Tiny Cargo trailer conversion...???

[d30gaijin]

The main objective down the road is still a bigger cargo trailer conversion ... 6'X 12' or 14' would do me just fine ... CTs the perfect trailer that can actually survive outside ...

Amen to that! My 6x10 CT sits in my front yard, uncovered and has survived the winter without a hitch, in fact it is a 2001 model ,as best I recall, and has survived all those years out in the open. My Jayco sits in a covered storage facility at $50 a month to protect it from the elements so I can later deal with the roof split on a brand new TT. What is wrong with this picture?

Like GPW, had I known then (when we bought the Jayco) what I know now, again, like GPW, I would have gone with a CT of larger size. Still, we live and learn. We won't be getting rid of the Jayco, it is a nice size for us and has some excellent features we like but I will be modifying it to make up for the factory short-comings. I can say it will be our first and last factory TT.

Don

[GPW]

Don , my tiny little CT , homemade by somebody's Dad, does just Fine outside ... I check it out after rains... no problems , no leaks ...nothing ...it just sits there...
Yesterday , I got a 20% off coupon for HF (bless them) and I ran out and got a HUGE HD tarp for the Jayco... Hope that delays the inevitable

What's wrong with this picture .. ?? Looks like the blame falls on the GREEDY RV industry .... All about the Money !!! From the factory to the dealers , it would appear a Giant Conspiracy to relieve the owners of their money ... over and over again ...
For instance.... When a few finger sized limbs punctured my roof during a storm ... Brought it to the dealer... His plan was to replace the entire roof...Not patch the few small holes ... The cost $5000.. My insurance adjustor met me at the dealership , laughing and joking with the owner, agreed to the plan ... And the adjustor wouldn't even consider my offer to patch the roof myself (for cheap) ... (Curious??? I suspect collusion) Jayco then sold the dealer (supposedly ) the replacement roof , another sheet of 3/32" plywood for $1700... Now I don't know where they get their plywood , but that has to be the Most expensive piece of plywood I'd EVER heard of ... Now instead of "replacing" the roof as stated on the claim , the dealer just added the second piece over the old piece.. and slapped on more of the paper thin vinyl "membrane " and called it a day ... Then told he did me a favor by making the roof thicker... Thanks !!!

Later when I had de-lamination problems under the front window , The factory informed me it was caused by my lack of roof maintenance , when obviously it was caused by a badly sealed window ... I sent them pictures of the window and where it leaked ... They denied any responsibility whatsoever , and told me to take it to the dealer , who informed me the only thing to do was to replace the entire front cap ... for another $5000... Insurance would not cover it , the factory would not volunteer any information how to "fix" it ... In fact the factory rep (Troy) was so RUDE , he called my unit "disposable" ... Wish they had told me all that before I bought one... instead of all the straight up lies I was told before the sale ... Caveat emptor !!!

This is not a problem only with Jayco ... a friend down the street bought another brand TT and has similar problems ... and expenditures...

Then I met a very inspired RV tech who was willing to tell the Truth ... He showed me around his shop , explaining how even the high end units were hastily made, very Poorly constructed , and out of the Worst (cheapest) materials ... The only consideration , as he put it , was for the manufacturers to make the products as visually attractive as possible to the buyer... Structure and long term durability was of No consideration ... And the ensuing EXPENSIVE repairs would be paid by Insurance companies... Sweet deal for the dealers and the factory who would supply overly pricy parts ... A continuous flow of income After the trailer was sold ...

What's wrong with this picture ... I think it's Obvious !!! All about the Money ... a market for the rich and the suckers (like me) ...

Rant's over , soapbox put aside ... Just a WARNING for those who would fall into the RV Money Pit ...

I'm so Glad to find out the CT industry is different ... They actually work !! Imagine that ???

[GPW]

Hey Guys .... Thinking I'll need a box on the tongue for some extra storage ... Checked out some Aluminum pickup truck boxes ... Then saw some plastic ones ... much cheaper and lighter ... Anybody tried one on the tongue of a CT ... Here's one I saw... http://www.lowes.com/pd_207123-230-3514 ... #prod-tabs

Not as pretty as a nice diamond plate box ... but Thrifty and light for my small CT...

[drcurran]

What have people found as the best way to attach a box such as this? "U" bolts maybe? Thanks!

Dan

[LShrew]

This is what we use. Never had a problem with it getting hit when turning sharp or backing in a spot. I did use U Bolts and it is mounted very sturdy. Just remember to keep it far enough out from the CT so you can open the lid.

[GPW]

COOL Idea LS !!! Thanks !!!

[d30gaijin]

Hey Guys .... Thinking I'll need a box on the tongue for some extra storage ... Checked out some Aluminum pickup truck boxes ... Then saw some plastic ones ... much cheaper and lighter ... Anybody tried one on the tongue of a CT ... Here's one I saw...
Not as pretty as a nice diamond plate box ... but Thrifty and light for my small CT...

My question would be how will it hold up over the long run exposed to sun, heat, and cold. My experience with plastic coolers in those conditions hasn't been good but then I guess the tongue box you're referring to isn't insulated?

I bought my steel tongue box from HF for a little over $100 and have been happy with it, other than the paint job sucks (waxed it externally when first bought but still it went from a gloss black to oxidized black/gray color just over the winter). It came with a hydraulic lift lid and pretty good sealing of the lid to box (no leaks inside through heavy down pours while on the road).




Don

[LShrew]

I have been using plastic boxes on different types of trailers for quite a few years without a problem. BUT you have to buy a quality box. Not something that is thin and flimsy. The plastics now are much better than in years past. Some are made to be used in open truck beds. Metal boxes are good. We just decided that the extra weight and $$$ was not worth it.

http://www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-119201 ... B000CFV0DO
Here is the place that I purchased mine at. Read some of the reviews. I'd buy these again in a minute.

[pete42]

used deck boxes at the sailboat for many years they sat in the sun for months at a time so like others have said you get what you pay for.

[GPW]

Hmmm??? Lots of choices ....

[d30gaijin]

GPW,

Thank you for posting the inside info from your RV Tech, especially about the "as visually attractive as possible to the buyer" part. As we have come to know our Jayco over the last (now approaching) two years of ownership it was something that I sensed but couldn't put my finger on as I examined the TT construction features over time. With the admission of your honest RV Tech, and you posting it here, it all came together and he is spot on. Many of the materials used didn't make a lot of sense to me as they were not materials I would have chosen for a TT for various reasons such as weight, strength, integrity, and durability. Now it makes sense. Our Jayco LOOKS really nice inside and out but the question of durability seemed to nag at the back of my brain and now I understand why.

As I previously mentioned we won't be selling the Jayco, why take a huge loss on a functional TT that suits our needs so well in terms of size and amenities i.e., it works well for the two of us? But then again, now that I know what I am up against in terms of durability, and since our Jayco is fairly small (inside actual living space is 16.5 feet), I feel that I can take corrective action to maintain it (forewarned is forearmed) thanks to the CT Forum and especially your excellent input/warnings. I knew nothing about the commercial RV industry and their deceptive practices but now I do. Probably, like too many others, we were seduced by the appearance of the Jayco... it is in fact a beautiful looking little TT. It is also very functional but now I fully understand it will be up to me to maintain that functionality through diligence. I thank you for that!

Don

[GPW]

And be sure to keep an eye on that Norcold reefer... they've had many recalls , and no fixes.... many fires have been reported ..

[GPW]

Don , we're in the same position ... We got the Jayco for Hurricane evac, which we seem to do fairly often So the challenge is maintaining it till the need arises ...
When we first saw the Trailer , we were impressed by how Cute it was ... (certainly no reason to buy a trailer ) , but that was the plan it seems ... The dealer pointed out all the appliances , the curtains, all the "BS" stuff .... Never any word about the construction or functionality ... The questions about the construction questions were answered by the term ..."Jayco Quality " ... No specifics ... although I asked ... WE WERE DUMB !!!!

Don , from what I can tell . there are a few weaknesses to the trailer... the roof ...gotta' watch that one ... I bought a big tarp to help ... no way it's gonna survive outside without some covering ... It appears the Jayco caulk is designed to last about a year and then needs to be checked /patched ... which is Great ... for the dealers ... My dealer wanted $1200 to inspect the roof and re-caulk ... a fact he told me long after the sale ... convenient !!!
If you have a front window , be Sure to check that ... there's no sealing on mine and the subsequent leak caused de-lam of the front cap under the window... When I called Jayco , I was told the roof leaking did that and it was all my fault ... which was total BS... I can see where the leaking has occurred , and it''s certainly not from the roof ... The new models do not have the front window .... an obvious problem Jayco finally solved by elimination ...
Those cargo hatches in the front ... Be sure they're tightly closed or they will leak too , as mine did, ruining the untreated OSB floor ... (more of the wrong materials ) You might want to occasionally inspect under the dinette ... Had I not chosen to remove that entirely, I'd have never seen the rotten floor ...
Also keep an eye on the access panels for the reefer and HWH ... seems they're Not weatherproof and leak too ... grrrr!!!

Now all this makes me wonder how Jayco got such a sparkling reputation ??? They obviously made good trailers in the past , either that or there was just no way Jayco owners could communicate their troubles like we can now on the Inet ... Now it would appear all they're interested in is making the Money ... and having a "low end" product , as they put it so kindly , my attempted dialogues with Jayco about repairs/fixes go largely Ignored ...


Keep it inside , keep it covered ... Good Luck !!!

As my RV buddy pointed out , it's Not only Jayco ... They ALL use cheap materials ..not specifically designed for the best use in a trailer ... as the RV guy put it "the Worst materials possible " ...
My neighbor down the street with another brand TT had a huge bubble develop under his trailer ... it was water ... the plastic under the floor filled up during a rain storm ... somehow ... He 's been back to his dealer many times for leaks , and even demanded a new replacement for his "Lemon" ... a request also ignored ... He's Not happy !!!
Seems the whole commercial RV industry is suffering from this "cancer" ... No wonder the RV lots are brimming with used RVs and trailers they can't sell ... They did it to themselves...


Obviously the trailer manufacturers never did any reading here , or they'd know how to make a Good product as so many Teardroppers have proven here...


I'm putting all my future trailer needs into a Cargo Trailer , which is apparently made to do what the big boys should have done ... Like live outside ...

Now as I've heard ,there's a trailer company making a trailer with No wood .... Evergreen ... Don't know anything else about them , but it seems a good idea ... so somebody apparently cares ..

[GPW]

Guys , you know I've been buggered by the too short an axle problem on my Tiny CT .. So I called around , only could find one place and they said they "make" the axles to spec... He said the lightest axle they make is a 2500 lb and for my length would run around $179.00 .. That and new hubs (5 lug so I could run bigger than 12" tires) and all would be in the neighborhood of $300.00 You think that's a good price ??? I really need to get this problem fixed ... can't use it like it is , and Hurricane season's fast approaching ...

[CT Eddie]

the neighborhood of $300.00 You think that's a good price ???

GPW, I paid $375 and change for a 2,300 lb Dexter Torflex #10 axel to convert an older utility trailer last year. So, IMHO that's in the ball park for 2500 lbs. Check the hanging hardware and procedures b/4 you buy it. You don't want to get home and find it "jacks" up your wind profile or creates other problems. Good luck....