StarEcho
Well-known member
Hi all, I'm hoping for some help/advice/comments on modifying my trailer to better fit my needs.
The first thing I want to do is have a full time bed, basically get rid of the dinette by day, bed by night concept. Too small for that and I really don't want to be bothered making up a bed at night. So my plan is to get rid of that uber heavy table and put supports around the top where the table used to sit and on the sides under the windows there, and put a one piece piece of plywood there with hinges and a bed lift so that I can lift it up to access the storage space that is made by lifting the bed.
Second thing I'm doing is working on lowering the noise that old water pump makes. Right now I'm trying to get everything torn apart so I can actually get to the hot water heater and pump on one side and the water tank on the other. I'm stuck on the panels that separate the sections from the spot under where the table was. Not sure if they are glued there or what but I can't seem to get them to separate without tearing it. Guess I'll have to saw the panels out and have some help making sure I don't saw through the converter wires :s Any other ideas? I've tried prying them apart but all it does is splinter it. Oh well.
This trailer has a tiny and I emphasize *tiny* bathroom, with a toilet and shower. The plumbing for the toilet is messed up so for now it's capped off. I could fix it easily enough but my plan is to ultimately get rid of the toilet altogether in favor of the ol bucket. I really do want the shower though. For now, I'll use the existing toilet as a makeshift bucket. LOL
There is a horribly loud furnace, which I'm not going to use at all. To start with I'll use a portable catalytic propane heater and as finances allow, I'll switch that out to an Olympic Wave. That will also free up space in that area for a tankless water heater (when I can afford that). I'm planning to use one that's made for outdoors cause it's a heck of a lot cheaper, but I promise I will vent it to outside. I don't actually plan on doing that part myself, but I know an RV guy who says he can do it for me. I only want it to heat shower water, so it's the perfect location for that.
Another thing I plan to do is put 12volt outlets throughout. Which won't be particularly hard since it's such a small space. Obviously the makers never intended this trailer to be used anywhere other than a campground with electric hookups.
What I'd really like to do is put a cargo carrier on the back (get one welded on) but I doubt that will be possible because of too much weight at the back of the trailer. ???? All my cargo basically will be stored underneath the bed. Can't store anything in the front of the trailer as that's the kitchen area and shower.
So if the back is out (is it?) then that only leaves me the tongue to add anything to. Not much space there at all, so don't know if I can there either. The only thing I can think of there is to have a shelf welded above the existing propane tank?
Now regarding the roof. Eventually solar panels will be needed. This is probably a stupid question but do you think it's possible to add a cargo trailer style roof rack to this trailer?
And of course I do realize I'm going to want to scrape that grout off and redo that after cleaning the roof. Also in the plans are some type of fantastic fan and vent cover.
Right now there is an awning which works ok, but nothing fantastic. Since most of the places I plan to go are known for high winds, I've found an awning is kind of wasted. And this one was obviously an afterthought. Either that or horrendous planning since one of the supports blocks the jalousie window from opening unless the awning is out! So thinking I might just take that awning off. I was going to add a picture, but it looks like I've reached the limit of pics in a post, so refer to one of the ones above that show the awning.
So what do you think? Any ideas on getting that stupid panel to separate from the compartment frame? What about the cargo trailer roof rack? cargo rack on back or front?
Thanks for any feedback.
The first thing I want to do is have a full time bed, basically get rid of the dinette by day, bed by night concept. Too small for that and I really don't want to be bothered making up a bed at night. So my plan is to get rid of that uber heavy table and put supports around the top where the table used to sit and on the sides under the windows there, and put a one piece piece of plywood there with hinges and a bed lift so that I can lift it up to access the storage space that is made by lifting the bed.
Second thing I'm doing is working on lowering the noise that old water pump makes. Right now I'm trying to get everything torn apart so I can actually get to the hot water heater and pump on one side and the water tank on the other. I'm stuck on the panels that separate the sections from the spot under where the table was. Not sure if they are glued there or what but I can't seem to get them to separate without tearing it. Guess I'll have to saw the panels out and have some help making sure I don't saw through the converter wires :s Any other ideas? I've tried prying them apart but all it does is splinter it. Oh well.
This trailer has a tiny and I emphasize *tiny* bathroom, with a toilet and shower. The plumbing for the toilet is messed up so for now it's capped off. I could fix it easily enough but my plan is to ultimately get rid of the toilet altogether in favor of the ol bucket. I really do want the shower though. For now, I'll use the existing toilet as a makeshift bucket. LOL
There is a horribly loud furnace, which I'm not going to use at all. To start with I'll use a portable catalytic propane heater and as finances allow, I'll switch that out to an Olympic Wave. That will also free up space in that area for a tankless water heater (when I can afford that). I'm planning to use one that's made for outdoors cause it's a heck of a lot cheaper, but I promise I will vent it to outside. I don't actually plan on doing that part myself, but I know an RV guy who says he can do it for me. I only want it to heat shower water, so it's the perfect location for that.
Another thing I plan to do is put 12volt outlets throughout. Which won't be particularly hard since it's such a small space. Obviously the makers never intended this trailer to be used anywhere other than a campground with electric hookups.
What I'd really like to do is put a cargo carrier on the back (get one welded on) but I doubt that will be possible because of too much weight at the back of the trailer. ???? All my cargo basically will be stored underneath the bed. Can't store anything in the front of the trailer as that's the kitchen area and shower.
So if the back is out (is it?) then that only leaves me the tongue to add anything to. Not much space there at all, so don't know if I can there either. The only thing I can think of there is to have a shelf welded above the existing propane tank?
Now regarding the roof. Eventually solar panels will be needed. This is probably a stupid question but do you think it's possible to add a cargo trailer style roof rack to this trailer?
And of course I do realize I'm going to want to scrape that grout off and redo that after cleaning the roof. Also in the plans are some type of fantastic fan and vent cover.
Right now there is an awning which works ok, but nothing fantastic. Since most of the places I plan to go are known for high winds, I've found an awning is kind of wasted. And this one was obviously an afterthought. Either that or horrendous planning since one of the supports blocks the jalousie window from opening unless the awning is out! So thinking I might just take that awning off. I was going to add a picture, but it looks like I've reached the limit of pics in a post, so refer to one of the ones above that show the awning.
So what do you think? Any ideas on getting that stupid panel to separate from the compartment frame? What about the cargo trailer roof rack? cargo rack on back or front?
Thanks for any feedback.