OverTheTopCargoTrailer 7 x 16

[bdosborn]

Wow your already going to replace your trailer. Have you even camped in it yet?

x2

Bruce

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Hi Bruce & 8ball

I'm caught in a infinite LOOP of indecision.
The trailer is really great if I wanted to use the thing part time summer or just Arizona or Texas in the winter time.

While testing the trailer mostly in my driveway , i have noticed it sweats a lot - which comes back to really needing a 2nd layer of
insulation inside the first layer - that is the main problem. Its been sort of a fun experiment for my first time around...
Im sorta kicking myself having been an Insulation contractor in 79...but a metal trailers are a whole different beast.
I'm not quite happy with the current outcome and I am still kicking around what PLAN B - will be ?

I guess since I plan to live in the thing for a few years , traveling around the country I wanted to be able to endure a larger temp range.
Lets say 20 deg to 95 deg - if that is possible ? I'm not a fan of heating with Propane - but maybe other options will not be possible ?
Then I also really, really don't like wrenching on trailer axels , springs, breaks & bearings etc

While talking about building trailers...I mostly noticed that the trailer guys have a pretty good markup,
because if I purchased all the parts it could be done for 1/2 price, but you guys are correct it is not worth the hassle.
Right now trailer builders are selling all they can build as fast as they can build it & are not very motivated to make some changes,
most likely I will have to stay with this unit & learn some more with my old lark. Maybe the 2nd or 3 time around will get me closer to where
I wanna be with my experiment. In the meantime I am learning a lot.... CONSIDERING what trade school costs today $30k+ I could afford
4-5 trailers with what I am saving.

With the axels I have learned that you want to be be around 80-90% of max rating or the ride will be too rough,
so you are correct if I installed 2 x 6K = 12K then I would get a rough ride , not that I was thinking to tow around 10-12K
I was more or less thinking about towing at 40-50% capacity, never more than 6,000 lbs as a extra safety margin - but its not a good plan

One option that I could always do is when I rent the house out to travel around, to include the basic trailer as an extra bedroom..
My garage is a second detached building and that would not be included in the deal.
Sorta of sneaky , but for the ghetto its not a bad plan to get an extra $500 per month in rent...
A trailer parking space in a run down park is $800 per month, so really in one year the basic cargo trailer would be paid off,
I'm speaking of the basics only - all the high tech & solar stuff would be removed.

In closing for today , let me wish you all a Merry Christmas & Happy new year.

Jerry

[hankaye]

OverTheTopCargoTrailer, Howdy;

During my readings on here, I've seen a few mention the use
reflex-tec (?), along with the foam insulation. What would
you think of that set-up ??? Courious as I need to think of a system
for my build, which won't happen till this Summer.
OR ... maybe just a series of 1/8" screen trim attached to the foam
in a verticle directionto allow the walls to breath ?

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

hank

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Hi Hank

I don't have an answer on how well the reflex-tec works,
But in the next 2-3 months I should be able to tell you how 2 layers of
Insulation work hopefully

Merry Christmas

[225]

A lot of the sweating is a ventilation issue. When is it sweating? Is everything well ventilated?

I would check that before ripping walls down.

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Hi 225

Currently in the SF bay area we have more rain then in Seattle

I have a 15" 5 gal bucket that is full in the back yard, normally we get our rain in Jan & Feb about 10-12" per year as average.
I would say we will get over 30" this year if the pace keeps going ?? its just insane
it rained non stop for the last 3-4 weeks. The humidity is very high and even the inside trailer temp is 60 deg,
outside is 50 deg , any exposed metal on the outside frame, roof, door or rear wall etc sweats like crazy.

[hankaye]

OverTheTopCargoTrailer, Howdy;

Here in SouthWest N.M. we had 2" back in Aug.
and then we had 0.04" about a week or so ago...
No idea what the local farmers are going to do.
Most of the Rio Grand's water is designated for
Old Mexico or Texas. The locals can't touch it,
just have to watch it move on by.

hank

[roadinspector]

Hankaye,

Sounds like you've had about the same as we've had in West Texas. We're hurting pretty bad. Folks have either sold all their cattle or cut their herds in half praying for the best.

Earnest

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Good news guys

The dehumidifier is work pretty good, makes a lot of diferance,
As its also using 410 watts it helps to heat the trailer.
So far it's pulling out about a pint - 8oz per hour,
That is the max capacity of the unit :-))
Will report more details latter.

[roadinspector]

Thanks for the info!! We still have a unit that we kept in my father-in-laws room when he was with us. Information worth filing.

[hankaye]

OTTCT 7X16, Howdy;


That mean you have to dump it every hour or 2
all through the night ????? ...

hank

[225]

Hi 225

Currently in the SF bay area we have more rain then in Seattle

I have a 15" 5 gal bucket that is full in the back yard, normally we get our rain in Jan & Feb about 10-12" per year as average.
I would say we will get over 30" this year if the pace keeps going ?? its just insane
it rained non stop for the last 3-4 weeks. The humidity is very high and even the inside trailer temp is 60 deg,
outside is 50 deg , any exposed metal on the outside frame, roof, door or rear wall etc sweats like crazy.

I understand that. I am in Louisiana. Always 100% humidity.

I just hate to see you tear apart your trailer.

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Ok newest crazy plan

I am deconstructing OTTCT to install 2 nd layer insulation on the walls and floors to see what a difference it makes, i'm hoping for 50% cut in heating needs.

Under my bed I will install a floor tile heating matt from Sun touch 30" x 6 ft
I will install this on a 30" x 72" board with tiles that can be lifted out if I don't like it,
or also removed in the summer time when not needed.

I can't find my stupid $159 thermostat, so the hell with it, I will install this on a simple on / off switch,
dimmer or timer model , 20, 60 or 240 minutes. It only used 180 watts or about 540 btu per hour on full power
(( pictured below is the 10 ft long matt - this uses 300 watts))
With my current crappie insulation I am able to heat the trailer with about 500 watts or 1,500 Btu per hour.

Anybody wanna take any bets to see if this will work ? AS 100% of the heat will go up into my bed...
this Is the only place that heat its needed for me.

a suntouch.png (127.17 KiB) Viewed 3649 times

a suntouch 2.png (38.86 KiB) Viewed 3649 times

[revorunner]

Interesting,very interesting.

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Hi Revorunner

I tested the mat today, works pretty well when laid directly over foam it gets quite hot
I would guess over 120 deg

If its laid over carpet where the heat can go up and down , then not so well.
Only about 80 deg maybe.