New Member with some CT/TV questions.

[hankaye]

AZ_Desert_Rat, Howdy;

Hi Rick,
I fully get the truck camper thing and had an 8" full cabover for years, going to a tent, and to the back of a Blazer, and finally to a 6X10" cargo conversion ... I LOVE THE CT conversion!! My trailer weighed in a just over 1400 lb. dry when it was built and I have been adding to it, guessing it is closer to 1700/1800 when hooked to the truck. I bought a LOOK with a 6.5 ft. round-top and had the trailer lifted for high clearance off-road. take a look at my gallery and discussions on this site under cargo conversions. I am pulling it with a 1991 Chevy Blazer, 350 TBI, and a 4-speed tranny. I had put on 33" tires some years ago, but the added weigh and air resistance hurts on the highway!! I just pulled the trailer loaded (I did not weigh it, but am guessing close to the 3500 lb. limit) from Phoenix to Minneapolis; the truck pulled the trailer fine until I hit 60 mph, then it struggled to keep a 65 - 75 miles per hour, unless I was on flat land, going down hill or had a tail-wind. I am getting ready to re-gear from 3.73:1 to ~4.56:1 to get me back closer to stock and due to the wind on the taller trailer (about 20-24" over Blazer cab), I have a guy that is building a short roof-rack for the Blazer with a collapsible wing.

I do not know if any of these would apply to you, probably not, but was just tossing in a couple cents.

Good luck with your purchase and build and if you are 6' or taller, you will love the 6.5' ceiling height!!

Just don't forget to keep the ratios the same in the front and rear differentials if you have 4-wheel drive...

hank

[Alpha One Nine]

Good info... Thanks Guys!

What brake controller do your guy's like? I need to pick one up soon.
I want to take a few trailers for a test drive to see how they pull (and stop).

[MtnDon]

A short opinion topic on a brake controller
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=58640&p=1059568&hilit=brake+controller#p1059568


I still have not decided 100% on my choice as I'm working on a number of tasks before the trailer will be used. Target date for a roll out is April 12 so I have some time.

[Alpha One Nine]

I ordered a Tekonsha P3 from Amazon last night. I had a small balance left on a gift card from Christmas and the P3 is their #1 rated/selling model. Seems to be a popular choice here too per the thread MtnDon linked. Looks like the 2003 and up 4Runners have a factory installed wiring harnesses so it would be a simple plug and play installation. My 2002 is going to require a little more work but seems pretty strait forward.

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Screen shot 2014-02-08 at 1.16.34 PM.png (58.26 KiB) Viewed 2627 times

Good info... Thanks Guys!

What brake controller do your guy's like? I need to pick one up soon.
I want to take a few trailers for a test drive to see how they pull (and stop). Isn't that called a Free- rental ??

It must be rough these days to be a cargo trailer salesman

[Alpha One Nine]

Thanks for the help guys!
Will post again when my project is underway.

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi MTDON,
Thanks for the reply ... Gearing will definitely help (or at least I think I am sure) and the added roof wing (because of the trailer height) should provide a little improvement (most posts claim 1 - 3 mpg increase and some experienced as much as 5 mpg improvement). I was getting between 12 - 14 with the larger tires, no trailer, and gearing at 3.73:1 and towing the trailer, the mpg fell to an average of 7 mpg .
I am hoping to get close to double after getting the gears back in line with the tires and load, and the wing to offset the wind dam due to trailer height.

Anyway, I'll post the changes on my thread ... thank you for your input!!

[Wi urban camo]

I use the same Tekonsha 3 brake controller. Love it. Bought it from Amazon, decent price and and comes with two mounting brackets + wire.

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi Hankeye,
I ended up going with 4:11 front and back -- The Blazer, an older New Mexico State truck, had 3:07 front and rear and I didn't want to make the jump to the 4:56 and glad I went with 4:11 I think the 4:56 would have been too much highway!

I will post a couple of photos of the trip two weeks ago into the San Domingo Mountains east of Wickenberg, Az ... No gold, but we had a great trip

[hankaye]

John, Howdy;

Good to hear the exchange went well. Looking forward to the pix.

hank

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi Hank,
I posted a couple of photos ... several of where I am at with the build_New shelves, chair storage, and the finalized tongue. I also posted a couple of the San Domingo camp and the road_rough, but passable with 4-wheel drive and a couple of bushes needed trimming of heavy limbs. The claim crew had already trimmed and did a little road work so, the really bad holes had been filled. A great few days and more needs to the trailer were identified (I added the needs to My Trailer build Thread).
Take care...

[norcal2]

Thanks for the help guys!
Will post again when my project is underway.

I tow my 6x12 with an 07 4runner 4.0 v6 it works well! good luck with your project!

[Alpha One Nine]

Well I finally found my Trailer!
As I mentioned in my original post I was ready to push the button on a custom ordered 6x12 tandem axle but some unexpected expenses and other things popped up and put that purchase on hold. Last Monday I came across a Craigslist ad for this barely used 2012 Continental 6x10 single axle with 6'-5" interior height for less than 1/2 the quoted price of the new one and I snatched it up. It didn't come with all of the RV features the dealer quote included but I think It's a good start to a fun summer project.






It came with a spare tire, group 29 RV battery, AC hookup, and more hooks than I know what to do with. It hauled horse tack and other equestrian related stuff in it's former life.
The first mods I plan to do is add brakes and better ventilation. I'm thinking the side door and one of the rear doors would be the simplest location to install some small windows but I don't know that for sure.
I'm not sure about pulling the walls down to add insulation but I will certainly insulate the ceiling.
I also want to install an RV style door latch and add a rear bracket to lock the bar at the back position so someone cannot lock me inside.
I'm considering trying one of those "As Seen on TV" magnetic door screens in lieu of an actual screen door for the side door. Had anyone here ever tried them?

[Gonefishin]

That looks like a great score.

I made a "magnetic" screen for mine from a screen window kit. Put magnetic strips on the outside of the screen frame, and around the inside door frame. Hinges on the hitch side, of course. A little foam strip around it for a good seal to keep bugs out. Still opening and closing easily after two full seasons.

An eye bolt through the wall with a pad lock works great for keeping latch secure so you can't be locked in. Just move the latch to the outer skin, and secure with a lock through the eye bolt. Use the same pad lock to secure it closed when not in use or during travel/parking.

[Alpha One Nine]

Thanks for the ideas Gonefishin!

This is what I was referring to for the screen. Not really a door but more of a mesh curtain with a magnetic seam down the center.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/As-Seen-on-TV ... h/20850476
This particular one seems pretty cheap but there other options available too.
Could even put one in the rear doorway.