My Harebrained idea, that doesn't seem to be so harebrained

[pirijodonny]

Good Morning!

I love this site! I have been reading for months now and still have a long was to go to make a dent in the available information! I though I had a new idea, but was I soooooo wrong! Thank you all already for the help you have given me.

My name is Donny and I have wanted a travel trailer for years! My wife and I have camped as newlyweds and continued with our kids. We have gone to many RV dealers and last year we thought we found the perfect trailer! It had a bunk for the kids, a kitchen, bathroom and dinette/queen bed. The weight was right for our SUV (2007 Hyundai Veracruz), but to be honest a little to close to the limit for my liking. The price was cheap, $9k., but we just couldn't justify a loan for something we feel is a luxury. After hashing over the finances and what we wanted to use it for we didn't pull the trigger.

I still wanted a trailer and was frustrated. The trailer would provide us more travel options and we would find it easier to just go out and camp more often. I also think it would reduce our traveling expenses. So we started talking more specifically of why we wanted a trailer.
1. Camping (some AC to not be miserable in the humid summers of the Midwest).
2. Travel with a comfy bed that is mine ( something that wouldn't require us to stay in a hotel and we could just pull over and sleep if needed).
3. We don't need a bathroom or shower. We will either not shower, because we are camping, or we will be at a campsite that offers toilets and showers. and my wife grew up with a truck camper and they never used the bathroom by family policy, so I figure we will be following that same policy. So, more proof that we don't need a bathroom. I am relieved about that!
4. We want a kitchen to cook meals whenever and wherever we want. This will keep us from getting the nasty blaghh feeling of road food and save money.


So we need:
Beds, kitchen, AC, and bike storage.

Itemizing our needs helped us realize, RV's/travel trailers are overkill. We still love looking at them and the awesome features, but have realized we would tow around about 30% of things we would never use. I also went and looked back at the trailer we were thinking of getting a year ago. Someone had owned it for a year and were selling it. I am glad I didn't buy it! The poor quality was already showing through!

After our realization that we couldn't afford a travel trailer and they were overkill I returned to my idea of converting a cargo trailer to a travel trailer. In my research I found this wonderful site/forum! I have hardly looked elsewhere since! My Harebrained idea wasn't so harebrained!

I am trying something new, here is the link to my project I have created with OneNote:
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?page=view&resid=CAA4C4FFC3EBB1E9!2713&authkey=!AL6CRWwkHdFBLU0

Please take a look and share your opinion. I have done a lot of home repair and basic remodeling, but this project is definitely going to present new experiences for me.

We plan (after getting our tax refund in Feb) to order our cargo trailer. This is the link to the trailer. We are going to order it with the three windows installed. 2 (15x30) on the wall over the axle and 1 smaller window over the future sink. (I can't install myself for $300 what the upgrade will cost).

http://www.vipertrailerworld.com/2016-arising-7-x-12-sa-v-nose-ramp-6-3-new-cargo-trailer-mo-i1800157

I do have some questions right of the the bat (Please look at the link to the project, first).

Plumbing:

For just a sink connected to a 2.5 gal electric water heater, do I need an accumulator? (The heater will be directly below the sink.)

Electrical:

Does the wire from the plugin on the trailer to the distribution box need to be 8 or 10 gauge. (max length of wire will be 7ft.

I am going to start my conversion/build post here(please follow and give suggestions!):

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=64991

No worries, once I get started, the posts will have fewer words and more photos!

Thanks everyone!

[Woodbutcher]

First, welcome to the site. I think you have a solid plan, going with a cargo conversion. While I have not done one myself, I camp with a few conversion and have done some work for a friend that has one. My thoughts would be , if weight is an issue, you might consider an all aluminum trailer. More money but less weight and no rust. Make sure to get brakes. One thing people with standy's always hate, is having to make and break down the bed everyday to have a dinette. If it were me I would make the bike storage an outdoor galley and add a receiver to the frame in the back for a bike carrier. Get barn doors instead of the ramp door. For bunks run one across the front with another above, or raise the front one up 20" and build dresser storage underneath, and run the other up higher going front to back. The upper bed goes over the feet of the larger (your) bed a couple of feet, The rest of the space could be storage for clothes. If you look at how teardrops work, your feet are always under something . This would just be my approach to a cargo conversion, take it for what it's worth. Good luck with your project. You will enjoy your cargo so much more then a manufactured trailer.

[lrrowe]

I welcome you also to the forum. I highly recommend reading over and over again the many projects posted here. There is some great work done and ideas presented to consider.

One I might suggest to think about is whether you really need things inside like sinks and the like. At first I did, but finally decided to use all the space inside I could for water tanks, heating and storage. We plan on cooking and dish cleaning outside. But a shower was on top of the list for my wife plus a portable toilet for her nightly needs. I also designed mine so I could carry two kayaks inside for security reasons. That limited my space allocations also.

And I will predict that no matter what you think you will do, you will make changes to your ideas as you go along.
Welocme to the crazy fun.

[pigcooker]

Donny, Welcome to the fun, I agree with Woodbutcher. Get an aluminum cargo trailer, there is about a 400 lb.
weight savings, over a steel frame, and no rust. To save more $$$ and weight, use a small window A/C unit, with
a Baggage door installed in the wall. You don't need to haul around that HUGE rooftop a/c unit, even when you
don't need it. Going this route you should get the a/c unit first, then measure the HxW and order a baggage
door about 3 inches larger then the opening size, they are made with a "Z" channel, so the inside opening is
smaller. I ordered my baggage door 2 inches larger then the a/c, thinking this will give me plenty of wiggle
room, NOT SO. I have no more then a 1/8th inch extra room to slide the unit through. So err on the larger
size incase the unit fails a few yrs. down the road. Get brakes, like Woodbutcher said, well worth the extra
$$. My car, 2007 Chrysler T&C Mini Van, is rated to tow 3500#, but only stop 1000# (that's what the dealer said).
Brakes are cheap insurance. If the Trailer Mfg. offers insulation on the ceiling and walls, that too will save you
a lot of work. Now, your need for hot water, it is nice to have available. Many of us use a 30-40 cup coffee
urn, $5-$10.00 at Goodwill. Fill it, use it, dump out extra water. Get a 5-6gal. water jug, fill it at home, or
at the campground. No plumbing, no pumps, no tanks to clean, freshen up or winterize. You may have
guessed I have a C.T. conv. Got any questions, PM me, or any other member who has done what you would
like to do. We might have a simplified way, having already, "been there- done that".

Hope my $0.02 has been helpful. Doug P.aka Pigcooker

[Vedette]

Welcome to the Forum.
There is a lot of info here in the Cargo Trailer section.
There is a theme that seem to persist here...and that is the "built in sink" discussion.
The first thing that attracts most people to a teardrop is that attached stove and the built in sink. BUT, the more you read and the more you camp with other Teardrop campers you will find out that the majority either confirm that they don't need one, or if they ever build again, they would not include one.
Most prefer the extra counter space that is lost to the sink. Plus, water tank, grey water tank, pump, faucets, sink, etc. All of which add weight and take up space, not to mention increasing cost.
We use a $15.00 folding sink that we bought at Cabellas, that we replace with a fresh one each camping season (we average 52 nights/year). We also detach our Coleman stove from the TD and use it on a campsite picnic table if it is available.
If you PM me your email address I will send you a picture of a Teardrop that might give you even more food for thought, while considering the direction of your build to meet your needs. 1967 Scad-a-Bout
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[Mary C]

Welcome, take a few minutes and check out the foamie section, very light weight and you can build to your satisifaction. and It is easy, and not so costly. I believe we refer to it as a thrifity alternative that even a woman can build.


Mary C.

[pirijodonny]

WoodButcher, the different design has me thinking! The bikes I would like inside for security and keeping them out of the weather (odd when I ride a lot in bad weather). We wouldn't have to change the dinette for each meal or bed. The outdoor kitchen may take some convincing for my wife...

llrowe and pigkooker, you guys have us thinking again about a more simplified dish cleaning option. Kettle and two jugs for fresh/gray water sure is much simpler, but will we regret it?

Mary C. I haven't looked at the foamie section! I need to look!

Thanks for all the help and warm welcome! Keep the ideas and help coming!

Thanks
Donny

[Vedette]

[quote="pirijodonny"] We wouldn't have to change the dinette for each meal or bed. The outdoor kitchen may take some convincing for my wife...

llrowe and pigkooker, you guys have us thinking again about a more simplified dish cleaning option. Kettle and two jugs for fresh/gray water sure is much simpler, but will we regret it?

quote]
That is Camping????
Brian

[lrrowe]

WoodButcher, the different design has me thinking! The bikes I would like inside for security and keeping them out of the weather (odd when I ride a lot in bad weather). We wouldn't have to change the dinette for each meal or bed. The outdoor kitchen may take some convincing for my wife...

llrowe and pigkooker, you guys have us thinking again about a more simplified dish cleaning option. Kettle and two jugs for fresh/gray water sure is much simpler, but will we regret it?

Mary C. I haven't looked at the foamie section! I need to look!

Thanks for all the help and warm welcome! Keep the ideas and help coming!

Thanks
Donny

One option to take if you think you might regret it is to design and build your project so as to make relatively simple changes later. Try to cover both bases. Could be over kill, but then again it could work out to your advantage. I try to do this, but then again, I tend to overbuild anyway.

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi Donny, welcome aboard...

I wanted to camp on or off road and due to the possibly of several days to several weeks camping (Lousy weather, etc.), I decided to go with a stand-up trailer and an inside galley, so... I went the Cargo Conversion route and love the trailer...

I had listed it for sale, but pulled it off the market, deciding to keep it... AND will now finish the interior!!!

Take a look at my photo gallery and see the build (I need to add more photos, but will wait till it warms up)... I went with a small sink from a old truck camper, a small 2 burner stove, and an undersized counter for more room... The trailer was originally build for prospecting with a buddy and went to two cots, but have seen a number of double bed ideas posted in the CT conversion section. As Irrowe and others have said, check out the CT conversions and builds on this site and plan, plan, and read, read...

I went with a heavy duty steel framed cargo rated at 2990# GVW, but it only weighed in at 1400#'s before conversion and although I have not weighed it, I am confident hasn't gained more than 300 or 400 #'s. Even with all my gear, beds, water, propane, and a large grp 27 Deep cycle battery, the awning, and TV, I am confident it is wayyyy less than 2990#'s GVW. I can haul my ATV and the camping stuff and still be way under the GVW...

Good luck and keep us posted...

[Shadow Catcher]

The one thing that separates our teardrop from others is the presence of a sink and a hot water tank. This seems to be one of the things most wives like when doing a tour. One of my goals for the teardrop was that meal prep and cleanup be as easy as it is at home for Nancy and the three burner stove top and sink with hot water achieve that about as well as it can be done.