cargo trailer to camper conversion

[Darrells]

First off, Matt if this is too far off topic feel free to move/delete it.
I have been wanting to build a trailer like Ron's for a while now. Randy posted his cargo trailer that he converted for camping and I thought Hey I have one of those that I don't use for work anymore,so here it goes. It is a 2007 Pace American 12x6 with double back doors. It had kinda become a portable storage building so it took me awhile to clean it out and remove the shelves that I built for material while I used it for work. First I built a cabinet in the front corner for storage and such.





Then I built a bench/ battery and A/C power compartment. Which will house 2 deep cycle marine batteries, a inverter, fuse block for D/C power, small panel for A/C power and a power cord.





My wife is going to sew a cushion for the bench and I am going to fabricate some sort of removable table for when the weather is bad. The bed will be across the back of the trailer with storage underneath. A/C will be in the nose beside the cabinet. I really don't have a set idea for this, so we will see what all gets added as it goes along. Now I gotta build a rack for my truck to haul my boats.

[jem]

Great stuff!

Maybe I'll add a general "do it yourself" section. I have an outdoor patio chair design that I'm helping a friend with. Might sell full scale patterns for the parts along with assembly instructions.

[hairymick]

Good on ya Darrel. bloody good job mate.

Matt, I think a general "do it yourself" section would be a great idea.

many of your boat buildrs like to dabble and make other stuff beside boats. We could perhaps share some ideas on what works for us.

[Kayak Jack]

Great stuff!

Maybe I'll add a general "do it yourself" section. ..

That is a good idea, Matt. Some of our guys are very talented at making many things.

[LIGHT KEEPER'S KID]

Might want to concider putting A/C on side or rear,but if have to put up front you may want to put some type of bug screen on condenser coils so they don't get bent up by bugs and rocks on highway

Mike

[Darrells]

I've got a buddy in the sheet metal buisness who built me a cover to slip over the unit while traveling. I hope to get some more done this weekend.

[Darrells]

Got alittle more done this evening. I glued 3/4 foam to the ceiling for insulation.



Then I screwed 1/8 masonite to the ceiling braces. I am going to cut the hole in the nose tomorrow night for the A/c unit. I stopped today and bought some 2" thick foam to use as a mattress once the bed frame is built.



All of my wiring will run down each side between the walls and the ceiling. Once everything is wired I will put a piece of trim down each side to tie the ceiling and walls together.

[craiggamesh]

Great idea. I have been wanting to do something similar for quite a while. I was going to build a teardrop like this
http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/t ... tear47.htm (found a link to it here http://www.mikenchell.com/halloffame.html ) but we had a third child.
A cargo trailer conversion would work, but I have little experience working with metal.

I can't wait to see how it turns out.

[Darrells]

If you can find a used cargo trailer reasonably priced go for it. Other than cutting a hole for the A/C unit there is no metal work.

[craiggamesh]

My wife is a little claustrophobic so windows would be a must.