Don & Christi's 6 x 10 Cargo Conversion

[d30gaijin]

Don,

That works.

On my Featherlite I started with the futon. Anything else just had to fit around that. Then I remember thinking, 'Humm...that v-nose would make for a good computer desk and not interfere with the door.' I ended up sketching a few lines on the trailer floor for the closet and cabinet just to see how deep I should build them.

Prem

Prem,

Exactly!

Originally my design centered on the forward galley and a queen size bed. One trip with that setup made us realize it simply wouldn't work because we needed more open area room to set up a table and chairs to work on computers after a day of bird watching/photography, processing photos (Me), and writing notes on the day's observations (wife). In a 6x10 with a queen size bed there was no open area for that, hence a change to aft mounted bunk beds wherein the central area became our focus. Everything had to revolve around that central open area for tables and chairs because we're often out in inclement weather during the day but need to work inside the CT on our lap tops in the evening (out of the weather), plus cooking inside in the evening during such weather (we don't intend to let a bit of rain stop us from enjoying a trip to the boonies) is important.

I've been focusing since on those two criteria i.e., get the forward galley finished and the bunk beds finished. The bunk beds are mostly finished needing only a few tweaks to make them complete and now the forward galley area is coming to completion, a bit more work forward to do but I am over the major hump (from my perspective). We now have a nice reasonably sized open central area to set up table and chairs for our computer work and a porta potty for those middle of the night requirements. Everything but the forward galley can be easily removed should we need an open CT, such as to haul my Harley with us.

Don

[d30gaijin]

No Progress last week. Moving in-laws back to Californicate took precedence. No progress this week either. Still moving in-laws, dealing with dental appointments, and am looking forward to spending some time on the shooting range with my Army buddy Carl who recently returned from an infantry tour in Iraq. Time on the range is of most importance, if you know what I mean, not to mention spending time with a buddy just back from Iraq is priceless.

Next week is back to Tahoe to help Mom so no progress there either but I know what I want to do and how to do it thanks to help from the folks on this forum. Will get back to it when the dust settles.

Don

[digitek718]

This thread is awesome..lots of details...helping me tremendously with my planning..In the beginning of this thread you were talking about the 30 amp inlet that you bought was not the standard size and you needed an adapter..I am in the process of ordering supplies for my trailer thats being built..was going to order the marinco 30 amp inlet from rvadventure.net for 42.99....Is that the one I want? Or will I need the adapter?

[d30gaijin]

This thread is awesome..lots of details...helping me tremendously with my planning..In the beginning of this thread you were talking about the 30 amp inlet that you bought was not the standard size and you needed an adapter..I am in the process of ordering supplies for my trailer thats being built..was going to order the marinco 30 amp inlet from rvadventure.net for 42.99....Is that the one I want? Or will I need the adapter?

Digitek,

If you go with the Marinco 30 amp inlet you will need the adapter but it is worth the cost. The Marinco inlet is hell for stout. Were I doing it again I would go with the same 30 amp inlet.

This is the inlet I bought:
http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... CHcQ8gIwAQ

Marinco has all the adapters you will need. See their website here:
http://boats.wholesalemarine.com/index/ ... hwodqVwaHw

I hope that helps.

Don

[digitek718]

Glad the marinco inlet worked out for you..im still on the fence about the inlet..im leaning towards getting a basic 5 dollar cable hatch and and just running the shore power chord through..i know its not as streamlined, but it would also give me the option of running a standard 15 amp extension chord through it,hooked up to a battery tender for long term storage instead of powering the whole trailer and putting more miles on the converter. Decisions decisions

[d30gaijin]

Glad the marinco inlet worked out for you..im still on the fence about the inlet..im leaning towards getting a basic 5 dollar cable hatch and and just running the shore power chord through..i know its not as streamlined, but it would also give me the option of running a standard 15 amp extension chord through it,hooked up to a battery tender for long term storage instead of powering the whole trailer and putting more miles on the converter. Decisions decisions

Digitek,

That sounds like the setup I went with at the rear of our CT to give us another option for getting power inside (see photos below). Very simple and very effective. I picked the cable port up at the local Camping World store for about $6, as I recall. The photo shows a short three outlet cord going to my generator. It's simple to remove the short cord and replace with a longer single outlet extension cord.

As GPW so often says here, "Keep it simple." If the cable outlet/penetration is all you need, and it works for you, then that is the way to go.

Don

[Wolfscout]

Originally I just did a six way into the camper through the floor. Long term, that wasn't much good for me as I wanted to add more. == Like microwave, coffeepot, toaster/oven, laptop and wifi....

[BC Cargo]

I just used a standard $5 A/C outside cover (for retangle plug) on each side of the floor. This way I can bring in any kind of cable...A/C, D/C, coax, hose through the floor. A little stealther that way.

[d30gaijin]

I just used a standard $5 A/C outside cover (for retangle plug) on each side of the floor. This way I can bring in any kind of cable...A/C, D/C, coax, hose through the floor. A little stealther that way.

BC Cargo,

Got any pics of the A/C outside cover you used? I checked your album but am not clear as to the type of outside cover you used. I'm guessing it is something from a home Depot type store, perhaps?

Thanks,
Don

[BC Cargo]

Yep...just your standard outside house hold 120 volt cover plate with the spring loaded door for the modern retangle plug. I will add a picture tomorrow.

[d30gaijin]

Yep...just your standard outside house hold 120 volt cover plate with the spring loaded door for the modern retangle plug. I will add a picture tomorrow.

BC,

Thanks for the confirmation. That's kind of what I was thinking you meant, but still please post a pic as they always aid a written description.

Don

[BC_Explorer]

Don:

As I await delivery of my 6x10 CT and considering I also will be towing with a Jeep Cherokee, a thought came to me today about side mirrors. The Cherokee's have fairly small mirrors, do you have any trouble with seeing where you are backing up the CT etc with the stock mirrors or should I be thinking about getting bigger or extended mirrors added based on your experience?

Thanks.

[BC Cargo]

I use a diesel Grand Cherokee with the stock mirrors to tow my 6ft x 12ft. I feel very comfortable in towing with it but this is the max width I would do.

[BC_Explorer]

I use a diesel Grand Cherokee with the stock mirrors to tow my 6ft x 12ft. I feel very comfortable in towing with it but this is the max width I would do.

Thanks BC Cargo. Additional info and perspectives/experiences from others is always helpful.

[d30gaijin]

BC,

I apologize for not responding sooner but due to all the running back and forth between Boise and Lake Tahoe to attend to my 86 year old mother I haven't been on the forum, not to mention I have made no additional progress on my CT conversion.

Be that as it may, I have found no need to use mirror extensions when towing our 6x10 CT behind the Jeep Cherokee. I do use mirror extensions when towing our Jayco TT but the 6x10 CT is narrow enough that I don't need them, something I am thankful for in that the clip on mirror extensions I have for the Jayco vibrate ridiculously and are only useful to see if some blurry blob is coming up on me in the next lane if I need to change lanes, and that is only the weird fisheye mirrors that are out at the end of the extension (the extension have two mirrors, regular mirrors inboard that don't really extend far enough out to see anything and the fisheye mirror out on the end). When backing up the Jayco I rely on the wife to get out and guide me. No such problem when backing the 6x10 CT or changing lanes using the Cherokee mirrors sans extensions.

I hope that helps.

Don

Don:

As I await delivery of my 6x10 CT and considering I also will be towing with a Jeep Cherokee, a thought came to me today about side mirrors. The Cherokee's have fairly small mirrors, do you have any trouble with seeing where you are backing up the CT etc with the stock mirrors or should I be thinking about getting bigger or extended mirrors added based on your experience?

Thanks.