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Sasquatch Smuggler - Expo Trailer Confessions

Corbet

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It has a Renogy 200ah gel battery. https://www.renogy.com/deep-cycle-hybrid-gel-battery-12-volt-200ah/

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Corbet

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Took a trip up to Silverton over the weekend. Sasquatch asked to put my trailer on display at the SkiJoring event. While it was there I had the stainless steel fold down prep table upgrade installed.

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Deployed

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Folded for transport

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Little cam latch secures it against a rubber pad

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Swing out closed up.

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On top of Molas Pass
 

Corbet

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Bike rack sourced. 1Up HD model. Nothing to add, everyone who owns bikes knows what it is. Only downside is that it will not fold into the full vertical storage position. It contacts the spare tire. If the Sasquatch receiver was 1-2” longer that issue would be resolved along with making installation easier. The rack contacts the spare but I can get the receiver locking pin in.

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Corbet

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Finally got out on a shake down trip to Moab. Primarily to MTB with Bridger. Super happy with the camper. At this point I’m working out organizational systems to keep everything tidy. We had a pretty big pile of gear in the main cargo hold. Kitchen worked good. Only issue we had was a ton of wind that could get captured in the kitchen and make cooking a challenge at times. The heat from the stove was greatly diminished in this condition. Where as with a standard portable stove you could simply reposition it on a table and use the wind screens to protect the flame. Fold down table was a very welcome addition. Cooking would have been harder without it as a prep surface. The 200w solar as way more than enough to keep the battery fully charged. Low temps kept the fridge at idle so not much of a test. 1Up rack works great. You can Access the kitchen with it on, but best to completely remove it in camp for cooking duties. The 23Zero awning does not cover the fridge very well when kitchen is open. A left side awning would be better for that. I’m starting to wish the shower was on the right side of the trailer, only time will tell. Haven’t used it yet. Well below freezing at home yet. I didn’t fill the water tank in the trailer to minimize my return trip tasks. Towing was super stable. Always looked very planted in my mirrors. I made no effort to load it in any special way with regard to weight distribution. Traveled at speeds up to 80 MPH. Headed out again Easter weekend for an expo trip.

Kane Creek crossing
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Camped at Sand Flats
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Corbet

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Easter weekend was spent in southern Utah with Steve Powers. Three nights out in three different spots.

Trailer tows like a dream and tracks nicely behind the 80 on the trail. First time wheeling with the turbo as well. The additional power was also a joy. Got stuck once climbing out of the creek and needed a tug but other than that pretty uneventful. Did put a dent in the bumper and broke a tail light dropping off a rock. That was a bummer. That and my trailer wiring harness shorting out causing a small fire added some unwelcome excitement.

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Corbet

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The battery moved around on the Easter trip. Didn’t cause any issues but it certainly could move into a position where the hold down strap could hit both terminals. A call placed to Sasquatch yielded a solution that I’m assuming is now part of standard production. Simple pieces of angle to help position the battery. I made some other suggestions and will post pics once the upgrades are installed by Sasquatch. Need to find time to run the trailer up to them.

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Corbet

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I guess I should also mention this. Somehow I bent the tow ball receiver. It was early in the trip and I didn’t do anything I can definitely contribute to the incident. I returned it to Tractor Supply and got a 7500lb version. Bent unit was a Reese “tactical” one that looked cool but sucked despite its 5000lb rating. Trailer might have been 2000lbs loaded.

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60wag

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Is the trailer side of the hitch deformed at all? I could see cresting a narrow ridge and as the truck pointed nose down, the trailer might bend the hitch like that.
 

NotyourmomsWife

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Nice man!! Congrats
 

Corbet

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Is the trailer side of the hitch deformed at all? I could see cresting a narrow ridge and as the truck pointed nose down, the trailer might bend the hitch like that.
Not that I can see. It’s a multi axis offroad coupler. I pulled the receiver off the truck and tried to figure out a way to get it to bind by hand connected to the trailer and couldn’t.

 

Corbet

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Did some work to the trailer today in preparation for the Train Run this weekend. Finished up my solar power install.

200watt Renogy suitcase panel
20A Renogy River Elite MPPT controller
25ft 8AWG extension cord for panel
BT-2 Renogy Bluetooth Module

This should be enough power to run the trailer indefinitely. Fridge/Freezer, water pump and lights are my only draws currently. I went with a large enough panel in case I decide to add more electronics in the future. Like a stereo or HAM radio.

I could plug in a blender or battery charger for tools/RC cars to the inverter. I’ve considered hard mounting a Makita battery charger. Any of those would of course draw more power.

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charge controller in nose cone compartment with other electronics.

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200watt panels

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Info displayed on my phone app with the Bluetooth connection.
 
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DaveInDenver

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I assume you got the connectors from Powerwerx.

It might be of interest to know that the 1331-BK terminals (30A) they sell are the low force, which only means they take 3 lbs to mate/demate. If you're especially concerned Andersen does make a high force which takes 5 lbs but is harder to find as loose pieces. Of course with a ganged two position the force is increased, so it's very likely never going to be a problem.

However, there exists latches and things you can use to lock PP15/45 connectors together for higher reliability. The flush outlets don't allow us to use them but for higher importance connections you can leave a pigtail or something.

I only mention it because it looks like the outlet is pointed down, if so the weight of the cable itself pulls a little and slightly increases the chance that it could vibrate or get pulled out. A service loop with zip ties or velcro to something nearby can be a solution to such matters.

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Corbet

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Picked up my Eezi-Awn shower room during Cruiser Fest after a 9 month wait. Eezi-Awn builds these to order so between that and a slow boat from Africa it takes a while. I expected the door to be on the left side based on photos on their website. It works on the right but I’d much rather have the door on the front side of the trailer. Also added my old Tepui shoe bags since my last report. 22 nights so far this year with the trailer.

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Corbet

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