A toyhauler cargo conversion

[pvangel]

OK, I'm an idiot...feel free to make fun of me

I have no idea what I did last night, I was exhausted after a long day of riding and the lights definitely didn't work? So I pulled the main fuse and started checking voltage and continuity wherever I could. Everything was good, and I picked up the fuse to re-install and it wasn't blown? Put it in and hit the pump and it went on? Fantastic fan, good? Lights....nothing. until I hit the wall switch which was OFF. Everything works fine so I deserve a public flogging, wasted an hr checking everything but the wall switch.

I will turn in my man card if asked after this one.

[dustboy]

We'll give you a pass on this one...since you were probably exhausted after a long day.

Remember, whenever troubleshooting, "look for a horse, not a zebra".

[roadinspector]

pvangel,

Don't be so hard on yourself and put your man card back in your pocket. Anyone that has not done that ain't built much. Yes I've done it and have learned to laugh at myself. Easy fix! Look at it this way, you confirmed that you did a good job wiring it when you were saying you don't know squat!! I'd much rather find a flipped switch than having to chase a short any day! Seen both and the later really sucks.

Enjoy your build.
Earnest

[MXD]

If that is the biggest misstep you took in this whole build, you're doing better than most of us.

[pvangel]

No more problems with the lights....

Were loaded up for the first real trip of the year, 5 bikes, gear, food, water, ready to go!





5am departure for a 300 mile ride than practice on the track in the afternoon and race on Saturday, adult beverages Sat night and a leisurely ride home Sunday!

One last idea I had and I whipped it up tonight, my son no matter what will through the coldcuts (or something) back in the cooler and they end up in the ice water and ruin whatever food it is.
So... a little left over FRP panel cut to fit,





Hopefully no more wasted food.

Race and camp report coming next week!

[kkayv]

You have so many cleaver ideas! I like the cooler idea to keep the sandwiches dry! Slick looking trailer. I'm still working on stealing most of your ideas. I wish I would have bought cabinets that didn't need paint like you did! I thought I'd be cleaver and paint them a special gray color that I am gonna mix up myself. That was smart! Wasting time on painting! Was it hard to cut the diamond plate? I've never done it before.

[pvangel]

Kkayv, Diamond plate cuts very easy, I used a skill saw with a carbide tooth blade in it as well as a jigsaw with a metal blade. Only thing you should be aware of is that safety glasses are a must!


The trailer worked great, beds were very comfortable. Really no complaints other then the heater but really didn't get cold in the trailer to make it bad.

It got down to the mid 40's at night and with a blanket on top of my sleeping bag and a hooded sweatshirt I was never cold but would have been nice to have it a touch warmer inside.

I think the mattress makes a big difference because it is like having extra insulation below you, my friends in the trailer next to me slept on cots and didn't make it through the night, they ended up in there pickup and ran the heat off and on all night.

We did use this to warm up the trailer but didn't feel comfortable sleeping with it on, says it needs 2sq.inches for ventilation (which I have) and an automatic shutdown if it senses low oxygen but am not sure I want to be a test dummy if it doesn't work. It does heat the trailer fine but does give off an odor.



I slept with ear plugs in and what a difference! I wake up to every noise (and there are a lot in pits throughout the night) when sleeping at the track and I didn't hear a thing so had a good night sleep for once.

So aside from the heater issue I was very happy with everything and was comfortable all weekend long! Trailer pulled great, we did close to 700 miles this weekend with freeway driving at 75mph to West Virginia dirt roads and the trailer didn't miss a beat.

[pvangel]

2nd long weekend in the trailer and all I have to say is....What a pleasure!
I don't know why these aren't built commercially because I would have bought one.
It is so nice to have a bed with a mattress in it and all the comforts of home in a compact lightweight trailer, for those of you building one it is sooooo worth it and for those who have one you understand what a great set up these are.
I have a few things I want to do but other than some minor "tweeks" that can wait till after the race season, I am LOVING this trailer!

Again thanks for all the help and I'll keep you posted with updates!



Ride on!

[tnriverluver]

Well if it ever quits raining here so I can get mine out of the yard and have a weekend with some decent weather I would be happy to enjoy mine again. It hasn't moved since late Sept.

[roadinspector]

Glad you are enjoying your CT. The best thing about your CT is that it is the way you want it. Any tweeks are yours and the pleasures are all yours too!

Have fun!!
Earnest

[hankaye]

pvangel, Howdy;

Wise old person once mentioned to me that the trick to sleeping
warm outdoors was to have 7X under what you have over.
Heat migrates to cold so if you are on the ground it will 'suck' the
warm right out of ya...
Why do ya think mattresses are so thick compared to your comforter
or in your case sleeping bag ???
Glad it all worked out for ya !!!! , , .

hank

[revorunner]

Excellent job!

[Yamsaab]

Awesome build. Someday I'd like to put together something like that for when we go riding.

This is about the only thing that's a somewhat toyhauler that's compact. Nowhere near as nice as yours.
http://www.aerotrailers.com/7x12weekend ... amper.html

There's also these but they start out at a bigger size. Their basically fancy enclosed trailers. The current model ones look more like an RV then the older ones. The first time I saw an older model of these I thought someone made it themselves because it just looks like a converted enclosed trailer.

http://www.forestriverinc.com/ToyHauler ... RVType=THT

This is our 6x10 enclosed trailer that we built. Nothing nearly like yours but it has a shower installed atleast.

http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/947522 ... ge__st__40

[pvangel]

Thanks Yamsaab! I have been LOVING the trailer, slept in it last weekend and could not have been happier!
I have been meaning to post some updates but have been so busy..... My oldest daughter got married which was wonderful!


The shower works great, I have no problem showering outside because it is at a racetrack. Plenty of hot water and pressure, could not work better.
The battery has been more than enough for the way I use it, no idea how long it lasts because it has always been fine for all my use.
Fantastic fan is great, pulls a lot of air through the trailer.
Back doors are not good, trailer is"racked" depending how it is parked and door is difficult to close.
Beds are great, mattress's are very comfortable!
My headboard is one of my best ideas, love it!
15 gal water tank is more than enough so far for our use.
Floor is "ok" shows dirt and tires leave marks on it, very comfortable to walk on but might be better choices out there.
Cabinets are good.
Lights are great and more than enough light.

Very happy with the whole project! Just need to use it more!

[jmsokol]

FYI: I just published an article about Reverse Polarity Bootleg Ground outlets in EC&M Magazine. This book is more for home builders and inspectors, but RPBG outlets can easily be miswired in older home garage and basement outlets, places you're likely to plug in your Teardrop while in the driveway. An RPBG outlet is the most dangerous miswiring condition that I can imagine, just because everything appears to operate normally, but the chassis and anything you can touch is electrified to 120 volts. See http://ecmweb.com/contractor/failures-o ... ng-exposed