, bolted to the top of the A-frame of the tongue, is a medium sized storage locker. This locker stored a small propane cylinder, some camping tools, tarps, a jack and tire iron. I emptied this locker and tested placing the spare wheel into the locker. The spare is just two inches too tall. The hatch on the top of the locker will not close with the spare inside!
Inspecting under the floor of the locker, I saw there was plenty of space to lower the floor height. I did not need to lower the entire floor either. I just had to lower the section where the actual wheel would touch the floor. About 10 inches wide by 14 inches long. I just had to find a way to properly structure this new hole in the floor so that it’s strong and sealed from dirt and road spray underneath.
The hole in the floor of the toolbox was very carefully cut and a light but strong aluminum box section was bolted through the floor. On the top side of the floor, angled aluminum framed the inside of the recess. Bright checkerplate aluminum sheet sealed the opening below. Sikaflex sealed every seam and created a professional, factory style finish.
The wheel is now tightly fitted way out of view and all the items packed right back in the same utility box. Done!
It was a proud moment delivering this camper back to the owner with every request happily fulfilled. I enjoy seeing people appreciate their pride and joy, a tiny camper that travels to wonderful places, and now it can safely carry two bicycles to pack in even more enjoyment.
Do you have a special accessory or modification for your fifthwheel, motorhome, travel trailer or camper? Give me a call at 805 610 9394 so we can discuss what may be possible.