7x16 Cargo Trailer Conversion
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- In April, we started the audacious journey of building our own camper/tiny home when we couldn’t find one on the market that met our needs.
The trailer itself is a 7x16 Cargo Craft trailer we bought from Colorado Trailers out of Castle Rock, CO and then we went to work on building everything inside. The project started with about 250 hours of research and then we wrapped up the build in late June after about 500 hours of build time.
There were plenty of times we wanted to quit, but we’re pretty happy with the end product!
Well thought out build. What was starting weight of trailer? how much did your build add, dry weight?
I'm considering something similar, but perhaps an 8.5x16. Not sure on vendor yet.
Thanks! Starting weight was 3,500. Total wet weight is around 5,500 lbs so added another 2,000 lbs with the full build.
Could you Plz share your overall cost?
It was about 35k all in. 20k for the trailer + 15k in materials/components, though I’ll say about 65% of that was batteries and solar, so can definitely be done cheaper.
When you do this, how high can you go with ceiling height? Like for example... going under bridge overpasses, they aren't all really tall; some are low. So is there like a certain height that you don't go above for the top of the camper?
How do you also make sure you don't go to heavy with a longer trailer? (Still pull without an expensive truck?)
Thank you.
I’ve never had any issue with bridge height. You just have to pay attention to your trailer height vs the posted bridge height. But like I mentioned, this has never been an issue for us.
From a weight perspective, you need to spec out everything in you build beforehand to make sure it will fit within your tow vehicles payload/towing capacity. I built a spreadsheet that contains everything that went into our build and its dry/wet weight.
I like how simple the trailer is. I completely agree with keeping the built-ins to a minimum.
Simple and easy! Thanks for watching.
Great build! Those metal workshop cabinets instead of particle board units are the way to go. You guys really put some thought into this. Thanks for putting this video up. Cheers!
Thanks! Yeah, I put some of these in a dirt bike trailer I built a few years ago and was really impressed with how well they stood up to abuse. Its just nice not to worry about chips, cracks, etc driving on bumpy roads. Also, having the replaceable butcher block countertops is good peace of mind as they’re easy to swap out.
This is the closest build out to what I want to do with my trailer. I have a cargo trailer I used for hauling cabinets but going to turn it into an adventure rig.
Do you use your trailer in the winter up there in Colorado? If so how warm is it?
Latest we’ve lived out of it in CO was late October, so 20s at night and 40s during the day.
It did fine using a propane heater.
I can't believe it, that it doesn't have a bathroom, it prioritized a closet and a cellar and didn't do it with a bathroom😱
Thanks! For bathroom/shower, we have an outdoor propane hot water shower we use (It's the Joolca HotTap mounted on the wall in the garage). We didn’t want to dedicate an interior space for a shower since we could just do that outside and because we didn’t want all the additional moisture in the trailer from a shower.
From a bathroom perspective, all of the dispersed sites we typically visit have bathroom facilities, so we prioritized our garage space for that reason. We carry a portable Cleanwaste Toilet, but have never used it.
What do u do for the bathroom fun?
For bathroom/shower, we have an outdoor propane hot water shower we use (It's the Joolca HotTap mounted on the wall in the garage). We didn’t want to dedicate an interior space for a shower since we could just do that outside and because we didn’t want all the additional moisture in the trailer from a shower.
From a bathroom perspective, all of the dispersed sites we typically visit have bathroom facilities, so we prioritized our garage space for that reason. We carry a portable Cleanwaste Toilet, but have never used it.
This has been fine for both my wife and me.
Are you able to run the dometic heat/ac unit that comes with these trailers with your bluetti setup? Or is that only used when connected to shore power?
We can run it from the BLUETTI, but rarely do given the power draw (about 1500 watts on average), which would drain our batteries in about 6 hours.
did u insulate the walls and ceiling? great build love the bed saw some one the other day with the kitchen in the back like a teardrop. how many backup batteries did you have?
Thanks! The trailer came insulated from the Cargo Craft factory. We have 3 3,000 watt batteries.
That’s a big trailer for no bathroom/shower though.
All about personal priorities. For us, using our outside shower + public facilities like those at dispersed sites on national forest properties/BLM was worth the sacrifice for our garage space.
This is definitely not for everyone. But that’s why we chose to build something for us, not for everyone else’s typical needs.
Where did you get the floor tiles? Those are cool
White people don't shower and shit on the woods
@@goneballistic We Sell Mats Forest Floor... www.amazon.com/dp/B08528N2CV?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
That garage space looks perfect to store one of those portable camping toilets or a bucket with kitty litter.
How’s the starlink working while traveling
It's been amazing. Absolute game changer for us. Highly recommend it.
If the weight of the trailer is focused towards the rear, wouldn't that be dangerous?
The weight is evenly distributed throughout the trailer. I created a spreadsheet to map the weight allotment across the footprint of the trailer.
The heaviest concentration was positioned directly over the axles.
Thumbs Up. Where did you find that table? Electric lift? 12 volt, or AC?
It’s AC.
We did this standing desk: www.amazon.com/TOPSKY-Electric-Adjustable-Standing-Computer/dp/B08C2LC3H2/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3FW7CGN4KPP0F&keywords=standing%2Bdesk%2Bframe&qid=1663777403&sprefix=standing%2Bdesk%2Bfram%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExRTRWVERaQVFHODg3JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjI4MDkzNDVKVFE5NEIyQzZVJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA2NDQ1MzUxWU1HQ0dWQ0ZTOEY5JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ&th=1
With this table top: www.homedepot.com/p/HARDWOOD-REFLECTIONS-Birch-5-ft-L-x-30-in-D-x-1-5-in-T-Butcher-Block-Desktop-Countertop-in-Clear-UV-Finish-1530HDFJBIRUV-60/314828017?cm_mmc=ecc-_-THD_PICKUP_REMINDER-_-V1_M1_CA-_-Product_URL&ecc_ord=WP34137034&em_id=b7f77886bcba9849733375979ced2b386e2e64a04a0026f4105f84a06b30bcb2
What brand lights are on the outside of your camper?
Hey Philip, great question. I’m not sure - that was one of the pre-installed features from Colorado Trailers. I’d reach out to them for an answer.
Bought their 8.5 X 20 full front bedroom build coming soon 🔜 👍
Very nice! Can’t wait to see your build.
Amazing build! We did something similar with a 7x14 all aluminum trailer, but we also put in a shower with Porta potty and it works well. We have 350w of Renogy panels, charge controller and inverter and it gives us all we need. We can tow with either my F150 or even my wife's Tacoma V6. What does your trailer weigh now?
That sounds like a great build!
Our trailer weights about 5,500lbs now fully loaded. It was 3,500lbs stock before we built anything out.
Where did you put the air vent for your plumbing. Did you run it to the roof or half way through the wall? Thanks
Hey Rafael, do you mean the air vent for our water system plumbing?
If so, we don’t have one. Plumbing system is very simple. Just using a 7 Gallon Reliance jug for freshwater, and another one for grey water from the sink.
Basic 12v water pump to power it all.
No toilet or shower no thanks
We spend most of our time on public land and there is typically some sort of bathroom facility nearby. We have the Joolca Hottap for outdoor showers and would much rather shower outside than indoors when we're surrounded by mountains. We didn't want to mess with black tanks, compost, etc for a toilet, and most of the folks who we talked to that went this route said it could be a pain at times. We have the portable CleanWaste toilet we can use too, but haven't used it all summer.
Cool concept just seems like a lot of wasted opportunities. I'd rather sink 35k into a purpose built squareback trailer like an Aero Teardrop loaded to the gills for less than this build cost.
The Aero Teardrops, and Teardrops in general are great, we just didn't find one that fit what we wanted for living full time in.
We wanted a large kitchen, huge dinning area to double as our office, and a garage space to hold our gear while not being cluttered.
Also, none of the teardrops had the roof space to accommodate 1,000w of solar. Again, they're great options, just wasn't what we were looking for.
How was the trailer lifted? What did Colorado Trailers do to achieve the lift on the torsion axle?
Hey Keith, I'd reach out to Colorado Trailers on that. I'm not sure on all the specifics.
Very clean build.. love how everything is pretty much bought off the shelf …
Thank you! We wanted as much off the shelf as possible for easy replacement. Custom stuff looks great, but is a pain when it breaks.
I really like this unit. Where do you actually shower, is there a fold out room. Also no mention of a toilet. For a male it’s no issue but women do into the comfort of a portaloo.
For bathroom/shower, we have an outdoor propane hot water shower we use. We didn’t want to dedicate an interior space for a shower since we could just do that outside and because we didn’t want all the additional moisture in the trailer from a shower.
From a bathroom perspective, all of the dispersed sites we typically visit have bathroom facilities, so we prioritized our garage space for that reason.
This has been fine for both my wife and I.
We carry a portable Cleanwaste Toilet, but have never used it.
Do you haul that with your Gladiator?
Yep!
How have the gladiator cabinets held up over time? Any issues with the screws loosening with off road travel?
They’ve done great. 0 issues. After 2 years, they look brand new. Highly recommend.
Metal cabinets just make since. Lighter weight than home built 3/4 or 1/2 wood stuff. Modular-R-Good, I tend to build to make it easy to rebuild and remove everything when I need a trailer to hull something big. You kicked potential solar problems in the butt. Should last a long time. The bed thing is a issue. Way too big. Let girl friend sleep out side in a tent Hahah hehehe.
Thanks for watching, Bob! Agreed on the metal cabinets. Super happy with that decision.
We're about to buy on of these trailers! How does the gladiator do towing the 7x16? I have a 2010 4runner (5,000lbs towing capacity) and live at 6,000ft and was advised to go with the 6x12 size. The extra room seems like it would be nice though.
Hey there! Yeah, I think you’d be exceeding your capacity with the 7x16 as it’s already 3,500 pounds with nothing in it.
The Gladiator is rated for 7,000 pounds and does surprising well towing it (ours is around 5,500 pounds fully loaded). You definitely can tell the engine is working towing over passes, and MPG is between 7-10, but overall stability, breaking, etc has been fine for us.
I try to only get to 80% of a vehicles max tow capacity, which is why we were meticulous about stopping at 5,500 lbs for our build.
They’re great trailers though :) Good luck on your build and hope that helps!
@@theoffroadnomads8341 Ah yeah that makes sense. Better to play it safe than be sorry later. I didn’t realize the gladiator had such a high towing capacity.
Glad to hear you guys like the trailer, there aren’t too many reviews on them. You did an excellent job, I’ll definitely be copying some of your designs.
@@nickgp we were in the same boat, they’re pricey trailers without a ton of long term reviews but we’ve probably put 5,000+ miles on ours and it’s going strong.
HEY! I loved y'alls video. I am thinking of getting one for my wife and I and I will be showing her this video to see if I can persuade her.
Also I wanted to reach out to y'all directly. If you are needing a video editor for the future if you decider to keep on making videos please do not hesitate to contact me. I am a video editor and would like to help you grow your channel in the future.
Thanks! I can vouch it’s wife approved :)
One question . Now that you have used the 16 foot trailer could you see an improvement in your lifestyle with a larger model ? Say a 8.5x20 ? Or would it be too cumbersome ?
Thanks for the question, Eduardo.
7x16 was really as big as we could do and keep the Jeep Gladiator as the tow vehicle. If we had a bigger truck, I think 20 foot would be a great length. Not sure I’d go to 8.5 on width just since a lot of areas we go have tight single lane roads.
We do like the 16 ft length for maneuverability and turning, but an extra 4 ft in length would really open up some opportunities.
Hope that helps!
What's the weight of this build?
The trailer itself is about 3,000lbs. Fully loaded with our build out + water, etc is about 5,500 - 6,000 depending on any additional items we bring.
How much do the metal cabinets weigh vs a wood cabinet?
The metal cabinets are about 35 pounds. Just depends on the thickness/type of wood for comparison to wood cabinets.
@@theoffroadnomads8341 thanks for the reply. I looked up the prices, and I don't know if I'll be able to afford the metal ones. They are quite expensive for what I need, and I would need to compromise on layout, vs the wood ones that I can build to exactly what I need.
I might try to do some lightweighting tricks with wood to keep the weight down as well.
That is a nice DIY’er. Love the murphybed. That needs to be more a thing with smaller builds like these to maximize space the the rear deck turf is a nice touch. Think I would add awnings to the camp side and the rear deck.
Thanks for watching! Murphy bed is still going strong after two years. We’re very glad we went that route.
Good morning, I undersyand that the 7*16 is 7 foot wide, but is it 7w in ID, or OD. If its OD does that include the wheels? Thx
That is the OD, not including wheels. If I remember right, actual interior measurements were:
Length: 15’10”
Width: 6’10”
Height: 7’
😘❤️👍
Why did you waste a whole corner next to the stove/oven?? That's valuable real estate and seems like it's just completely wasted??
We have a trash can + additional storage for cleaning supplies, etc down in the corner.
You could have a lot of fun switching out the bottom of the murphy bed. I would print some pictures of different places so it wouod be like looking out the window.
I didnt see the shower and toilet!
For bathroom/shower, we have an outdoor propane hot water shower we use (It's the Joolca HotTap mounted on the wall in the garage). We didn’t want to dedicate an interior space for a shower since we could just do that outside and because we didn’t want all the additional moisture in the trailer from a shower.
From a bathroom perspective, all of the dispersed sites we typically visit have bathroom facilities, so we prioritized our garage space for that reason. We carry a portable Cleanwaste Toilet, but have never used it.
This has been fine for both my wife and I.
Love the grass on the deck. I'm in Colorado springs and camp all over Colorado and if I don't get things dirty, I wasn't really camping
Couldn’t agree more! Keep gettin out there!
I found a company that makes 8x16 trailers :)
Maybe I missed it. What does it weigh? Nice build..
Thanks! About 5,500 fully loaded. Empty trailer is 3,500
Why not make the counter in the corner so you can use it while cooking.
It’s in the works, just need to cut the extra piece of butcher block.
Where is the bathroom set up?
Most of the dispersed sites we stay near typically have public bathrooms at them, so for us we prioritized the garage space over a bathroom. Certainly not the choice for everyone, but we’re happy with the decision.
I’ve been looking into getting a trailer like this as well. Do you think I can pull it with my Nissan Parhfinder, it has a tow rating if 6k lbs
Depends on what you're putting into it. The 7x16 Colorado Trailers weigh 3,500 pounds dry, so you'd already be above 50% of your towing capacity. I try to stay below 80% of my vehicles tow rating (I'm at 78% of my Gladiators capacity with this trailer).
I'm not familiar with the Pathfinders, but yes, you'd be within your tow rating with this trailer, so technically you could pull it. I'll say I definitely feel the trailer behind me jeep, particularly when I'm towing in a headwind.
You might want to look into a weight distribution hitch and a brake controller if the pathfinder doesn't have one. I use this one from Curt: www.curtmfg.com/dm/echo-mobile-brake-controller
@@theoffroadnomads8341 Thanks I’ll look into that. Have a great day!
@@roscoe007 you too!
Nice build. What's the dry/wet weight?
Thanks! Dry is 3,500 and wet is around 5,500.
bbq on the cargo door ?
That’d be a great addition! I have a stove that lives in my jeep and slides over the back tailgate, so that’s where we typically do the outdoor cooking, which is actually where we cook 95% of the time.
No vent/fan over the stove/oven. That's probably a design flaw.
We always cook with the windows open, door open, and MaxAir Fan on high. It pushes/pulls plenty of fresh air in. Reality is, we’ve only cooked inside once all summer. We want to be cooking outside.
No proper bathroom huh
Not currently. For the places we spend most our time, it wasn’t necessary. So far it hasn’t been an issue (4 months full time use), but would be easy to add in the future.
Say hello to Drew at Restless Spirit and the girls at Packer Saloon from Sysco Bob.
Ha! You got it 👍🏻
Link for the standing desk?
We did this standing desk: www.amazon.com/TOPSKY-Electric-Adjustable-Standing-Computer/dp/B08C2LC3H2/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3FW7CGN4KPP0F&keywords=standing%2Bdesk%2Bframe&qid=1663777403&sprefix=standing%2Bdesk%2Bfram%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExRTRWVERaQVFHODg3JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjI4MDkzNDVKVFE5NEIyQzZVJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA2NDQ1MzUxWU1HQ0dWQ0ZTOEY5JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ&th=1
With this table top: www.homedepot.com/p/HARDWOOD-REFLECTIONS-Birch-5-ft-L-x-30-in-D-x-1-5-in-T-Butcher-Block-Desktop-Countertop-in-Clear-UV-Finish-1530HDFJBIRUV-60/314828017?cm_mmc=ecc-_-THD_PICKUP_REMINDER-_-V1_M1_CA-_-Product_URL&ecc_ord=WP34137034&em_id=b7f77886bcba9849733375979ced2b386e2e64a04a0026f4105f84a06b30bcb2
So no bathroom ?
For bathroom/shower, we have an outdoor propane hot water shower we use. We didn’t want to dedicate an interior space for a shower since we could just do that outside and because we didn’t want all the additional moisture in the trailer from a shower.
From a bathroom perspective, all of the dispersed sites we typically visit have bathroom facilities, so we prioritized our garage space for that reason.
This has been fine for both my wife and I.
We carry a portable Cleanwaste Toilet, but have never used it.
Nice to see a matching trailer/tow vehicle combo.
Most people don't realize how cool it is to have a trailer that matches...from paint to tires, nice setup
Thank you! Appreciate ya watching.
We have been looking for a design that separated the garage from the living area! You win 😂🎉 the Murphy bed “wall” is perfect! Thanks for sharing
Thanks! Here's a link to the hinge we used for the Murphy bed: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0895556VD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
@@theoffroadnomads8341 thank you so much!
Is it just me seeing things or is that bed sheet in serious need of a washing?
Ha! We just need to get a new one. We put it on right after we installed the Masonite backing to the bed frame, and it rubbed off and stained the sheet on our first trip and we haven’t been able to get it off through multiple washes.
I promise we’re not that dirty ;)
This is the deal. I am a new (new to me) gladiator owner looking at ARE color match caps and deck’d boxes..couple years this simple cargo trailer toy hauler/camper is whats next …this is the deal guys ! Beautiful life !
Thanks! We are loving the Gladiator. 40,000 miles over the last year and no issues. We’ll get around to a tour of it one of these days as well.
Wow!! So impressed! I could easily and comfortably live in this! Happy travels!
Nice Job.... I am in the process of converting an 8x16 v-nose cargo trailer into an RV and Mobile Sign Shop. I am just starting the walls and cabinet construction. I just sold a 15-passenger shuttle bus that I lived in for 3 years and traveled out west during the winters. I had to sell the shuttle bus because I purchased a large format color printer to make contour cut decals/stickers, koozies, t-shirts, magnetics, banners, mousepads, etc. The large format color printer would have taken up a lot of storage space so I needed to get something bigger. I did a complete conversion series on the shuttle bus from the ground up and now am doing a new series on the cargo trailer conversion. They are on my YT channel.
Thanks! I’ve looked at doing 15-passenger conversions in the past. Will definitely check it out. Good luck on the new build!
Hi, thats pretty cool! May i ask how how $ you have into it. Curious as i would like to build something similar. Thanks
Hey Scott, we probably put about $15,000 into the build, plus the trailer price of $20,000. So all in for 35k or so. I will say, about 65% of that cost is the battery system and solar, which we went overkill on.
Is it an issue not having wall insulation? I like the simplicity.
It comes insulated from the factory (walls and ceiling). However, I wouldn't consider it well insulated. Overall though, it's been a nice balance. Without heavy insulation, it heats up faster, but also cools down faster - and vice versa.
Thanks for watching. Simple and easy to fix was the goal.
Im sorry if i mossed this but how did go about mounting the cabinets to the walls? Looking to do the same with the same kind of trailer, never even considered metal cabinets!
@@weezerbot4 highly recommend the gladiator cabinets. 3 years and they look brand new.
I built some under cabinet storage to create a toe kick, so they’re screwed into that as well as directly into the wall below. I just drilled a few small pilot holes and then screwed directly into the wall.
What was the final cost of the build?
Hey Michael, it was about 35k all in. 20k for the trailer + 15k in materials/components, though I’ll say about 65% of that was batteries and solar, so can definitely be done cheaper.
What is in the tongue box? What do you do for heat and ac?
Two 20lb propane tanks in the tongue box. Typical RV AC unit on the roof. Options to use small electric space heater or Wave 6 Propane heat depending on the scenario.
Love what you have created/ me being a senior/ really can’t build one one/ but I am flexible to have one done/ any ideas? thx
I'd look for local fabricators, builders, carpenters, cabinetry folks. I imagine if you did the design, they could build you something similar.
What about the bathroom?
We spend most of our time on public land and there is typically some sort of bathroom facility nearby. We have the Joolca Hottap for outdoor showers. We didn't want to mess with black tanks, compost, etc and most of the folks who we talked to and went this route said it could be a pain at times. We have some portable camping bathroom accessories we can use in a pinch.
We have this same trailer, love it. Considering the same type of build out.
Quick Question: Did you make your sink counter top? Or was the purchased?
Hey Zach - we built the sink ourselves.
The first step is to trace out the sink on the Gladiator Butcher Block, then we used that to mark the cuts on the Gladiator Cabinet itself.
Once those are cut, it’s a pretty simple installation just following the directions on the sink.
Here’s what we used:
www.gladiatorgarageworks.com/products/ready-to-assemble-full-door-modular-gearbox
www.homedepot.com/p/Ruvati-Siena-16-Gauge-Stainless-Steel-15-in-x-15-in-1-Hole-Drop-in-Workstation-Bar-Sink-RVH8215/304625283
www.lowes.com/pd/Peerless-Xander-Matte-Black-1-Handle-Deck-Mount-Pull-Out-Handle-Lever-Kitchen-Faucet/5000245527
What kind of tires are you running. Are they truck tires or an off road trailer tired
?
Mud Claw Extreme MTs 32x11.5R15LT. Not sure if they’re trailer vehicle specific. It’s what comes stock on all the Colorado Trailers.
Love the build! I am considering this same option. I built out a van a few years ago, traveled, sold it, and now I want to go this route. I have a question about the interior walls as they are metal skins. Did you have any issues attaching cabinets to the wall? Any thoughts on that? I was thinking about how thick they are, the "studs", and any wiring.
Thanks so much! Great question. For the cabinets, we just screwed them into the plywood behind the metal skin. I had done this in another cargo trailer so knew it would hold the weight. But of course suppose it all depends on the thickness of the plywood in whatever trailer you select. Good luck on the build!
@@theoffroadnomads8341 Thank You!
Very nice, sometimes I wish I went with a larger ctc project. Maybe when I get a more suitable vehicle. Great video.
Thanks!
Hello brother, I have been reading the comments, I have a Diesel Gladiator, is your jeep diesel?
I’m traveling to Colorado next month to check out the trailer at Colorado trailer and probably buy one, I was thinking about a 14’ trailer but after seeing your video I may get the 16’
I was worried about towing the 16’ trailer with my jeep but reading your comments I think I going to be fine
One question, where did you get the cabinets from?
Mine is the gas 3.6.
I don’t think there is a huge weight difference between the 14’ and the 16’.
I don’t know what the diesel is rated for. Mine is about ~7,000 pounds.
Tows fine overall. Just be prepared to be going a bit slower or if you’re wanting to stay at high speed, engine will just be at higher RPM and thus worse gas mileage.
@@theoffroadnomads8341 thx sir for the info.
Great set up! I would like to instal that Ikea grass on my cargo craft trailer. How did you attached them to the decking?
@@nathangilligan4628 thanks! We just used wide head screws and attached directly to the rear deck.
Hi guys...ive just come across your video. Absolutely outstanding set-up and incredibly well thought out. The Murphy bed has to be the icing on the cake.... Getting a good night's sleep is paramount when you're enjoying the outdoor activities, especially cycling. I can't imagine how you'd change anything doing this creation again...apart from an outside or inside shower. I had to subscribe to your channel. You are living the dream and im interested in future adventures. Outstanding!
Thanks so much for the kind words! We feel the same way after living in it full time for 3 months. Nothing we’d really change if we did it over again.
Where is the toilet?
Thanks for the video! Our Great Lakes Unmanned Systems business has the next size bigger trailer from Colorado Trailers in Castle Rock. Same color as yours. I picked it up right before the COVID pandemic hit and have acquired a few things to make the trailer into something that can serve to store and transport our small unmanned water rescue, sonar, and water sampling USV's. And to live in while we're on the road going around the Great Lakes. If we had to stay in hotels we'd be loosing money!!! Your video provided solutions to about 4 things we need to accomplish. Any advice you can give on drilling into the walls would be appreciated!!!
That’s awesome! As far as drilling into the walls, we didn’t do anything special. We mainly used wood screws with stainless steel washers (when needed for mounting) and didn’t run into any issues drilling into the plywood backing. Drilling a pilot hole was helpful at times to penetrate the aluminum side panels.
Good luck on the build!
Love the solar on top and power station as storage instead of batteries and inverters. Little more expensive but easier to reconfigure, move to another unit, etc.
Thanks! You’re exactly right. We wanted a system that would be easy to switch to a different build, be it another trailer, off-grid cabin, etc. Thanks for watching :)
Insurance? Can someone help me understand how it would work for something like this?
@@djmpath971 we use Progressive. They let you add things like cargo and horse trailers with the addition of living quarters + total value of contents. We just got it off their website :)
man I bet that Jeep struggles to pull that rig up & down the mountains at interstate speed
It does better than I expected it too, but you definitely feel it. I'm typically doing 80% of the speed limit on significant grades, but that's more about MPG than the ability of the truck. The Jeep will do it, MPG just suffers substantially, and we're typically not in a hurry, so we choose efficiency over speed.
BTW…..good name!!
Back at ya, Garret!
Great rig, what’s the weight plus or minus, any issue with the Gladiator?
Thanks, Dan. Stock weight of the trailer was 3,500 lbs. We're sitting at about 5,550 now which is about 78% of the Gladiator's towing capacity (Rubicon Automatic).
It does fine towing as long as you're not trying to get anywhere fast. I can hold 65 MPH comfortably in 6th, sometimes 7th gear. If I push it above that, it does fine, MPG just starts to suffer as you'll be running in 4th and 5th. I averaged 9.3 MPG towing from Dallas, TX to Gunnison, CO (again, I'm babying it to optimize MPG. Manually shifting to help the gears change a bit earlier seems to help a lot). Stability wise, the Gladiator has exceeded my expectations. No issues there.
We're certainly heavy, so there is a little sag on the rear end when towing, but nothing outrageous. I'm running 35" Nitto Trail Grapplers, 2.5" lift, Fox 2.0 Suspension, and also have 35lb airbargs in the rear.
I'm curious what vehicle are you pulling this trailer with?
Jeep Gladiator with the 3.6 and Max Tow.
Hi are you willing to teach someone step by step how to do this? Or at least tell where you did your research? Did you use contractors?
Hey there! My suggestion would be to layout the design and components you want, then research different aspects of that on TH-cam, google, etc. That’s what we did. For example, plenty of examples of “van conversion plumbing”.
We did everything ourselves, no contractors. That might not be for everyone, but we ultimately have a lot of pride in what we built, even though there were hardships throughout the build.
@@theoffroadnomads8341 thank you tremendously for your response. Definitely paying you back with a subscribe and likes for all your videos !!!! 💕
@@Entertainment82123 Thank you :)
NEW SUBSCRIBER HERE!!!
LOVE the build, the presentation and the good vibes :)
How heavy is the trailer (dry/wet)?
Thanks!
Thanks for following along! The trailer stock was about 3,500 lbs. Dry is about 5,500 and wet is about 5,750.
@@theoffroadnomads8341 are you happy with how your Gladiator tows? Was curious how comfortable it might be.
Thanks!!
@@bigoperI’m surprised with how well it tows (for a Jeep). We’re not going anywhere fast, but from a stability perspective it does great. We struggle in open parts of Texas when the speed limit is 75mph because it wants to be in 5th or 4th. So we typically stay around 65 mph to be in 6th or 7th for better fuel economy. But all in all, for a jeep on 37s with stock 4:10 gears, it does great.
Nice clean build. Content like this is few and far between. Thank you
Thanks, Mike! Really appreciate that. Thanks for watching.
This is awesome! Are you guys full time? Been living out of my 2020 Tacoma & was thinking on purchasing a trailer, hopefully set up a home base somewhere, preferably Colorado since living an active lifestyle. Any suggestions finding county land in CO that permits camping long term? Similar to what you have set up in this video. Would like to build a structure in the future, although understand zoning & permits can be limited in CO due to septic & electrical requirements. Keep up the great work. Thanks in advance!
Thanks! We live in it 6-8 months a year, depending on locations and weather conditions. Haven’t done a full winter yet. We lived out of our Gladiator for a summer before building this, so been in your shoes, and definitely recommend the trailer to have a more homey vibe.
We move around a lot, so haven’t tried to figure out permits or anything. Not sure on the best options if you want to stay put for awhile.
Enjoy your adventures!
Thank you so much! You two stay safe & enjoy!
@@alexandersprout7992of course 😊
Cool😅
Thanks, Dawn!
That has to be the biggest power set-up that I have seen in suck a small unit.
That’s intentional. We never wanted to worry about getting low on power. It’s definitely overkill for most people, but we’re really happy with it.
Nice trailer and build ...Didn't see a toilet . You do showers outside?
Thanks! And yep, have a portable clean waste toilet and Joolca Hot Tap outdoor shower.
Hey man can you do a video of your water filtration system? You said you had to seperate filters so I'm curious your setup
Yes, we’ll do one eventually, just haven’t had time yet. We use both the Life Saver 5 gallon Jerry can filter system, as well as the MSR Guardian - all depending on the circumstance.
@@theoffroadnomads8341 oh okay I see. That's a great idea. Looking forward to the video. Also thanks for the flooring idea. Love that wood look without any unnecessary weight. I'll be stealing that one from you too!
@@patrickconrad396 here's the link to the floors: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08528N2CV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1&psc=1
Great job.well done with the layout and design. Do you think the manufacturer built a solid trailer? Especially at that price point? I've seen a bunch of videos from Colorado Trailers and wondered how their build quality was. 👍🤙💪
Koodos on you for using outdoor seat cushions from Lowe's. Custom cushions would have been expensive.
Ingenious with the Murphy bed 🛌
Side note will you be doing a cost of build video?
Thanks so much! As far as quality goes, at the end of the day it’s still just a Cargo Trailer. Colorado Trailers, the dealer, doesn’t have anything to do with the quality. That falls on the manufacturer, Cargo Craft. It wasn’t perfect (small cosmetic things) but overall couldn’t find anything comparable at the price point, or without having something custom built from the ground up, and we wanted to get on the road sooner than later.
We have a more in-depth video planned that will cover more details like cost, just haven’t had time yet.
@@theoffroadnomads8341 ... you've definitely got the right Idea....have fun while the weather's with you and on those windy wet day's...?.maybe then..you are busy living the dream for real!
@@nojnoj3069 Trying our best! We've been through some good storms in it already. We have a Wave 6 propane heater will probably break out once the cold starts lasting throughout the day, but for now, our little ceramic 120v heater is all thats needed to take the edge off in the mornings.
What’s the weight of your built.. looks awesome
@@charliediaz5018 thanks! Stock trailer is 3,500 lbs. With the full build out, we’re at about 5,500 lbs
Wow!!! This is such a thoughtful and well layed out cargo trailer conversation!
Thanks so much, Chris!
Wow, great job, love the build-out! I recently bought one of their 7x18 trailers & will be building out the interior as well. Love the turf grass idea, will be stealing that, lol! Happy trails!
Steal away! Thanks for watching. Share your build when you’re done :)
I built out my 6x12 cargo craft 2017 as well. I love it. I have new age cabinets in mine. Would love to share my pics with you, somehow! You did a great job on yours! 🙂
That’s awesome! 6x12 is a great size for more maneuverability.
Outstanding! Thank you for sharing this! I would say this is one of the better build outs I seen. Also Bravo to Colorado Trailers! Yes great trailers and good people! Thank you again for sharing this!~
Appreciate that, Ross! Thanks for watching!
I was just looking at these trailers this evening and stumbled across your video. Well done sir!
Thank you!
Why not just buy a travel trailer? Some good ones out there like a Rockwood 2104s.
For us, the main reason was we couldn’t find anything with the exact layout we wanted.
A couple other factors:
Depreciation: Our friends with travel trailers/RVs have seen fairly significant depreciation over the years. However, in our experience that hasn’t applied to simple cargo trailers, which ours can easily be returned to while repurposing the additional components for other uses.
Maintenance: It’s been our experience that it seems something is always needing fixed on travel trailers/rvs. Sure this can still happen with our rig, but I know every single part and how it was installed so it’s easy for DIY maintenance/repairs.
Looks: We didn’t want the “travel trailer” look.
Solar/Battery: No travel trailer/RV had the solar/battery capabilities we built for ours. This was a key need for us, and thus didn’t want to spend the money for a travel trailer and also have to shell out an additional $10k for batteries/solar.
@@theoffroadnomads8341 thanks for the reply, appreciate the perspective in helping me try to make a decision on the route I wish to take. A Cargo trailer seems like an option but I feel by the time I
Purchase, add all the upgrades etc, it seems it would cost the same as a travel trailer but less a bathroom etc. you make some good points I had not considered. Thanks
@@amateurbiggamehunter7691 absolutely! One of the surprising things for us was the pride we’ve had knowing we built it ourselves. Granted, it took a lot of work to get there - so definitely not the easy route!
If you’re just wanting a place to stay in every once in awhile, I’d saying buying a typical travel trailer is a good route. For us living in it for months at a time, we wanted something customized exactly to us and what we needed. So that’s why we went the build route.
We spend most of our time in dispersed camp sites of BLM/NFS land that typically have some sort of vault toilets, etc on them, so we prioritized a garage over a bathroom because of that. But again, that’s specifically due to that reason, which might not be true for everyone.
Good luck on your decision. Feel free to reach out with any other questions!
Love what you guys did to the trailer! It looks amazing!! So creative and I love the finishes!
Thanks guys! We get so many compliments on the exterior of the trailer too. It’s been a great platform as the base for our custom build.
Love what they did here! Trailer looks awesome!!
@@lifequestproperties Thanks!
How long did the entire build process take.
About a month working in the evening and on the weekends.
Beat conversion yet. With murphy bed , cargo/ shower area and off road.Also like the bluetti.
Thanks, Ken! Appreciate you watching.
What type and how thick is the insulation on the Cargo Craft trailer? I looked all over their website and couldn't find any info on the insulation. Great build! Thanks for posting the vid
Of the places I’ve pulled back, I think it was between 1/4” or 1/2” insulation.
It has insulation, but it’s not well insulated in my opinion. Hope that helps!
@@theoffroadnomads8341 yes thank you
Thanks for sharing. Pretty awesome setup.
Thanks for watching!
It`s small but it has everything you need. I like that, and that is what it`s all about. A good way to wrap it up.
Thanks, Kenneth! Exactly how we feel.
How well does your Gladiator pull it?
Honestly, much better than I thought it would.
We’ve towed it over 5,000 miles now and here are my thoughts:
Stability: 10/10 - No issues here and we’re not using a weight distribution hitch. Very happy with how the Gladiator handles the weight, drag, turning, stability, etc
Fuel Economy: 8/10 - This is all respective. My MPGs on the highway were bad before the trailer (11-13 mpg), so I didn’t have high hopes. We averaged 9.3 towing from Texas to Colorado (including multiple 12,000 ft passes). So with that considered, I’m very pleased. The reason for not a perfect score is I baby the shift points to get this mpg and typically don’t go over 65 mph. Wind also plays a significant role in this. A strong headwind will bring me down the high 6’s and low 7’s.
Overall: 10/10 - Why? Because I have a Jeep Gladiator to play around with whenever we get where we’re going. Are there better tow vehicles? 100%. But can other true tow vehicles do what I can when they get to their destination? No.