My Cargo Trailer Conversion

[izifaddag]

I thought I would try to show some of what I have done so far to my enclosed cargo trailer conversion.
It is made by Triple R Trailers in Booneville, MS. I chose a 12 x 6 with a ramp rear door. I was governed by weight and money considerations or I would have got something bigger. I own a Mazda MPV minivan that I bought brand new in 2004. I have treated it well and it has given little trouble. Currently has about 75,000 on the clock. 
In the trailer I decided that the best use of the V was a kitchen and the AC unit. This worked out well. I had visions of using the ramp as a deck but have all but abandoned that idea. It isn't practical and the likelihood is that I will get an awning and carpet and sit outside just like everyone else does.
I built a folding bed and ceiling cabinets from scratch. Mostly 1/2" ply not furniture grade or very little. 
There is a Honda 2000 generator although at present I have shore power. 
I installed a cheap eBay transfer switch that works great and built a battery from 38120 cells. That was a mistake. All I ended up with was 32 amp hours. I waiting on a Mighty Max 100 amp hour battery to arrive. Also 2 100 watt solar panels by ECO-WORTHY. No I've never heard of them either. 
I also built in a shower which is quite large. The photo explains better than words. I use an electric kettle for small amounts of hot water and I have a propane tabletop hot water heater for the shower.
On the to do list. 
1. Install solar panels, new battery, controller etc.
2. A diesel heater mounted on the aforementioned ramp door.
3. Possibly mounting the Honda generator on a secure steel tray on the back door (still deciding that).    
4. Improving the kitchen area with the sink sunk in. At the moment I have a mixing bowl standing under the faucet.   
5. Build a large cabinet at the rear of the camper for the shower tote + bag with hot water heater etc. 
There is much more I could mention. The minivan needs some work too. Air assist on the shocks, an external oil cooler, maybe a bigger radiator, the floor finished etc. I want to be able to park the trailer somewhere and take off in the minivan as a camper. Ok let's see if I can add these photos.

 

[izifaddag]

Here are some more photos.
I took photos of each stage of construction and if you want as a question I would be happy to help others.

 

[Qxxx]

Nice work! Wish I could cut a square corner, but ....

 

[izifaddag]

I am a complete amateur and I am not happy with anything I have done. In fact in time I think I will rip it all out.  The extended generator runtime fuel line worked out well although that needs improving. My battery was a waste of time. The bed is too narrow and my choice of recliner could have been better. 
Yes - I could have done a lot better I think. But thank you.

 

[Qxxx]

An alternative is, sell this one and start with a new one, rather than tear it all out. I'm sure you could turn a profit on this one.

 

[izifaddag]

I never thought of that. I don't think I could face building another one. It would certainly go faster so there is that. 
It has been a hard decision to get realistic about that ramp. Oh well I will just keep thinking it over and maybe I can get some more ideas when I go to Quartszite next winter.

 

[izifaddag]

I don't think HDR is going to like my use of 4 x 2s lol

 

[Qxxx]

 hard decision to get realistic about that ramp.

As a vandweller when on the road, I've also thought a lot about converting a cargo trailer, assuming I ever get the van paid off. Originally I thought barn doors in the back the best option, but anymore I like the ramp. What a lot of people do is put in a lightweight back wall with a door and screens. The wall is offset about 12-18" to the inside so they have a small garage space at the extreme rear, also used for batteries, solar controllers, etc. Then they drop the ramp to horizontal, pull down an awning, and have a nice covered back porch, up off the dust, and with good cross ventilation. Peachy.

 

[crofter]

If my pickup had held up I would have done a cargo trailer. Could not afford both the horse and the buggy at the same time.
-crofter

 

[izifaddag]

My suspicion came to be true.
Yesterday I hooked up the minivan to the trailer having spent several days running around preparing to 'launch' so to speak.
It was a complete failure. All my logic about litigious car companies and memories of a friends family and their Datsun and caravan was wrong.
My Mazda minivan could not cope with being loaded down, a rooftop box, and the camper. I lost all clearance and I have watched enough videos to know that whether I like it or not there is going to be some somewhat rough ground in my future.
I experimented locally and I could see that there was no way on earth that my poor little minvan could handle any kind of slope let alone a slightly mountainous road. I would have burned out the transmission in the middle of Nebraska or something.
I have managed to buy a Chevrolet Avalanche for $3,500 and that seems to be the ticket. As Crofter says about affording the horse and buggy at the same time I agree wholeheartedly. I got the trailer April 2019 but I could have done without this.
My savings got hit pretty hard there. Now I am faced with another problem --- selling the minivan. It is perfect with low miles and absolutely nothing wrong with it and I am stuck with it. I am about out of ideas. Anybody have a suggestion? Selling is going to be almost impossible. I checked the market and made some phone calls. Nobody wants a perfect, clean low mileage minivan. This is a real problem.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Actually they do, right here, on this forum. 

You might want to advertise it in the MarketPlace thread. 

Good luck, and yeah, that van is too small to pull around a loaded or built-out cargo trailer of that size. But it would probably make a fine little camper for someone just starting out.

Nice job on the trailer, by the way! I made a set of ramp stands and a screen, and I used my ramp door as a drop-down deck, it will easily fit a very small folding table and 2 folding chairs.

 

[tx2sturgis]

I was looking for a couple of pics to upload showing my trailer with the ramp set-up as a small deck...and I missed the edit window!

But here ya go...these are a few years old:

 

[izifaddag]

Actually they do, right here, on this forum. 

You might want to advertise it in the MarketPlace thread. 

Good luck, and yeah, that van is too small to pull around a loaded or built-out cargo trailer of that size. But it would probably make a fine little camper for someone just starting out.

Nice job on the trailer, by the way! I made a set of ramp stands and a screen, and I used my ramp door as a drop-down deck, it will easily fit a very small folding table and 2 folding chairs.

I didn't know you could sell on the forum. Thanks. 

The Chevy V8 Avalanche is a 2002 with 200,000 miles. Runs and looks like it was only a couple of years old. Buying from a mechanic who worked on my truck / trailer for 4 years.
Do you know anything about those Chevies TX? 

Thanks for the compliment on the build. I am a bit of a perfectionist a bit self critical. The rear door / ramp is a bit of a puzzle. I bought a ramp model for this exact purpose---a deck. 
Then I started 2nd guessing myself having lived in it for a year. It started to look like a wall.

I am going to build a cabinet about 9" to a foot in off the ramp. It will have a backboard that will go up to the ceiling. The idea is to have a place to store my shower tote and a diesel heater etc. 
When the bed is folded up the new cabinet will still allow a walkway through to access that ramp door.
If I do this right I can have a deck and a 'garage area'. Nothing beats living in a vehicle for a year to figure out the best space design.  

I would really like to know what people think of the Avalanche. It is 2 wheel drive. I could have had an SUV with 4 wheel drive for $3,000 but the Avalanche gets good mpg and it is so awesomely big.
Would love to know what people think about that car.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Do you know anything about those Chevies TX? 

Not really, the last Chevy I owned was a 1994 model stepside pickup. I think they called it the Styleside, something like that..anyway, a while back and no direct knowledge of the Avalanche, but it should be able to handle that trailer, it is a much larger tow vehicle. I presume it has a tow rating of around 5000 pounds, just guessing.

 

[trailer-t]

izifaddag above wrote:

"Anybody have a suggestion? Selling is going to be almost impossible. I checked the market and made some phone calls. Nobody wants a perfect, clean low mileage minivan. This is a real problem. "

Where are you located? There is a market for low mileage minivans.

If the Avalanche has a 350 you should be good. My Suburban --1999 ---probably has less power and is fine towing a 7 by 12. Eats the gas though.
If memory serves it is just a cross between a suburban with a truck bed.
Actually a pretty nice idea over a minivan tow vehicle.

 

[AeroNautiCal]

Is it not worth putting it on this forum, Craigslist or ebay to see if you can generate some interest, I would've thought that this was precisely the vehicle someone wanting to build a minivan camper would want!

 

[riptorn]

The Av's are popular around here , as for 2 or 4x4 I'd rather have 2x4 with a Locker (not limited slip) I  have both and do just fine here in the just west of upper mid west with an elocker on my van , Also todays 4x's with independent front suspension's have TOOOOOOOOOOO many parts to service and are weaker than old school solid axel 
Nice trailer :thumbsup:

 

[highdesertranger]

what's an Av? please define your abbreviations. highdesertranger

 

[tx2sturgis]

He's referring to the Chevy Avalanche.....OALITS.


(lol Or At Least I Think So)

 

[riptorn]

Yah HDR, didn't feel like spelling Avalanche