Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I am in the process of updating my 14' cargo trailer. One of the things I want to do is install a ceiling. Currently it is just the ribs exposed.
Any tips or ideas on what I should do or be aware of before I start enclosing the ceiling?
Also,
What ceiling materials have you all used on your updates/remodels?
I plan on removing the plywood walls and running some 110v wiring for outlets and ceiling lights.
I suppose it would be a good time to run a wire for a future A/C unit also.
Any tips, thoughts or ideas would be appreaciated,
Many thanks,
Jeff
Hagerstown, MD

Jeff we need pictures Before advice.

My ceiling is insulated then sheathed with fiberglass reinforced plastic. I put the smooth side out. This brightens up the interior a lot!

Tom

like this

Will get some pics up ASAP.
Currently, it's just one big empty 14' cargo trailer with plywood interior.
Stay tuned for the pics.
Thanks,
Jeff

If you are opening the walls, insulate them and the ceiling too with foam board insulation. It won't cost that much more to do it, and you won't regret it. It keeps the CT -- cooler in the warm weather, warmer in the cool weather, and quieter at all times.

I am planning on using the 1/4 in underlayment sheets from Lowes or HD with alum flashing where my sides are curved. http://www.homedepot.com/p/1-4-in-x-4-f ... jTIyT_taME

1" foamboard supported by 1x4s

1/2" foamboard placed between 1x4s and covered with 1/4" plywood. 1x2 installed to cover plywood joints. It didn't cost very much and works very well. If you are asking for insulation purposes,

I also painted the roof with Henry Solar Flex white paint. It reflects lots of heat away from the CT.

My CT has an arc at the roof line. I used 1x6 long ways to create a channel for my electric. Not really happy with the 1x6. Didn't come out as good as I really wanted. I may put that on my "change later list".

Good luck on your build!

Earnest

Here are a few pics of my trailer I want to remodel on the inside. I would like to add cabinets and a bench in the front, possibly cabinets along the top of both sides.
Like I mentioned, I want to also run additional 110v wiring for lights and recepticles. I suppose now would be the time to run the necessary wiring for a future roof mount A/C unit.
Jeff

jmayaa, Howdy;

Looks like an empty canvas ready for a masterpiece to be applied to the interior.
By the way, what make trailer is it?

hank

2005 Danzer 14'
I ordered it new, has 7' ceiling height in it.
Had extra floor joist added closer together, LED lighting.
I've been hauling vintage racing go karts in it.
It's time to be finally outfitted properly with a bench, cabinets and other goodies.
I usually only attend 3 or 4 events per summer, but it will be nice having everything already stowed on board instead of loading it all the time.
Besides, everything just sat on the floor, I had over 75% of the trailer as wasted space.
I will be looking into the foam panels. I saw some at Lowes yesterday 1" thick, they were like $17 for a 4 x 8 sheet. I thought that was a tad pricey, I will check with some wholesellers in the area.
Thanks everyone,
Jeff

Earnest

YOUR DA MAN !!

I think I might do something like that with my roof, because I may need to take it apart latter
And add some more wires here and there & your smaller sections would work great.
Besides I got all those wood studs up there for support.

Thanks Jerry

OverTheTopCargoTrailer wrote:Earnest

YOUR DA MAN !!

I think I might do something like that with my roof, because I may need to take it apart latter
And add some more wires here and there & your smaller sections would work great.
Besides I got all those wood studs up there for support.

Thanks Jerry

Jerry,
Thanks. That is why I did my electric that way. I did my best to keep my wiring accessable with minimal disassembly. I suffer from improvementitis. Very little will ever be 100% complete. If I were to do it again (change list for later) is to go back to my original idea. I ripped 1x2 to match the angle of the walls and ceiling to match about a 45 deg off the wall. One down the wall and one down the ceiling. The main covering would be 1/4" plywood. This would be much easier for one person to handle. The thing I don't like about using the 1x6 is a CT (maybe its just mine) is not true to consistant angles from one end to the other. So there are places I have small gaps that are not as aesthetically pleasing as I would like. They were very visable until I cut them down to 4' lengths. (this sure helped handling them by myself too) Just something else that probably only I would see. I am my worst critic.

Earnest

jmayaa,
Good looking CT!

There were some oil stains in my CT when I bought it. Just a little FYI if your interested on how I took care of it because I was going to paint mine. Knowing that any paint I use would not adhere to those spots It set my wheels to turning. (my wife will tell you that can be a dangerous thing ) I used spray electric parts cleaner to remove them. Elec parts cleaner would penetrate the wood well and break down the oil. Plus it does not leave any hydrocarbon residue like most cleaners do. When it evaporates it is gone. I rubbed it hard after spraying to absorb anything it removed from the wood. I repeated this process to the point of overkill allowing plenty of time for total evaporation. So far it has worked very well. I painted with epoxy garage floor paint over a year ago and have been working inside it a couple of days a week for the same time frame. All I can say is that I have not had any problems.

Good luck with your build!
Earnest

I did my last one like roadinspector did with the 1x6's thats where I put all my Electric and yes I installed one for A/C
installed a extinction cord #10 used # 12 extinction cords for 120 volt stuff used #12 black&red for D/C 12volt
installed Coaxe cable for TV all in the 1x6 boards Got moble home receptacles from trailer place and that way I didn't need boxes
used wall mount 12v outlet and just used face plate for TV cables turned out really good.
On the ceiling we put up 1'' foam board with 1/4'' ply strips then FRP board used the butt strips for the FRP and the rosets with the screws
Used wood glue on back where the 1/4 strips where to help hold the FRP (but what ever you put up make some dead men supports) to help you.
Might I say I gutted it all the way down to frame and skin and started over All new running lights, hubs W/brakes bearings, floor insolation in walls
new wood on walls T board metal shop cabinets up front it looked good when I was done but then I sold it. You can see pis in profile page.

jmayaa wrote:I am in the process of updating my 14' cargo trailer. One of the things I want to do is install a ceiling. Currently it is just the ribs exposed.
Any tips or ideas on what I should do or be aware of before I start enclosing the ceiling?
Also,
What ceiling materials have you all used on your updates/remodels?
I plan on removing the plywood walls and running some 110v wiring for outlets and ceiling lights.
I suppose it would be a good time to run a wire for a future A/C unit also.
Any tips, thoughts or ideas would be appreaciated,
Many thanks,
Jeff
Hagerstown, MD

My ceiling is very similar to yours. I plan on using 3/4" foam board (same as I used on the walls) with the 5mm luan over it (what used to be the walls). Like many others, I ran my electrical in the corner where the wall meets the roof. I was going to use plywood for the corners, but 1x6's might be easier. I am still a little ways from that.

For wiring, you need to decide what kind of power you want/need, and how you plan on getting it into the trailer. This can be everything from an extension cord hanging out the back and plugging into a male socket wired into the trailer, to fancy battery inverters and solar setups. Mine came with the extension cord setup with an outlet and 3 lights (no DC other then the external driving lights). All of that came down, replaced with a WFCO 55A converter box, 30A marine inlet, a 20A circuit for air conditioning, 2 15A circuits for interior and exterior outlets, and DC lighting with LED strip lights. I will be plugged into shore power or a generator at all times, so no battery currently, but it is built so that I could operate all of the lighting off of one if I chose to at a later time.

If you are wiring for the AC, I would run 12ga (20A) for it. I am only running a small wall mount unit, but ran the 20A wiring, circuit breaker and outlet just to make sure there were no problems down the road. 14ga works fine for regular outlets and the like. All of my DC is 12ga which is overkill, but I like the thick sheathing on it.