Hands down one of the most helpful videos on a Cargo Trailer Conversion and I have watched hundreds. I am about to place a custom order and will re-think the electrical, never thought about the new power pack/ generators. Thanks So Much
Thanks for the great compliment! I'm considering doing a follow up video detailing some of the accessories that I bought. Some have been homeruns, and others are gathering expensive dust in the garage...lol
Well then you should look harder for videos to watch. Bad choice to not get 30 amp electrical service. Unless you live in southern CA, AZ, or FL and only camp for 2 nights at a time in fair weather, you will be cold, or you will be hot with no AC/ Heat. You'll also not be able to run a microwave, or toaster oven, or coffee maker, or hotplate, or fridge, or your laptop or tv, and lights - all the electrical things most of us use daily, because those power generators - and yes I have two - have to be RECHARGED all day every day, and solar won't cut it most of the time in most of the country.
What you want and what you need is hard to determine for the consumer. My first camper was a 17' camper, in that small camper we had bunkbeds, bathroom, dinette, kitchen and a queen sized bed. Everything was SMASHED in and you couldn't have 2 people stand up at the same time, but we said, we travel for the destination, we only sleep & cook in the camper! The money we saved by having our own hotel on wheels paid for itself multiple times over. As an example, we spend nearly a month in Florida from Tampa to Tampa to Miami and even Key West, the entire trip cost us $4,500! Before camping, I have spent more than that on a single week in Orlando! However, after years of enjoyment, we were on vacation where it rained non stop for 3 days at a location where everything we wanted to do was outside. We drove each other CRAZY! I then bought a 30 ft camper with a separate rooms, the privacy to get away from each other, especially on those rainy days was worth every penny. Now that my kids are grown up and my wife doesn't want to travel, I converted our large SUV into a car camper! LOVING the versatility, gas mileage and ease of driving. But in the end, EVERY phase of camping has been enjoyable, the key is to get out there and do it!
This is why versatility was key for me. Even if I outgrow this one and need to buy a bigger one, I can easily convert it back to a full time cargo trailer. Ut oh...looks like I may have a camper addiction I didn't know about...lol
You did a great job being efficient and multipurpose. I thought about some of the things you mentioned prior to the video and came to the same conclusions so it was nice to see I was correct in some assumptions. I never even considered an RV door and the tool bench vs cabinet so that’s pretty awesome. Congrats on your build and thanks for taking the time to show us. Have a blessed day!
Fantastic forthcoming approach of this video, great to see bottom line findings rather than rationalizations. One of the thought that I had was a trailer that was steel framed with higher density foam that is then covered by aluminum panels. The big problem is that nobody makes them commercially, but I was thinking that their small weight would be great for towing. Thanks for the dose of reality, their size would kill the gas mileage as that would be the limiting factor to movement even if weight was small. Love your set up, how thoughtful and practical it is.
Best video ive EVER seen and is EXACTLY, and I mean EXACTLY the concept ive been thinking i would like. This is extremely empowering… Thank you so much for sharing, and peace to you and your family.
Deck was a homerun for sure! Only problem with it, (and I didn't see this comming) was that the jacks used are made out of steel, and are rusting...lol
This video is absolutely amazing, very well done. Most videos I might take a note or two, this one I wrote a whole page worth. And saving for a re-watch.
I have spent countless hours watching videos on how to update my cargo trailer to more of a camping trailer. This is by far one of the best videos I have seen. Excellent quality trailer and video explaining the process.
I saw your video and evaluation in fairness to all the things that you did and your thoughts at what one should not do and you were so great and appreciated my friend I love the fact that your daughter was very excited to help you very well put video.
Great video. I purchased an all aluminum 7x12 trailer a few years ago for hauling my HD to Sturgis and using for a "camper". I had the dealer install in floor anchors and a roof vent. I use a removable chock for my bike. I painted the floor and ramp door with Cabot Deck Correct to protect from the elements and it fills up to 1/4" imperfections. I had an electrician (friend) put in an inside/outside electrical outlet so all i do is plug in to an outlet and I use a multifunction strip to plug in a fan, phone, or whatever. I hang a battery operated tent fan from my roof vent at night to bring in cool air. I found battery operated motion lights so at night when i open the door they come on. I did insulate the roof which does help. Where i camp they have bathrooms and showers. It works well for me. Every year I think of something to add. Its still far cheaper than an RV. Total cost approx. 11k.
Loved your video !!! Thank you. I have been contemplating a small squaredrop......but for the $$$ and no space to barely sit up.....I just cannot reasonably go this direction. I want smallish without a full size camper. And I am like your wife.....I gotta have a potty at least :) Great build. Thank you for all the details and thought processes behind your choices. Great video & information.
Thankyou so much for the kind words! I may upload another video detailing some of the awesome accessories I've picked up that we use every time. Cheers * thank you kim!
Coming from you, this is quite a compliment :) Hopefully this is a precursor to building some tiny homes. I've showen this trailer to several of our elected officials as a much cheaper alternative for emergency shelters. It's embarrassing how much they overpay.
I can see you getting or making a zip on type of canopy with sides and installing it on your camper tailgate. This would make it add so much more usable room. Take the walls off for a deck or add on screens with walls to enclose for rain or a colder climate.
Nicely done and ditto on the steps. I still haven't figured-out how to mount a set of fold-out steps. I bought a bare-bones 7X12 aluminum trailer and built it out myself. I insulated it with rigid foam boards: one inch in the walls; two inches in the ceiling. Though you're right that the temperatures will eventually equilibrate, the difference it makes in sound dampening and cutting the inside skin temperature during insolation makes it worth the trouble. Using only body heat (400 BTU per person; 2 people) on a 24F night kept the trailer above 48F until my wife shut down my experiment and turned the heater on. It took about five minutes for a little ceramic heater to warm the trailer to 68 degrees. We didn't share similar interests in the value of the data. Installing windows was scary, but I figured it out, chased a few leaks, and finally got what I wanted. And, it probably only cost twice what the dealer would have charged. Next: building a fold-out enclosure for the rear deck.
We bought a 2022 Intech Flyer Explore and we like it a lot. We wanted to start with something small, and we can't decide to upgrade to something bigger with a indoor restroom/shower or to just buy a cassette toilet. This is awesome. I can't build to save my life. I am trying to decide to put legs under the open back part to use as a deck. Looking forward to future videos.
Somethings are definatley worth installing yourself, others not so much. Having the manufacturer install the rear ramp leg's wasn't expensive at all. The only problem with them, is that they are made of steel, and already rusting....lol
I am thinking of making a follow up video going over a lot of the gadgets and accessories that have helped improve my experience :) And ones that I wasted money on lol
Buying the tool box with the lock box was one of the best choices I made. I installed it but my wife does all the organizing lol.....Anytimes she says she needs more space I add a shelf or a basket. Right now we keep it stocked and ready for a 3 day camping trip at all times :)
Thanks for reply. We had a 2 bin (FR wolf) system - one kitchen, one pantry. This year I made a camp kitchen “chuck box” of sorts - behind 3rd row of pathfinder. I am slowly finalizing an in/out slide out kitchen drawer for our 10’ CTC trailer. I like to design from the inside out. After years of family camping though I still get ideas that have helped me in the design phase. These slim drawer tool kitchens have my attention but it’s the gear inside that also peaks my interest - especially for 4 or more people.
outstanding! It will be a pretty big trailer for just one harley, but you could have extra room for beds, and storage lockers, so that would be nice :) Just don't build it taller than needed, as that really effects gas mileage
We used a Dickinson marine heater and a Maxxfan. We hauled our 2 electric bikes with it. We used craftsman toolbox for our cabinets and also love the locking mechanism. We did a Thetford round toliet. Ours was very similar. We screened the back door. We also used a Goal Zero 500x for power. Iceco for cold storage. We're trying to sell ours and hope it sells. I agree with you on every point. Nice work.
Nice video. I bought a 6x12 enclosed trailer in 2018 to haul motorcycles. Spring 2020 staying at hotels became a nightmare so I converted it into a toy hauler. I will say that removing the interior wood to insulate and wire was not a big deal. You just have to write on the back where each piece of wood came from so you can return it. The challenge was the windows. I added 30 amp service, portable AC vented through the floor, dehumidifier, fridge, microwave, cabinets and countertop all in the nose of the trailer. I can carry two medium sized motorcycles. I created a vertical drawer type bed that is 32 wide when deployed. With an umbrella chair and TV tray I have what I need to camp comfortably. I am currently resealing the roof so for those that live in rainy areas, you might want to add 4 inch eternabond to your new or current trailer to help keep leaks at bay.
Bad ass! You put quite a lot into a smaller trailer. In my trailer the baseboards and trim are stapled AND glued, which would make removing them a total pain.
Exactly the video and video was looking for. I like the modular aspect of it. You could use as a trailer then when want to go camping put in your stuff for camping using the tie down rails
Yep, knowing I can easily convert this into a different use makes it a no brainer investment. Hoenstly I'm surprised how much fun we have had using it. My wife and daughter LOVE IT!
Thank you! This was a very well put together informative video. I plan to live in mine. I’m concerned about the not being able to just drive away in a scary situation.
If I was going to live in mine, I would go 8 or 8.5 wide, double axel, no rear ramp. Mayby have it custom build with thicker walls for more insulation?
The guy a couple of blocks over has one just like it , and got three Mexican girls to live in it... They take off every weekend, sometimes they're gone for over a week....
love the video! I'm working on a cargo camper myself! I've found the towing gas mileage has a HUGE difference above and below 60mph. When I get in a rush and try to do 70 with traffic I can watch the gas needle dropping, when I stay at 60 the gas mileage is MUCH better. I'm sure there's some science to it but it seems my motor has to work 3 x as hard to go 10 mph faster, Real world numbers I burned 1 full tank plus another half tank (45 Gal) from Western VA to the coast (Surf City) doing 70-75 mph towing my 7 x 7 x 14 cargo camper, on the way back I pretended to be retired and let everyone pass me and keep it at 60 and had a gallon left in one full tank (29 Gal) to get all the way home. So maybe your cross country aspirations just require a lighter foot and an extra day! keep on doin what you're doin fella! Cheers!
I completely agree, and noticed the same thing. I have also learned to manage my engines RPM's. The engine likes to run this set up at 55 mph. Any faster than that and there is a SERIOUS drop in fuel economy.
Thank you! I'll make some follow up videos if I get time. I've been busy doing photo shots with sentators/mayors, etc. for the election. But I'd like to get back to this.
You are so right about the terrible build quality of commercial trailers and RVs. I have a Class C older RV and constantly disappointed by the poor build. Delamination, leaks, bad appliances, stapling of wood structures, carpet that you know will get gross over time instead of robust flooring, and so on. You sure picked a nice trailer, full aluminum which is very smart! I love the ramp/patio and the DIY canopy, very clever. Question: Did you use CAD software to make those schematic drawings? I'd love to know what you used. It's clear and well laid out. I am familiar with Visio, but it has limitations. Paint - Don't leave aluminum unfinished as it corrodes, looks bad, and needs frequent polishing. If you polish it, the glare in sunlight will blind other drivers on the road, and act like a sun deflector on your neighbors houses. Here is your solution: Paint it with Durabak18, a moisture cured polyurethane bedliner paint. It is not brittle like Rhino/ Raptor liner which is epoxy. This is a flexible paint that can be used on rubber roofs too. It holds up to dents, rock chips, scratches, no peeling or crazing, very durable. It comes in smooth or textured (rubber chips in it). Textured is good for a non skid roof. It comes in standard colors, you cannot custom color it. It also comes in a clear coat. Two coats. Prep with sanding, wash with Xylene (specifically), and put on two coats, as per technical guide. Solvent / thinner is Xylene, not Mineral Spirits. It can be roller brushed on, no spraying needed. It self levels and looks fantastic even roller brushed on. Check out RU-vid videos on it. It's the best paint for cars and RVs in my opinion. Please don't add music to any demo, DIY, tour, cooking, or animal video. The Zen of natural sounds is soothing. Music hurts the ears, drowns the voice, and irritates the mind. It is a negative overall, adds no value to content. Thank you.
Great advice on painting! I learned quite a bit from your feedback thank you. I designed the trailer layout on Photoshop (since I'm a photographer..lol) then submited it to the manufacturer. I didn't mention it in the video, but I had them put the RV door farther back than you normally would for a cargo trailer. This gave me extra room for the bunk beds in the front. It's a small detail, but made a big difference to layout possibilities. I also ordered a queen size memory foam matress and cut in half saving extra money there as well (isntead of buying two separate/smaller mattress's: that was the dimension size I used to set back the door from the front. Fits like a glove :) The fantastic fan also sits right over the beds to maxamixe it's airflow while I'm napping at the beach :)
Great video! Thanks for putting it together. We’re loving the ramp door patio. Can you give details on the three supports that level and stabilize the ramp?
Sure. Three was unecessary as I only ever use two, though I suppose if I was to use this to load something really heavy like a 4 wheeler, then it would be useful. Unfortunatley the jacks are made out of regular metal so they are starting to rust :( I use the two at the edge all the time, as they keep the deck level. Cheers!
I bought a china camper trailer about the same size as yours, but the top transforms into a double story for living and dining. Can also be used as a place to sleep with camping bags.
Great video ! I feel the 7 footer is the sweet spot as well. I was leaning towards a 6 footer, because I'd really like the footprint of the trailer to be completely behind the tow vehicle, but things get awfully tight going that narrow.
Thank you! I have a full size SUV so 7' wide didn't make much of a difference as far as vision while towing, but the width of the trailer is measured FROM THE OUTSIDE. Meaning you lose 6 inches or so from the thickness of the walls, making the usable interior space that much tighter. cheers!
I have a 7 foot wide cargo camper and one of the biggest advantages that nobody seems to talk about is how nice it is to be able to SEE your wheel! 8' wide the wheel is hidden so you can't see where it's at! 7' wide I can look in my mirror while driving and know exactly how far my wheel is from the edge of the pavement on narrow roads and for backing up into tight spots it REALLY helps to be able to see the wheel and see the target (blocks, wedge, etc.) I would never own a 8' wide for that one simple reason.
haha! Thanks for the compliment. Voiceover work takes a lot of work, and I have mad respect for people who do that for a living. I once hired a voice actor and he BLEW ME AWAY...lol
Great video. Thank you. I am very interested in what you used to mount the vertical poles that support the awning over the deck. Can you supply some info on what you used?
Good Morning, any chance you can tell me the make of the Trailer and where in Oregon you purchased it? I am in Alberta and Aluminun CT's are very hard to find and way over priced. Thanks
yep, they certainly do see us coming. Just imagine what it would be like trying to get an RV repaired. Technicians out here in California are $125-150 per hour.
Great video! We've been really struggling to find a layout that works for a family of 4 in a trailer this size, you have some good ideas here. Any chance you will do a walkthrough video where you show a little more detail on the layout and how everything is organized? Especially want to see it with all 3 beds in place, and to see where you were planning on building the bathroom.
If you send me your email, I will send you some pictures. Current build would make it very easy to add two more beds giving it 4 in total. Though if you want to have a full proper bathroom then go for a 16' long. That would give you enough room for a bathroom and a stand up closet. Cheers!
my wife and I pricing out stuff to do this and I'm wondering about ditching the ramp and going with a door...and grabbing one of those tent canopies to stick on the end. But we need some sort of cooling/airflow in east texas because we're hitting 105+ pretty regularly
I wish mine was 7ft wide instead of 6’. I disagree slightly about the insulation. I’ve heard manufacturers do not do a good job installing insulation. When I did mine I installed one inch foam between the studs then installed another 1/2” foam over that then reattached the original plywood back on the walls plus 2” of foam in the ceiling and am going to still put 3” under the plywood floor. Insulation affects the transfer of heat. All things being equal everything will basically equalize temperature wise. My trailer has heating and air conditioning so I believe insulation helps a lot with maintaining the desired temperature whether heating or cooling. Thanks for the video.
The rear ramp door, really kills the insulation, as there is exposed metal there. Your tip of having another 1/2" over the studs is VERY well thought out. If I could do it again, I would certainly have that done. I would love to see a pic of your trailer, cheers!
Filling all the small cracks between insulation and the structure is extremely important for making a HOUSE more energy efficient. Ask any builder who specializes in "building performance" upgrades. Sealing those gaps prevents air flow through the edges of walls holding in conditioned air. The same is probably true for trailers. Not sure the best sealant product, but I"d suspect that the low expansion style canned foam (like for home use, available at any hardware store) would do the trick.
@@lifeunderthesun831 I'm working on a design and live in the Mountain West where insulation is essential. I totally agree about the ramp. I want a ramp deck like the one you built so to solve the insulation dilemma I'm planning to build an interior insulated rear wall in front of the ramp with a door and window. Maybe set the rear wall back a foot from the ramp opening so there will be some uninsulated storage for the deck furniture.
this is a great video. really helpful..I love that framed out canopy, can you pleaseeeeee make a video showing how that canopy works and how you made it? such a perfect design!! TY
Great video. Well put together. Granted some items I disagree esp with the aluminum frame as they are costly to repair and often crack esp those who decide to use a weight distribution system. The failure point of aluminum does not allow flex like a steel frame chassis. But great build and enjoy it.
There are a few parts that are steel on the trailer. I should do a follow up video to show just how much those parts have rusted already...It's astounding.
Don’t feel too bad. I have a 20’ travel trailer I’m trying to get ready for sale. Now we’re talking disappointment. And it was made in IN’s well known RV constructing town.
My sister has a big one as well, and they NEVER use it. To much of a pain, so now it sits in their back yard as a guest house, but rv's require too much maintenance for that and depreciate way to fast.
I think I would have had the door open up and put some screening on it so that area could be enclosed from the mosquitos... or rolled up if you do not want to use it. You could also put some light weight solar panels on the roof AND back door them and hook it up to your power bank. I would have also done some LED strip lights. The work well and draw very little power. You could have had a set on the inside and a set on the back door. You can get some decent size solar generators too. Maybe have an electric heater and a bit more insulation. If you want something a bit longer term you might look into a composting toilet as they can be emptied easier than a chemical toilet. Maybe a setup for an external shower with a removable hoop for a shower curtain. See I think 3 things are a must... kitchen, bed, and bathroom with shower. Maybe even a solar water heater on the front of the roof and a smaller water heater hooked to it. See I like things that can last weeks or months if needed. Propane tanks need to be filled. Having a decent sized water tank or even a few 5 gallon containers is nice, but I like the idea or a hose and pump with filters and a UV treatment so you can draw water out of a stream or lake. Most states allow dumping of gray water and you should be able to come up with a way to handle the composting toilet. With everything being electric and you having lots of solar your time in the wilderness is literally based on how much food you bring and you can hunt, fish, and trap. I can't be too far from a computer so StarLink would likely be in there somewhere. I am not for sound systems and TVs other than what my computer would have. You might outgrow what the solar generators can handle and instead add a solar charger, battery bank, and transformer. Really the cost would not be that much more than a solar charger. A system like this also works well with E-bikes too. Now I would do a trailer that size for a single person or a couple, but you could spend a summer out in the wilderness without any trouble. Bring some clothes lines and a hand crank washing machine to wash your clothes with too.
I agree with everything you mentioned. I have battery operated led light strips and those are great. Luckily, there is not much of a mosquito problem here in California at the beach. The rear door ramp renders the insulation basically useless for overnight, though I suppose it does help keep the unit cooler from direct sun. I definitely need to learn more about composting toilets, especially if you plan on staying in it more than a few days at a time. Thanks for the feedback!
Good ideas.. Do you not have the cable assist for the back door? Not too heavy? I bought an used all aluminum 7x14 +V that i will do all the modifications.
Excellent question. The trailer came with cable assist for the back door. I can open or close it with one arm. This is a feature that is VERY much appreciated.
Very well thought out love it been looking at lots love this lay out ,gets mine boggling after awhile .Love your changes and lay out is there a heavier duty off road option or is it needed,lighter off road nothing climbing over mountains
How is your ramp door constructed? Mine was a metal frame skinned on the outside and plywood over the frame for the deck of the door. I removed the deck added 2” insulation, and reinstalled the deck.
I believe that mine is built the same way, though I haven't removed the plywood to verify that they put insulation inside. I wouldn't be surprised if they forgot.
Great points. I went with a steel frame on our current one worried that the aluminum doesn't have enough tensile strength and would eventually crack. Still unsure about this and not sure the cost to wt savings (since it hasn't helped gas mileage) is worth it. I Rhino coated the entire frame and 4 yrs into no rust. Totally agree your use of a trailer should dictate the size and interior options as they can add a great deal of cost.
Great video. Thank you. I am looking into doing this. It appears most manufactures have aluminum skin but steel structure. Where can I look for all aluminum? I have been told they are triple the cost which would not jive with what you paid for your trailer.
