How many windows are enough?

[Kankujoe]

Last week I found a used 2012 "custom motorcycle" 7 x 14 V-nose tandem trailer at an RV dealership. It was a trade in on a large 5th wheel camper/toy hauler. After some back & forth negotiations over the past week I brought the trailer home. Now I'm trying to decide what to change, what to keep. It has heat/AC, lighting, outlets, side vents, insulation, the walls & ceiling are finished in aluminum, floor & rear ramp door are covered with checkerboard lanolium, it has an RV style side door, plus several other add-ons.... But it came with no windows. It is a nice custom trailer but I need to make some changes. I would like to keep the "motorcycle customizations" but add living space for 2 people. First, I want to add windows, next a Maxx Air roof vent/fan, and permanent bedding. Also need to beef up the 12V wiring system, the A/C electrical system seems fine. The side walls have 16"oc steel studs.

I'd like to install windows between the studs so that I don't have to re-engineer the steel frame. Also, I want a window in the side door.

Question: How many windows do you think is enough? I found RV windows on ebay that should work but I haven't decided how many to order. I'm trying to decide between 4, 5, or 6 plus the door window. On my last build (5 x10 cargo w/ 3 windows) I wish I would have ordered one more. I've seen some nice builds with as few as 2 windows but a 7 x 14 trailer has a lot of wall space.

I think I'd also like to install a few fisheye "peep holes," one in the ramp door & one in the nose, so that I can see out of all 4 sides.

What do you think?

[Shadow Catcher]

Ifn it were me, and it isn't, I would do some re-engineering and go with a couple of larger windows. This opinion is based on my interest in horse trailers which I think would make for some interesting "cargo" conversions, many are all aluminum. The ones I have seen have lots of windows and they tend to look chopped up. A competent welder can put in horizontal supports or if done correctly bolted horizontal and maybe additional vertical support added.

[8ball_99]

I would also say go with a couple of larger windows vs a bunch of the narrow ones.. I have one small one in my door then another small one across from it in the wall. Then we have to of the larger ones I think they are 30x22 or somewhere around there.. The small windows that fit between the studs seem like peep holes almost.. The larger ones are more like usable windows... My trailer is 24'+ a 2' V nose.. Between the windows I have and the couple of roof vents I feel I have plenty.. The trailer is lit up very bright during the day. I can also see outside on both sides of the trailer which was also one of the main reasons for adding them..

[b.bodemer]

Light and ventilation are good things in our ct trailers.

I'm very happy that I went with rv side door with screen, two windows, two roof vents, and a rear wall half screened in. Depending on the weather I have all sorts of ways to have extra light and fresh air in the ct.

Barb

[roadinspector]

That's a hard question to answer. Everyones needs are different. How much time are you planning on actually being in the CT when your camping? I went with 3. One is 24"x35" approx center on the passenger side and on the drivers side is a 24"x16" forward by where my stove and sink will be and a 30"x18" towards the rear above the bed. I had to take in consideration how much of a cave I did not want especially dealing with a semi-clostraphobic wife. Your interior layout makes a difference. I tried to pick a size that could be seen out of and you had at least one or two good window to see out of no matter where you are in the trailer. I didn't want 2 windows across from each other. Having that cuts down on personal privacy. When in front of a window you can be seen easier from the outside when you are backlighted by another window. Spend some time just sitting around in various places in trailer studying it. Hmm.... It would be nice to have a window there and/or there. The link below goes to my build if you want to see what I did.

Good luck. Looking forward to pics. Sounds like you picked up a nice CT.
Earnest

[bikeopelli]

I have 3 pieces of used RV glass (originally for a "Lance Lite" truck camper) for sale if you are at all interested. (I don't have any Idea how to ship though).

[Kankujoe]

Thanks for the replies & suggestions. A lot to think about.

I think I'll take a couple of trips to see where to start... I believe I'll install the door window & fisheye peep holes first and then decide on other window placement.