DIY Utility Trailer, Camper Conversion, Demo Part 2

Рет қаралды 35,163

4 жыл бұрын

Free Pop-up Camping trailer from Craigslist. I'm demoing this to become a utility trailer (flat-bed). Eventually I'll build a portable solar project on the frame. (Part 2)
Right now I'm thinking of cutting off the side rails (Rim Joist). This will make a very nice 5 foot by 12 foot utility trailer. (1.6 meters by 3.6 meters)
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Пікірлер: 40

@dbcrn859 4 жыл бұрын

"At some point in the future....this'll come in handy." Boy, that's a slippery slope!

@FullSendPrecision 4 жыл бұрын

I wouldn't make it smaller. You never need a smaller trailer. You will only ever need a larger trailer.

@RandomTorok 4 жыл бұрын

I would keep it long and wide. Just add a bed with 2 X 4 decking and stake sides. 2 X 4 decking is great because you can simply unscrew it and replace with new 2 X 4. Having the levellers in it would be handy as well. You might want to use it as a work surface at some point in time and having the levellers keeping it stable will be helpful.

@N-hunter 4 жыл бұрын

I wouldn't cut it, but that's just me thinking of how I would use it

@raquskane4002 4 жыл бұрын

why cut it down? i would just leave it wide and leave the jacks to level it as well never know when might need or want those.

@scottiemanners 4 жыл бұрын

I would have left the sides and put watertight lockable toolboxes like on the sides of utility truck beds. Then build up lumber racks over the tools boxes and wheel wells to support lumber longer than the trailer, keep the 4x9 intact in the center so I could hold plywood and drywall sheets or atv dirtbikes or lawnmower, and build a ramp just for that section in the middle (so lumber or kayaks again can stick out past the trailer on the sides without running into a ramp) Maybe even up front connect the 2 lumber racks in the middle with a small lifted shelf for propane and gas tanks.

@realvanman1 4 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I agree with the others about leaving it at it's current width. All the framing is already in place, and the thing is still going to be almost as wide anyway at the wheels...

@davidyaeger5655 4 жыл бұрын

I agree with the comments do not cut it down to 5ft. Use what's their, an its much stronger the way it is. Hope you listen to the feedback your getting on this issue.

@SuperVstech 4 жыл бұрын

Those thin rib rails won’t hold much load, best to rip it all out, narrow might seem like a waste, but that tiny axle can’t carry much weight, so narrow will help keep you from overloading it. The steel tube surround isn’t suitable for much either, that’s why it has sagged with only the pop up for a load... You could chop up the box, use them for center supports, weld in some 3/8” 4” channel, or box, or move all the way to 6” channel, and be safe knowing your trailer will haul what you put on it. A couple Cnotes, will get you 5or9K axles... with 15 or 16” rims... make the trailer useful...

@DavidPozEnergy 4 жыл бұрын

"GVWR: 2390 LBS." This is a light weight trailer, and I'm towing with a mini-van. My intention is to keep everything light, which is one reason for wanting to cut down the sides.

@SuperVstech 4 жыл бұрын

DavidPoz ok, that makes sense. Definitely cut off the sides, some sheet aluminum for the bed would keep the weight down. Don’t put down plywood... it’ll rain soak, and rot out quickly...

@marlonbramble2485 4 жыл бұрын

I agree. Don't make it smaller by cutting off the sides. Besides if you do I think it will look weird with the wheels sticking out.

@Corky3D 4 жыл бұрын

I know this was 6 months ago, but careful with how much weight you put on it. It will want to sway very bad, with some weight on it. This is spoken from experience. We bought a pop-up camper, very similar to this one, put a wood deck on to haul our 800lbs race car. Technically still under the weight limit of the trailer, but it wanted to sway bad. Boat trailers that had a fiberglass boat on them, make for really good utility/cargo trailers. You can put a lot of weight on them and be fine and almost never have swaying issues.

@andrewriley1664 4 жыл бұрын

Hi, looking at the inboard beams their not continuous members, if you cut the outriggers off you’ll degrade the strength of the whole trailer...

@rikdehaas6398 4 жыл бұрын

David I like your solar vids but enjoyed this one as well! Heard a trainhorn and was hoping to see this train passing by. Tnx again!

@DavidPozEnergy 4 жыл бұрын

I edit out the train. Thanks for watching.

@iam4godru2 4 жыл бұрын

I would keep the extra width, too much room is way better than not quite enough.

@larryteslaspacexboringlawr739 4 жыл бұрын

wow, i did not know you were doing full tear down, good stuff, maybe you are building a transforming wind and solar generator?

@tomkeyser8384 4 жыл бұрын

Don't cut the sides off!! Looks strong, way make it smaller?

@donaldcoday4765 2 жыл бұрын

I have the same plan

@HealthSupercharger 3 жыл бұрын

Add a second axle so that you have 4k lb capacity minus the trailer weight would make it 1.5 tons.

@DennisWintjes2 4 жыл бұрын

I originally thought you were going to keep the outer structure to house the batteries and hold the solar. An A-Liner trailer may be better for this project as you would be able to tilt the roof toward the sun. I guess total removal gets rid of all the rot and a flat roof doesn't help. I still don't see the bigger plan to comment on 5' vs. 7'. My current thought is you can make it smaller at any time, why decide that now. Bigger is better.

@DavidPozEnergy 4 жыл бұрын

The difficulty with bigger, is heavier. I'm towing with a normal mini-van so I have to keep things as light as possible.

@dummy4100 4 жыл бұрын

Nice, free. Don't cut

@ismannyb8148 3 жыл бұрын

Is it possible to raise the bed above the wheels and make it a flatbed for a 20' shipping container

@DavidPozEnergy 3 жыл бұрын

It is possible to build it up as a flat-bed, but this is only a 2,000 pound axel and 20' shipping containers are probably more like 6,000 pounds.

@Dutch_off_grid_homesteading 3 жыл бұрын

heya have a small trailer my self and it's always to small lol

@rstevewarmorycom 4 жыл бұрын

Never cut something up that is intact. Never know.

@stephenhegarty 4 жыл бұрын

You need a utility trailer to take all that crap to the dump 🤔

@ratgreen 4 жыл бұрын

Don't cut it you'll need the space to fit the panels on the roof later.

@BenMitro 4 жыл бұрын

cutting it down will weaken it I reckon.

@RabbitThePat 4 жыл бұрын

Keep it wide.

@solexxx8588 4 жыл бұрын

What weight is axle rated for? Tent trailers are not heavy duty enough for a utility trailer. One yard of dirt or gravel will max out the axel. 12 solar panels and an inverter/charge controller and batteries will be more than a thousand pounds. Remember that the axle rating also has to carry the metal trailer frame/deck. You may find that buying a 3500# axle (or 2) and welding up a steel frame is more practical. Strip the trailer and sell it to someone who just wants to pull a couple of snowmobiles or a golf cart and use the money to build a real solar power trailer that you can also use to haul heavy stuff.

@offgridwanabe 4 жыл бұрын

You just need to keep in mind the gross weight you want to carry.

@coolingspeed 4 жыл бұрын

Don’t cut it. Make it the same as original.

@speedracer3967 Жыл бұрын

I've seen so many of you lose space cutting off the outer edge! Why? It's not that hard to build around the wheel well, plus you have more space for storage! Makes ZERO sense!