Our 5X10 Cargo Trailer Conversion we call ET

[pappaw]

Our little 5X10 is a United Cargo Trailer we ordered to match and fit our car a Honda Element we call "Ellie" so the trailer is called "ET" for Ellie's trailer. Anyway we wanted a little trailer (to go camping and to use in my hobby of watching trains), with a shower, toilet, bunks/dinette, air conditioning, narrow enough to fit our car, light enough to tow, and tall enough to stand in, with hot and cold water, water tank, dump tank, awning, shore hook ups for power, water & sewer, phone & cable, on-board battery and generator, so we built this. A lot of things to finish yet, trim, paint, radio & TV install, but all is working just fine so far.


Ellie and ET.


it came with the wrong wheels, so later we returned it for the silver to match the car. We ordered a porch light and an RV style latch with grab bar. The cargo bar then cover the whole door to provide an extra lock when stored.


Awning was a must have.


inside before we started, had the factory install insulation and finish the walls.


had the factory install a step.


propane tank mount I had the dealer make and install. No room on the nose.


shore power inlets and cable tv & phone jacks above.


city water hook up and fill for our water tank. I need to paint this.


plumbing vent and a vent for the shower. I did not want any holes in the roof. The shower vent is nice.

got the silver colored wheels installed. Had the dealer make me a spare tire rack for the side as again there's no room on the tongue. I think it turned out great, it's welded to the frame and does not touch the side at all.


Had stabilizer jacks installed by the factory.

Cheers and thanks for all the help and ideas. Jeff

[aggie79]

Jeff,

How come you've been holding out on showing us this beaut? That is one gorgeous conversion. I really like the bunk bed set-up over the dinette/bed, the a/c install...well, everything.

Do you mind a few questions? What is the interior height of your CT? Does the bunk over the dinette fold up or is it high enough so you can sit down and have headroom? Any ideas as to the total weight?

Thank you,
Tom

[sportxlh]

This is a very nice build. Two questions for you. 1) When you run you a/c, I assume you need to open one of the rear barn doors: correct? 2) Is the propane mount only used once you arrive at the camp site or do you actually transport the tank on the mounting device? If you only place the propane tank on the monunt once you get to a camp site: where do you store it while in traveling?

Again: this thing looks great!

[pmowers]

Wow, very nice. I had to go up to the title to recheck the size of the trailer, it looks much bigger than it is. You have really done a great job, with getting everything into that amount of space.

[pappaw]

Thanks for all your kind words. I could use a few, lol.

The inside height is 6ft 8ins, and the top bunk is permanent, and there is plenty of head room when you set in the dinette. That was one of my musts (if possible) to have things so I did not have to move much around. I have back problems, so reducing any lifting, moving, climbing, etc, was important. Tried to make things so the wife could do the task.

That brings me to the propane tank mount, and yes it will be used to lock a tank into the mount and leave it there to transport and use from that point. Later I want to do the same type thing with a jerry can for gasoline. Right now I have a small portable table top gas grill I use and we use those little torch size tanks until we find a bigger better grill and hook it to the big tank. I also have a gas cooktop I want to fix on sliders to pull out from the "galley" and use.

Yes, when we run the A/C, we open the back door or doors. So far we just set Genny out on the ground and plug it up and run the A/C. I have fixed a way to use a bicycle lock to lock the generator to the trailer. Guess that's about the only thing worth taking from back there.

I'm thinking it's close to my limit of 1500lbs when loaded. I had planned on this in my head for about 2 years, looked around, drew plans, you know the routine, anyway when I started building, the space went quick, and a lot of my grand ideas went in the trash. I wanted room for my wheelchair in the back, and that was the first to go, lol. 5X12 would have worked better, but felt it was too long for my tow. I built this in my driveway at my rental duplex, working a little each day for 3 weeks with borrowed hand tools. If I had a proper shop the end result would have been better and lighter, but all and all I am still very proud of her and fits my needs, so if I can do it, anyone can.

Thanks again: Jeff

[wolgie]

That is totally awesome. This may be my next build. I was looking at cargo trailers but was not in the budget plus I kind of need it to fit in the garage. It has everything you need. Can you tell me the exterior height from the ground?

Thanks

[pappaw]

Hi Wolgie:

Thanks, like you project too. I think it's 8ft 4in. I need to get it hooked up and on flat drive and check it again for sure and make a sign for the front with the height on it before I get in trouble.

[bc toys]

where did you get the dump tanks and your fresh water tank do you have pics of them also

[starleen2]

One tip on that Air conditioner - maybe get a drip pan underneath with a drainage tube on it - would hate to see condensation from the AC operation getting all over the inside of the back area

[pappaw]

The A/C had a drain hole which I screwed a caulked a hose fitting into which I hooked a hose to and ran it thru the floor, and it work great.

The only picture I have are what you can see the ends of in the above posted pictures. I purchased them on e-bay from one of the many sources there selling water tanks. I converted one water tank to a dump tank by mounting 3 inch flanges to the tank.

[bigbendhiker]

Pappaw,

Great looking trailer conversion. You don't see too many 5x10's with all of the amenities that you were able to incorporate. Well thought out.

I impressed that you were able to accomplish that in the driveway.

Question: Looking at your electrical setup (very neat), does your converter include that battery charger or is that a separate unit? What model/brand of converter did you go with?

[flboy]

Nice Job.

[pappaw]

Thnaks again for your comments.

bigbendhiker: The converter is just a converter I picked up on evilbay, figured I would get a good one when this one craps out, but it works good so far. Then I use a Deltran battery tender.

[pete42]

noticed where you live I too live in sw ohio Jamestown.
when I had a scamp trailer the muddobbers tried to build nest in the side toilet vent sort of looked like yours
they did not get into the vent due to a screen covering the hole something to think about.

nice build

could you fashion a wheelchair mount to the back?
I need a larger trailer to carry my mobility scooter we went to Maryland and loading unloading two mobility
scooters became a big job two or three times a day.
like i said nice build.
pete

[Trainman45]

Hi Pappaw,
Great build, you have been busy.!! I really like the toilet and shower. What size water tanks did you use.? You must have done a lot of measuring to get all that great stuff in there. .... lol. Good job, thanks for posting the pics.