6x12 Conversion - Slow Process

[pete42]

If you still have the studs exposed they make some metal T's that when placed where the studs meet the top and bottom rail would keep the studs from racking
the plywood will make for a strong wall,
I will say your's is the first wood walled cargo trailer I have seen.

pete

[accrete]

Greetings,
I see you are developing your mattress/sleep pad idea and wanted to chime in.
I've mentioned elsewhere my love for the Froli Sleep System in our van conversion so i won't go into that here ( i just ordered another one to replace the mattress in our fifth wheel, my wife and i like it so much).

What i wanted to share was about condensation under the mattress (something the FSS takes care of by design).

With the foam on wood (or any solid surface) you will most likely create condensation (and therefore opportunity for mold) each night under the mattress. You might want to place something like lattice work under the mattress, anything to create the opportunity for some air flow under the foam pad. Without it, in the varying temp of a typical RV, mold develops in fairly short order.

Thom

[emjohn4]

OK - sorry, just now uploading the pics from the work I did on Monday.

First - since I forgot to get a "finished" shot Sunday night - here it is Monday morning:



Installed the interior lights (temporary location, until I get the ceiling panels installed):



Got the wood siding back up (will be painted, eventually) and the bed rails installed:



Another:



The thought for the bed rails...a platform across the trailer...moved to the lower rail for sleeping, and moved to the upper rails for storage while the toys are underneath.

That was it for the weekend. Sadly, even though I know I did a lot, looking at the before and after pics...it doesn't seem like it.

I'm going to build the bed platform this weekend, and perhaps the under trailer ramp storage frame. The windows will get ordered next month, and installed in November sometime.

The trailer is back at our storage lot now - will pull it out again later this month to do a bit of minor work, but the major work is done for a bit, likely until the windows get installed. That also seems like a good time to paint the interior as well...

[bc toys]

looking good

[revorunner]

Excellent Job!

[emjohn4]

No pics - but yesterday I build the bed platform frame.

Still needs wrapped in cloth, and plywood put on top. This week's activities.

Ordered the windows as well - two 15 x 22 vertical sliders. Depending upon when they arrive, we may just be able to install them this month, otherwise...October / November.

[emjohn4]

Did some more work today on the trailer - installed windows on each side.

Cutting the hole (outside):


Cutting the hole (inside) - Prior to the bottom "header" for the window being installed:


Window in (yeah - I'm short!)


Interior shot (temporary, until the walls go back in):


The same exact window is also installed - in the same spot, but on the other side of the trailer.

Tomorrow I am going to attempt to finish the bed platform, paint the interior walls, and carpet the back doors. We'll see how far I get. Would also like to wax the trailer this weekend as well.

[MXD]

Looks good. I'm about to purchase a new cargo trailer and I'm torn between the Car Mate and a Haulmark. I love the Car Mate. They have a lifetime warranty against leaks in the roof and floor but I'm scared of the wood walls. They would definitely be easier for me to work with but I've never seen them in a CT before. My fear is of the unknown I guess. Apparently Car Mate has been been building them like this for a while so it must be ok.

[hankaye]

emjohn4, Howdy;

Really like what you're doin' with the CT !! I'm in the process
of looking for a 6X12 to convert into a weekend fishcamp.
I fulltime in a 30' 5th wheel and don't like having to up-root
the whole she-bang just to go fish in some remote place that
the 5er may or maynot be able to into or out of. Won't be buying
till I go back to Utah to cleanout my storage lock-up some time
near the beginning of May 2013.
This leaves me pleanty of time to 'shop around' to see what is
available. I'm wanting to get the barn door so I can have some
sort of storage area (damp waders, fishing tackle, odd stuff, etc.).
Will be following your progress with keen interest...

hank

[emjohn4]

So, I kinda forgot to update this on my solution for everyone - busy with life, I guess.

Got the bed installed and the walls painted...

Anyhow...details on the bed: I ordered some foam from (http://www.foambymail.com) to make my own mattress.

4" of LUX-R Foam and 2" of 4LB ViscoPLUSH Memory Foam Topper. I'm going to use 3M Super 77 spray adhesive to glue the two of them together, and slip into a mattress cover. This will be 6" of mattress, which should be very nice, and far better than an air mattress.

Total was under $200.

It came out pretty nice! If I had to do it again, I'd get one step softer than the 4" LUX-R, the memory foam is great, but the LUX-R is just a bit stiff. However, I'm a bony lightweight at 145 lb, so take the stiffness with just a bit of context.

I never got around to making a mattress cover - but I've got it wrapped in a few sheets for the time being.

Here's a few pics (not the greatest - but you get the idea). In the background, you can part one of the rails (2x4) that is bolted to the wall - the mattress and frame lifts up (just manpower) and slides up. I put two carriage bolts through for travel, so the mattress doesn't slide while traveling. I just finger tighten the nut, that's all. It's about a three minute from up-storage to down-sleep ready ordeal.

You'll have to excuse the trailer - it's still a work in progress!







In a few weekends, I'm going to work on the under trailer ramp storage - pics will follow!

[Prem]

That plywood on the inside added a lot of rigidity and strength to your trailer's structure. Good idea. Beats drilling for rivets into aluminum wall studs! Nice how it turned out!

Hope you get to use it a lot. Best wishes.