A 12 ft. FEATHERLITE conversion

[hunter535]

R Pod by Forest River

I saw one of these new jumbo teardrops the other day in Eugene, Oregon.

This is what I'm going to build on the 12 ft. flatbed trailer:

Interesting!

[hunter535]

How about something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56XL0TysIn0
Interesting tow hitch!

[Prem]

Chris,

Camping is good.

Prem

http://picasaweb.google.com/keneunicehill/3rdAnnualJeffersonStateFathersDayGathering#

[hunter535]

Prem,
Nice photos

Looks like the weather was good for camping!

Thanks for sharing.

Chris

[GPW]

Guys , I was checking on a featherlite 14' tandem cargo trailer ... List $8392.00 ... dealer said it can haul 7000lbs. in cargo ... sounds a little far fetched .... anybody know this to be true ???

[Prem]

I was checking on a featherlite 14' tandem cargo trailer ... List $8392.00 ... dealer said it can haul 7000lbs. in cargo ... sounds a little far fetched .... anybody know this to be true ???

He's incorrect. GVRW (Gross Vehicle Rated Weight) versus GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating). Check the sticker on the tongue of the Featherlite trailer. Both numbers are there.

Here's the deal: Each Dexter torsion axle is rated at 3,500 pounds. That makes 7,000 pounds, but the 14 foot structure weighs about 1,800-2,000 pounds (including the axles and wheels). Subtract 2,000 from 7,000 pounds and you've got your maximum cargo carrying capacity. Are all your interior modifications and add-ons going to weigh 5,000 pounds? Would you want to pull that much weight?

Featherlite's 8, 10 & 12 foot cargo trailers (Model 1610) come with a single, 3,500 pound, torsion axle. Their 14, 16 & 18 ft. cargo trailers (Model 1610) come with two.

One 3,500 pound axle is overkill for the weight I carry in my 12 ft. trailer. (Overkill is far better than over weight for the axle! But two 3,500 pound axles is massive overkill, a waste of money and adds a lot of needless weight for the tow vehicle.)

After I took out the heavy OSB wall panels, everything that I added back to make it a camping rig barely replaced the weight of the OSB. Mine has 1,250 pounds total weight on a single 3,500 pound axle. 20+ pounds more if I throw the food in the trailer instead of carrying it in the tow vehicle. I don't carry water or gray water. I only carry propane in the small canisters.

Light is good. (But I put trailer brakes on it anyway.)

Hope that helps.

Prem

[GPW]

That's COOL !!! Thanks !!! Good to know , and the rating for my truck to tow is 5000lbs. which is actually a bit overrated IMO...

[Prem]

Nothing burns up an automatic transmission (even in a one-ton truck) faster than towing a heavy trailer.

[GPW]

Yeah , I'm towing 3500+ now , but I did have a t cooler installed FWIW???

I'd love to drop 1000-1500 lbs. off the package ..

So a 6X12 with a minimal interior would be much lighter huh? I see a lot of cargo interior accessory framing out of 2X4s or bigger ... I was thinking of framing of cabinets ,beds ,etc. something much smaller , like 2X2s ... just well braced ... ?

[Prem]

I'd love to drop 1000-1500 lbs. off the package ...So a 6X12 with a minimal interior would be much lighter huh? I see a lot of cargo interior accessory framing out of 2X4s or bigger ... I was thinking of framing of cabinets ,beds ,etc. something much smaller , like 2X2s ... just well braced ... ?

You take out all the interior paneling from the mfg. You wire and insulate with 1" foam sheet. You cover the walls with 1/8th to 1/4 inch (or metric equivalent) birch or luan plywood. You don't even need much framing (if any) for the cabinetry IF you use aluminum angle for all the cabinet inner corners and for fastening cabinets to the floor. Food and water ride in the tow vehicle. Light.

FWIW,

Prem

[GPW]

Prem ,. good plan , Thanks !!!

[Prem]

If one wants to keep the trailer light and simple (as in "not 2,000 pounds and not complex"), one has to think about it as a super tent that is hard-shelled. A super tent doesn't need running water, a 3-way refer, built-in electronics or a deluxe kitchen.

Depending on where you live (temperature & humidity) and what kind of camping you do (RV park with hook-ups versus dry camping in the woods with or without nearby water), your "super tent" needs will vary.

Mine is set up for dry camping in low humidity. If I am in an RV park with full hook-ups available, all I am going to use is the water spigot and set up food preparation on the picnic table provided or my aluminum folding table. My rig has a small porta-pottie, but I use the RV bathroom for the toilet and the shower. I've camped in places where the only shower was the lake, the hot springs or the creek.

I carry a portable 12-volt AM-FM radio & CD player, a small laptop, and a book. Might get a portable DVD player, but it's not too likely. (Camping is about escaping civilization and being entertained by mother nature...but a little CCR, Willie, Mexican or Brazilian music is my vice.)

Instead of HOW MANY FUNCTIONS / HOW MUCH TECHNOLOGY CAN I FIT INTO THIS TRAILER TO MAKE IT LIKE HOME? you might ask, HOW LITTLE CAN I COMFORTABLY GET AWAY WITH TO ENHANCE THE CAMPING EXPERIENCE IN NATURE?

Side benefits to this approach include, far less money spent and far less time building.

A clear skylight over the bed majorly enhances the camping experience in my trailer.

FWIW,

Prem

[Prem]

At the IRG, mid-July 2010

[Prem]

Another manufacturer gets the idea:

http://www.cruiserrv.com/view-finder.php

[GPW]

Prem , someone steered me to the new Jayco V nose TT... Looks like every one is jumping on this idea !!! But obviously not for the same reasons ... The new Jayco weighs 2900 lbs.(dry) and has a cargo capacity of 550 lbs... That means if I include myself , a little food , a gym bag of clothes and fill the tanks up , I'd be overweight and have to leave the wife and dog home ... They say it sleeps six , but six what... midgets < 100 lbs. each ??? Clearly they missed the point with all the heavy amenities !!! That 's just DUMB!!! ... and they brag about how "green" it is ... Doh !!! Nothing green about towing a heavy pig down the highway ...
A regular V nose CT at half the weight and without all the overly expensive and HEAVY RV components sounds much "greener" to me ... with much more Green left in my pocket !!!!!!!!!!

Prem , I'm with you about keeping it simple and light ...