Camper trailer renovation - need advice

   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice #21  
Get that thing roadworthy and leak free. Then go camping. Make a list of what you wish you had. Run back to town and get it.

If you're going to camp where they have power, box fans, ceramic heaters, electric cook tops all work on 110v and are cheap.

If you're going primitive camping, think of what you could get by with in a tent without 12v power. Once your battery dies, then 12v power won't matter anyway.
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice
  • Thread Starter
#22  
For fans, check out the computer 'muffin fans'. They draw less than 1 amp and push more air than conventional fans. Generally they are 4" X 4" and 1 " thick. Some creative mounting will be necessary, but the challenge is worth the amperage savings.
Now there 's a thought !
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice #23  
wow- after seeing all that heavy wood, I am going to bet its going to weigh around 3k. Definately get the brakes fixed for towing with such a small truck.

my order of priority-

1. brakes
2. tailights
3. couple lights inside to work on 12v
4. put in comfy bed
5. 1-4 done? call it done. I wouldnt do any more work then that since you can spend less money on a popup that weighs less with more stuff that works.
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice
  • Thread Starter
#24  
wow- after seeing all that heavy wood, I am going to bet its going to weigh around 3k. Definately get the brakes fixed for towing with such a small truck.

my order of priority-

1. brakes
2. tailights
3. couple lights inside to work on 12v
4. put in comfy bed
5. 1-4 done? call it done. I wouldnt do any more work then that since you can spend less money on a popup that weighs less with more stuff that works.

Do you mean all the wood in the kitchen benches and couch ? I 'm thinkin' 'bout redoing them with lighter structure. Sure hope its not 3000 # 'cause the tires are rated at 2720 # same as previous ones. I might be able to spend less on a popup, but I can 't afford the note taht comes due ever month. I can afford to spend money here and there when I have it. I don 't want soft canvas walls or pull out beds. I looked at chalet 's and Aliner about 5 years ago and they wanted approx. $18000. Doubt I 'll spend that much. Not into the used market.
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice #25  
In regards to post #15. #*8 ??? How about a fold down bed or camp cot. For when the weather gets just too bad to sleep out under the stars? Closet for spare sets of clothes.
Places for pots and pans. Soap for washing up and cleaning dishes. Shovel to dig holes, for when nature calls. Extra- pieces of plumbing supplies, wire, wire splices, bulbs, cabinet locks(to keep doors closed-when traveling over the back country). Do a shake down trip.
Load up and leave, check the interior see what moved. Paper and pencil for what is needed or not. Beats remembering after getting home. See what works and what doesn't.
Most of all " ENJOY " nature.

T.J.
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice #26  
I want the camper to amount to a rolling hard body/roof tent with a few extra frills.

That sounds like a van may be what you want. Or a P/U with cap on the back.:)
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice
  • Thread Starter
#27  
In regards to post #15. #*8 ??? How about a fold down bed or camp cot. For when the weather gets just too bad to sleep out under the stars? Closet for spare sets of clothes.
Places for pots and pans. Soap for washing up and cleaning dishes. Shovel to dig holes, for when nature calls. Extra- pieces of plumbing supplies, wire, wire splices, bulbs, cabinet locks(to keep doors closed-when traveling over the back country). Do a shake down trip.
Load up and leave, check the interior see what moved. Paper and pencil for what is needed or not. Beats remembering after getting home. See what works and what doesn't.
Most of all " ENJOY " nature.

T.J.

Got the sleeper couch already built. I just use the fire at night outside to keep warm and meditate with Doctor Bacardi and Nurse Cola ! Closet stills exist ( didn 't gut it ) . Small kitchen counter, floor cabinet for pot/pan storage with sink, and over head existing cabinet is in the plan. I still have the original sink and plumbing. Got a secondary closet in back that is gonna house quality camp porta-pottie instead of clothes. Large storage box for pickup with repair and road stuff already set.

I 've got years of experience ruff campin' from back packin' to conoein' to primitive tent. Got more stuff than I can ever use in a trailer.

Good shake down trip is a must. First one will be about 45 mi. one way with both primitive and electrical hookup as I choose.

We think much alike.
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice
  • Thread Starter
#28  
That sounds like a van may be what you want. Or a P/U with cap on the back.:)

Had a full size van or two and pickup camper shells that I fixed up inside in my younger hippie days and loved them. But, the mind is young and the body is older :D . Gotta have some creature comforts now like standing up in the mornin' to put on my bell bottom jeans, Irish coffee instead of roll your own 's, Hats for bald head instead of head bands, Shoes that protect my arches instead of knee high moccasins, but I sure do miss the smell of patchouli oil on a lily white hippie chick in a long flowered dress. Never got into the hairy legs and arm pit thing though.

I also wish the phrase never trust anyone over 30 still applied :D:D
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice #29  
Maybe we are alike!!!! "NO" I didn't stay at Howard Johnson's last night- "BUT" I
was in cub scouts then boy scouts. "BE PREPARED"!! Try to do a good turn daily. Did a lot of camping at Moorehead Park,just outside of my home town.Grandson 7yrs old and just starting in cub scouts. Will be exciting and a good time for us both. Imangine a 58 year old man and his grandson out hiking and bird watching,maybe a little fishing thrown in. There is a state park just over 6 miles from us,close if he doesn't want to stay, but far enough from mom to be on his own.
Hope you enjoy your trailer and all the extras of nature.

T.J.
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice #30  
You and Terry have the right ideas! Keep it simple and be ready to get out of the weather if needed. That trailer will be wonderful in the wind or rain. Just take the basics on your shakedown cruise and see what you'd like to add.

Simple and efficient lighting, a couple of very good ice chests, a multi burner stove (since you now have the room and a fine frying pan and a coffee pot) a couple of comfortable folding chairs, a folding or built in table, adequate cookware and a comfortable bed. Then bring the camping necessities you already have and know. Eventually, you'll add fun and practical items.

On the trip you can leave the trailer set up and go on side trips in the tow car or go to get firewood, or more Bacardi, etc. When you get "home" you can step right in out of the weather and click on the light. Nice. A porch light is a nice way to illuminate the outdoor area too.

If you bring a laptop, you can plug it into one of the cigarette lighter plugs and write. Camping, as you know, can be very inspiring.

A small solar panel can also plug into a cigarette lighter and charge the trailer battery all day. Make a spot to store it inside. Oh, that reminds me, be sure to have a trailer battery. A good group 27 deep cycle would be nice.

Bring a simple solar shower you can set on top to warm during the day.

A couple of milk crates can carry firewood to warm your feet while sampling the Bacardi and looking at the stars.
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice #31  
I 'm thinkin' about installing a few cigarette lighter type adapters and using a few DC fans I have from my tent campin' days. I used them with a jump start battery that had the adapter. I 'll take a look at the LED 's. Not sure if I 'm gonna like that kind of light, but it sure would help to lower battery draw.
If you search LED on the forum I listed you will see some good write ups. It appears there are different ones that shed different types of light, so you can pick which may work best. Someone mentioned weight, the 2bys did make me take a second look, my popup is mostly 1 x 1-ish type wood for framing the inside. I would be with you in 20 years, I would want hard walled too. Even though my popup is somewhat easy to open it can't be much easier than having a hardwalled camper. Best part of using a camper over tent is your camping stuff can live in the camper. So much less packing :)
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice #32  
Best part of using a camper over tent is your camping stuff can live in the camper. So much less packing :)

That's true but lugging that camper back up a few miles on the hiking trails could get tiresome!:D
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice
  • Thread Starter
#33  
That's true but lugging that camper back up a few miles on the hiking trails could get tiresome!:D

You 'll get to the point that lugging anything a few miles on the hiking trails gets tiresome including your own body :D
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice #34  
You 'll get to the point that lugging anything a few miles on the hiking trails gets tiresome including your own body

Oh my back and knees have been telling me that for years now.:(:(
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice
  • Thread Starter
#35  
Today I made the decision to pull the kitchenette seats and fold out couch/bed structures due to weight concerns suggested. I will re-build couch using 1" x 2" and possibly the bench seats. I am considering just using comfortable folding chairs/cushions and table in place of kichenette seats for additional weight reduction, cost, building time, and simplicity. Its just me using camper so no need to get carried away. Keep them folded on floor during travel and a quick 1 min. setup at destination. Use them out side if weather is nice. I can carry original seat/bed cushions in PU, fold chairs and table, and sleep 1 -2 simiarly spartan people on the floor if needed. Also, I can build seats at another time if wanted and be on the camp sooner.

I 'll paint the stuff I built with good exterior paint and use them as yard tables around my residence camp fire site. That will preserve my lost build time and expense while putting them to good use.
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice
  • Thread Starter
#36  
Radioman, I replaced that clunky 2 x 4 stuff you mentioned to reduce weight. I think it will be a lot lighter. Here 's pix along with build start on kitchen counter/cabinet. I can 't do anything about 2 x 's used from body framing, but the wood is a very light weight low density variety. Gonna go with folding stuff for dinette table/seating area to further reduce weight. I don 't need the cushioned bench seats.
 

Attachments

  • DSC00001.JPG
    DSC00001.JPG
    151.9 KB · Views: 317
  • DSC00002.JPG
    DSC00002.JPG
    135.9 KB · Views: 540
  • DSC00003.JPG
    DSC00003.JPG
    145 KB · Views: 1,180
  • DSC00006.JPG
    DSC00006.JPG
    153.1 KB · Views: 1,258
Last edited:
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice #37  
That looks like a 3500lb axle, so your original loaded weight would be around 3000lbs. Mine was....
I'd switch to a 7 pin plug (you will need it for the brakes anyway) and add a 12v battery (Optima preferred) on the tongue. Hook up your wiring so the battery is on the ignition side of your key so it charges whenever the truck is running. The 7 pin plugs have a standard wiring connection that is shown on the plug. That way you can also hook up to anyone elses trailer and all your lights/brakes will work. They could also tow your trailer in a pinch.
Unplug the trailer when you camp so you don't kill your truck battery....
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice #38  
5 gallon bucket, with a folding chair with the bottom part way cut out. = toilet.

a descent battery charger / trickle charger is always nice.
i tend to see many times generators even the smaller size. have 12V outlets, many times ment to charge batteries.

i got a good deal at lowes this past winter. for LED flash lights, both regular hand held. but more importantly head lights. errr rather flash lights with a strap that you wear on your head. they double as a nice collar on your dog. and keeping track of him at night as well! my pup does a little fidigiting, but when he sees the flash light with strap. he all sets down and waits for it when it comes night time. and now has learned how to use it, to shin on some things in front of him!

having some battery "tap lights" that just glue on to side of things. are nice to have inside the trailer. for a mid night run to the bath room.

make sure you have windows you can open up to let air in. campers can get fairly hot in the summer via the sun.

make sure you have a good old "boot remover" take a 2x6 board. and do a half circle in one end. then put a piece of 2x4 on bottom side. it helps in removing shows full of mud.

if ya don't have a generator even a cheap one. at least get a solar panel that you can plug into cigarette lighter. just in case you run your truck battery dead. granted it may take a few hours. to recharge battery but...sure is better than being stuck.

prefer propane lanterns, that take the small bottles of gas. for outdoor lighting. that you can hang from a tree or perhaps a piece of rebar that you can place into ground with a hook bent into the top of it.

1 gallon spray bottle that you might use for around your yard to kill off weeds. can make life easier with soap in it, to clean your hands, and if just water in it. can help put out a fire, with less water. as long as you stir the fire up as you spray. ((need metal rake)

the hard board insulation that comes in 4 x 8 foot sheets. can make putting in insulation easier. if the camper has any sort of curves within the walls or ceiling. you can get thinner pieces of it. say 1/4" thickness, which bend better without breaking. then some cheap paneling nailed across it.

tip for insulation hard board. just get a utility knife and score it. (only cut say half way through it) then use your hand and pop it from the opposite side. and the insulation will break right down the line that you cut.

i found a small pump, that hooks up to a regular drill. just like a drill bit or philips bit for screws. for like 7 bucks, don't remember were i got it. but if you have some battery operated drills. it might be worth while for perhaps a shower. or something.
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice #39  
I know we talked about weighing it in the brakes thread, but if you can lift the tongue easily - while claiming to be small, weak, aging and getting weaker (-:
Then I suggest when you load up those water jugs you put them as far forward as you reasonably can.
It sounds to me like it might be tongue light - and will therefore probably be sway prone.

OTOH, I've known ~140 lb water skiers who could pull some SERIOUS speed off a boat running a 5.7 L V8, so weight and strength aren't always proportional to each other (-:
Not hugely muscled skiers either.
 
   / Camper trailer renovation - need advice #40  
if ya need to fill some cracks up in the camper for air leaks. i would suggest some "closed cell" spray foam. not open cell spray foam. you can normally pick up a can at local hardware stores. **generally use "great stuff" in red can.

to many times trailer doors and like have slammed shut on my fingers and others, more so with wind, since this is a DIY camper. i would place an EYE bolt or a hook. just off to the side of the door. that you can use a bungee cord to hold the door open.

making a small step, out of some 2x4's or 2x6 or even 1x6's for getting out of the trailer can make your high step in easier more so if ya end up in mushy ground right in front of the door.

if you have old piece of carpet or an old rug, to toss in front of the trailer door. also helps with mud.

always having a stack of newspaper or old phone books, works nice for starting fires. to a point of having a box or a shelf to put them in helps.

if you want trailer for most part level after parking it. having some jack stands or some 4x4's or like lumber and some thinner pieces to place under trailer to jack things up and get it level. you need to do this, but just saying.

for myself found that just getting cardboard boxes. ((nearly every business toss them out into the garbage)) and just using them for dishes, and taking some dish towels or regular bathing towels and wrapping any glass wear up. or any pans up. and putting them in a box. ya get your towels plus dishes.

i hate blow up mattresses, way to easy to puncture. more so if you get a leak and no were to fix it. if you can find a local bed place that makes there own beds. you might be able to pick up some "foam" a few inches thick. it is not a perfect bed, but gives some comfort. and light enough that you can flip it up and out of the way if need be vs a regular bed mattress that is generally heavy and awkward to move around more so in a tight space.

if you do have cabinets with doors or regular drawers, with either magnetic or little clip to hold the doors / drawers closed. you might want to see about bungee cord being place around everything. to make sure nothing comes open mid trip as you are going down the road. it might not look the greatest. but it sure works a lot better vs picking up a pile of mess on the floor.

a card table. with 4 folding legs say 3 foot by 3 foot. works nice for an inside table. easy put up, light, and easy putting back down and getting out of your way.

to be honest, i also prefer open shelving. no doors / drawers myself. if you made a shelf kinda like inventory shelf you will find in most business made out of say 1" x 1" boards. with a little lip on the front side. and use some bungee cords across the front of it. to hold things in. it makes for getting sleeping bags, blankets, and longer stuff in and out much easier. it may not look the greatest. but for me, it is more about use, than anything.

============
with reg, it sounds like the tongue on trailer is rather light. when packing things up in it. heavy stuff i would place in the front.
 

Marketplace Items

2021 CATERPILLAR D3 LGP CRAWLER DOZER (A60429)
2021 CATERPILLAR...
(INOPERABLE) GEHL 8K TELEHANDLER (A58214)
(INOPERABLE) GEHL...
2017 TAKEUCHI TL10V2 SKID STEER (A60429)
2017 TAKEUCHI...
TOPCAT HCRC 72" HYD BRUSH CUTTER (A52706)
TOPCAT HCRC 72"...
KITCHEN AID REFRIGERATOR/FREEZER W/ICE MAKER (A60432)
KITCHEN AID...
UNUSED ZJG ZJ-380 STAND ON SKID STEER (A60430)
UNUSED ZJG ZJ-380...
 
Top