7'*18' V-Nose Cargo Trailer Toy Hauler Conversion

[flboy]

Edit 06/19/2016... I had administration move this back over to the CTC thread from the Build Journal. It seems all the CTC builds are journaled here.
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I actually started this build thread in the CTC section, but I am moving it over here. The Cargo Trailer Shell is completed at the factory and I pick it up tomorrow (02/27/2016). I'll journal my build here. My goal is to be completed by July. We'll See. I'll Add the links below to my previous build and the start of this thread so you can see the donor trailer I salvaged many of the appliances and parts I will use here.

These are the pics the factory sent me today of the CT I'll pick up tomorrow. I'll post some better pics when I get it home.

Build thread Start:
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=65137

Previous CTC build:
viewtopic.php?f=42&t=50647

YouTube Videos of Finished Trailer:

- Interior

- Exterior

 

[usnmaret]

Really nice looking CT.

 

[flboy]

I have it in my back yard now. It was about 9 hours round trip today. I like the way it turned out. A blank canvas to build my toy hauler camper on. Not sure how quickly it will progress.

 

[flboy]

Really nice looking CT.

Thanks!

 

[flboy]

Duplicate

 

[flboy]

Made a decision today regarding my electrical design. I am using 400W of Solar and 2 6V 232AH Golf cart batteries along with a 50A converter to charge when plugged in or on generator and an inverter for house AC when boondocking. My 4.3 CF Fridge will run off 110VAC house power and I was going to just have a 1500W Inverter to run everything, but now I think I am going to buy a 300W True Sine Wave inverter for just the fridge and 1000W True sign for everything else. This way I can leave the fridge running 24/7 when camping on the batteries regardless of what else I am doing with the generator or etc.. Also, the fridge is important and I need a backup if the fridge inverter fails. I can always run it off the 1000W inverter with everything else as backup.

Additionally, the standby power and etc. is much lower on the 300W inverter, and that is what will be running when the fridge needs it. The fridge compressor typically only runs 15 minutes or so every hour on a hot day.With This set up, I do not need to leave the larger inverter on when not needed. Another thing I noticed is that the price per watt is real close whether I buy a larger one or two separate ones that equal the same wattage as the larger inverter.

I received my 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller today. It will handle the 400W and I can expand 100W to 500W total if I decide I want to add another 100W Cell. We'll see if it is needed. I am more likely to need additional battery capacity if anything given we have a lot of sun in Florida and I will use very little power during the day.

Here's a pic of the controller setting on top of the solar panels in my living room. I'll start the build in two weeks. This weekend is my last trip in my old CT Build before it goes on Craigslist. I'll need the cask from it to finish this one off nicely.

 

[aggie79-HILO]

Cool!

Do you have a floor plan yet for this build?

 

[flboy]

Cool!

Do you have a floor plan yet for this build?

I have several! LOL.. Actually, now that I have the cargo trailer in my backyard, I need to finalize them... Alot right now depends on how and where I mount the Black water and Gray water tanks. I'll post up the final once I have it detailed.

 

[aggie79-HILO]

Thanks. I'm real interested in a CT conversion but I can't seem to fit what I want in a 7' X 16'. I think what you're building will give me a real good idea of the extra space available on an 18-footer.

 

[flboy]

Thanks. I'm real interested in a CT conversion but I can't seem to fit what I want in a 7' X 16'. I think what you're building will give me a real good idea of the extra space available on an 18-footer.

I see. I should have the floor plan finalized this weekend. Note that I am creating a floor plan around the purpose of being able to put a motorcycle or two in the CT for travel. In fact, one of my design criteria is that I must be able to deploy the loft bed and use the CT with the bikes in the trailer for those times we are on the road and just need to stop for the night and don't want to or can't unload the bike(s). Also, need to be functional at rest stops to use the kitchen area and bathroom.

Those criteria make a big difference in how I'd go about the floor plan.

Are you building a "toy hauler".

 

[Wolfscout]

Being able to stop and spend the night with my trailer loaded is why I ordered a 20 footer.
We plan to take a golf cart and a small bass buggy inside. Not exactly sure how it will fit but we have assumed it will all work out. If not, the canoe can always go on top of the truck like we been doing, giving us that much more inside floor space when loaded.

What is the total solar panel wattage you are going with?

 

[aggie79-HILO]

I should have the floor plan finalized this weekend. Note that I am creating a floor plan around the purpose of being able to put a motorcycle or two in the CT for travel. In fact, one of my design criteria is that I must be able to deploy the loft bed and use the CT with the bikes in the trailer for those times we are on the road and just need to stop for the night and don't want to or can't unload the bike(s). Also, need to be functional at rest stops to use the kitchen area and bathroom.

Those criteria make a big difference in how I'd go about the floor plan.

While I haven't built a CT conversion before, I have been doing "mental exercises" of what all to include and what not to include. I'm hoping to do a one-time build that will be comfortable enough to be away from our home base for 1-2 months at a time (in the future.)

Are you building a "toy hauler".

No "toys" but we would like to have an indoor place for 2 bikes and possibly 4 bikes (1 "cruiser" and 1 mountain bike for each of us.) I'm not worried so much about securing them at the campsite as I am at stops while in transit.

 

[flboy]

I should have the floor plan finalized this weekend. Note that I am creating a floor plan around the purpose of being able to put a motorcycle or two in the CT for travel. In fact, one of my design criteria is that I must be able to deploy the loft bed and use the CT with the bikes in the trailer for those times we are on the road and just need to stop for the night and don't want to or can't unload the bike(s). Also, need to be functional at rest stops to use the kitchen area and bathroom.

Those criteria make a big difference in how I'd go about the floor plan.

While I haven't built a CT conversion before, I have been doing "mental exercises" of what all to include and what not to include. I'm hoping to do a one-time build that will be comfortable enough to be away from our home base for 1-2 months at a time (in the future.)

Are you building a "toy hauler".

No "toys" but we would like to have an indoor place for 2 bikes and possibly 4 bikes (1 "cruiser" and 1 mountain bike for each of us.) I'm not worried so much about securing them at the campsite as I am at stops while in transit.

Are you talking about a motorcycle (cruiser ) or just bicycles?

 

[flboy]

Sold my 14*7 CT yesterday at an off road dirt biking event. Glad somebody who appreciates the special purpose build has bought it. Also excited ad I have the funds to buy the remainder of materials I need for this build.

 

[flboy]

Being able to stop and spend the night with my trailer loaded is why I ordered a 20 footer.
We plan to take a golf cart and a small bass buggy inside. Not exactly sure how it will fit but we have assumed it will all work out. If not, the canoe can always go on top of the truck like we been doing, giving us that much more inside floor space when loaded.

What is the total solar panel wattage you are going with?

I am going with 400 watts and two golf cart batteries and a 1500w pure sine wave inverter. That should be plenty. Can always add more later if not.

 

[flboy]

I have a question about installing the windows. I hope someone can answer... maybe save me some time. The trailer has 1" wide square tubing (studs) 16" on center in the walls like most trailers. A few of my windows are wider that 15" and I will have to cut through at least one stud for each window. Given the plywood and the window frame itself, do I really need to weld a frame for the window? Given the roof carries no real weight and the plywood walls holding everything together (structural), I am thinking it may not be necessary? Thoughts?

 

[flboy]

Here's a schematic of my Electrical System I will be installing. Sorry it is not a better schematic. I had to draw with Powerpoint. This is very similar to my last build: The Automatic transfer switch will cutover automatically from the invert-er output to the generator or line in if it senses power available.

The batteries charge in sunlight and will also charge automatically if plugged in to shore or a generator. The fridge runs of 110VAC from either the solar/inverter or shore power/generator. In any case.. it will run 24/7 off the batteries and leave plenty of capacity even if only on solar.

 

[KCStudly]

I think you meant to label the batteries in "series", as shown for two 6v cells in a 12v system, not "parallel".

 

[flboy]

I think you meant to label the batteries in "series", as shown for two 6v cells in a 12v system, not "parallel".

You are correct. I had this same schematic for my previous toy hauler that used 2 12V is Parallel for more capacity. Tx. (Edit... updated schematic.. going with 3 12v in Parallel)

 

[flboy]

We'll this is farewell to my first CT Build. I have enjoyed it for 5 years now and tomorrow it is being delivered to it's new owner that will use it like I did taking dirtbikes to offroad/camping type rides. It is like burning a bridge.... I have no camper now... so it is 100% on to this build if I am going to go camping anytime soon. I'll use the cash from the sale for the conversion. It is all good... especially for Amazon, Ebay, and Home Depot where I'll source all the remaining material needed except for the metal tubing needed for welding the bed, window frames, and etc.. which I'll buy locally.


Pic of the interior of my old CT going to miss it... my new build will be significantly different and larger.