Living the dream

When it comes to camping, they believe in the KISS principle, says Deon Boshoff from St Francis Bay. That, of course, is: keep it simple, stupid!

They’ve been camping in tents for a long time and have amassed all the paraphernalia that one acquires in this lifestyle over the years. In terms of sleeping arrangements, they’ve tried it all: various tents, blow-up mattresses, stretchers, foam mattresses, sleeping on and off the ground, duvets, sleeping bags… The list goes on. It was time for a change, and he had an idea – and the time – to build something himself. Deon shares what happened next.

I had previously converted a Venter into a multi-purpose trailer for our family of five. It had bike racks, a kitchen, water tanks, jerry-can and gas-bottle holders, and ammo boxes. We went everywhere with that trailer and it served us well.

However, somewhere around 2016, the thought of building my own caravan took hold when good friends loaned us their teardrop, and another good friend allowed us to borrow his Landrover Defender. We were teaching in Guangzhou, China, at the time and therefore had downsized our vehicles back home.

With this borrowed combination, we took two of our sons on a trip to the Kruger – our go-to holiday destination since my parents had worked there in the 1980s and 1990s – and the seed was sown.

Truth be told, the seed didn’t really germinate until the boredom of isolation hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. I missed my garage, my ‘toys’, being able to make stuff, and the African bush.

Luckily, the guy teaching design over in China was a South African who I had taught way back in 1992, so I had access to his design workshop. Thus began the planning, firstly by putting up landing mats, and then a whiteboard to give

a realistic fit. The whiteboard is the exact size of a 1 200 x 2 400 mm piece of plywood. Using this method, and some help from Google, I made no less than four different models.

I considered teardrop plans for my build, but they looked way too complicated for my basic skills, and I was convinced the rounded shape didn’t optimise space.

I then looked at various square-drop options, modifying as I went along. I added a model surfboard, even though I don’t surf, and a tri-bike, to emphasise the versatility of such a vehicle.

The other option was to go the same route as our friends, but those prices were a little too exorbitant for us.

On returning from China

in June 2021 after six years, my motivation to build my own caravan kicked into gear. Of course, I had to build different model to what I’d designed as I had to adapt it to fit the chassis I had. I suggest anyone contemplating a self-build to start with a registered trailer, and then build according to the tare capacity of the chassis and the towing vehicle. This impacts on materials as well.

The WegSleep Kampgids 2012 was an excellent source of information with regards towing regulations. It must be said that some issues have become hazy since and one has to wing it.

I had the trailer re-welded and bolstered, primed and painted. And then a welcome break… a pre-build camping adventure to the Kruger. Talk about going minimalist!

I had just bought a 2009 Jimny, so fitting in all our camping equipment, food and clothing was a challenge. We took a three-man tent, a ground sheet, a 2 m x 2 m awning, a fold up table and

chairs, basic cooking utensils, a single aerosol gas cooker, our Ultra-Tec lights, and a cooler box. When travelling like this, you realise the importance of packing only the necessities.

There’s been a sea change in camping in the Kruger over the last couple of years. There are fewer traditional caravans towed by an uncle and auntie like us, or a whole family piled into a Kombi.

There seems to be more camping trailers –high tech, military-looking. Aggression written all over them. Raiders, Conquerors, Conquests, Invaders, Ratels, Xplorers, Xtremes… Each to his own, but to be honest, all those water tanks, showers and toilets, gas bottles, solar power, slide-outs, pop-ups and DSTV give less getting away from it all and more taking it all with you.

Within a few minutes, our camp was set up, and we were celebrating with a glass of

whatever, for no other reason than the sun disappearing over the horizon.

I think this is what convinced us to go minimalist and we realised our tiny camper needed to accommodate these basic needs:

A hard-top two-person tent, but off the ground with a proper mattress. Lightweight enough to be towed by the Jimny or any small vehicle within towing regulations and it must fit aerodynamically behind the vehicle Easy manoeuvrability by the older folk. Because when people ask about my caravan mover, I point to my wife Caroline.

It should be a pod that is easily removeable and makes the trailer multi-functional.

The minimum insulation and ventilation for both summer and winter. A well-insulated cooler box with ice that needs to be restocked is an onerous task, but a simple camping chore. The National Park shops, although quite expensive, do offer most of the basic needs.

The biggest consideration was the cost, with tiny trailers (such as the Sherpa Lite, EdgeOut, Vagabond going for anything between R150 000 to R300 000). They’re all lovely and fully kitted, but were unfortunately out of our league. These trailers are all about being state of the art, but ours was about the state of our bank account.

I set about building

a frame which I then clad in 6 mm plywood. As I said, my skillset is not great, so it needed a lot of tweaking and patching up. I fibreglassed the whole thing, and coated it with a durable, flexible polyurethane.

The greatest test was marrying the pod to the chassis. If you’re wondering about the weight, I managed this on my own, at one stage with the caravan on my back. Sure, I made some mistakes, and I still carry the scars from cuts and scratches. But other things worked by sheer luck. I tried as far as possible to recycle, reuse and repurpose where I could – the cup holders were from the cut-outs of the vents, and an old TV aerial; the angled wood over the wheel arches from the frame of my son’s matric artwork; the water bottle holders were scavenged off the bikes; and the ‘spice tree’ is a piece of driftwood.

If something didn’t work, I’d try something else. I used a lot of the camping equipment we already had to keep the cost down to just the build.

The ‘kitchen’ is very basic for two or

more people. It has a worktop, a 10 ℓ water tank and a custom-fit spot for our favourite 5 ℓ box of wine. Two ammo boxes carry our groceries, and of course, the cooler box fits right in there. We’ve found place to hang tongs, dishcloths, and now also a spot for the slingshot for those places where the monkeys are out of control.

On the A-frame, there is an old metal ammo box for tools, electric cable (from our dead lawnmower), the spare wheel, and also a place to put a bike rack. I was gifted an awning, which I attached to the side of the camper using folding table brackets.

The interior is pretty snug and in hindsight, I probably should have made it wider. But we sleep very comfortably in the 1,3 m x 2 m space with a 15 cm thick foam mattress and loads of head space.

Access is not too difficult, no more irritating zip noises for the frequent call of nature. I simply open the door, swing my legs out and I’m on my way. Which is great, because our tent experience taught me that I struggle like an upturned tortoise to get off the ground.

There is enough space in the open shelving to store clothes, and even a hanging space. Two clear ‘his and hers’ plastic boxes fit nicely into the middle compartment.

Our windows are plastic boat hatches, with gauze to stop the bugs. Our camp lights are more than adequate for lighting, but learning as we go along, I realise that I will need to cut out another door for the passenger side.

Condensation is always an issue, and although I have a small fan that runs off a power bank, it makes a noise. I leave the camper covered with the vents open to prevent mould.

With all the vents open, condensation is not a problem. Because we don’t use many electrical gadgets, the only wiring required was for the taillights, but a modified extension plug married to a hatch cover gives us shore power when we need it.

How does it handle? My first test drive was on the Humansdorp road with a howling westerly that only St Francis Bay can produce. I didn’t even feel the trailer. I experienced the same for a trip to Keurbooms, Storms River and Kirkwood. I’d been worried about the Jimny being under-powered, but except for driving

Possibly the biggest lesson I learnt is to be flexible, willing to change ideas and think innovatively

uphill, it sits quite comfortably at 110km/h, and fuel consumption is relative for such a small vehicle and rig.

It withstood the corrugations and dust into Kudu Kaya near Baviaanskloof, and with a few adjustments, the rain at Pine Lodge in Gqeberha. Our biggest concern is whether we use it often enough.

We’re quite proud

of what we’ve achieved using very rudimentary tools, (basically, a drill, still saw, jigsaw and a sander). I learnt carpentry skills, how to use fibreglass, some manufacturing, and learning to skimp by recycling and repurposing. I quickly learnt what all builders I’ve met already know, how to cleverly hide/cover up your mistakes.

I kept a journal of sorts with ideas, shopping lists and invoices. Excluding the trailer, I would estimate a total cost below R25 000. Possibly the biggest lesson I learnt is to be flexible, willing to change ideas and think innovatively. It’s not all plain sailing.

Caravans, bicycles and boats seem to live in limbo, gathering dust, just waiting to be used again, until they are sold through lack of use. I’ve always thought it would be great to get a dog once we semiretire. The ‘bucket-list’ map painted on the door remains disturbingly void of badges and pins. However, my dear wife reminds me that we wouldn’t be able to go away if we had a dog.

EXPLORING OPTIONS. With a little help from Google and a broad outline in his mind of what would suit their way of camping, Deon drew up plans and created models for no less than four possible camping trailers for his build. In the end he took his lead from the trailer he used as the chassis..

WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY. Using his self admitted rudimentary carpentry and DIY skills and the most basic of tools in his garage, Deon constructed the pod that fits on the registered trailer. It wasn’t always plain sailing and he still carries a few battle scars, but the end product is a camping trailer that he built with his own two hands.

FINISHED PRODUCT. Deon and his wife Caroline admit that they are quite proud of their home-built camping trailer. Although a small thing here and there could have been done different in hindsight, it has everything they need and it suits their minimalistic approach to a tee. It also sits quite comfortably behind their Suzuki Jimny and with a fuel economy that isn’t even worth mentioning according to Deon, many a happy mile on the open road await them. .