Starting my 7x14 trailer conversion

[lrrowe]

I will check HD out. You have raised the bar for others in terms of what you can do in a given amount of time (for me at least).
Thks.
Bob

[RWH]

I made a YouTube video of the build to make it easy for folks following this thread. I still can't believe it is done. Now what to do?!?
Cargo Trailer Converted

I also put a link on the front page for new viewers.

[hankaye]

RWH, Howdy;

Nicely done.

hank

[zroadhouse]

I made a YouTube video of the build to make it easy for folks following this thread. I still can't believe it is done. Now what to do?!?
Cargo Trailer Converted

I also put a link on the front page for new viewers.

Very nice!

[RWH]

Finally I have found the time and the good weather to try out my new toy. I couldn't be more happy and comfortable. I have only found a few small items I needed to tweak mainly for personal preference. This project has proved very worth while and definitely worth the effort. All I need to do now is hook up and go. Having all my prospecting equipment already loaded and ready to go really has been nice.

My next little addition will be adding solar panels to keep my gel battery charged while not in use. I just need to figure out what type and how big I need. This will be a new learning experience for me having never dealt with this type of system.

[RWH]

I finally got around to installing the solar panel and controller. I used a 35 watt panel with a charge controller. I did this at my new permanent riverside camping spot in the North Georgia mountains on my club property.







Views out of my back door:

[lrrowe]

Nice!

[Rainier70]

Beautiful camping spot.

Do you have any other pictures of your mount? What kind of channel? How is it secured for travel? Etc

Thanks

[RWH]

Beautiful camping spot.

Do you have any other pictures of your mount? What kind of channel? How is it secured for travel? Etc

Thanks

I'll try and get some more pics of the mount next time I am up at my site but I'll try to explain how I built the rack and mount. I will more than likely change it up a bit so I can rotate the panel as the day goes on but it is currently working fine in a fixed position the way it is now to fit my needs.

Rack Materials:
I used galvanized Unistrut or Superstrut and hardware to assemble all of the connections. This can be found at HD or electrical supply outlets. I bolted 4- 6" "L" brackets turned in towards the roof. Make sure you bolt into or through the header framework of the trailer to get a sturdy mount. The cross beams were spaced to mount the panel flat to the roof when traveling. To elevate the panel at location to face the sun, I used 1/8"x1" aluminum, found in the hardware section of HD. I bent the aluminum to shape and affixed it to the panel frame and rack cross beams. I then used coaxial cable a bushing meant to run cable through siding to run my panel wire through to the inside of the trailer to the charger controller.

I hope that was clear enough to understand my madness.

[Rainier70]

It was. I thought that looked like unistrut, but wasn't sure. Thanks.

[lrrowe]

Beautiful camping spot.

Do you have any other pictures of your mount? What kind of channel? How is it secured for travel? Etc

Thanks

X2 regarding the camp site. The CT looks good sitting there also.

[chiefairwrench]

I hate going backwards but after weighing my options of loading motorcycle and having a bed for the wife and myself I like your plan. So now that you have used it is it working as you thought it would and what was the length of the spring?

[dustboy]

A barrel full of clever ideas here. Nice work.

[chiefairwrench]

I have a question about the bed. I want to build one like yours so I can bring in my motorcycles and was thinking about welding a metal frame and use a 90 lbs springs. It would give me more head room when loading my motorcycles. So one is the bed holding up? and is there anything you would change? I should start on the bed next weekend I just got the metal in today.

[RWH]

I have a question about the bed. I want to build one like yours so I can bring in my motorcycles and was thinking about welding a metal frame and use a 90 lbs springs. It would give me more head room when loading my motorcycles. So one is the bed holding up? and is there anything you would change? I should start on the bed next weekend I just got the metal in today.

The bed is holding up great. Just make sure you add enough length on the guides so the bed doesn't try to twist while raising and lowering.