2011 Colony Cargo Trailer Conversion

[my240z]

So now it's completly empty walls and all. But now the fun begins. I will paint the interior steel studs first due to already rust showing through (picture below). Then install DC lights in the ceiling (any recommedations would be much appreciated). Then goes the pink foam board I've already purchased from Home Depot. Then new rolled laminate flooring and then 1/4 maple walls and a white beadboard ceiling. Hope it goes and well as it does in my little head. Enjoy the pic's.

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[roadinspector]

Demo offically started. So I removed all the panels with a phillips bit but first had to figure out what the weird 8 sided bit was (crappy picture quality below). Thankfully I found a couple of blogs that talked about using a simple square drive would work and low and behold it did. I wish I would have payed more attention in math class. A square has four sides and a octogan has 8 side so a square bit if proper sized can be found will fit in an octogan...

I either didn't pay attention or slept that day too. I had the same issue till I asked here and got enlightened. Things very rarely go as planned but that is what makes it interesting. A good plan is a good start. Good luck and keep us posted.

Earnest

[my240z]

So I'm having difficulty on electrical who would have thought . So I have the small amount of AC figured out and bought everything I need. So how do I hook up DC lights to my super easy AC system that I borrowed from here http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=37732 ? As of right now I wont be using a battery because either A) I will be hooked up to camp site and house power or B) I will be hooked up while towing and will want trailer lights to be used mostly to see inside the trailer at night when hooked up to my tow. So any help with the DC lights would be appreciated.

While I figure out the electrical and buy what will be the next step of putting down sheet vinyl I did the pink insulation and painted the interior studs black with Rustolem (pictures below).

So havent done the ceiling becuase I have wires to run as soon as I learn how to be an electrician. And I didnt have to tape the 3/4 foam board in place because I cut it tight to fit

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[adamhusband]

Nice trailer! Mine will be similar in size. Mine will be only 4 ft in height inside. Yours looks to be longer inside a bit because of the V-nose. The build looks solid and what you have done so far looks great!

Adam

[my240z]

More insulation this time the ceiling. Cut it tight to fit again but also taped it with foil tape. Up next is the ceiling. It's funny what you plan to do and what actually happens. Instead of slat wall for shelving I simply used the same walls that were up prior to insulating after I sanded then and poly'ed them up with three coats of satin. It looks really good I also filled all the holes in the walls and a few cracks it looks nice and a little rustic. Ceiling is next a simply white v-groove and trimming it out with baseboard upside down.

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[my240z]

So maybe my favorite upgrade yet and an easy one at that. I added an exterior utility porch light. Simply drill hole threw trailer paint white light black to match trailer and hook it up to newly designed 12v system. Before I close up the ceiling I need to make sure all my newly added lights are properly working

Also with helpful hints I've read about here I used silicon behind light to keep out unwanted water and in the hole I used to bring wire through the trailer so no chaffing.

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[my240z]

Flooring. I skipped over my flooring install

So I bought from Lowes a remnant piece of very high quality laminate sheet that has a tile look. It was super cheap $40 and was 16ft x 12ft again high quality with cushion back, it feels nice under my feet. I only needed a 5 x 8 being I didn't want to sheet in the front V nose since I'm building a cabinet up there. So I put the left over on craigslist and sold it for $40. So free flooring and the guy who bought it from me is using it in his newly remodeled bathroom and was thrilled.

So the flooring slowed down the build because I wanted to glue it down. And the temp had to be over 60 degrees for 48 hrs as to cure properly so I just waited. But per the manufacturer you didn't need to glue it down but It was the only way I wanted to install it and not have issues down the road!

It came out really nice and I have been in there for several hours playing with the electrical and installing walls and I love it.

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[my240z]

So I installed a front cabinet as I said I would but for now with out a door! Why no door you ask? Well my wife suggested since the trailer is so small and a cabinet door would be hard to open while the bed is up why not just make the counter top removable to gain access to the battery/charger/tools/supplies. I never would have thought about that and it make so much sense for my build. I don't plan on storing anything there that I may need unless I break down, even my battery charger doesn't need touched because when you plug in the trailer the smart charger turns on automatically

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[my240z]

So with the electrical hooked up and tested it goes like this. Marine Co exterior plug lets an extension cord hook up outside the trailer. Power comes into the trailer into a GFCI outlet and then over to 2 more plugs front faced on the v-nose cabinet. Also I have a 12v power system. I have a battery inside a battery box that runs all the interior lights and powers a 12v cigarette lighter style plug for charger of electronics but more important running a fan at night. When I have shore power that means the battery is being charged and have unlimited power both AC and DC. When we are without AC power we still have 12v power. I was really not wanting to put in a battery but between members here and my father in law it really seemed like the easiest way to go.

[my240z]

Next was installing the counter top. I really don't like angle cuts so I made multiple(3) templates and the last one was right on. Now as of right now I'm not securing down said counter top because I use it to gain access to the cabinet. So I used 2 pieces of 2x2 as cleats to keep the counter top from moving more that the 1/2 I need to make accessing the storage area easy.

I found this counter top in bad shape at a local habitat for humanity re-store. I paid $15 due to the corners being in bad shape and a large crack along one of the sides. Luckily I didn't need the entire top so I cut around the bad parts and came out with a great laminate countertop that fits and looks GREAT!!!

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[my240z]

So next task was some detail work. Not my specialty so I recruited a friend to help me trim out the trailer. Together we learned coping and how much fun two grown men in a hot trailer inside a garage for 4 hours was Lots of fun and good memories made and the job came out better then I expected. I used 2 1/4" casing which was nailed at first then trimmed screw (much easier) to make sure the bouncing around wouldn't let the nails pop out of time.

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[my240z]

So the trailer is ready for camping . Their are still things I like to do over time but nothing major. Lastly I filled the trim nail holes and painted the trim so the trailer looks finished. Today was suppose to be departure to Hawn State Park here in Missouri but the weather is not cooperating. But since I'm all dressed up and cant go to the ball I thought I'd share the finished project

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[my240z]

So this is mostly for me but these are things I'd like to do overtime to really finish her up.

-skin RV door
-skin rear swing door
-trim next to countertop for finished look
-find curtain rods that are permanent and not cheap looking
-hang wife's curtains she made for trailer

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Good job

See you on the road !!

[rebapuck]

Looks like you are ready to go. Enjoy.