OverTheTopCargoTrailer 7 x 16

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

OverTheTopCargoTrailer

First a little historical background. I had always wanted to build a house, when I was young I had the energy, now that I’m old I have the money and knowhow, but no energy. You just can’t win for loosing. After looking at tiny houses, trailers, 5th wheelers & outlaw trailers etc, I slowly over 2-3-4 years dreamed up this project, a totally stealth and LuxryCargoTrailer. My goal was to go where no man had gone before me. Since the blogspot StealthCargoTrailers was taken I came up with the new name OverTheTopCargoTrailer , purely by dumb luck the name actually fits better then my first choice StealthCargoTrailers . Hence March 26, 2011 the name and Blogspot of ….. OverTheTopCargoTrailer was born.




My Goal

I wanted to build something new with the luxury of a home, but yet be able to be invisible when I want to blend in. I wanted the flexibility if needed to remove most of the components and to use them at my house or to transfer them into a new large cargo trailer if this unit became too small. I only wanted really good state of the art quality & maintenance free stuff. As I really really really hate cramped RV showers the most – you can see that I put extreme effort into my “One - of - a - kind - glass - tile - showerâ€

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

I think I finally figured this picture posting thing out. First I had to use a thumbnail program on my windows machine to reduce my 1 mb pictures to about 50 kb, 680 x 652. then I had to copy pictures to to a special Mac folder.


Once there I had to upload them one at a time to my personal picture folder on this form, then you have to copy - paste their link into this post & finally I had to press the image button above to insert the picture.

The start of my project




http://overthetopcargotrailer.blogspot.com/

YAHOO

[Goodwood]

Looks pretty nice!

What's next?

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Hi Goodwood

Feel free to give me some more ideas, I don't wanna leave anything big or important out.

Please include link for the product you have in mind.

Thanks

[pilgrim]

Hey Jerry,

I've been meaning to ask, your bosch water heater, does it work in confined spaces. I've been thinking that this would work for me in my build but I'd like to put it under the counter where the sink is. I could find an alternate space I would imagine but that would be ideal. It doesn't require any outside ventilation does it?

Any thoughts?

Pilgrim

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Hi Pilgrim

This Bosch 1600p unit is a close out model at OSH. I got it for $300

It does require a 5" vent vent that should go 6' high up. Also a valve set about $70 The good thing about this unit is that it is a small 117,000 BTU 4 GPM as I was told by the propane dealer my other Quietside unit at 180k Btu 6 GPM would freeze the (2) - 20 lb propane bottles as its sucks the gas to fast when its cold in the morning. The other good item is that this unit does not require a electric outlet, most all other water heaters require a separate 120 volt outlet. I did not put it inside as I personally hate the heat. If I lived in Minnesota where its cold then I would for sure try to instal it inside and see if it kills me? This unit is about 82% efficient, therefore it requires a metal flue.

The Quietside unit is about 95% efficient and uses a 3" PVC exhaust, but costs around $1,000 and requires a 120 electric outlet with power at all times, normally they also require a separate valve set for drain-down etc. Another advantage of the 120 volt outlet is that they allow the unit to function below 32 deg - maybe down to 20 deg. But your small 20 lb bottles will freeze up FAST.

I have not connected the unit or fired it up yet, but it should work ok, if not I have some other units I can install. I will post more details when I connect the unit. I will try to post some links if I can still find them. Quietside also has a model that will do floor heating - that is what I would use in Minnesota


http://www.quietside.com/Quietside/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41&Itemid=162


Bosch 1600p

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-1600P-NG-AquaStar-Tankless/dp/B000KXYAO4

Product Description
Bosch 1600P-NG Bosch AquaStar 1600P-NG (Natural Gas)Bosch AquaStar 1600P whole house tankless gas water heater supplies one major hot water application at a time, such as a shower and is designed to replace your house tank unit. The 1600P replaces the 125B model and is designed to vent vertically and requires a 5" type-b double wall vent. Can be vented horizontally with the addition of the AQ4. The Bosch AquaStar 1600P tankless water heater supplies one major hot water outlet at a time. They are sized for most homes and small businesses and have a 12-year warranty when installed professionally.Bosch 1600P-NG Bosch AquaStar 1600P-NG (Natural Gas) Features:; Delivers up to 4.3 gallons per minute; Standing pilot; 12-year warranty on heat exchanger â 2 years on parts; Provides ENDLESS supply of hot water; Saves up to 50% off utility costs; Compact and lightweight; Can simply hang on the wall; Modulating gas valve to control temperature; Pressure relief valve included; CSA approved"; Power Input : 30,735-117,000 Btu; Minimum Flow to Activate (gpm): 0.5 gallons per minute (gpm); Flow Rates 90° F rise / 2.1 gpm77° F rise / 2.4 gpm65° F rise / 2.9 gpm55° F rise / 3.4 gpm45° F rise / 4.3 gpm; Energy Factor : .69; Thermal Efficiency : 78%; Dimensions: H: 25 ¾" W: 16 ¾" D: 8½"; Weight: 33lbs.; Modulating Gas Valve: Yes; Ignition: Standing Pilot; Accessories: Power vent for horizontal venting Vertical Vent Kit (H/P VVT); All water parts are solid copper or solid brass; Unit is constructed with stainless steel and aluminum; Casing is finished with baked epoxy; Heat exchanger is made of solid copper; Burners are made of stainless steel; Unit has a safety thermocouple and overheat shutoff protection; CSA design certified; Compliant with ASHRAE 90.1; 82% efficiency rating and .69 energy factor; Longest warranty, 15 years on the heat exchanger when professionally installed.

I would guess the Quietside unit would be safer to use inside a trailer as it is cleaner and more efficient. It would also heat your floors with PEX water pipes. Oh... I see they have a new Duel purpose model at 99,000 Btu, maybe I will need to upgrade ?


http://www.quietside.com/Quietside/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=97



That model is $1995 , better stick with standard model only $899

http://www.quietside.com/images/Quietside/Products/ODW/ODW-099A/2009%20Submittal%20ODW-099A%2008-2009.pdf

[pilgrim]

Thanks for all the info Jerry!

I've been considering my options and what would be ideal is a very small on-demand propane unit. We're not going to install a shower but just a sink, although, hot water would be a bonus. I'll have to check all these url's out tomorrow and re-read your post to get into this deeper. What I find I'll post for you.

Pilgrim

[8ball_99]

It looks to me by the time you plumb and vent the tankless that it would use as much space as a standard 6 gallon RV unit. Price wise they also cost more. Just wondering what made you go that route? I know you said you wanted unlimited hot water, but water usage is probably one of our biggest issue when boon docking. So much so on my second time around I installed 2 40 gallon freshwater tanks!

That shower looks nice. Any concerns with the tile and road vibration? I did just a small back splash around my counter and I was worried about it so much I didn't use grout or thin set. Instead I used sanded silicone and construction adhesive for the tile. Have you drove it around much since the tile work? Weight wise I'm sure your fine. Looks like you pull with a tundra.. I can't tell what model you have.. But I pull a good 7500-8k with my 5.7 tundra with NP..

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Hi 8ball_99

Im doing most of it for the technical challenge, to see if can be done ?
Also to have something different... Most guys use their rig as weekender models... I was thinking full timer maybe....I will have 2 x 35 gallons for water. The shower tiles are installed onto a schluter foam board $4 a sq. ft - OUCH !! But SUPPER SUPER light. No road test yet !! I just jumped up and down and sideways like crazy, so far so good. I installed tons of extra metal brackets everywhere.

Trailer and tundra are both 2007, Tundra is limited model. Pulled stuffed trailer from Texas to calif, pulled just like a ghost.



When its all done, we will all see what happens ?

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Just a little off topic

I know a lot of you think we are broke in California, BUT IT'S JUST NOT TRUE !!! Here is more PROOF, that we got CASH to burn !!!

Data Show California Prison Doctors At Top Of State Pay Scale
Posted: 11:24 pm PDT July 5, 2011
Updated: 11:29 pm PDT July 5, 2011

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Doctors, dentists and psychiatrists with the federal receiver's office overseeing inmate medical care are the highest paid state employees in California, according to government salary data the state controller's office released Tuesday.
Two prison doctors make more than $700,000 a year. Dozens of other prison medical personnel, some with the Department of Mental Health, make more than $300,000 a year. A top official with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection makes $309,000 annually.
The controller's office began requesting the data in response to the compensation scandal in the Los Angeles County city of Bell. Residents there voted the entire city council out of office in March after learning that council members and other top officials were giving themselves enormous salaries and pensions.
The people with the top four state salaries are two doctors, a dentist and a psychologist, all working for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, who were paid salaries ranging from $777,323 to $582,609.
They were followed by the chief risk officer for the State Compensation Insurance Fund, California's largest provider of workers' compensation, who is paid $561,072 annually.


AND we take good care of our crooks too!! Last week remember White Bulger - he had $800k in CASH inside his walls living on the beach.

[David_L6]

So many threads to watch and so little time.....

[droid_ca]

you have a nice looking trailer I need to follow this thread cause you got some good ideas and are bound to get more

[Engineer Guy]

I've been self-educating forever on about all things 'Energy' and Solar-related, and can offer a few observations.

This WH gets high marks. Another version vents outside, I believe. One of the Reviewers mentions endless Camp Showers from a large Water Drum. No storage losses due to holding Hot Water, of course.

When I looked into Floor Heating, 'Flash' or demand Heaters were not recommended for Hydronic in-Floor Heating. The on/off cycle degrades the Heater 'innards' fail prematurely.

Eccotemp WH

To not starve the larger Demand WHs, the Propane Line will have to be upsized, of course.

In our self-designed Solar House, we put in Shower Controls that hold water temp stable by mechanical Spring innards, and they're the best thing since sliced Bread. Flush that Toilet! No change. I would think they'd be especially nice to stabilize temps using a Shur-Flor or Demand Pump. An Accumulator Tank is nice, too. They stabilize Water pressure, and Pump run time:

Accumulator Tanks

I've measured Shower usage at 2 of our Houses on Wells at a measly 0.75 Gallon/minute with 'Water Pik' Low Flow Heads. Light and inexpensive Shower Heads...

Both my Trailers have the usual 6 Gallon Atwood WH. I read now that there's a 'higher capacity' type. What the Manufacturer is doing is really cranking up the Water temp. Then, they mix in cold Water at the Hot output using a 'Mixing Valve' [common to Solar WH Systems] to lower Water temp and chance of scalding. This means you get more HW from a given WH Tank capacity.

Another trick is to super-Insulate a conventional RV Tank. Once heated, the Water stays up to temperature longer.

[8ball_99]

Both my Trailers have the usual 6 Gallon Atwood WH. I read now that there's a 'higher capacity' type. What the Manufacturer is doing is really cranking up the Water temp. Then, they mix in cold Water at the Hot output using a 'Mixing Valve' [common to Solar WH Systems] to lower Water temp and chance of scalding. This means you get more HW from a given WH Tank capacity.

Another trick is to super-Insulate a conventional RV Tank. Once heated, the Water stays up to temperature longer.

Both trailers I've built the hotwater is Extremely hot. That was sorta of my guess was they had the temp cranked up so the 6 gallons would go farther. I'm sure by the time the hot water is mixed with luke warm water in our holding tank we get more like 10-11 gallons of hot water from one tank.

[pilgrim]

Engineer Guy - That's exactly what I've been looking for to heat my water. I don't need much and I would assume that even though it is recommended for outside use only it is because of being un-vented. I believe I can deal with that since it would be used very seldom and I could use a venting system to take care of any exhaust problems. I'll look a little deeper into it's design and if it continues to look good I'll give it a go when I come to that phase of my building process. We need to use propane and batteries for our CTC since we will mainly 'dry' camp. Our favorite campgrounds in Yellowstone and Glacier NP don't have electrical hook-ups so you're on your own when there and almost everywhere we camp it's the same.

That's the great thing about this forum, many great minds searching for solutions to our unique designs!

Thanks, Pilgrim