Trial Run / Cargo Trailer Conversion

[JennyJoannSuebeeMcNash]

Finally (mostly) finished with cargo trailer conversion, which still needs some tweaking and a few things added for comfort/storage.

Took the "Pikey Palace" out for a trial run this weekend. Originally had plans to go camping elsewhere but Hurricane Idalia just happened to hit central and northern FL, anywhere we were halfway interested in exploring- found that many campgrounds in FL were unexpectedly closed for cleanup when making online reservations. We kept it relatively close to home for this first trip. Had a great time, but probably won't go back to this particular campground because it wasn't set up for the most private of camping trips.

Started with a 6x10 V-nose cargo trailer that was pre-wired for electric and already insulated per ordering instructions, along with added windows. Mind you, I passed wood shop with a C in middle school and lack the Jeff Spicoli "ultimate set of tools" to go for a crazy build like some people can do, but this setup gets the job done. I didn't want to take on the job of cutting holes for windows or floors, roof mounted AC units, etc. A carpenter I am not. We routed the AC exhaust through the front window rather than the floors. Worked like a charm.

The first set of pictures shows the aftermath of "the morning after." Two people and one dog in 60sf of space make for interesting living arrangements.

Came home from camping trip and took everything out of the V nose and available front standing room and rebuilt to keep things better organized. (Second set of photos.) I think this arrangement will work much better and gives plenty of counter space. Need baskets and whatnot to hang in the front of the V-nose for kitchen organization, which will be added before the next trip in October. I'm all about "at your fingertips" grab to find stuff. The bigger stuff all fits underneath the beds, and there's a dining room table that sets up as well in-between the beds that goes into the center to make a queen sized (or larger) bed. Probably could have slept three people if everyone were really good friends.

I'll probably wait until next year to add a solar power setup. If there's anyone in the general Orlando/Daytona area who can advise on setup, I'd love to hear from you. That project is for the serious boon docking camping we'll be doing in the future. I'll also save the addition of solar power (and a rooftop rack for said setup) to also implement a shower/water system as well on the outside of the camper.

As for the Maverick's part in all of this - ol' Lepton pulled like a champ. Dry weight of trailer is 1100lbs. With all the extra stuff in there maybe an additional 400lbs. Beds were the heaviest part of the build. The fridge and AC are an easy lift for me as a woman and probably weigh 40+/- pounds each.

As an aside, the woods in FL are full of TICKS. Found at least five on me the first night and one yesterday. They're so tiny they look like grains of red beach sand. I'll probably be picking ticks out of places one should never have ticks for the next week or so. Bring on the cold weather!

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[GPSMan]

Not bad. Not bad at all.

I pull a 7x12 with my hybrid and it was a breeze. Even in the Mountain west.

Toy hauler. But now you've inspired me to day dream about a fold up / fold down living space conversion- where I could "convert" the garage to living space after the 4 wheel OHV is rolled out the back at the destination. Won't ever have toilet & shower, but could make decent sleeping accommodations.

Those "one hose" air conditioners are horribly inefficient. I guess it does not matter if you are on shore power. But an externally mounted one, even a small "window" unit where the heat exchanger is outdoors provides more cooling for less wattage.

Toys only. No living space. Yet.

 

[JennyJoannSuebeeMcNash]

The AC was the subject of many a discussion at camp over the weekend, whether to vent through the floor, etc. and also the routing of the condensation line. Originally had bought a window unit and was planning on a false wall in the back, but hubby didn't want to go that route. We're plumbers, not carpenters. (That's a whole other part of the build we haven't gotten to yet.)

That extra foot across the width that you're lucky enough to have was also discussed. I feel like I've watched so many YouTube videos of peoples' builds, and that extra width would have made for more room for sleeping. We tried the sleeping width-wise and found we kept bashing our hands on the walls. For me, personally, going with a 6x10 over a 7 or 8 foot width was an issue of keeping weight down since I can only haul 2000lbs. (Should have gone with 4k tow package.)

The one hose AC froze us out the first night. Lowered the temp a bit for the second night and found it much better. Really what we need is a change in weather. An additional fan would do wonders.

 

[GPSMan]

Ya know how TV makers cheat?
A 39.1" diagonal TV will be "classified" as a 40 inch TV.

I just re-measured my trailer that looks a lot like yours.

Mine "classified" as a 7x12 measured 6'10" x 10'6" inside.

The A-frame tongue an additional 3'3".

Axle rated for 3500#.
I don't ever have it quite that high.

 

[JennyJoannSuebeeMcNash]

Ya know how TV makers cheat?
A 39.1" diagonal TV will be "classified" as a 40 inch TV.

I just re-measured my trailer that looks a lot like yours.

Mine "classified" as a 7x12 measured 6'10" x 10'6" inside.

The A-frame tongue an additional 3'3".

Axle rated for 3500#.
I don't ever have it quite that high.

I'd be really happy with a 6'10" width! Saves us short people from bashing our hands and knuckles on the walls.

 

[Maverickman74]

Looks really nice. Kinda like something me and my lady would do.

 

[JennyJoannSuebeeMcNash]

Looks really nice. Kinda like something me and my lady would do.

I blame this build on my husband, who no longer wanted to tent camp. (Admittedly, the AC brings camping to a whole new level of comfort!) I refuse, however, to put in a TV. Gotta draw the line somewhere and it's much more enjoyable to listen to the noises in the forest than ANY politician, influencer, etc. Love chatting with people on this forum because we're all united by way of the Maverick, but I have no interest in social media for the sake of views. "Look what I can do!"

The big motivation in doing this was not wanting to spend a small fortune on an RV. Trailer was around $4300, materials about $500. Much better than $15K or so.

 

[dalola]

... Bring on the cold weather!

lol....did you momentarily forget where you live?

For the ticks, I recommend a picaridin based lotion, like Sawyer (a FL company). Not worth risking any of the lovely diseases ticks potentially carry. Usually from the nymphs too.

And, nice job on the camper!

 

[JennyJoannSuebeeMcNash]

lol....did you momentarily forget where you live?

For the ticks, I recommend a picaridin based lotion, like Sawyer (a FL company). Not worth risking any of the lovely diseases ticks potentially carry. Usually from the nymphs too.

And, nice job on the camper!

Thanks for the recommendation for the tick lotion, and compliment on the trailer!

These were tiny ticks...reddish brown. Looked like specs of red sand from the beach.

Well, you know how FL is...we have hot, The Burning Hubs of Hell hot, tolerably warm, warm but no humidity, pleasant, rainy, "It's Gonna Blow!" (hurricanes) somewhat cool weather and "wrap the plants!"

One also cannot discount the wonderment of rain in the front yard, but not the back yard.

 

[JennyJoannSuebeeMcNash]

lol....did you momentarily forget where you live?

For the ticks, I recommend a picaridin based lotion, like Sawyer (a FL company). Not worth risking any of the lovely diseases ticks potentially carry. Usually from the nymphs too.

And, nice job on the camper!

I checked out your .com

Nice setup you have there!

 

[Shay]

I have been contemplating a similar project myself. The market really doesn't offer anything in the compact/efficient/low cost/low weight travel trailer space. There are the teardrop trailers but they are either super costly if you find a manufactured one. For the most part they have to be fabricated from scratch and gathering all the right hardware to make it good doesn't seem like an easy task.

Looking at a few of the mass produced enclosed cargo trailers I see a pathway there. You have a good solid chassis, water tight exterior and many fall in the weight range that built-out can work within the 2k tow limitation I have.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[JennyJoannSuebeeMcNash]

I have been contemplating a similar project myself. The market really doesn't offer anything in the compact/efficient/low cost/low weight travel trailer space. There are the teardrop trailers but they are either super costly if you find a manufactured one. For the most part they have to be fabricated from scratch and gathering all the right hardware to make it good doesn't seem like an easy task.

Looking at a few of the mass produced enclosed cargo trailers I see a pathway there. You have a good solid chassis, water tight exterior and many fall in the weight range that built-out can work within the 2k tow limitation I have.

Thanks for sharing!

It was that 2K limitation that was the impetus for this project. The teardrop trailers are cute, but you can't comfortably stand in them. There's 5' height cargo trailers out there, but who wants to hunch over while moving around? Ours is 73" high inside - perfect for our needs - and can be built with 7' interiors. (The YouTube cargo trailer builds will keep you occupied for hours!)

For now, this will perfectly suit our needs. My husband has an F150 we can also pull with, but I didn't want to rely on his truck should I decide to travel alone. Had I known I was going to be doing all of this at the time of ordering my Maverick, I would have upgraded to the AWD/FX4 with 4K tow package. Considered placing an order for a '24, but not with ford's laughable 7% interest rates.

No wonder the order banks are still open for the 24's!

 

[Derwood]

Not bad. Not bad at all.

I pull a 7x12 with my hybrid and it was a breeze. Even in the Mountain west.

Toy hauler. But now you've inspired me to day dream about a fold up / fold down living space conversion- where I could "convert" the garage to living space after the 4 wheel OHV is rolled out the back at the destination. Won't ever have toilet & shower, but could make decent sleeping accommodations.

Those "one hose" air conditioners are horribly inefficient. I guess it does not matter if you are on shore power. But an externally mounted one, even a small "window" unit where the heat exchanger is outdoors provides more cooling for less wattage.

Toys only. No living space. Yet.

Yep a little 4000-5000BTU window unit is the smallest one and would easily do the job even in ridiculously hot weather. When my central air crapped out seven years ago I went to 2 small ones for my whole bungalow. One in the living room, one opposite end of the house in kitchen. Only when above 90F for extended hours of any day do I ever have to run both at the same time. They only draw 30% of the wattage that my old central unit did.

 

[dalola]

I checked out your .com

Nice setup you have there!

Thank you! It's why we don't camp any more....

Thanks for the recommendation for the tick lotion, and compliment on the trailer!

These were tiny ticks...reddish brown. Looked like specs of red sand from the beach.

Well, you know how FL is...we have hot, The Burning Hubs of Hell hot, tolerably warm, warm but no humidity, pleasant, rainy, "It's Gonna Blow!" (hurricanes) somewhat cool weather and "wrap the plants!"

One also cannot discount the wonderment of rain in the front yard, but not the back yard.

That's the problem with ticks, it's most commonly the nymphs (the tiny babies) that carry/transmit the disease, vs the adults, which of course, are much easier to see.

I hope your weather improves soon. We've had a delightful, cooler than normal summer here in Ohio. Though a heavy rain caused the creek to flood behind my house (not the cabin) a few weeks ago, and now we have mosquitoes in abundance. The bats are happy tho.

 

[Maverickman74]

Maybe skip the TV but I do sometimes bring a portable projector while camping. Can be fun after dinner.

I blame this build on my husband, who no longer wanted to tent camp. (Admittedly, the AC brings camping to a whole new level of comfort!) I refuse, however, to put in a TV. Gotta draw the line somewhere and it's much more enjoyable to listen to the noises in the forest than ANY politician, influencer, etc. Love chatting with people on this forum because we're all united by way of the Maverick, but I have no interest in social media for the sake of views. "Look what I can do!"

The big motivation in doing this was not wanting to spend a small fortune on an RV. Trailer was around $4300, materials about $500. Much better than $15K or so.

Sponsored