Desert Wolf Expedition Trailer

After several years of using a caravan, I re-discovering tent-based camping during a trip to Morocco in April 2002. However, despite it being good fun, the limitations of living out of the back of the vehicle with a small ground tent were all too apparent. After searching on the internet, I came across several different ideas for expedition-prepared off-road trailers, which seemed like an excellent compromise between the comfort of a caravan and the flexibility of the Land Rover. The problem was that they were all in places like Australia or South Africa. Then, during a visit to the Caravan and Outdoor Leisure Show at Earls Court, I came across the Desert Wolf Lynx and the newly established UK importer, More X 4. I was so impressed with the trailer that a deal was struck to buy the demonstrator there and then, which means I own the first one ever imported into the UK!

The trailer itself is an excellent piece of engineering, designed by somebody who understands the requirements of overland travel. The entire unit, including the chassis, is constructed from stainless steel, with different grades being used for different components depending on the application. The suspension comprises leaf springs with axle stabilisers and adjustable shock absorbers, and the brakes and running gear are off-the-shelf Alko items. The axle is rated at 2.5 tonnes and the hitch is a commercial 3.5 tonne unit, which both far exceed the typical loaded weight of about 1 tonne. The axle track and the wheel stud pattern are matched to the towing vehicle, which in my case is obviously a Land Rover. I'm using Discovery steel wheels and the same BFG Trac Edge tyres on the trailer, which with appropriate wheel nuts are interchangeable with the alloy wheels on my Discovery and provide a handy second spare for travel in remote areas.

The layout of the trailer is designed to optimise cross country travel: the short rear overhang provides an excellent departure angle and the high chassis gives ample ground clearance near the hitch. The A frame incorporates a large heavy duty chain loop that can be attached to the tow vehicle as a safety measure, in the unlikely event that the trailer separates from the tow ball under extreme articulation.

The Lynx trailer is the mid-sized model of a range of three; the smaller being the Fox and the larger the Leo, and it has a whole host of practical features designed to make overland travel easier, including:

• Fully fitted kitchen catering for six, built into the rear of the trailer

• 80 litre National Luna fridge on slide-out runners in the nose

• Two large general purpose storage bins with doors giving access from either side

• Kitchen and storage bin doors all have rubber seals and adjustable catches to prevent dust and water ingress

• Pioneer tools

• Spare wheel carrier on the rear door.

• 85 litre water tank behind the axle, with taps beneath the kitchen

• 60 litre fuel tank in front of the axle

• Twin 100amp sealed batteries in a carrier above the axle to power the fridge and lighting

• Four Hella general purpose power sockets

• Gas bottle rack

• Jerry can holder complete with 25l stainless steel jerry can

• Fire extinguisher

• Large stainless steel table carried in rack beneath the tent

• Fold-out tent providing a full sized double bed on top of the trailer and large living space at ground level

• Additional tent to enclose the kitchen, which can be adapted to provide a large shaded area

The outfit has proved to be very versatile, being as equally at home on a relaxing weekend in the New Forest as it is on a trek over the Alps. Generally, if the plan is to stay in one place for a few days, it's useful to be able to put up the kitchen tent to create a large living space as shown above. Conversely, on an overland trip where the camp may be moved every day, only the main tent is used and it isn't even necessary to unhitch the trailer to pitch it. In those circumstances it's possible to set up camp in about ten minutes and packing way again takes barely any longer.

For security I've added a hefty wheel clamp and a large padlock that locks the hitch to the safety chain in an upside down position. Apart from that and the few minor modifications detailed below, the set-up is pretty much ideal. So far it's taken everything I've thrown at it in its stride and other than routine servicing of the running gear there's very little else to go wrong. 

Modifications

I've made a few modifications to accommodate some slightly different camping conditions and conventions in the UK from those of its native South Africa. The first was the replacement and repositioning of the mains power inlet. Originally, this was a fairly ordinary blue mains connector located inside the front bin alongside the battery charger and a small mains distribution board. The disadvantage of this is that it was necessary to leave the bin door open to connect the trailer to the mains, which was both insecure and allowed rain in. I suspect that neither of these are much of an issue in South Africa where they have better weather and are unlikely to use mains hook-ups out in the bush.

Anyway, I changed this arrangement by re-locating the mains inlet to the outside front face of the storage bin and changed the connector for a fully water proof type. I also added the facility to secure the connector with a padlock to prevent it being tampered with.

Next on the list, and related to the above, was the addition of a few sockets for plugging in mains accessories when pitched on a site where power is available. I've installed double sockets in the front bin adjacent to the fridge and in the kitchen, and a single waterproof external socket on the side of the trailer. The latter is on the same side as that where the tent folds down and, with a short extension lead, means that electrical items can be used inside the tent. Primarily this has been used for a fan heater and electric blanket when camping in colder weather.

The next thing I've added are some 12v lights over the kitchen, which have proved much easier to use than balancing a torch or a lantern. The lights themselves are marine quality twin 8w fluorescent units, which I've mounted on a plywood plinth and screw fixed to the overhanging underside of the bed platform. Routing a permanent power cable to this location proved difficult to do neatly. I've therefore wired up the lights to a surface mounted Hella socket on the plinth and then made up a short cable with Hella plugs on each end that is used to connect them to the Hella socket on the rear crossmember of the trailer. Removing the cable means that the lights can't be tampered with when the trailer is left unattended.

My most recent addition are two stainless steel 'door pockets' inside the left-hand fridge and main bin doors. On the right-hand side the main bin has pioneering tools mounted inside the door and in the fridge bin the fridge itself projects into the door space. But on the left-hand side these spaces were basically wasted. I designed the 'door pockets' and had them made up by a sheet metal fabricator. They are each attached by four stainless steel nuts and bolts that match those used elsewhere on the trailer.

As shown, the fridge door pocket is ideal for storing the mains supply cable, whilst the larger main bin door pocket will be used for more general items.