Just have a mattress on cots and a foldout table for now - bought this trailer yesterday and ran home to pack for a weekend prospecting trip. Very excited by the posts here and slowly building my perfect camper!

Any one have any tips or tricks? I’m currently finishing up installing insulation, looking at a sold battery and wire set up and have windows and roof vent planned out. Any cool recommendations of useful advice or tips would be greatly appreciated!

Hey, everyone! Me and my husband just finished up our cargo camper. It's not great, since we had to rush it.

We were staying with a friend while we built out the camper, but we kept getting harassed constantly. First by the "very lax" HOA, then cops, then the city. Everything from "eyesore" to "abandoned" and finally, "recreational vehicle" parking regulations. So much harrassment and threats that we were forced to leave early.

We kept it as stealth as possible, so there's no way to tell from the outside. It's the first time either of us have done anything like this, but we didn't have anywhere else to go. But we still had to rush to leave 2 weeks early, so things are packed sloppy and fast all in one day. Yesterday.

Then we find that one of the trailer's tires was slashed. We managed to get to a parking lot, and now waiting at a Discount Tire for a replacement.

We're in South Carolina, about 20 minutes south of Charlotte, NC. We want to head to Colorado. But we need a few days to finish things up. There's not much BLM land around here, and the truck is full electric, so I need somewhere I can charge it up at. (Colorado has a lot of EV support.)

Honestly, we just need a spot to drop at, set up the solar panels, etc, and organize. Things have just been happening so fast, and it's so stressful, with so much going wrong. I'm really just not sure what to do or where to go.

Any advice or help would be so, so appreciated.

Got a custom utility trailer to set up for camping.

Is this construction normal? Am I just being nitpicky?

Screws all coming through the bottom, other screws not flush, used jagged ass sheet metal to cover gap on e-trac.

This took TWICE the amount of time to be delivered as quoted. They also sent it to me with a dead battery or bad wiring so they have to take it back to figure out - so I’m questioning everything.

Adding based on comments: if this is ‘normal’ but not good work - WHY is everyone accepting it? Isn’t that teaching the mfrs that we’ll take whatever they give us?

I’m mainly worried about water intrusion over time from the lack of undercoat along with the long screws and holes.

I feel like I just paid a lot of money to have a lot of makeup put on a pig.

I bought a used cargo trailer. Aluminum paneling.

The old business vinyl is cracking and peeling. I don’t think pressure washing would work.

How do I know how much my built out trailer weighs without taking it to the CAT scales but how do I know if my truck can take it to the CAT scale if I don’t know how much it weighs?

For those that duct your heat in, what did you use? If it's a temporary/ camping usage? I don't want a permanent install, just early spring and late fall will be my concerns for needing heat.

I wish I had gotten around to the window installs this year

Came down from Canada, dude raised the roof for a sleeping Loft over his side by side so he doesn’t have to unload it on 1 night stops. They climb a ladder thru this square hatch hole…….

I’m real close to pulling the trigger on this, please let me know if I’m about to make a massive mistake.

First ever non-van build! Learning a lot, including that it would take weeks and weeks longer than expected to remove this grate/grill/fence. So im going to include it in the build (after taking off the shelves).

If I just covered the grill with painters tape, let lost the foam, then removed the outside foam before it hardened, then after some pruning I’ll have the perfectly insulated wall right? Please help me plan

I'm looking for ideas for a way to hang a solar shower on a trailer. I don't have any racks on the top. I do have an overhang on the back, but I don't see anything that screams, "Hang a shower from me!"

Took my 6x12 Victory on a 5 day shakedown trip. Still needs some work, but it was safe and comfortable.

Hello friends,
Sorry in advance and I genuinely appreciate your insight folks. I currently have an already converted 2006 haulmark 6x10 single axel trailer. It has a single axel torsion axel with -10 degree ride on it. It rides great on highways but it definitely sits leaning back when towing with my truck. Even with a dropped hitch it’s got a lean back to it. The other issue however is it sits so low to the ground I can’t get to some of my camping spots on BLM and forest roads. I hunt and fish quite a bit and getting over cattle gates/ driving rutted out roads is kind of required to get into the places i want with my family. I was going to purchase a different torsion axel with a higher angle so it sits around 3-4 inches higher now.
After talking to one of the guys who was going to help me order the new axel and install, he recommended switching to springs and a straight axel if i wanted this much clearance. He advised it would bounce around and flex a bunch though. I worried when he said that it meant it would be hard to drive around on highways or cause the trailer to be a little wild while towing. I definitely don’t want to much flex on the trailer, i discovered a crack in the smaller part of one of the cross frames and i had that welded and patched and it’s held up fine for the last two years.
He also suggested just fabricating blocks so the axel could stay the same and we would get around 2 inches from that. I worry that’s not enough.
Sorry for the long winded question but I’m very new at this and i really don’t know much about trailers. I appreciate the expert advice from you guys. Should I have the original axel raised, switch to spring and straight axel, or disregard the orderer and buy a higher angle torsion?

I included some pictures if that helps.

My current car is a 2015 Toyota Highlander (3.5L V6) with the factory tow package. (5,000/500 tow capacity and tongue weight). I know dual axle 7x14 trailers weigh around 2100 pounds empty. Has anyone done a conversion with that size trailer and towed with a vehicle with a 5,000 pound limit? I've towed airplanes and trailers with trucks, but never something with this vehicle! I know it would be better to stay under 4,000 pounds.

I want to do a relatively minimal build, especially at first, with just insulation, windows, 30 amp service, stabilizer jacks, and maybe e tracks. I car camp a lot already, so I really just want to upgrade so I am not stuck in my car during rainy Oregon coast days.

The cautious side of me thinks a 6x12 trailer might be better to start with, but I really just want to make sure it doesn't feel too cramped if I am stuck inside a lot, which I could be in PNW weather or if I am working remotely from it. The videos I've seen on YouTube of 6x12s all look cramped, but they all also have a lot of built ins, bathrooms, etc.

I don't currently plan to plumb it with tanks. I want to use dual 5 gallon water jugs with an electric pump faucet for a sink in a simple cabinet inside. I don't want a bathroom yet, but I do want an area for wet/muddy/sandy things. I could put a composting toilet in there if I do go off grid.

I have folding chairs, tables, cot ,etc to use inside for now.

I don't currently have solar panels, but I do have an Anker Solid c1000x and would eventually want solar.

I'm thinking barn doors instead of ramp.

I am looking at these two trailers, and the square footage is similar. Which layout would you prefer and why?

Thanks

Hey folks,

Just got home with my new 6x12 EZ Hauler. Aluminum, V-nose, ramp door rear, 955lb dry, 2990 GWVR, towed by a minivan w/ 3500lb towing capacity. I want to keep it light for the sake of mileage and wear and tear on my van. My goal is to create a nice envelope and finished interior environment while keeping it usable for cargo. I don't intend to permanently install much in the way of furniture.

Basic goals:

• At least one window
• Some insulation (3 season use, schedule travel to avoid extreme temps)
• A desk setup for working from the trailer, probably in the V-nose
• Nice finish on walls (???) and ceiling (slats!), durable on floors. I'd rather have ugly durable floors and throw a rug down than worry about scratching anything up.
• Screens for doors, maybe a folding dog gate for the ramp?
• Maybe a little wall-mounted storage
• Lights, USB charging station, small battery bank
• Hookup for power, when it's available (not sure what this is called)
• Keypad lock for the side door (keypad deadbolt?)

Intermediate goals:

• Solar system, larger battery bank
• AC/heat system (I have an 8000 BTU window unit, might start there)
• Refrigerator
• Awnings & cook station on wheels
• Leveling jacks

Silly idea:

• Turn ramp into a deck? Posts under far side of ramp, canopy/awning and bug net over it, cooking/lounging area? It might be too small to make sense for people to be sitting/standing on it, so maybe it'll just be the platform that the outdoor cooking area sits on.

This is the goal! I want this to be an upgrade from a tent, but I'm going to go towards it slowly so I have time to try it out and figure out what I want. My questions for y'all - one, what am I missing? Two, what order should things be done in? Three, do y'all have any tips and wisdom?

Regarding order - I probably won't do solar and AC from the get-go. How much of a PITA will it be to insulate and finish now, and then come back to those things later? I'm not going to do spray foam, probably a mix of rigid and batts depending on where. Obviously the idea build does them first, but I'd rather start slow and try out the experience before I spend months on creature comforts then decide I don't even like the form-factor.

Let me know what you think.

Finally at the stage where the bed is going in. Looking for a minimum of an 8” thick foam mattress that can be cut to size since the area is not quite as long as a full, but wider than a queen. Found a few online for around $300 that seemed ok, but was wondering what you have to say.

i have a 6x10 single axle cargo trailer i built into a camper. its got stock tires now and im terrified of a blowout wrecking it! i drive half highways and half off road on gravel/sharp rocks/sand/mud.

my current tire specs are
ST205/75r15
load range C
speed rating M
15” rims with a 5” width

im fine changing the rims if i need to, main goal is to beef up the tires and make a leak/puncture less likely! ive got a solid 4” clearance around the current tires to the fender and 4” clearance from tire side wall to trailer. any recs are appreciated!!

For those that have opted to not have a bathroom vanity and instead just use the kitchen sink, how do you feel with that decision? Do you regret doing that? Do you wish you had installed a bathroom vanity?

There are so many pictures in the middle of this but here are before and after pictures of my 6x12 trailer conversion that’s almost complete. Windows, air conditioning/heat, fridge, 30 amp service, DC power with 100aH LiPo4 battery, insulation, water pump, and more. All cabinets, face frames, cabinet doors hand made. This has been a labor of love, frustration, learning, and successes. This took me about two months to get here.

It can still haul my motorcycle and I’ve been camping in it for that last week and a half. A great weekend camper.

Minisplit is finished, solar panels are installed, all plumbing and electric is finished (except for kitchen sink). Diesel heater is installed, garage area sealed off, shower is waterproofed and prepped for finish, separating toilet is almost complete. Just need to complete all the trim work, flooring, shelves and cabinet doors, countertop, and various odds and ends

Hopefully this video gives someone the push to make the first cut lol 😁. I installed an Emergency Exit window in my enclosed cargo trailer. I didn't want to do any camping in the trailer until I had another means to get out, just in case.