Inaugural Trip, Camp Trailer Shakedown! Lightweight DIY Overland Trailer! Part 7

Today's video is a very special one! We head out every year for this VW family gathering where we spend time together, eating, laughing and enjoying each others company.
This lightweight trailer build will be towed by my 1960 VW Beetle that is a cross between a volksrod and a baja, named the Sickxty. Full build series can be found in my KZbin playlist.
What better way to kick it off than with the new Lightweight camping trailer build!
I figured this would be the best way to test it out and see what quirks we need to work through. Of course the build isn't finished yet but it's done enough to be useable!
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[@raymondwilkerson5069]

This turned out awesome! All set for the Zombie Apocalypse with solar and heat.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks man! Just need AC!!!

[@dustinbrown3815]

Glad to hear the shakedown was a success, and you had a great weekend

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank you much! These kind of weekends is what I enjoy most.

[@user-dt7nv5py6k]

It’s awesome when a plan comes together! Your engineering skills and craftsmanship are evident. You might want to contact a patent attorney to protect your design. Some scoundrel might copy your design and attempt to make big bucks using your design.

[@VWJawbreaker]

I couldn’t agree more. Such a satisfying feeling when things work out. There are other companies that make similar trailers already so I’m not too worried about it. Plus if this helps give someone some ideas and spark an adventure for them then it was worth it all.

[@user-dt7nv5py6k]

@@VWJawbreakerKeep up the great work. I truly enjoy watching your videos. My first car was a 62 VW.

[@AshleyAcademy]

I know this was focused on the overland trailer but its always a treat to get some drive time in the sixty 👍

[@VWJawbreaker]

I appreciate that 🤙

[@briancole7935]

Glad you had such a good time enjoying the fruits of your labor! Looks like you and your friends know how to have fun! Here's to many more fun times with your new rig.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks Brian! We always have a great time together, it’s about finding those quality people in life. We’ll be doing more and more stuff in the coming months!

[@TheJorgSacul]

This has been so fun to watch come together. Your friends know how to throw a camp banquet, too! Keep us up to date on that oil leak, hope it's a simple fix.

[@VWJawbreaker]

I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the build, I’ve had a great time so far with it. They sure do know how to have a good time. These events are all about spending time with quality people. Oil leak ended up being the gasket thing for the oil dipstick was missing. Replaced it and problem solved.

[@V8N8T]

Fantastic inaugural first trip looks like everything worked out great and what a good battery! The 2054 seemed to not care that it had a trailer behind it either :)💪🏻

[@VWJawbreaker]

Yes sir, everything worked pretty well! I have a few upgrades I want to do but that’s part of a shake down. The bug did great pulling it, plenty of power also!

[@V8N8T]

@@VWJawbreaker gotta love that!

[@VWJawbreaker]

@V8N8T absolutely! Too bad the mpg declined though 😂😂

[@vayabroder729]

Love your adventures. Great idea on the rain-hats; my car hydrolocked under a rainstorm one day even though the motor is covered. I was at a friend’s house and it rained cats and dogs and when I went to start it it locked. I got lucky the motor didn’t break but I believe the flywheel might’ve lost a tooth or two because after the incident it sounds a little different when I crank it over. Surprised Levi didn’t come along.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks man, hopefully more good ones to come now. The rain hats have worked wonders. I modified those tins to work due to the same problem as you. Luckily it didn’t hydro the engine but still took forever to get started with all that water in the carbs. This is the one event I go to a year that Levi doesn’t come with…. Maybe it’s me being selfish but I think one outing a year isn’t too much to ask for. I do love it when he’s with me though.

[@STREETSTANG07]

Congratulations! What a great setup. And the bug sounded great going down the road.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks man, I appreciate that!

[@johnfreeman1189]

Outstanding Gary!!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank you John!

[@markamodeo5934]

So awesome your build turned out great. Jealous jealous jealous. I hope you have many wonderful VW adventures looking forward to the next project.🤙✌️

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank you, I appreciate that. This will open up some opportunities for checking out more shows and some off grid camping adventures.

[@backyardkombi5466]

Looks fun. I admit I’m jealous.

[@VWJawbreaker]

No need to be jealous, I can’t play the guitar or be in a band.

[@Demop_VW_garage]

perfect camping set up :) Dont worry our summer has sucked balls so far here!!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank ya sir! I’m already dreading summer, I’m loving this cold snap!!

[@MAGAisacult]

This has been a fun project to watch. Thanks for sharing.

[@VWJawbreaker]

I appreciate you always being here.

[@richarda996]

In the late sixties I towed a camel camper behind my bug. 6’x4’x6’ apx 600# it towed very well except in 50 mph winds. Wish I still had that outfit.

[@VWJawbreaker]

I bet you had some good times with that setup.

[@samatkinson1680]

Looks like you have the perfect getaway camper. Thanks for taking us along.

[@VWJawbreaker]

It’s turning out to be a pretty cool setup!

[@royworks28]

That setup is perfect, my brother just got a vintage camper that he plans to camp with his grandson. It would be awesome to have a setup like yours too go with them. I feel bad it’s so cold there 😂

[@VWJawbreaker]

It’s definitely a much better setup than before. I’m hoping this project will inspire someone to pack up and get out for a weekend. We all need to unplug and relax and this is an inexpensive way to do it. Haha, it was chilly for sure but you know food more than I do. Stay warm and stay safe my friend.

[@thebinderbuilder]

Very cool trip. Gary. I'm really looking forward to doing things like this once my bug is ship shape and ready to go

[@VWJawbreaker]

Can’t wait to see what you end up building down the road! It’ll be amazing!

[@Paulman50]

What a great piece of kit. Looks more fun than having a bus to camp in.

[@VWJawbreaker]

It’s turning out pretty good! I like the act that I can pull up, setup and then leave without breaking everything down like a bus. This works for me and that’s what matters.

[@VWRICH23]

that trailer came out fantastic !!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks man!!

[@douglasbarnhart3324]

Awesome video!! Glad thing's are Working out for you.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank ya sir, I do appreciate you!

[@uksniper1]

Brilliant as always Gary😉 that little trailer sure does carry some kit👍😎

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks buddy! It seems like it’ll do the trick.

[@robertosantinni9656]

Sweet! 😁👍

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks! 👍

[@deanrobinson3717]

Great set up Gary, looks awesome on the Sickxty, some food set up too ! Glad all worked well, I would swap the mattress out for a complete new foam one that suits you, the toppers are ok but not the best as they increase the depth of trying to get it folded in.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank you sir! Seems like we got things pretty dialed in on the first try. A few things to do but a good shake down is always a good idea. The tent can accommodate a thicker mattress so I might try a 2” topper to start with.

[@MAGAisacult]

Planning a trip to Alaska this summer so I just upgraded my battery in my mini camper. Lifepo4 280 ah, the mother of all batteries!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Oh man, what a trip!! You should be good to go with that much ah battery!

[@2GuysandaBug]

So awesome, looks like a great time.

[@VWJawbreaker]

It was a fantastic time!

[@thebinderbuilder]

Wait...wait...wait... You have a jacket?!? 😮 Sometimes Gary.... ...its like I don't even know you.... ...oh wait!... 😅😊 (Sorry I couldn't resist)

[@VWJawbreaker]

Haha! It was cold and breeze all weekend, gotta stay warm!!

[@69bajaoutdoors]

Looks like a great time brother! I’m still collecting tid-bits for my camper build and will be a while before I start that series. Calendar is marked for Goethe and hope to have the camper done by then!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank ya sir! Can’t wait to see what you come up with and hope to hang out with you later this year!

[@69bajaoutdoors]

@@VWJawbreaker If I can break away from things, I’ll make that happen!

[@TheEZGZ]

Great first trip. I just love using stuff that i built and customizing it. I was curious as to how much fuel the heater used and how pulling the trailer effected MPG? Were you able to use 4th gear without overheating? That is such a versatile eng you built. Looking forward to on going R&D with this rig. 😊

[@VWJawbreaker]

Yes sir, I completely agree! It’s such a satisfying feeling when things go right for a change 😂 The heater has just over 1 gal fuel tank and it used approx 1/3 of the tank. I’d say you should be good for 2-3 nights on a gallon to be safe. It’s really fuel efficient. The bug did suffer in mpg of course, it’s not very aerodynamic and added weight behind the vehicle. I normally stay in the low 20’s and towing at 60mph which seems to be the sweet spot in 4th gear I was at 14.5-15 mpg. Engine temps were good but it also wasn’t hot outside. We shall see how it does when the ambient temps go up.

[@ChipsAndSparksGarage]

Looks like it works as planned. Nice upgrade Gary! Does the ladder add support to the sleep platform too? I guess it could flip the rig over without it (when you’re in it).👍

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thanks Tony! The ladder does help support the flip out portion of the tent. Even without the ladder the trailer is very sturdy.

[@kevinhamling1963]

Hey Gary, You've got an awesome set-up now. I was wondering about the mattress if it was going to match your body weight. So what's coming up next week. Anyhoo thanks for sharing ✌️ Peace from Melbourne Australia.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Hey Kevin! This should definitely make camping much more enjoyable for me moving forward. I ended up getting a 2” mattress topper and it helped a lot. There’s still a few things left to do on the trailer and then I need to get back on jawbreaker hopefully this summer.

[@dillyd3488]

Awesome maiden voyage! Looks like a ton-o-fun....How did the Sicxty handle on the freeway with that thing fully loaded down?

[@VWJawbreaker]

It was a great time! The Sickxty did great pulling it. You know it’s behind you but it’s not an issue at all.

[@jeffcoleman5160]

Great video looks like you had a great time .What happened to your side kick?

[@VWJawbreaker]

I had an absolute blast. Life is all about slowing down and enjoying time with quality friends. Sidekick stayed home for this adventure, it’s about the only time I go alone.

[@robertosantinni9656]

Dude, two major problems! I don’t see a kitchen or a toilet!! 😢😊

[@VWJawbreaker]

Well, we normally have bathrooms where we camp or at events. Kitchen setup is outside since the trailer is too low for a slide out kitchen.

[@johnbucklerfarms]

It looks like the Alternator Pully is out of round?

[@69bajaoutdoors]

Seems like they all are. Very rarely do you get an Empi chrome pulley out of the package that is true.

[@VWJawbreaker]

I don’t think I’ve seen a metal pulley that is perfectly round. Plus the camera seems to exaggerate it even more.

[@tommyfoley]

Did you make some bread in the carburetor covers on the way?

[@VWJawbreaker]

Nah, didn’t want it getting sucked into the carbs 😂

[@tommyfoley]

Smart, keep the carbs in the bread, not the bread in the carbs.

[@robertosantinni9656]

Are you gonna cote your trailer like you did the car?

[@VWJawbreaker]

Eventually yes….. in due time.

[@timswitzer792]

How did it pull Gary?

[@VWJawbreaker]

You can tell it’s back there of course but it pulled well.

[@timswitzer792]

We have a Hiker trailer. 5x8. Id like to be able to pull it with our bug...But I dont know..

[@VWJawbreaker]

@timswitzer792 slow and one step at a time.

[@cjjones1556]

New series coming. Camping With Gary. Nice work buddy.

[@VWJawbreaker]

@cjjones1556 haha, doubt we’ll go that far!