New member, 18x7 build

[pbmazda32]

Hello everyone. New to the forum. I've been lurking around here for awhile and finally decided to register. Seems to be alot of good ideas and experience here.

I have an 18x7 Transhaul cargo trailer I am in the process of converting. I might be going a little overboard with the build but i have good reason. In about 7 months, the Army is sending me to Korea and when i get back i have to PCS to fort Stuart. I will need to live in this camper until my house at Fort Benning sells so I want to be comfortable.

I've spent the last several months gathering up parts need for the build and have now started. I've got all the wood pulled out of the inside and am in the process of wiring both 115v and 12v systems. Once I'm done wiring ill insulate and put the wood back up. I'll give you all a quick run down of the the total plan.

30amp shore power hookup
12v system ran of a Progressive Dynamics RV converter with a Charge Wizard for the Deep Cycle batteries.
TV with an antenna mounted on roof (havnt bought the TV or antenna yet but looking at a Jacked RV antenna on Amazon)
External WiFi antenna (I have trouble getting signal through the camper)
Sink fed by standard RV fresh water hookup. Will be drained into a honey wagon for now. Until I get a good look at the sewer connection on a regular camper
Refrigerator
Microwave
6400BTU A/C. It will be mounted on a shelf with 100lbs drawer slides. I installed an access door I can open and slide the A/C out when in use and close it up when traveling. Go the idea on this forum somewhere.

First question I have for you all is the wall covering. My plan was to put the 1/2 inch plywood back up and then cover it with some decorative wood paneling. Only problem is I can't find any. I've only been to home depot and I don't know what lowes sells. What have you guys used on your walls and where did you get it? Also, the only insulation I saw at Home Depot was some 3/4 inch thick foam with a reflective barrier on one side. Do you think that will be okay and should I install the reflective barrier toward the inside or outside?

Looking forward to hearing some replies. I've been taking lots of photos but don't see how I'm supposed to upload them. Maybe someone can steer me in the right direction. Thanks everyone.

[seebeer]

Am in the process of a 18x7 also. I just stained the plywood and it looked good, my be an idea for you.

[Woodbutcher]

Welcome to the forum. Have you considered 1/4" bead board paneling? It can be had in Oak and Maple unfinished. Not sure you would need 1/2" behind it. Have you considered ridged foam insulation the same thickness as the trailer ribs and then lay the paneling . I am not a cargo guy, I'm a teardrop guy, so more expert opinions may help. Have fun with your build, and thanks for your service.

[jwhite]

I was going to use the bead board paneling on the ceiling and walls and I got lucky the day I bought it I found some really nice sheets that had great wood pattern but it was 38.00 a sheet so I only bought enough to do the ceiling,when I went back I could never find any that really matched what I had so I decided it might be to much wood to do the whole inside.
I decided to use carpet on the walls instead and I got lucky again and found a large roll in the remnent section on sale and it was better carpet than I had planned on buying and it was the perfect color,I really like the look and texture of the carpet on the walls with the wood on the ceiling.
It really fits in with the mancave look I was going for and was alot cheaper to buy than the sheets at 38.00 each.
My tip is if you buying the bead board is to look carefull at all the sheets to make sure they match because mine would not have matched if I had bought them at different times.?
Another idea is you can buy the stock counter tops at lowes and they have the matching formica sheets,they are kind of expensive but it looks really nice,I wish I had bought that to do my kitchen area to match the counter I bought but I wasn't sure how hard it would be to work with and I don't really have a shop with alot of tools.

[roadinspector]

First, thank you for your service to our country. Second, WELCOME!


I have looked for paneling at a Home Depot too and did not find any but I was able to get 1/4" plywood. Both sides were finish grade for about $15.00 a sheet. Lowes sometimes carry the same as they do. I am only using it for the ceiling. The existing 3/8" plywood is in good shape except for a few spots. I am planing on patching the rougn places with wood putty, sanding & painting it. You can get insulation thicker than 3/4". Shop around, you should be able to find some. If not, you can put more than one layer if you have too. The foil side, as I understand it, is a vapor barrier. So yes it would go to the outside. You will need to keep your 1/2" plywood in the CT. It is part of the structural integrity. It ties the wall studs to each other.

Earnest

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Do you think that will be okay and should I install the reflective barrier toward the inside or outside?

Having been an insulation contractor 3 lifetimes ago - I can tell you the vapor barrier "foil" always goes on the condition side "heated or cooled".

[mikeschn]

For help with uploading photos, see here: viewtopic.php?p=911290#p911290

Mike...

[hankaye]

OTTCT, Howdy;

Do you think that will be okay and should I install the reflective barrier toward the inside or outside?

Having been an insulation contractor 3 lifetimes ago - I can tell you the vapor barrier "foil" always goes on the condition side "heated or cooled".

Getting away from 'Tradespeak' ("I can tell you the vapor barrier "foil" always goes on the condition side") ,... both sides get heated and or cooled, either from the elements (exterior), or the heater and A/C unit (interior).
So, ... which side, inside or outside would get the foil side of the insulation???

hank

[Rainier70]

The foil or vapor barrier goes toward the inside/living area. Just breathing, people put out an amazing amount of moisture. You want to vent that moisture through your windows etc, and not have it go into the insulation and wall interior.

[pbmazda32]

Wow, lots of replies. Thank you. I was leaning toward putting the reflective side toward the inside, just wasn't sure. Got most of my wiring finished up today. All I really have left is to hook up the breakaway brake wire to new 12v system and hook up the charge line from the truck into the system as well. Question about that, I have a 40amp converter on the trailer and I'm not sure how many amps the truck pushes back on the charge wire. How can I hook both of these to the trailer battery without one side feeding back on the other?

By the way, found all kinds of wood paneling at Lowes today. It wasn't in the lumber isle, I was just looking in all the wrong places. Found some nice enough looking stuff for $9.98 a sheet. Works for me. I'm on my tablet now but tomorrow I'll try to upload some photos from my laptop, thanks to the guidance given.

[hankaye]

Rainier70, Howdy;

Thanks for the info. on the foil. I get forgetful about things I don't
do very often...

hank

[roadinspector]

Rainier70, Howdy;

Thanks for the info. on the foil. I get forgetful about things I don't
do very often...

hank

I would agree with ya but I already forgot what we were discussing!

Earnest

[hankaye]

huh ... ? meds, gotta find my meds ......

[pbmazda32]

finally got around to adding some photos. I have the 12v and 120v wiring all done. Ceiling is complete on insulation and I am in the process of putting the wood back up. I'm going to paint the ceiling tomorrow and instal the light fixtures and ill take a picture.

30a shore power, Fresh water, and cable TV hookups.

Hook ups.jpg (52.79 KiB) Viewed 3073 times

Here's the fuse box and the 12v system. Looks kinda rough but will be all hidden when the cabinets are complete.

Front Wall wiring.jpg (54.04 KiB) Viewed 3073 times

Used a straightedge and a razor knife. Scored the insulation every inch for seven inches. Let me follow the contours on the trailer.

Front Wall insulation.jpg (62.94 KiB) Viewed 3073 times

[pbmazda32]

Couple more photos

This is the AC installed. Gonna pull it back out and adjust the mount a little. I have room to drop it another 3/4 of an inch to give the door a little more slope to shed water. Also going to waterproof all the exposed wood.

AC.jpg (34.04 KiB) Viewed 3071 times

Here's the switch plate for the 12v outside lights, inside lights, and vent fan.

12v Switchplate.jpg (46.23 KiB) Viewed 3071 times

Here's a shot of the trailer. Need to finish cleaning it up.

Outside.jpg (78.91 KiB) Viewed 3071 times