Converting a snowmobile trailer to an LQ/Toyhauler

[jwhite]

I think if I were going to do alot of traveIing I would look into the sprinter vans,I really like the web site link it's given me alot to think about.
after reading your post I found 2 dodge sprinter high top vans on craigs list for sale and alot on ebay, just not sure I want to tackle building one from scratch when there are some nice B class motorhomes for sale ?
BTW I think the drop down room would come in handy I wanted to add a room on to the back of my trailer so I built a 5ft long box out of 2x4's and made it the right height to go under the rear ramp so it's like a little deck,I also made it to hold my gas cans when I am traveling.
I bought one of the vintage awnings but I haven't got around to makeing the screen walls, the only thing I don't like is you have to stake it out with rope on the 2 corners, it's kind of a hassle unless your going to be set up for a few days.

[jmsokol]

I think if I were going to do a lot of traveling I would look into the sprinter vans.

The sponsorship gods have smiled upon me, and I may have to do a trailer thing a lot quicker than originally planned. So if it all works out I'll probably be shifting to plan B using my current Sprinter van to tow an ATC Raven 6x12 trailer with +6 height and a ramp door. I'm pondering a flat front vs V-nose since the flat front would allow room for a generator box on the trailer tongue. Research hints that a Coleman 9,000 BTU air conditioner on the roof of the Sprinter can be run from a Honda EU-2000i generator. If that's true, then I would do a split power distro allowing the generator to run the air-co, but my 1800 watt inverter and house battery would be reserved for the microwave and such. Don't know how that will work out electrically, but I see it in my mind's eye and will have to draw a diagram to see if it will work out.

If I do go with the Sprinter LQ route I could start a new thread. Are you guys (TNTT) interested in following a Sprinter LQ/Office build-out?

[jwhite]

I would like to see the sprinter convertion,I may want to do one myself, my only concern for myself is would it pull the 7x16 I have and still get good MPG "?
I have a friend that bought a wheel chair assist van from a hospital auction it has a turbo diesel and he painted it and I have the first shot at buying it when he decides to sell it but he only paid 2500.00 for it so I could buy it for that.
I am not sure if I will buy it but I have thought at some point my suburban may need to be retired.
I am also thinking about putting the honda on the V nose front of my trailer and make a frame that locks so I can leave it on the front and not have to set it up each time, I am going to test it next weekend and see how much noise it makes there.
now I move it to the front of the surburban and lock it to the front wheel, and that get's it as far away as I can get it and locked up.

[jmsokol]

I am also thinking about putting the honda on the V nose front of my trailer and make a frame that locks so I can leave it on the front and not have to set it up each time, I am going to test it next weekend and see how much noise it makes there.

Does anybody make a V-shaped "tool box" for the tongue of a V-Nose trailer? Not too wide or deep, of course... but it could be plenty tall. If you could fit a EU2000i in the one side of the V and a 5 gallon Blitz can for gasoline in the other side of the V, that would be great. And yes, you would put a chain around the genny and a big lock to discourage thievery. Ideally, you could flip open the box lid and run the generator in place without lifting it out. Might have to design this box myself and have it fabricated since I don't think it's a stock item.

[jwhite]

That's what I am thinking about is haveing it made, I want it on the right side of the V so the exhaust goes to that side but the honda has the pull cord on that side, so I am going to have a box frame made so it can be locked.
I would have to unlock the frame and lift the frame and move the generator so I could crank it and then put the frame over it and lock it that would be better than lifting the honda up and into the box frame,on the other side of the V the generator would exaust towards the door and I don't think I want that.?
I need to test it to see if it matters, it would be nice if it could be left in one place but I also not sure about how much noise it would make in the summer the AC drowns out alot of that.

[jmsokol]

That's what I am thinking about is haveing it made, I want it on the right side of the V so the exhaust goes to that side but the Honda has the pull cord on that side, so I am going to have a box frame made so it can be locked.

Since I don't have the genny yet, I could also choose a Yamaha. Here's a pretty good pic of the EF2000iS panel layout with the exhaust on the right, I'm guessing.



It's a bit taller than the EU2000i, I think.... but I can imagine a V-nose generator box with a flip-down front and side panel. So you would open up the box's top lid, flip down the front and side panels, pull the starter cord, and be in business.

And yes, I would still chain the generator to the trailer frame. I know I'm paranoid... but am I paranoid enough?

[jmsokol]

The fallback plan could be to mount a slim generator box on a swing-out spare tire carrier on the Sprinter. I already have my spare under the floor in standard pickup truck position, and swing-out spare tire carriers are popular with the RV crowd. Don't know about clearances and such, and I don't know about vibration coupling into the Sprinter body, but it's an alternative position if the V-nose genny-tool box plan doesn't work out structurally. I do see some trailers with a little door and a genny on a set of slides, but that seems a bit too complicated for me. Perhaps I'm just over thinking it.

[jwhite]

What really sold me on the honda 2000 is getting the extended run gas tank off ebay, it will run non stop and all you have to do is add more gas to the tank without haveing to turn it off.
They also run on propane and can be hooked together with another honda 2000 for 4000 watts.
I have heard you can run them in the rain but I don't know if I want to try it.

[jmsokol]

I'm getting final quotes on a 6' x 14' R&R Force Elite aluminum frame trailer with 6' 6" interior height. This would be for towing behind my Sprinter where I would do an LQ/Office conversion. Thinking about getting this in silver metallic or light bronze.

Here's a link to the R&R website. Great price and the snowmobile crowd really seems to like R&R trailers. If this goes through I'll start a thread on putting an LQ in a 6' wide by 11' long Sprinter space. I'll save the back 3' or so of the Sprinter for cargo.

http://www.aluminumtrailers.org/?page_id=961&pid=377

[hankaye]

jmsokol, Howdy;

I am also thinking about putting the honda on the V nose front of my trailer and make a frame that locks so I can leave it on the front and not have to set it up each time, I am going to test it next weekend and see how much noise it makes there.

Does anybody make a V-shaped "tool box" for the tongue of a V-Nose trailer? Not too wide or deep, of course... but it could be plenty tall. If you could fit a EU2000i in the one side of the V and a 5 gallon Blitz can for gasoline in the other side of the V, that would be great. And yes, you would put a chain around the genny and a big lock to discourage thievery. Ideally, you could flip open the box lid and run the generator in place without lifting it out. Might have to design this box myself and have it fabricated since I don't think it's a stock item.

I looked at the link you posted;

http://www.aluminumtrailers.org/?page_id=961&pid=377

noticed that those Trailers only have a single 4" Aluminum "I" beam for the tongue.
You might have a hard time building or installing the storage box you are thinking of...
Didn't know if you'd noticed.

hank

[jmsokol]

I looked at the link you posted;

http://www.aluminumtrailers.org/?page_id=961&pid=377

noticed that those Trailers only have a single 4" Aluminum "I" beam for the tongue.
You might have a hard time building or installing the storage box you are thinking of...
Didn't know if you'd noticed.

hank

Yup.... I thought of that already. I'm having R&R quote on putting a generator door in the nose area. I can then build an interior box with a set of slides that will let me pull the genny out a foot for running. I can build a triangular storage cabinet in the trailer nose and store a can of fuel there as needed, but a 5 gallon Blitz can of gasoline would run me for several days on a 2KW inverter genny at least. Best of all worlds, I think...

Remember, I'm mostly driving 750 miles a day and sleeping in the LQ, or hanging out for a day or two in a church or Walmart parking lot between out of state gigs. I'm not really boondocking or sight-seeing on these trips so hanging out isn't my objective. It's my main business that pays the bills, so filling up a gas can every few days isn't a chore at all since I'm probably already driving.

I really like the idea of a trailer with LED lighting (no bulbs to replace) and an aluminum frame (lighter weight) with torsion axles. The Sprinter really isn't an over-powered towing vehicle, so every pound I can save will help.

[jmsokol]

I looked at the link you posted;

http://www.aluminumtrailers.org/?page_id=961&pid=377

noticed that those Trailers only have a single 4" Aluminum "I" beam for the tongue.
You might have a hard time building or installing the storage box you are thinking of...
Didn't know if you'd noticed.

hank

Yup.... I thought of that already. I'm having R&R quote on putting a generator door in the nose area (they say $150). I can then build an interior box with a set of slides that will let me pull the genny out a foot for running. I can build a triangular storage cabinet in the trailer nose and store a can of fuel there as needed, but a 5 gallon Blitz can of gasoline would run me for several days on a 2KW inverter genny at least. Best of all worlds, I think...

Something like this, but with the door hinged on the top and a little hold-up rod. That way the door acts like a roof for the generator while it's in slide-out running position.



Remember, I'm mostly driving 750 miles a day and sleeping in the LQ, or staying for a day or two in a church or Walmart parking lot between out of state gigs. I'm not really boondocking or sight-seeing on these trips so hanging out isn't my objective. Teaching seminars is my main business that pays the bills, so filling up a gas can every few days isn't a chore at all since I'm probably already driving.

I really like the idea of a trailer with LED lighting (no bulbs to replace) and an aluminum frame (lighter weight) with torsion axles. The Sprinter really isn't an over-powered towing vehicle, so every pound I can save will help.

[hankaye]

jmsokol, Howdy;

Ok, Just wasn't sure what your intentions were ... so, I ask.
In my mind's little eye I spyed a tetter-totter board on the tongue
with the generator and fuel cans fighting for balance .....
Thanks for the clealing that up for me.

hank