Camper trailer renovation - need advice

   / 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: 299
  • DSC00002.JPG
    DSC00002.JPG
    135.9 KB · Views: 525
  • DSC00003.JPG
    DSC00003.JPG
    145 KB · Views: 1,165
  • DSC00006.JPG
    DSC00006.JPG
    153.1 KB · Views: 1,243
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.
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

Tandem Axle Rear Truck Frame (A51692)
Tandem Axle Rear...
2024 JOHN DEERE 3039R LOT NUMBER 58 (A53084)
2024 JOHN DEERE...
Ford Super Duty Pickup Truck Bed (A51691)
Ford Super Duty...
2012 JOHN DEERE 310SJ BACKHOE (A52472)
2012 JOHN DEERE...
2012 CHEVROLET EXPRESS (A52472)
2012 CHEVROLET...
New Wolverine 3pt Receiver Hitch (A53002)
New Wolverine 3pt...
 
Top