Picked up my Runaway camper trailer today

[LeeRevell]

Got my hitch lock pin and trailer ball locks at Wally's. Any good hardware store has them too - I have seen them at Lowes.

 

[SoulRaven]

There is not much room in this trailer. So I have to make the best use of the space as possible. Plus , I want to keep things as light as possible too. My simple way to do this was to put in the Sterilite drawers. They are light weight and pretty strong, and with the drawers it is easy to keep things organized and neat.
I am going to add a shelf over the drawers, and will be putting some appliances in to try to make things a little more comfortable. Probably just the microwave and coffee maker. Although, the pressure cooker would be nice to have. I like pressure cooked foods.View attachment 3004View attachment 3008View attachment 3008

 

[LeeRevell]

I can see the microwave really bowing down the plastic drawer.  Maybe put some 1X2 or 2X2 wood support strips on side and rear wall, then a plywood shelf over the plastic unit?  :idea:

 

[Almost There]

I can see the microwave really bowing down the plastic drawer.  Maybe put some 1X2 or 2X2 wood support strips on side and rear wall, then a plywood shelf over the plastic unit?  :idea:

I have a set of those totes that can attest to what happens when you don't put a shelf above them to support even medium heavy objects...

The other reason for a plywood shelf is so that you can put in some kind of retaining brackets or holders for anything you have sitting on the top level. Packing them down to floor level and putting them back in place at each travel/stop gets old real fast! Particularly the microwave!!

 

[SoulRaven]

I took you guys advice and added some shelving and it has really firmed things up very well. Thanks very much.
I also added some more lighting and rearranged it a little. It's a work in progress. Here is a link to some more in detail pics.

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?res...77&authkey=!ABABbAovFNMxYjk&ithint=folder,jpg

 

[SoulRaven]

I took you guys advice and added some shelving and it has really firmed things up very well. Thanks very much.
I also added some more lighting and rearranged it a little. It's a work in progress. Here is a link to some more in detail pics.

The shelving is attached to the wall and has firmed up and stabilized the drawer set very nicely. It is very sturdy now. It was very loose and wiggly before I made this addition. And they are tight in place. They will not move. The shelf is pulled down tight on top of them and screwed down on the sides against the walls. Also, notice the extra power strip. All I have to do is run a heavy duty extension from the front power strip along the floor at the corner of the wall and that makes that a simple modification to get electric to the rear..

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?res...77&authkey=!ABABbAovFNMxYjk&ithint=folder,jpg

 

[masterplumber]

It looks like you'll have a lot of comfort in a small package! Keep up the good work, and I hope you get to head out and enjoy a trip or two soon.

 

[LeeRevell]

Much mo' betta!  Nice job! 

 

[highdesertranger]

very nice. did you just clear coat the wood? what did you use? highdesertranger

 

[SoulRaven]

Yes, I used just a polyurethane clear coat , on just the tops.

 

[SoulRaven]

 I have another issue, that I would like to get some input about. Earlier in this thread I was talking about the generator problem of being out in the elements and such. But I have somewhat come to the conclusion that with the small space of the cargo rack, there was not a good way of protecting it. So I have decided to just leave it uncovered.
So, now I have put a lexan bottom on the carrier and have just strapped and cabled it to the carrier. As you can see from the pics, I have made up a heavy duty extension cord that runs from the generator and zip tied to the frame to the electrical connection on the trailer. So that if I need to run the generator while on the road, or just need to heat up a dinner, or make some coffee, or heat up some water for bathing in the microwave I can just go out and pull the rope and start it up without having to unstrap and unlock it to move it away from the trailer.
Now.....I was wondering if that would be safe as far as carbon monoxide is concerned. As you can see in the pics, the exhaust is pointed to the side away from the trailer, and over 5 1\2 feet from the window. And of course the trailer would be out side and not in a garage as pictured when running.

 

[akrvbob]

It's possible you will be okay, but when it comes to a life-and-death situation "Might be okay" jut doesn't cut it for me. I always carried mine away from the van or trailer. Now if you are talking about having it on for 5 minutes, it seems unlikely that would be enough CO to harm you since only a very small amount of it would get into the trailer. But you're still just guessing with your life.

For a 5 minute run with the doors and windows closed, I'd run it there. Anything much longer I'd move it away.

My Honda 1000 would fit entirely in a Rubbermaid 18 gallon tote with the lid closed. The 2000 would fit in but the lid would bulge. You might try it and see if you can get it in a plastic tote.

 

[highdesertranger]

and get a CO detector. highdesertranger

 

[Patrick46]

I think you'd be just fine, and think HDR's got the right idea too.

I like your simple clean layout. Very user friendly.

I must say that I really like how this thread is going, and look forward to joining your ranks.
I've been planning on this for quite some time, and I'm putting together a barter deal on the very one I want as we speak! (or type)

 

[SoulRaven]

Bob, that's a great idea on the Rubbermaid container for the gen, but mine is just a little bit too big (18" h x 22" wide x 11.5 " deep). The Rubbermaid is 16.5 in. H x 23.9 in. W x 15.9 in. D . So it would be a tight fit. Then, lifting the generator high enough to get it in and out of the box would be hard to do. It would definitely throw my back out. If I was going to leave it there all the time I could manage to get it in the box one time maybe with the help of someone. But I will be taking it off the trailer at times when and if I run it for extended periods. It's pretty easy to just stand next to it on the cargo rack and keep it waist high to remove and carry it a short distance.
I even though of turning the Rubbermaid upside down and just strapping it over the generator. But that presents a whole new set of problems. It would be a lot of busy work every time I had to start it. Back to the drawing board. I am not trying to argue with you about it, but it's the way I am looking at it. I am trying to keep this as simple and convenient as possible and at the same time safe and secure. And to top things off, now I read in the manual that the generator should not be ran in the rain. So does that mean, I do need to cover it when traveling? At times, I have felt like saying the heck with it and just do without the generator. Then, I have to sacrifice the microwave, coffee pot, charging of batteries, and at times the AC, etc. I guess it's all about trade offs.

I do appreciate all your suggestions. And please give me more of them because this has been a real challenge for me. I am working with such a small area and trying to get all the things I want and need in it.

highdesertranger, I have a co detector ordered and it will be in the trailer mounted on the wall. Thanks

Patrick46, thanks for the user friendly comment. That is my goal, even though I am having some problems with the generator right now to try to make it user friendly along with being safe and secure. The inside is working out pretty good so far. But then I don't have much in it yet. I am going to upload some more pic of what I am doing. I am taking it slow and trying not to buy and put things in without thinking it over very carefully. I may be over thinking some things. But I have a habit of doing that a lot of times.

 

[Almost There]

Personally, I wouldn't travel with my generator left out in the open - it would pick up too much road dust that would infiltrate every opening on it. It's also going to be gone in a heartbeat the minute you park at a W/M for groceries.

Given the space limitations with the A/C right above it and the difficulty hoisting the generator up and over the side of a box/tote, I see the only solution to be a custom made box. Put a top lid that opens from the side so you can get a grip on the generator from the top. It will have to be set up so that it's snug against the a/c unit when it's open and then a side wall that's hinged so that it opens at the bottom so you can slide the genie out of the box.

Wish I could draw on a whiteboard to show you what I mean...

 

[masterplumber]

I would be worried more about CO when running the AC. I'm not sure about yours, but some draw in at least some air from outside so that the air doesn't become stale. It is drawn in by a fan, not just gravity, so it needs to be much farther away from the exhaust than the windows. There's a reason truck campers built in the last 20 years or so don't have opening windows in the rear doors - the exhaust is usually located rearward and even though they put stickers inside say the camper should not be occupied while the vehicle is in motion, they know people do and like to have that back window open for air flow.

As for your cover issue, a nice custom made diamond plate cover would be ideal, but would probably cost half as much as the trailer. I would just do as you said and invert a rubbermaid container over it, then instead of using bungees to secure it, I would secure it to the base through the rim with a couple blots and wing nuts. That way it would be vary secure, but fairly easy to remove quickly.

 

[SoulRaven]

Well, Almost There, that kinda settles it, The generator has to have some sort of covering to protect it. I never really thought of road dust and such getting into it. But that does make sense. That would be bad for it for sure.
I kinda get the picture of what you are talking about. But that too seems like a lot of busy work to get the generator in and out of the box. I still would have to be tugging and pulling to wrestle that thing out of it's shelter. Also, I was wanting to be able to sometimes just go out and start the generator while it is on the cargo rack for a few minutes to use the microwave, coffee maker, etc. The box would prevent that. As it is set up now, I can just walk out, pull the start rope, and have it running in a few seconds. I was even thinking about some sort of tarp to cover it. Or maybe some sort of small vent and panel covers that could be easily snapped on to prevent dust and road dirt from getting into it.
As far as someone taking it at Wal-mart and such, I do have a cable and lock that is securing it to the cargo carrier frame. I know.....that would be easily defeated if someone wants it bad enough. Thanks for the suggestion.

Maybe I need to take this thing over to NASA and have them trick it out.

 

[Almost There]

Well, Almost There, that kinda settles it, The generator has to have some sort of covering to protect it. I never really thought of road dust and such getting into it. But that does make sense. That would be bad for it for sure.
I kinda get the picture of what you are talking about.  But that too seems like a lot of busy work to get the generator in and out of the box. I still would have to be tugging and pulling to wrestle that thing out of it's shelter.   Also, I was wanting to be able to sometimes just go out and start the generator while it is on the cargo rack for a few minutes to use the microwave, coffee maker, etc. The box would prevent that. As it is set up now, I can just walk out, pull the start rope, and have it running in a few seconds.  I was even thinking about some sort of tarp to cover it. Or maybe some sort of small vent and panel covers that could be easily snapped on to prevent dust and road dirt from getting into it.
As far as someone taking it at Wal-mart and such, I do have a cable and lock that is securing it to the cargo carrier frame. I know.....that would be easily defeated if someone wants it bad enough.  Thanks for the suggestion.

Maybe I need to take this thing over to NASA and have them trick it out.  

 Na, the guys at NASA would way over engineer it...I grew up with an aerospace design engineer for a father....

I took a look at pics of the generator and the exhaust is on the outside end where the box would need to open but I can't see where the pull start is on your generator.

Unless it's on the same end and hidden from view, you're not going to be able to start it up while it's in that position anyways.

I'd be inclined to knock together a box that takes up the whole of the tray you've put on. Put two lift lids on, one from each end and on the end where the generator sits have the sidewall hinged just above the basket lip. A latch on the inside and hasp latches on the outside for padlocks would do the whole thing in a few hours. Use marine plywood, bolt it to the carrier basket and done. Oh, and I'd put a inner divider in it so that things can't slosh around in there. It would also serve to strengthen the construction.

 

[SoulRaven]

Well, until I get the generator problem solved here are a few small things I am adding to the inside.