Living in a cargo trailer?

[ganchan]

Anyone here consider living in one of these things?...

http://www.equipmenttraderonline.com/listing/2013-Bravo-SC-610-SA-105518847

A lot cheaper than a travel trailer, if you don't need the amenities (or air, LOL).

 

[jimindenver]

I saw a beautifully converted one on craigslist but it was over $8000. I can get a lot of travel trailer for that.

 

[akrvbob]

I live in a converted 6x10 cargo trailer and love it.
Bob

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

yeah, they got for around 2-3k here new so you look at maybe another 1000 to outfit it, you still are way ahead.

 

[LeeRevell]

That would make a dandy little "Mobile Home", with a little bit of work.

 

[Patrick46]

That's where I'm going next.

I bought a 6' x 10' (that had been advertised as a 12'er, and quickly learned that I really needed that extra 2 feet of space, and so I sold it shortly after.)
I'm also like the 'V' nosed models, and I'm going with barn doors on the back instead of a ramp. (I kin explain why if ya like)

It'll be like my own mini toy hauler, that I can live in too.

 

[light trip]

I always come back to a utility trailer when Bob Wells writes something about them, really hard, if not impossible, to beat a utility trailer.

The one your showing I like because it has an RV style door, and room in the enclosed nose, maybe put a sink up there or make it your bathroom. The fold down back door would make a great little deck. Even the size is good, just needs a few windows and a roof vent.

I even think with some press-on graphics from a print shop and windows, it could pass as a RV and you could stay in RV parks from time to time, if you wanted.

6'6” tall, I wonder about making a storage section in the back and building a loft sleeping area above the storage to save space.

Yes, yes I do. I consider it all the time.

 

[IGBT]

A utility trailer sounds awesome for a platform. I also like the idea of a box truck and would have gone that route if the wife had not pushed for us to build something custom.

If I were doing a utility trailer I would probably also go with the RV door in the side. Pop in a window, add in a loft bed with a sitting area underneath. Toss some 2 inch Iso insulation around and skip the fixed water system. I would use 7 gallon blue containers for both fresh water and gray water and just swap them out when empty/full. Cassette toilet that can be dumped in any bathroom or outhouse.

Put 600 watts of solar on the roof which could run a small efficient inverter and dorm fridge plus interior LED lights.

 

[Otis]

That is my plan as well. For now I am working on a van and will eventually do a cargo trailer to pull behind. I have a job where I can get traveling jobs for 13 week contracts and will be doing that. We will have the trailer for most of our "living" and sleeping in the van. Then on weekends we can just travel around in the van and leave the trailer parked. The company will pay for housing so will probably stay in RV parks when working. In between contracts we will stealth on BLM or Forest Circus land. That looks like a nice one. There are a few youtube videos on cargo trailer builds.

 

[Bdog1]

I had several, my fav. was a 16x7 car hauler. I added an RV door one window, awning and roof AC. I loved that thing! 7' is just right for a pick-up to pull and still see right down the outside while towing. I switch to an 8x24 and never liked it as much.

 

[akrvbob]

I just posted a friend of mines Cargo Trailer conversion, you can find it here:

http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/eds-great-cargo-trailer-conversion/

His is a 6x12 and that extra 2 feet really helps and I think it will cost you very little in maneuverability.

Bob

 

[ganchan]

I'm assuming it's a little like living in a teardrop, only with extra stand-up height and no galley.

How hard it is too cut a vent in the roof, I wonder?

This might be a better solution for me than a van conversion, especially if I get a van to tow it with anyway. My main worry about ONLY having a van is that I would have to scramble for temporary lodgings every time the van went into the shop for repairs.... This might end that worry.

I was really hot for a 13-foot fiberglass egg, but even the old ones cost more than this, with rust, mold, rat dropping etc. as a bonus.

 

[akrvbob]

If you are at all handy you can install a vent or a window in a cargo trailer.

I love mine!
Bob

 

[akrvbob]

I don't think I would buy a cargo trailer to solve the possibility of a breakdown. All you need is a tent setup in an RV Park to solve that problem. Take a cab or carry a bicycle to the Park and the problem is solved.
Bob

 

[Almost There]

I don't think I would buy a cargo trailer to solve the possibility of a breakdown. All you need is a tent setup in an RV Park to solve that problem. Take a cab or carry a bicycle to the Park and the problem is solved.
Bob

I wouldn't let the perceived difficulty in case of a breakdown influence your choice of living quarters.

I've spent more than a few nights boondocking in the yard of various repair shops throughout the eastern US both with the van and with the RV. Some I managed to crawl to on my own power, others I came in on a tow truck.

In most cases they arranged for me to have electricity as well.

The only lesson was to always have empty holding tanks on the RV BEFORE you hit the road. Fresh water is easy to find, full tanks are a disaster. I spent a memorable 10 days living in the RV awaiting an engine overhaul. The guys even brought me beer at the end of the work day! Oh, and they bought a cake for me for my birthday which was celebrated with engine pieces all over the floor of my Winnebago!

Overall I never had a garage give me a rough time about staying on the premises while the vehicle was disabled.

 

[ganchan]

Good to know -- although I hope my rig never requires 10 full days worth of work, one never knows. And I should pack a tent anyway, I imagine.

Still torn between my many options. Van alone has convenience, easy cabin access, roominess (maybe), none of the hassles associated with towing, and MPG on its side. Smaller vehicle + utility trailer might mean even higher MPG (or not), simpler interior conversion, probably easier to keep warm, and stand-up height. Van + utility trailer would mean optimal storage and plenty of towing capacity headroom. Too many choices LOL!

 

[Patrick46]

I'm assuming it's a little like living in a teardrop, only with extra stand-up height and no galley.

Coming from a guy who's had both...I find very little comparison...which is exactly why I won't own a teardrop again.
The teardrop is not much more than a hard-sided tent. You can't put your shoes or your pants on while inside, you certainly can't stand up in the thing, and there's little to no elbow room between the occupants. Been there, done that.

oh...and there's no way I could haul 2 motorcycles inside my teardrop either!!

I spent a memorable 10 days living in the RV awaiting an engine overhaul. The guys brought me beer at the end of the work day, and they bought a cake for me for my birthday!

How wonderfully thoughtful!! :angel:

 

[Ken in Anaheim]

I've never pulled a trailer before. Let's say the 6x12. Do they have their own brakes ? How small(big?) a vehicle would you need to tow them with ? How would they effect mileage ?
KinA

 

[Almost There]

I've never pulled a trailer before. Let's say the 6x12. Do they have their own brakes ? How small(big?) a vehicle would you need to tow them with ? How would they effect mileage ?
KinA

The weight of the trailer dictates whether or not it needs electric brakes. My 6 x10 (box size) Wells Cargo is light enough that it doesn't need them. My 15' definitely did.

Also, the jurisdiction that the vehicle is registered in. Here's the link to the Canadian provincial regulations, which while it won't apply to you, just goes to show that they all do their own thing.

http://www.rvda.ca/ProvBrakeReqts.asp#ON


As to vehicle size that depends more on the towing capacity than the size. An Astro/Safari minivan, depending on engine size, AWD or not and year has a towing capacity of up to 6,000 lbs IIRC. A front wheel drive minivan has very limited towing capacity.

When I towed the 15' trailer behind a full sized Ford E 150 I definitely knew I had it on there but then the trailer had 7' ceiling height so it definitely stuck up higher than the van and caught the wind.

The smaller trailer behind the Astro was hardly felt unless there was a cross-wind and of course on take-off from a full stop.

IIRC the Astro dropped maybe a couple of miles per gallon with the trailer on it.

It's really hit or miss with so many variables...size of trailer, make of trailer (some tow easier than others), tow vehicle, engine size, etc. etc. It also depends on what you've got in it too!

 

[karl]

Coming from a guy who's had both...I find very little comparison...which is exactly why I won't own a teardrop again.

X2 - a couple of March days of wicked winds and rain in the Badlands cured me of the novelty of teardrops.