5x8 Cargo Conversion

[xrover]

I have been trolling around and plan to do a conversion with a 5x8 cargo. I am looking for some plans that use the same concepts as a TD trailer. I like the idea of the rear galley so don't want to lose that feature. I am closing in on a 5x8 cargo with rear double doors, and single side door. At the rear, I am thinking of building in a hinged roof to tie in with the rear doors when they open up so that I have a 3' - 5' covered space at the rear when cooking. Most if not all of the cargo conversion I have seen have had their galley inside the trailer.
Thanks for posting.
Len

[digimark]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the way that cargo trailers are constructed might prevent you from cutting through the roof beams and/or the rear door frame to make a lifting section without compromising the structural integrity of the trailer.

Based on what Ive seen other forum members build, you might consider building into the back a gallery section that can, in part or totally, pull out to give you the depth and cover you want. Pull-out drawers, pull out and swing around to the side, or the whole galley unit can slide forward on rollers and/or slides, and lock down when open or closed.

Alternately, you could use an EZ-Up type canopy to cover the rear doors while you're working there.

[xrover]

Sorry, I was not meaning to cut into the exterior for the rear galley. I would hinge a seperate panel and use a securing post so that the panel would swing up and hook into the barn doors.
I am interested in seeing galley and sleeping arrangements in but more in line with how the TD is set up.
Thank you

[kevin57]

hey xrover, take a look at my trailer. maybe it will give you some ideas.

[xrover]

hey xrover, take a look at my trailer. maybe it will give you some ideas.

Now that's what I was looking for. Is that a 6x10?
Lots of space at the back, which is very nice. What about mounting your stove to your rear door so it folds up closed but high enough to clear the counter?
Was your side door already there when you bought the trailer? If not can I ask where you sourced it from?
Thanks for the ideas.
Len (aka Xrover)

[edcasey]

hey xrover, take a look at my trailer. maybe it will give you some ideas.

Kevin that rear kitchen set-up is awesome. Nice job.

[kevin57]

thanks guys. i had to put the door and window in. they came from an old camper that parted out. it had atwo piece door and i just used all the hardware and trim to make mine. there is a folding shelf on the left door for the stove to set on. thanks again.
http://tnttt.com/album_ ... c_id=36829

[kevin57]

hey len i forgot to say that it is a 6x10 trailer with 54 inchesof headroom.

[digimark]

I realize I'm just chiming in, but Kevin -- your galley is a work of art, and inspirational. I've been looking over your construction pictures. I hope you don't mind my curiosity, but, a few questions?

1. What is the soft-looking white material you lined your inside roof with? And are those hardwood accent strips placed across the roof span decorative or are they actually holding the material in? Are the white dots in the wood strips screw covers or something else?

2. Could you tell me more about your main galley back wall? It looks like fiberboard and 1x2 framing... Do you worry about flexing when in motion at all? For that matter, does everyone who puts cabinetry or frameworks across the entire width|height of the trailer have to do anything special to accommodate trailer flex?

In one picture I can see foil-wrap insulation up, a ledger board across the middle, and plywood at the bottom. The ledger board must be there to secure the base cabinet to? Did you do the same thing for the upper cabinets?

Thanks. -Gary

[kevin57]

thanks gary,now to answer your questions.
1. thats just white vinyl over 1/2 in. foam on a piece of 1/4 in. lauan. the strips hold everything up. they are screw covers.
2. the door is 29 in. tall and 40 in. i'm kind of big myself and we have no problem getting in or out. floor height is just below my knees so i just crawl right in.
3.the back wall is 1/4 in. birch plywood with 3/4 x1 in."studs". as for flexing everything seems to be ok. the ledger is for the back of the countertop to rest on. i srewed the upper cabinets to the studs,and i have a piece of 3/4 in. plywood i used for the ceiling and srewed them there also
i hope i answered your questions good enough, and if you have any more fell free to ask.
thanks kevin

[brian_bp]

In addition to Kevin's impressive setup, catrinka has a cargo conversion with a rear galley behind the stock cargo doors.

The swing-up panel for a roof is an intriguing idea. It could be mounted either outside of the doors (but it would need to be opened before the doors, every time you want to get into the galley area) or inside of the doors (but this would require some creative hinge configuration.

An alternative would be to replace the side-hinged doors with a swing-up panel, serving as door and roof... this is what the short-lived R-Vision Cassette did (see for illustration: random Cassette ad, someone's description).

[John Boeckstiegel]

Xrover,
Thought I might share my 5x8 v-nose conversion. Maybe this would help.




The counter is the same from the ground as a counter in your kitchen. I have a 16 gallon water tank under the inside floor. Our maiden voyage was this weekend. It was great.

[xrover]

That's a great idea about the counter height. I'll have to go for that. Something though happened along the way when I first started this post. I bought a teardrop. So my 5x8 conversion is now officially canceled before it even got off the ground.
But thanks for the ideas, I do have some work to do on my TD which includes the Galley.

[dwgriff1]

Seems like a reasonably well setup cargo trailer could be a great season extender. It would not take too much to keep it comfortable in fairly cold weather.

I have a 6 by 12 from contracting days, and I am toying with the idea of converting it as an addition to my tear.

dave

[John Boeckstiegel]

I just came back from a 30Degree night camping trip. It was plenty warm. I took the whole interior down then put 3/4 sytro, then rebuilt the interior. The floor has been raise 12" for storage so the air space under the matress keeps us warm. A very small heater did the trick.