Monday to Friday, your trusty 7×5 box trailer is the backbone of your projects. It hauls mulch to the garden, timber from Bunnings, and rubbish to the tip.
But come Friday afternoon, the High Country or the coast is calling.
Many Victorians think they need to drop $20k on a dedicated camper trailer to enjoy a comfortable weekend away. They’re wrong. With a few smart, temporary modifications, the same trailer that hauls soil can become your basecamp.
Here is how to unlock the hidden potential of your box trailer and turn it from a tool into a weekend toy.
1. The Sleep Setup: Elevate Your Experience
The biggest advantage of camping with a trailer rather than just tossing gear in the boot is the ability to sleep off the cold, often damp Victorian ground.
Option A: The Swag in the Tub (Easiest) If you have a standard box trailer (without a cage), the simplest setup is throwing a high-quality double swag directly into the tub. It’s perfectly flat, protected from wind on four sides by the trailer walls, and keeps you off the mud.
- Tip: Lay down some marine carpet or rubber matting in the trailer floor first for insulation and comfort.
Option B: The Rooftop Tent (RTT) on a Cage (The Game Changer) This is where having a Trailer with a Cage really shines. By adding heavy-duty crossbars to the top of your cage, you create the perfect platform for a Rooftop Tent.
- Why it works: You get a massive, comfortable bed that sets up in seconds, elevated high above the critters. Crucially, the entire trailer tub underneath remains empty for massive storage capacity—esky, chairs, tables, and gear.
Crucial Check: Ensure your cage structure is rated to support the dynamic weight of an RTT and its occupants.
2. Powering Camp: The “No-Fuss” Dual Battery System
Gone are the days when running a 12V fridge meant hardwiring complicated isolators into your tow vehicle’s engine bay. For a temporary weekend setup, portability is key.
The Modern Solution: Portable Power Stations or Battery Boxes Instead of a permanent install, opt for a self-contained “Battery Box” housing a deep-cycle AGM or Lithium battery.
- Charging while driving: Run an Anderson plug extension lead from your car’s tow bar to the battery box in the trailer. It charges while you head up the Hume Highway.
- At Camp: Unplug it from the car. You now have a standalone power source for your fridge, LED strip lighting under the trailer cage awning, and charging phones.
- Back to Work: Sunday night, just lift the battery box out. The trailer is ready for a rubbish run Monday morning.
3. Going Vertical: Roof Racks on Trailers
If you don’t go the Rooftop Tent route, the top of your trailer cage is still prime real estate that is often wasted.
By installing a set of universal roof racks or crossbars to your trailer cage, you unlock storage for the bulky items that don’t fit inside the tub:
- Kayaks and SUPs: Keep the wet gear out of the car.
- Mountain Bikes: Much easier to load onto a low trailer rack than the roof of a tall 4WD.
- MaxTrax and Shovels: Keep muddy recovery gear accessible but out of the way.
Safety Tip: Always be mindful of your trailer’s Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM) and centre of gravity. Keep heavy items low in the tub, and lighter, bulky items up on the racks.
Summary: The Do-It-All Trailer
You don’t need two separate trailers taking up space in your driveway. A quality, well-built box trailer is a blank canvas. With the right setup, you can be hauling gravel at 9 am and heading to Wilsons Prom by 5 pm.
Ready to kit out your rig? Whether you need to add a cage to your existing trailer for that rooftop tent setup, or you need heavy-duty tie-down points for your gear, Trailers Star has the accessories to make your weekend mission a success.