Enclosed cargo trailer questions

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Grizzly708 said:
I know I'm jumping in this a little late but.......
You may want to get bids from local electrician and maybe finish carpenter or even a local handyman. You would have total control and inspection of both the work and materials.
The way it looks now, I will likely be purchasing the trailer outside the local area and picking it up as I start heading west.  That means trying to find a place to hole up and find someone to do the work.  Which I'm okay with doing it's just hard to plan to do something like that in a place that isn't home and where you don't know your way around.  I placed a post in the forums here for anyone that will be somewhere on my trek from the east coast to the west who would be willing to meet up and do the work for me (paid, of course).
 
duncanshannon said:
Hi -  I recently (like 2 weeks ago) finally placed my order with http://www.trailershowroom.com and I chose them for two reasons. 

1) Their website has SO MANY options you can pick and chose from, and see the per line item price.  It's super cumbersome but it was worth the pain!
2) Chris in sales was Super patient and helpful with me.   I am a total noob when it comes to trailers and now I'm super excited to get what I ordered.

Here is my build thread:  http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=69731  

You really do need to know about TNTTT.com if you don't already.  There is a lot more "build" activity there. I find this site "better" overall for learning but that site more active for build help/discussions.

Please don't hesitate to hit me up directly for help!

Duncan
Thanks, Duncan.  I'll check them out.  I've been getting quotes from bunches of different places and they vary so much that my head is spinning.  

I do know about TNTTT but I didn't peruse the site extensively.  Probably because it was so much more about build and I wasn't ready for that yet plus I can't do much on my own.  How I wish I could!
 
duncanshannon said:
Hi -  I recently (like 2 weeks ago) finally placed my order with http://www.trailershowroom.com and I chose them for two reasons. 

1) Their website has SO MANY options you can pick and chose from, and see the per line item price.  It's super cumbersome but it was worth the pain!
2) Chris in sales was Super patient and helpful with me.   I am a total noob when it comes to trailers and now I'm super excited to get what I ordered.

Here is my build thread:  http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=69731  

You really do need to know about TNTTT.com if you don't already.  There is a lot more "build" activity there. I find this site "better" overall for learning but that site more active for build help/discussions.

Please don't hesitate to hit me up directly for help!

Duncan
I took you at your word to hit you up directly and I've sent you a PM.  Thanks!!
 
You gays are getting ahead of mothercoder.

Mothercoder, have you selected a trailer size? That will determine costs to do things. I would follow Bob's lead on sizing if your toad can pull it. You can talk to trailer sellers and see if they offer empty trailers with no interior siding. You may even be able to request insulated interior. I read in another thread that you are, or were, in the DC area. Being that far north, the winters get bad so it may be a viable option for you.

First, define your electrical by looking around your current home. Then really consider what you need. If your needs are low, you can get an inverter and plug directly into it and not have any 110/120 volt house wiring. I didn't use house voltage 110/120 when I had my truck campers. I did all my cooking on a small Coleman stove, either propane or white gas (Coleman fuel in the red can). My lighting was 12v incandescent or LED. I had a 12-volt car radio set up in a box with two 4 inch speakers and a small under dash car antenna. Now, you can buy cheap radios for $10 that have the option of charging from 12v. TV's can be bought that is 12V and some can be run by 12v or house power. I'm not a TV guy so no need for that for me. Phones, tablets, and laptops can be charged from 12v. Most anything that you can think of can usually be run on 12 volts or a small inverter. You may need a true sinewave for certain electronics. So really think about what you need. Solar is something to consider after getting your electrical in and make sure what you have is what you need. Then the solar system can be sized for the intended systems.

Plumbing is no big deal unless you're after a full inside shower and house style toilet. I've done the bucket toilet, homemade camp potty, and the Thetford porta-potty. All very cheap considering what they are. I do like a running sink water for hand washing, teeth brushing, and food prep. I like the foot pump type faucet and a cheap medium size stainless steel bowl cut into the countertop and a drain fitted to the bottom. Five gallons of clean water on one side and a five-gallon waste water jug under the counter to catch the contents from the sink. Some people simply run the drain straight out of the bottom of their home. A lot of places frown on the direct discharge of gray water.

You need to define your intended usage of the trailer for insulation. If your plans are to follow the weather, 50 to 80 degrees, you can get away with 1/2 inch foam and some thin covering on the walls and ceiling. One thing that helps tremendously, is coating the roof with a elastomeric coating to help block out heat. It works like a dream. I frown on fiberglass insulation. It has a tendency to compress inside a moving vehicle and it also breaks apart. That puts fiberglass fibers in your living area and breathing it can be dangerous. The best insulating job I had turn out on floors was 1/2 inch foil faced foam, foil side up. Then covered with 7/16 OSB smooth side up, and covered with a rolled vinyl flooring. I taped all seams of the insulation and OSB with foil tape. I also staggered the breaks between the OSB so they wouldn't line up with the breaks between the foam insulation. Cheap vinyl squares or strips don't last long in a mobile vehicle. The heat causes the glue to let go. Then they slide around or stick to your feet when you walk on them. 

Another consideration is buying a tongue box for the trailer. You can store and vent your batteries inside, along with a jack, spare tire, lug wrench, and propane if you use it. The spare can be monted under the tongue but needs to be securely mounted. They have a habit of walking off around here. It's always good to keep a few spare parts in there too, replacement lights, bulbs, lens for lights, and extra electrical connector for the vehicle to trailer wiring. It only takes hitting a piece of tire on the road to damage lower mounted lights and sometimes the electrical plug between the vehicle and trailer.

I'm sure this doesn't cover it all, but it should give you some more things to think about.
 
ben2go said:
You gays are getting ahead of mothercoder.

Mothercoder, have you selected a trailer size? That will determine costs to do things. I would follow Bob's lead on sizing if your toad can pull it. You can talk to trailer sellers and see if they offer empty trailers with no interior siding. You may even be able to request insulated interior. I read in another thread that you are, or were, in the DC area. Being that far north, the winters get bad so it may be a viable option for you.

First, define your electrical by looking around your current home. Then really consider what you need. If your needs are low, you can get an inverter and plug directly into it and not have any 110/120 volt house wiring. I didn't use house voltage 110/120 when I had my truck campers. I did all my cooking on a small Coleman stove, either propane or white gas (Coleman fuel in the red can). My lighting was 12v incandescent or LED. I had a 12-volt car radio set up in a box with two 4 inch speakers and a small under dash car antenna. Now, you can buy cheap radios for $10 that have the option of charging from 12v. TV's can be bought that is 12V and some can be run by 12v or house power. I'm not a TV guy so no need for that for me. Phones, tablets, and laptops can be charged from 12v. Most anything that you can think of can usually be run on 12 volts or a small inverter. You may need a true sinewave for certain electronics. So really think about what you need. Solar is something to consider after getting your electrical in and make sure what you have is what you need. Then the solar system can be sized for the intended systems.

Plumbing is no big deal unless you're after a full inside shower and house style toilet. I've done the bucket toilet, homemade camp potty, and the Thetford porta-potty. All very cheap considering what they are. I do like a running sink water for hand washing, teeth brushing, and food prep. I like the foot pump type faucet and a cheap medium size stainless steel bowl cut into the countertop and a drain fitted to the bottom. Five gallons of clean water on one side and a five-gallon waste water jug under the counter to catch the contents from the sink. Some people simply run the drain straight out of the bottom of their home. A lot of places frown on the direct discharge of gray water.

You need to define your intended usage of the trailer for insulation. If your plans are to follow the weather, 50 to 80 degrees, you can get away with 1/2 inch foam and some thin covering on the walls and ceiling. One thing that helps tremendously, is coating the roof with a elastomeric coating to help block out heat. It works like a dream. I frown on fiberglass insulation. It has a tendency to compress inside a moving vehicle and it also breaks apart. That puts fiberglass fibers in your living area and breathing it can be dangerous. The best insulating job I had turn out on floors was 1/2 inch foil faced foam, foil side up. Then covered with 7/16 OSB smooth side up, and covered with a rolled vinyl flooring. I taped all seams of the insulation and OSB with foil tape. I also staggered the breaks between the OSB so they wouldn't line up with the breaks between the foam insulation. Cheap vinyl squares or strips don't last long in a mobile vehicle. The heat causes the glue to let go. Then they slide around or stick to your feet when you walk on them. 

Another consideration is buying a tongue box for the trailer. You can store and vent your batteries inside, along with a jack, spare tire, lug wrench, and propane if you use it. The spare can be monted under the tongue but needs to be securely mounted. They have a habit of walking off around here. It's always good to keep a few spare parts in there too, replacement lights, bulbs, lens for lights, and extra electrical connector for the vehicle to trailer wiring. It only takes hitting a piece of tire on the road to damage lower mounted lights and sometimes the electrical plug between the vehicle and trailer.

I'm sure this doesn't cover it all, but it should give you some more things to think about.
1.  I am looking at getting a 6 x 12 trailer. 
2.  I won't be staying in the DC area.  I will be following the weather as much as possible.
3.  I won't have a TV but there are a couple of other items that I'll need 110 for.  I plan on getting 110 and 12v.  I plan on starting out at least with one AGM battery and a small inverter as well as a inverter generator.  If I have the $ for solar, I will get something, otherwise I will wait. 
4.  I don't want plumbing.  I have a luggable loo but I think I'd prefer a cassette toilet.  I'm not even sure I want any kind of pump for my water.  I hope to drain into a container, but we will see.  
5.  The trailer manufacturer I'm considering will add 1" polyiso in the walls and ceiling and I think that will be enough for me.  Their prices are very reasonable.  I can't do it myself with my bum arm and I don't want to try and find someone in a location that I'm unfamiliar with.  
6.  I hope to get a lock box for the tongue but it's not a top priority.  My priorities are a place to sleep, a place to cook, and a way to stay clean.
 
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