A 12 ft. FEATHERLITE conversion

[Prem]

What's your tow vehicle going to be?

Steel frame/ribbed cargo trailers go up in weight fast as they get longer and wider. So called seven wides have tires that are the legal width (8 ft. 6 in.) for any vehicle on the road. Six wides have the tires at 8 ft. (This is why I like inboard wheels, not outboard, but no cargo trailers have them except the 8 wides.) Watch your weight. Go for the smallest trailer that just barely will meet your needs. You'll have buyer's remorse initially, and then you'll get in some tight places with it and will wish it was shorter and narrower.

Steel ribs will allow you to mount a Yucatan hammock and use it without bending the wall in like it probably would on an aluminum-ribbed Featherlite, Aluma or Worthington. I'd still put a hard wood 2x4 across the ribs and then mount a SS eye bolt with double fender washers to the 2x4 to spread out the load of your body weight on the wall (even if you only weigh 98 pounds.)

[Dant]

What's your tow vehicle going to be?

Steel frame/ribbed cargo trailers go up in weight fast as they get longer and wider. So called seven wides have tires that are the legal width (8 ft. 6 in.) for any vehicle on the road. Six wides have the tires at 8 ft. (This is why I like inboard wheels, not outboard, but no cargo trailers have them except the 8 wides.) Watch your weight. Go for the smallest trailer that just barely will meet your needs. You'll have buyer's remorse initially, and then you'll get in some tight places with it and will wish it was shorter and narrower.

Steel ribs will allow you to mount a Yucatan hammock and use it without bending the wall in like it probably would on an aluminum-ribbed Featherlite, Aluma or Worthington. I'd still put a hard wood 2x4 across the ribs and then mount a SS eye bolt with double fender washers to the 2x4 to spread out the load of your body weight on the wall (even if you only weigh 98 pounds.)

Thanks Prem. That's just the kind of advice I need. Although I do mechanical and carpentry work in a pinch, it is not my forte.

I will be using a Toyota Tacoma 4x4 4cyl rated at only 3500 lbs and do not want to get close to the limit. I don't 'need' a 7' wide, but the aesthetics of that width, with a smaller length appeal to me.

No kidding on the stress a hammock can put on a wall, rope or tree. I've been camping with them for years and it never ceases to amaze me the hammock itself can take a lot more weight than the attachment/anchor can.

I currently weigh 190 and need to drop 20. Getting out from behind a desk and on the road usually takes care of that.

I recently purchased a hammock stand and although it weighs 70 pounds, it would be nice to bring along.

[Prem]

My son towed my 7-wide with his Tacoma. He couldn't see around it. I doubt that even mirror extensions would allow one to see as well behind when towing as when not with stock mirrors. His mileage dropped 30% towing his own 6-wide steel CT on a cross country trip. It was loaded to the 3,500# limit (and had trailer brakes). He completely wrecked a pair of 10-ply trailer tires in 3,000 miles with the weight and side winds scrubbing the rubber off his trailer tires.

I have a used 5x10 steel, V-nose CT that I'm ever-so-slowly working on. It tows and parks the easiest of all behind my F-150. Can't stand up in it. No side door. I think it will turn out to be very practical, all camping conditions considered. It's kind of like a large teardrop without the interior wall and exterior galley, but a whole lot more interior volume.

Food for thought.

I currently have two CTs and a cargo-teardrop hybrid. Is there a 12-step program you may have heard of that would work for me?

[Dant]

My son towed my 7-wide with his Tacoma. He couldn't see around it. I doubt that even mirror extensions would allow one to see as well behind when towing as when not with stock mirrors. His mileage dropped 30% towing his own 6-wide steel CT on a cross country trip. It was loaded to the 3,500# limit (and had trailer brakes). He completely wrecked a pair of 10-ply trailer tires in 3,000 miles with the weight and side winds scrubbing the rubber off his trailer tires.

...

Sure. Throw a cold bucket of reality at me.

As you say, 'food for thought.' I've given some thought to not having to stand up inside. After all, most of the time I'll be outside or sitting down or sleeping when inside. And as I've mentioned one of the major assets of a CT is the open rear. Just sitting there at the open end, protected yet in the open air is one of the attractions.

[Dant]

....

I currently have two CTs and a cargo-teardrop hybrid. Is there a 12-step program you may have heard of that would work for me?

There's a one step program, but it's a hard one; selling.

[Prem]

Ah! The easiest and the original: The 1-step Program: Sell

I was contemplating that just this morning. Going to happen. April for the Round Tail and May for the 5-wide CT.

[Dant]

Just ordered my CT. Today I ordered this from Continental Trailer (Dallas, OR):

7' x 10' + 3' V-nose. Interior lights, skylight and vent, insulated ceiling and walls, paneled in Luan plywood, RV door with window, a 22x30 window and a 30 x30 window, stabilizer jacks, wired for RV battery, double rear door.

Windows and window placement not finalized yet. Total is under $4500, weight should be about 1600 pounds. Delivery to Kennewick in 4 to 5 weeks.

Yes, I went with the windows and the 7' wide. We'll see. Question:
This comes with electric brakes, which I would have ordered as an option. Sales person asked if I want an 'axle brake,' a $175 option.

Have to confess I don't have a clue what an axle brake is. I assumed the standard is a drum brake on each wheel. Is this a separate brake that clamps on the axle?. Do I really need that. This thing is going to weigh about 1600 lbs and have very little extra weight added to it.

[Prem]

Axle brake? The axle stub doesn't spin.

Why not call the sales guy back and ask him what he's talking about? Let me know what he says, if you would, kind sir.

There are three kinds of small trailer brakes that I know of:
1. Electric drum brakes
2. Hydraulic drum brakes
3. Hydraulic disk brakes

[vreihen]

Sales person asked if I want an 'axle brake,' a $175 option.

Have to confess I don't have a clue what an axle brake is. I assumed the standard is a drum brake on each wheel.

Did they mean a breakaway kit with battery? Surge brakes that don't require a brake controller and wiring (illegal in some states)? Me thinks that some clarification from the manufacturer is in order.....

[Prem]

Oh, wait!

Maybe the salesman was asking you if you wanted axles that BREAK!

You know, the kind that have the center of the axle stubs drilled out for grease injection.

[pete42]

Not having a CT or never building one I think I would enjoy the 7X10 over a more narrow shorter trailer.
I'm short but I would not like having to stoop over when walking around inside.
but then again I don't want a trailer thats 8 foot tall either.
I think you have yourself a very nice trailer on the way good luck on the conversion and post pictures so I can learn.
Pete

[Dant]

Oh, wait!

Maybe the salesman was asking you if you wanted axles that BREAK!

You know, the kind that have the center of the axle stubs drilled out for grease injection.

Mystery solved. Since I'd been talking about the 6' wide as well as the 7' wide, the dealer got confused. The 7' wide I ordered comes with brakes standard; with the 6' wide it's a $175 option.

[Dant]

Not having a CT or never building one I think I would enjoy the 7X10 over a more narrow shorter trailer.
I'm short but I would not like having to stoop over when walking around inside.
but then again I don't want a trailer thats 8 foot tall either.
I think you have yourself a very nice trailer on the way good luck on the conversion and post pictures so I can learn.
Pete

The interior dimensions, not counting the 3' V-nose, will be 10'5" x 6'8" wide x 6'3" height. What I appreciate about Continental Cargo is the reasonableness of the prices of options:

$35 for a 36" RV door; same for rear stabilizer jacks
$65 for a window (installed), same for insulating the walls
$130 for insulating ceiling and lining it with Luan.

Rather than the philosophy of some products, where their profit margin is much higher for options, this outfit uses the options and willingness to customize as a lure for initial purchase.

[Prem]

Ah yes. I remember when companies actually tried to do good things for their valued customers. It's nice to know that Continental is doing business like that today!

[Prem]

Future fantasy (More volume than some apartments.)