Cargo trailer conversions?

[ElPollo]

Any of you folks build one of these out into a camper? I’m in the midst of that now. 7x14 with awning, solar, fridge, d/c heater and a/c unit, water tank and external shower, external kitchen and a king sized bed. The options to buy a finished trailer that would do what we wanted were too expensive, not that durable, and generally came with stuff we didn’t want or need. I’m interested to hear your thoughts and experiences.

 

[JO.]

We haven't really built ours out but kept it so we could move everything out and use it as an enclosed trailer when needed. It is 7x16 w/ 7' height.

I haven't taken many pics of the inside but the bed is a queen platform base from amazon and a memory foam 6" mattress. If hunting by myself I put the bed in the garage and put in a cot with a canvas cutter on top for padding. Having some extra floor space to spread out wet gear is nice when solo. It is wired for 30 amp and has an RV AC w/ heat strip. I added a diesel heater that works good for hunting seasons. For cooking we do everything on a Coleman stove, small Blackstone, or microwave. The black and yellow totes have all of our plates, cups, utensils, general camping needs. The second one has a backup buddy heater and space heater, water hose, and battery powered pump for pop up shower. Water we just use the 7 gal jugs in the picture. Under the bed is a spare tire, tool kit and jack, folding camp chairs, and pop up awning.

We sold our larger camper that was more limited where we could take it and build quality was less than impressive. This set up works good for the wife and I and has gotten more use in the last 2-3 years than our camper did.

 

[rustneversleeps]

What brand/model cargo trailer is that?

 

[ElPollo]

We haven't really built ours out but kept it so we could move everything out and use it as an enclosed trailer when needed. It is 7x16 w/ 7' height.

I haven't taken many pics of the inside but the bed is a queen platform base from amazon and a memory foam 6" mattress. If hunting by myself I put the bed in the garage and put in a cot with a canvas cutter on top for padding. Having some extra floor space to spread out wet gear is nice when solo. It is wired for 30 amp and has an RV AC w/ heat strip. I added a diesel heater that works good for hunting seasons. For cooking we do everything on a Coleman stove, small Blackstone, or microwave. The black and yellow totes have all of our plates, cups, utensils, general camping needs. The second one has a backup buddy heater and space heater, water hose, and battery powered pump for pop up shower. Water we just use the 7 gal jugs in the picture. Under the bed is a spare tire, tool kit and jack, folding camp chairs, and pop up awning.

We sold our larger camper that was more limited where we could take it and build quality was less than impressive. This set up works good for the wife and I and has gotten more use in the last 2-3 years than our camper did.


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Nice. Looks like one of those from Colorado Trailer Inc. They seem to be well built, but are pricey. Like everything else, there are good cargo trailers and crappy ones, and you get what you pay for. We opted for a well-built version with less features because we wanted to build it up to our own specs. The key is really to look for trailers that have good “bones”. Solid frames with 16” spacing, same spacing on the walls with 1x1.5” tubing in the walls and a good solid 3/4” plywood floor. I have the walls ripped out of mine at the moment to insulate it. Going for about R-9 in the walls and floor and R-11 in the ceiling.

Next step for me is one of the most expensive, the electrical system. We are planning to add enough solar and battery to cover all our electrical needs for extended periods of time, which includes heating, cooling, a refrigerator, lighting, etc.

We have never owned a camper trailer and are still camping on the ground in tents. The motivation behind this build is a) We are getting older and tent camping and packing were getting harder. And B) my wife was diagnosed with a disorder where exposure to sunlight causes her immune system to attack her joints and internal organs. We still like to get out for extended trips, but I needed to be able to get her out of peak sunlight hours and to still be able to get in and out of the places we like to go. This won’t go all of those places, but it will be more capable and durable than most RV trailers and it won’t cost us $70-100k.

 

[rustneversleeps]

Nice. Looks like one of those from Colorado Trailer Inc. They seem to be well built, but are pricey. Like everything else, there are good cargo trailers and crappy ones, and you get what you pay for. We opted for a well-built version with less features because we wanted to build it up to our own specs. The key is really to look for trailers that have good “bones”. Solid frames with 16” spacing, same spacing on the walls with 1x1.5” tubing in the walls and a good solid 3/4” plywood floor. I have the walls ripped out of mine at the moment to insulate it. Going for about R-9 in the walls and floor and R-11 in the ceiling.

Next step for me is one of the most expensive, the electrical system. We are planning to add enough solar and battery to cover all our electrical needs for extended periods of time, which includes heating, cooling, a refrigerator, lighting, etc.

We have never owned a camper trailer and are still camping on the ground in tents. The motivation behind this build is a) We are getting older and tent camping and packing were getting harder. And B) my wife was diagnosed with a disorder where exposure to sunlight causes her immune system to attack her joints and internal organs. We still like to get out for extended trips, but I needed to be able to get her out of peak sunlight hours and to still be able to get in and out of the places we like to go. This won’t go all of those places, but it will be more capable and durable than most RV trailers and it won’t cost us $70-100k.

I’ve been thinking real hard on going this route - would like to be able to bring the SxS but don’t want to get a toy hauler and deal with a bigger camper. Do you feel like 14’ is big enough? What trailer did you end up with? I’d definitely rather go with a well-built one up front..

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I bought a used Pace 20' snowmachine trailer from a neighbor. I like it because it has lots of ground clearance. I don't use the front door that snowmachines use to exit, so I sealed it up.
I made 2 big foldup bunks for sleeping. Installed floor tie downs and sealed the floor with garage epoxy floor paint. I also insulated and and installed a 5000 btu catalytic heater. Installed a travel trailer system for 2 propane tanks. Installed 2 deep cycle 12v batteries and extra lights and an electric tongue jack. outside awning and a window in the side door.
I carry my sxs 700 Yamaha Rhino inside. I carry all my cooking stuff, outside stove, food, water in containers. Folding table and chairs. Works great for 2 or 3 people and towed by my F350 4x4 diesel will go almost anywhere I can drive my truck.

 

[ElPollo]

I’ve been thinking real hard on going this route - would like to be able to bring the SxS but don’t want to get a toy hauler and deal with a bigger camper. Do you feel like 14’ is big enough? What trailer did you end up with? I’d definitely rather go with a well-built one up front..

Most of the cargo trailer manufacturers are local or regional, so go look at them at your local dealer. If they have 24” frame spacing or pressboard flooring, look for something better.

Size is personal preference and is specific to what you want to do. If you want use it basically to haul a SXS and throw cots in it you will probably be fine.

We got a 7x7x14. It’s plenty big for what we are doing. If anything I sorta wish we had gotten the 6.5’ tall version. It’s going to be a tall-ass trailer after I flip the axles and put some beefier rubber on it. And that height makes it tow like a giant brick. That said, we are likely to spend weeks in it in the mountains in the summers, plus hunting trips. That’s a lot of potential to smack your head on a 6’ high door.

 

[ElPollo]

So after a bunch of research and talking to people, I’ve found that RV awnings just suck.

My intent was to put a full length, 14’, manual awning on this trailer and put tent walls on it. The plan was to do an outdoor kitchen attached to the outer wall of the trailer with A-track under the awning. After talking to multiple awning and RV places, I was told that RV awnings are only made to be sun shades. They are not built to handle rain or any inclement weather and you should roll them up to avoid bending of the arms or damage to the trailer. I could add bracing the wall frame to make sure the awning attachment is solid, but I can’t fix the potential for the awning arms to bend.

As a result I am going to pan on the awning for the time being and just use a stand alone canopy that I can stake down. Not ideal, but better than having a set up, I’d have to stow away every time it friggen rains.

It seems like there are some tougher awning options in the overlanding world, but they are all too small for what I wanted to do.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

They are not built to handle rain or any inclement weather and you should roll them up to avoid bending of the arms or damage to the trailer.

Correct. Its a huge surface area and the support means is limited when its a cantilever. An awning needs to be supported off the ground and anchored down if you want it to handle more loading.

 

[ElPollo]

Correct. Its a huge surface area and the support means is limited when its a cantilever. An awning needs to be supported off the ground and anchored down if you want it to handle more loading.

May yet go this route. Had been planning on fab’ing some legs to support the ends of the roller and the run ropes and stakes out at 90 degree angles from those support legs. But am still concerned about the arms potentially bending in a good SW monsoon storm. Even the manual versions of these are $1500-1600. Id hate to put one on and have it get eaten by the first storm. All ears if anyone has ideas.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I bought a 15 x 15 heavy duty tarp. I put 4 coat hooks on the roof edge and bought 4 heavy duty adjustable SS adjustable tent poles. I hook the tarp to the trailer roof and stretch it out so I can put the poles with with guy ropes staked to the ground to keep the poles from moving. The poles can be adjusted for height so when it rains the water will runoff where you want it to.
I also have some tarps that can be used as walls when I need them.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

May yet go this route. Had been planning on fab’ing some legs to support the ends of the roller and the run ropes and stakes out at 90 degree angles from those support legs. But am still concerned about the arms potentially bending in a good SW monsoon storm. Even the manual versions of these are $1500-1600. Id hate to put one on and have it get eaten by the first storm. All ears if anyone has ideas.

As noted above, stand alone tarp with hooks or awning track (a trim profile) will be the most user friendly in hard use. IE you can replace pieces easily if they get ripped, etc.

My trailer does have an auto-awning because it came with it but I don't use it much for the reasons you've noted. I would NOT purposely install one.

 

[JO.]

What brand/model cargo trailer is that?

Cargo Craft is the manufacturer. We did buy it from Colorado Trailers, which looks like they have recently closed. When I was looking at these there were other dealers, some in OK and TX, that were selling the same thing for about 3k less.

 

[MHWASH]

I bought a 15 x 15 heavy duty tarp. I put 4 coat hooks on the roof edge and bought 4 heavy duty adjustable SS adjustable tent poles. I hook the tarp to the trailer roof and stretch it out so I can put the poles with with guy ropes staked to the ground to keep the poles from moving. The poles can be adjusted for height so when it rains the water will runoff where you want it to.
I also have some tarps that can be used as walls when I need them.

Would it be possible to get a couple pics of the coat hook placement? Been considering doing the same.

A pop up canopy works, but I like something over the door as well. My son put a tiny stove in his, but we haven't had cold enough temps to really try it out yet.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

The trailer has an aluminum framework and I made sure the mounting bolts and holes were located in the frame. I used 3/16 or 1/4 stainless bolts, washers and locking nuts. I also sealed around the bolts. Not great pictures, wind is blowing and I didn't want to climb on a tall ladder or the roof! I mounted them to align with the grommets in the tarp.

 

[ElPollo]

The trailer has an aluminum framework and I made sure the mounting bolts and holes were located in the frame. I used 3/16 or 1/4 stainless bolts, washers and locking nuts. I also sealed around the bolts. Not great pictures, wind is blowing and I didn't want to climb on a tall ladder or the roof! I mounted them to align with the grommets in the tarp.
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You got my wheels turning with this. Sometime we get hung up on complex solutions and miss the simple ones. Thanks.

Does the wind ever cause the grommets to come off these hooks?