Jeff's Cargo conversion

[roadinspector]

Water tank is in. 33 gallons @ 8.34 Lbs. =275 Lbs. Wow, I should have seen that coming. Good thing it is as low as you can go.
Tank is 27 gallons and water heater is 6 gallons.

Jeff[/quote]

One thing you can consider is not to fill your water until you arrive at location or somewhere close. This way you don't haul the extra weight. Most locations that have a sewer dump site has a water faucet there too.
Earnest

[Taco Jeff]

Thanks for the idea. I am not a campground camper. The whole idea behind the build is to be able to camp in the wilderness/desert and to be self contained but comfortable. I am moving from a FWC pop up to this trailer. Now I can carry fun stuff and/or the dogs in the bed of the truck.
Jeff

[roadinspector]

That's the best kind. The fewer the people, the better I like it. Might look into someone in the area on the paved path that'll let you fill up. Always good to make friendly aquaintances in low places. Friendly chat at a local store goes a long ways.

Don't know if you have thought of it or not but when you do haul with the tanks wet, you will want to make sure they are full. Like you said, thats a lot of weight. You take a few gallons out and to have that sloshing around can make for a rough pull.

Earnest

[Taco Jeff]

Thanks for the advise. Actually I have been doing disperser camping for a long time. I am making the switch from a Four Wheel Camper.
The water tank was made for me by my stainless steel sub contrator, I designed it with two perforated baffles inside. You are so correct, sloshing water can ruin your day when off roading.

Jeff

[Engineer Guy]

An ex-Riversider, here, from the Orange Groves of La Sierra. A great place to grow up, fer shure...

Really nice vision and execution on your build!

In case it helps, I thought I'd pass along an idea for an exterior [or interior] Shower Curtain. My thought was to put 2 small Flagpole holders 3' or 4' apart up high. Bend some Conduit into a half circle. Hang the Shower Curtain from that half circle 'Rod'. Bend the Conduit ends such that they slip into the Trailer-mounted Flagpole Holders; the type folks use on their Porch to display a Flag. The 'right' bend means the Shower Rod sits horizontal when deployed. Remove and store when packing out.

You could also bend the Shower Rod into a 'U' shape with 90 degree bends at the corners.

I like to Boondock, and will be following your very nice build...

If there's ferrous surfaces, you can sew Quarter-sized round Magnets into the seam of a Shower Curtain to stick the edges or the bottom. Alternately, sewing in some small weights would keep the Curtain from flapping around in a modest breeze. Velcro works too, of course.

[norcal2]

Ive used hula hoops for shower curtain holders much in the same manner as you speak, they work great...

Nice build..I also do boondocks...im doing a self sustaining system..as well, not going with your large solar system though something on a smaller scale.. i build a evap pond for the shower water out of pvc pipe, duct tape and a tarp...keeps the environmental people happy I also just pieced together a hot water heater i can use on my camp stove as i didnt want to use up space in the trailer for it..

[Taco Jeff]

Thanks for the ideas. I installed a 10' X 10' RV awning on the side of the trailer and it has an enclosed room with it.
This will be the potty/shower room.
You cant beat these awnings when it comes to ease of deployment and the ability to handle mild wind conditions without be staked down.
Jeff

[roadinspector]

Jeff,
I bow to your expertise, I am impressed in more than one way! It's a good looking rig and a serious WOW to your baffled stainless tank. I can only guess at the rest of the small details like that that make this a serious boondocker rig.
Earnest

[Taco Jeff]

Here is the story behind the trailer. I had the idea about ten years ago. I found a used trailer out of South Africa called a Bushwakka and did an incredible amount of modifications to it. But It had a roof top tent and just did not like tent camping anymore.
I then purchased a Four Wheel Camper and completely redid the interior and added a whole host of goodies. http://s629.photobucket.com/albums/uu15 ... n=organize
The wife finally went camping with me up in the back country of the Sierras in the camper, but she did not like climbing up into the bed over the cab and said she would like to have hot water.
So the camper is for sale and I have been working on this trailer for about 8 months now. We are almost empty nesters now (4 kids) and I would like to find more things to do together.
Here are some pictures of under the bench set that folds and tumbles into a queens size bed.

This is the entire area below the seat.

This is the heater which is all the way to the rear against the wall of the kitchen.

This is the water heater, water pump and fill lines to the water tank below.
My major stumbling block right now is choosing the fabric for the cushions! I am a commercial General Contractor, I can build anything, but don't ask me what color to paint a wall!
Jeff

[d30gaijin]

Jeff,

What a beautiful build you are doing. I truly admire your skills and your ideas.

Don

[Taco Jeff]

Snapped a photo of the awning. I haven't got the room enclosure yet.

Jeff

[flboy]

I really like that awning. I am wanting to get one for my CTC also. About how much does an awning like that cost?

[Taco Jeff]

The awning is a 8' X 8' Carefree. They are pretty pricey. I don't remember exactly how much but I think it was around $500.
I like it because it is very easy to set up by yourself and does well in mild winds. I can also detach the legs and stake them down to the ground vertically.
They also make side curtains that make a room. That will make a nice potty/shower room.

Jeff

[Taco Jeff]

So here is how the kitchen area turned out.


This is with my favorite ARB fridg pulled out on the slider.
Jeff

[Taco Jeff]

32" LCD LED 12 volt TV. It is on a articulating mount so we can sit outside and watch TV.

This is the mounting frame I made to secure the TV while in transit.

Jeff