New 8.5 x 18 Ft V-nose Conversion - Sooo much fun!

[flboy]

Edited 2/26/2016 to add the actual CT pics since it is real now.

I have decided to sell my 7 x 14 with V-nose conversion and build a larger 7 x18 plus Vnose completely self contained toy hauler trailer with bathroom and etc. so my wife will join me more. Following is the thread on my previous conversion http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=50647 . It was my first and I learned a lot. This one will benefit from that and me knowing exactly what I want. I am very excited about the possibilities! My goal is that this blog will be useful for others wanting to do the same.

I have a high end donor truck bed camper that has been damaged (accidentally knocked off the jacks by a car in the driveway. It dropped off the jacks and caved in the floor.. totaled) . I'll be able to extract the Furnace, Fridge, Oven, hot water heater, Black Water Tank, Grey Water Tank, Shower Pan, vanity, and a lot of the cabinetry as well as some windows and table top. My intention is to use as much as I can... it all looksgood but will need some cleaning and touch up, but I am getting it for free.. all I have to do is demolish and take away since it was totaled. It is barely used, but been setting for a while.

I'll be ordering the cargo trailer next week and it will take about 6 weeks to get. In the meantime, I am going to start posting the donor and what I am able to reuse as well as my goals for the build. In any case, I am still optimizing the floor plan and cannot finish that until I have dimensions from the reused appliances and etc.. .

[flboy]

Well, here are some of the pics as I get started. The donor is a Fleetwood Elkhorn truck camper. The camper is in worse shape than I thought... but the appliances are good (except fridge), In all cases they will need to be cleaned up and I'll paint all the exterior surfaces to make them look new. I took all the cabinet and doors off. Will paint them white as I build cabinets for the CTC.

Today I got the following pieces:

Hot Water Heater, Furnace, Sink, Power Converter, Fresh Water Tank, Thermostat, Water Tank Indicator, Various Switches, On Demand 12VDC Water Pump, Electrical Hook Up, Range Hood, Cabinet Doors, Bathroom Door, Drawers, and some other Misc. Parts. I removed the Oven but could not get it out the door unless I disassemble. I am going to tear the side door out next weekend, so I'll remove the range then. The fridge is a total loss. Water leaked into it an has rusted all the insides. It does not work. That will be the most expensive appliance since I want to go with an RV fridge this time to run off gas or electric.

I still have to get the windows and a few other items..., but made good progress today. The stuff is in my garage, so I can start the refurbishment process. A few pics below.

The Doner: Thankful to get it just for the effort to remove it.



The kitchen. I took the dimesions and will recreate in my CTC. The Magic Chef Range is in great shape! Will paint the exterior in any case to match the new CTC Decor. Going to go with black appliances/covers and white cabinets.



The stuff in my garage. This would all cost a lot if I was to buy new for the CTC. I will refurb it like new. This is a great way to go to reduce the costs. Find a doner camper if you can!



The Fresh Water Tank... I am not sure on the size yet.. looks to be at least 30 gal. I can't get the gray water and black water tanks yet as the camper is setting on them.

[hankaye]

flboy, Howdy;

Now that's what I'd call a LOTTO WINNA!!! , ,

hank

[flboy]

flboy, Howdy;

Now that's what I'd call a LOTTO WINNA!!! , ,

hank

Thanks.... It is very lucky for me.

[Finchlake]

I am on my first build, it is a 7 x 14 V-nose. Are there any regrets on your 7 x 14 V-nose build that you can share with me, Maybe keep me from making the same mistakes ?

[Gettin Started]

Nice, should be a fun build. 8.5 x 18 gives you a lot of room to work with.

[flboy]

I am on my first build, it is a 7 x 14 V-nose. Are there any regrets on your 7 x 14 V-nose build that you can share with me, Maybe keep me from making the same mistakes ?

I think the biggest thing was that I removed the paneling, insulated and reinstalled the paneling before I thought through what wiring I'd need throughout. Would have been easier to install and better concealed. Best of luck. Let me know if you have any other questions I can help with.

[flboy]

Nice, should be a fun build. 8.5 x 18 gives you a lot of room to work with.

Thanks. I'm working up a floor plan now. Will post in a few daus and see if I can get some feedback for improvement.

[Finchlake]

I am on my first build, it is a 7 x 14 V-nose. Are there any regrets on your 7 x 14 V-nose build that you can share with me, Maybe keep me from making the same mistakes ?

I think the biggest thing was that I removed the paneling, insulated and reinstalled the paneling before I thought through what wiring I'd need throughout. Would have been easier to install and better concealed. Best of luck. Let me know if you have any other questions I can help with.[/quote]

Thanks, I will be following your progress. My wife does festivals and flea-markets. I'm building the Trailer for her as a go-anywhere do everything festival going Cargo carrying RV. She carries a golf cart to the festivals, so I have built Murffey beds that fold up to get the golf cart in. I have designed the bed frames to hold the fold up tables she needs to set up at the festivals. My goal is to have a trailer to hold everything she needs to go to the festival and have an RV to sleep in while she is there for the weekend.

[Spotman]

Very nice Flyboy, I have a 7x14 completed also. The ideas never stop. Looking forward to following your build and your luck with the "Donor" stuff. Great find. I wouldn't mind a larger one in the future (wife stays home too) and made of all aluminum also.




Bob

[flboy]

Very nice Flyboy, I have a 7x14 completed also. The ideas never stop. Looking forward to following your build and your luck with the "Donor" stuff. Great find. I wouldn't mind a larger one in the future (wife stays home too) and made of all aluminum also.

Bob

Thanks Bob! I'll be keeping the build up here. I don't expect to actually start for two months or so. Right now, I am collecting material. I still need to buy a welder to make the Bed Frame and weld a bit when I cut the studs for Windows, A/C Access, Battery Box , and etc.. I should be pulling the trigger on the trailer order in a few weeks.. then it will be about 4-6 weeks until I can pick it up.

[flboy]

Here is a really rough sketch of the floorplan I am thinking about. I may make some changes to it... Right now I am designing the bed raising mechanism and a few things like that. The Garage area below the loft bed will be almost wide open living area. I am thinking of getting two recliners.... I have the TV/Entertainment center where I can see it from Bed, the couch, and then the recliners if I go that route.

My goal for the floor plan and build is:

1) Must be able to pull over and camp without removing the motorcycles (loft bed and then everything else forward of garage).
2) Need to be able to use all appliances off grid. (Gen for AC if needed. Solar and propane for everything else) 40 gal FW with on demand pump... may double?
3) Need to be agile when pulling for smaller parking lots and etc.. Also, need to be able to pull into backyard an maneuver (18')
4) Must be able to pull with my 2011 F150 4WD.. - Wont come close to the 9,400 lb limit. Expect much less than 7,000 pounds fully loaded. ~4,000 Dry when built out.
5) Need good size bathroom with hot shower, Toilet and etc.. for my wife. - In the design
6) Needs all the modern conveniences - Adding all I can :-) (oven , microwave, furnace, AC, Led lighting, TV, etc.. contemporary look and feel)
7) Must look like a finished camper and have curb appeal.. -- we'll see. I am not a seasoned craftsman... but I am persistent.
8} Rugged for off-road pulling if needed. Will not rot and will have a solid metal roof. Regular trailers are poorly built and fall apart. - That's why I am doing a CTC. Well built trailers off the shelf with similar capability would cost $25,000 - $30,000 unless well used.
9) Build for less than $10,000 and look like brand new - That's the budget.. The Cargo Trailer will be new. So far that should be very achievable given I have a donor trailer giving up some relatively expensive pieces. I'll refurb all the donor equipment and paint.
10) I'll get the satisfaction of doing it myself.... the reason why I do most projects... I am wired that way and can't help it.



10)

[hankaye]

flboy, Howdy;

Interesting concepts ... have you measured the motorcycles (LxWxH) to see how they 'fit'
with the rest. Sometimes toys don't like to 'play' with domestic stuff.

hank

[flboy]

flboy, Howdy;

Interesting concepts ... have you measured the motorcycles (HxWxH) to see how they 'fit'
with the rest. Sometimes toys don't like to 'play' with domestic stuff.

hank

Yes.. I measured the motorcycles and I am giving it a healthy margin. Thanks!

[flboy]

Well, I pulled the trigger on the trailer and made the down payment. It is custom so it will take 3 weeks to build for me. I ended up going with a 7*18 with a 2"V instead of the 8.5 wide. I decided the extra width was not needed for the purpose and I was trying to cut down some on the surface drag. In anycase, it is going to be sharp. White and grey two tone with 24" diamond plate surrounding the trailer at the bottom and will have 15" Aluminum wheels. I'll post a pic as soon as I can after I pick it up.

I have grand plans. I'll most likely move this over to the Build blog as I get into it.