OverTheTopCargoTrailer 7 x 16

[revorunner]

Great Pics. Nothing beats a factory tour. That fifth wheel looks pretty sweet.

[crumvoc]

Thanks for the photos from the factory! Very interesting!

Here in Idaho, Mirage Trailers has a "low end" line (thats how they described it) of wood framed trailers. I went through their plant last summer. On these trailers (sold under the name Cargo Craft) all the framing is of wood, except the rear-most frame which is a very beefy steel "hoop" that is used to support the heavy doors. The rest of the structure is braced against this hoop. Is that how your trailer is constructed?

I still think that the wood framing is a good option, especially if you can get it insulated before the factory bonds the plywood to the studs. At least, that's how they do it at the Cargo Craft factory. I'm not sure if they would consider building it without bonding the plywood, as the plywood is a major part of the structure... if not, then I guess a person could remove all the exterior aluminum to get access to the structure/insulation voids.

[GuitarPhotog]

Hi 225

Currently in the SF bay area we have more rain then in Seattle

I have a 15" 5 gal bucket that is full in the back yard, normally we get our rain in Jan & Feb about 10-12" per year as average.
I would say we will get over 30" this year if the pace keeps going ?? its just insane
it rained non stop for the last 3-4 weeks. The humidity is very high and even the inside trailer temp is 60 deg,
outside is 50 deg , any exposed metal on the outside frame, roof, door or rear wall etc sweats like crazy.

Back on pg 17 or 18 of this thread you made the claim that we have more rain than Seattle. I don't think so. A heavy year here in SF Bay Area is ~21 inches, a normal-slightly dry year (2012) is 15 or so inches, historical average is ~16" per year. Seattle averages 35 inches of rain per year, more than 2X a normal year and half again what our wettest years average.
Historical rainfall data courtesy of Intellicast.com

For San Jose Airport, season to date (season begins Oct 1) is just under 16" For Sea-Tac airport 2012 year total was over 48" more than 11" over the normal 37" average.

I know it seems like it rains a lot here in the Bay Area, but it's nothing compared to Seattle!

I'm not busting anyone's chops here, I just don't want people thinking that the SF Bay Area is soggy like Seattle!

<Chas>

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

your 100% right Chas

We do have MUCH less rain then Seattle.....
It was just for a 1 month period early in the season that we were flooded with rain...
Normal season here is more like 10-12" in my experience

So in my 30 years here in San Jose... I had never seen so much rain so fast to flood my 5 gallon bucket...
thats why the joke to in comparison to Seattle

Jerry

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Here we are at the factory and the first hook up of OTTCT Version 2
Damn was my truck dirty from the bad weather.

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[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

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REMEMBER my plywood was installed on the EXTERIOR

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My model has the alum top frame - ZERO rust can happen here from the interior moisture

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The guy who does their alum welding is a real PRO ...all perfect welds

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Here is the good stuff, how they make the secrete sauce

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Life time on the seamless roof....go beat that anywhere

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I had to pay big bucks so you PHOTO hungry BUZZARDS.... can see how the TOP - secret sauce is really made

[revorunner]

I have been called alot of things but never PHOTO hungry BUZZARDS. Really like the secret sauce.

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

These guys have what looks like zero waste in their manufacturing process
Maybe enough alum to make a beer can is left over, at the end of the day.
I was very impressed how little waste they have.

All alum siding comes from endless rolls and is cut to exact length .....
There guys don't charge extra for colored trailers as some companies do.

I still have a few more pictures to post

Jerry

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Not sure if I already added these pictures of the main factory floor,
seams like there are a few missing

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http://overthetopcargotrailer.blogspot.com/

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

A little sad goodbye

For the time being my first try is being used as storage for the next 6 months, while version 2.0 is being built.

After that it will be brought back as a cheaper version & will be used as an extra bedroom in my driveway while OTTCT 2.0 views the country.

Tomorrow I will try and move OTTCT 2.0 into its building location - ie dry dock.

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http://overthetopcargotrailer.blogspot.com/

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

The map says 6200 miles, but with some side trips it was really about 6500 miles :?


I hope this sets a record for someone willing to get just the right trailer

REMEMBER - its gotta be OverTheTop

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[bdosborn]

Well here we go again - The over the over the top cargo trailer!

Bruce

[revorunner]

Now that is what you call a road trip.

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Hey Bruce & Shadow Catcher

Need some advice PLEASE..... Here is newest crazy plan.

Below is my exterior metal solar panel cover 'in pink plastic" only - plastic to be removed.
I plan to install 2 solar panels 39" x 59" with covers on each side - rear two panels @ 210 watts each.

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Above the window you can see the a/c is almost flush with the exterior ...
thats the way I want it , on the roof you can see the refrigerator vent

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Here you see the a/c inside a small cabinet - this draws air from the vent on the roof.

-------------//---------------

Now for the tricky part.... I want to cut a hole into the side metal upper most wall for a 12" tall x 16" wide 5,000 Btu A/C unit.....
On the exterior the A/C grill will be even with the exterior skin or stick out maybe 1/2"
My whole set up will be 100% hidden under the solar panel " can't be seen from the exterior.

On the inside the A/C will stick out into the trailer about 8-9" and will be installed inside a 24" x 30" cabinet.
The cooling air will be sucked in from under the trailer with a 4" hose & Bilge blower doing up to 320 CFM
while the A/C is operating the solar panel can be tilted forward - "OUTWARD" on the top 2-3" to allow hot air to escape.
The roof also has a rain gutter - so during rains no water can leak in....
the a/c condensate will run down the trailer exterior wall behind the panel.

During the winter months the a/c can be removed from the cabinet -
when in use I would just open or remove the cabinet door & have full solar a/c.....

I estimate with the supper insulation package full 3" thick R-15+ - that trailer should cool with 2,500 to 3,000 BTU estimated,
last year it worked to 95 deg with 5,000 BTU in full sun on the crappie insulation & metal ribs....OTTCT 1.0

I got this Idea from some RV websites - but they used a large 6" x 24" Refrigerator vent on the roof to supply the unit cooling air
the air was sucked in from the roof & then blown out the side wall- they did not use any blower fans.

Are you following my plan or need more pictures ?
I would like to get your ideas

I wanna keep as much hidden as possible


Thanks Jerry