A terrific first run! Even though you have a lot of money in your camper, it truly shows. It is leaps and bounds ahead of traditional travel trailers anywhere near the same size. A coworker of mine has a travel trailer similar in size, a single axle. It ran off the shoulder on a rural road, blew a tire. It twisted the frame and totaled the trailer! Just from a tire blowout. This was a trailer supposedly built to be able to go anywhere. You made the right choice building your own.
I'm a ways behind you in my build and I've been learning along the way. There is a lot of good info here. I also hadn't planned on a towel hook. Waterproofing the walls and joints around the plumbing system with flex seal or something will probably save me in the future. Standing shower water will definitely be a problem in my wet bath, so I need a squeegee. Vertical walls on the urine diverter will probably be necessary to hit it from all sides safely. These things will no doubt be easier to deal with in the design phase so you've saved me a bit of trouble. Thanks!
Great video series! We did a 6x12 build last summer and have been loving it. I appreciate how genuine you guys are and how you show both the ups and downs in the build. I can sympathize with how much a PITA some stuff is and how it tested our marriage 😂
Make sure you look up minimum venting requirements when you build the box around the heater. You don’t want any wood/kindling too close to it hahaha. You might trade one problem for another if you aren’t careful. I really like hearing the “what I wish we’d done” it’s super valuable info for anyone considering doing the same
Cool trlr would use x chunks between tires to be sure it doesn't move at all also use tire locks like chain and locks would use as many locks as possible to make sure it's harder 4 it to be stolen also keep wrkn at it yall will get ur trlr fixed up also a electric 120v engine winch may wrk better 4 the weight on ur bed and sending up prayers 4 yall and bless great healthy peaceful safe journeys travels and happy camping 🚌🌅🌌🌄🏞🏖 👍👍💪🙂👍👍
glad you guys finally got to try things out. im anxious to see the bed lift build video. we have a motorcycle that goes in the back of ours, so the bed goes up and down. currently we do it manually, but i do have the frame and unistrut portion completed. just trying to figure out the best lifting mech. just saw one where they are using a wiper motor that is actually mounted to the bed, and it lifts using straps. looks pretty promising. keep the videos coming my friend. we love watching and borrowing the ideas. :)
Id build a flip up cover for toilet seat that covers it when showering, iam also wondering and hoping you guys thought about security for your build, definitely should have good lighting motion sensor lighting on all sides, and a alarm system, and good locks and chains and hitch lock
Great looking buggy! I recall our first get a way… some of the same issues of forgetting stuff, needs, additional upgrades. Heck, after several trips, we still add stuff. May I suggest… whatever you “need” for the buggy, buy it and leave it with / in the buggy. Even pots and pans, drink glasses, etc. nothing worse then being all set up at the camp site and figuring out you can’t cook bc you forgot to bring utensils 🤬. I actually got a set of cast iron skillets so I can cook over a camp fire if need be, and they stay with the camping gear!! I found that using a couple of clear totes- that I labeled helps with storage of “camp gear” camp “kitchen”, camp “misc”. When we get home, everything is deep cleaned, and put in one of the clear totes, placed on the garage shelf or put back in the buggy, for the next trip. We even dry out, wipe out our mini fridge- we even leave the fridge door open for ventilation for a few days. Found out the hard way… what happens to a fridge if not properly dried out. 😖 We found using plastic silverware, cups, and paper plates works best for us. We even have a baggie of condiments from fast food joints is the best way. Wendy’s has the best “free” plastic ware. 😉. Ketchup, mustard, heck - long horn restaurants even have A1 sauce in those little tear open packs 😀. Sorry, long winded response but just wanted to give you some tricks & ideas to make your trips more enjoyable.
This is great work! I've enjoyed the whole series. How is your fuel efficiency on the 4Runner when you're not towing versus towing? I have a similar sized vehicle and my biggest fear on a dual axle trailer is that I'll have to stop every 2 hours to fill my gas tank. Thanks!
It’s a real nice and modern build but no space for cargo, but whatever works for you. I think that when you do a conversion like this , you still have to have the cargo portion flexible.
for the CO detector you should keep it near your sleeping area. It’s normal for this type of device to put a small amount of CO, the detector is build to enter in alarm if the PPM in the air rise quickly, so it’s normal he went off when the detector is in a close cabinet near the heater. these detector are design to be put in an open area where you sleep.
I know I’m late…..You towed that cargo camper with that vehicle? I’m impressed, frightened, confused, Impressed again, and finally confused. How much does your trailer weigh? And what kinda car?
great build. new subscriber! funny... when you pan to the dog shes looking at you sideways. often means theyre going to ATTACK! then you keep panning and your wife is looking at you sideways! lol but seriously, im on my second cargo conv. i never stop searching on how others are doing things :)
You should use paper plates would be easier to clean and save on water.also the hot water heater I use a 5 gal bucket installed a small hot water heating element , like what they have in hot water heater. It heat's up quick.have a little spray pump.. great video .
Using it is the best way to fine tune the little things. Like paper towels, bath mat, squeegee, etc. Will you be adding an awning? Did you plan for mostly cooking indoors or outdoors?
So I too am converting my cargo trailer to a toy hauler camper, so love your videos. I did see another trailer conversion video where the guy put a bamboo grate (not sure if he made it or bought it, and I think he mentioned bamboo being a better wood for water situation (?) ) in the floor of his shower and would remove it from there when showering. Oh and you might think about keeping the propane cannister and hose ( 9:25 ) more distanced(?)/away from the flame, maybe put your ingredient containers by the wall along side the propane then you could slide the burner a little bit further away; since you are so safety conscious. Sorry not trying to be a safety Nazi. You just seem like a nice couple and I love dogs 😁. Thanks for the videos and the insights, much appreciated. I have watched all of them and more than once on a few (I really want a mini split and spray foam) Keep them coming and take care.
My mini split has a heat pump but you're right we only use it when connected to shore power. But that's the kind of camping the wife and I prefer. If we ever start boondocking, we will cross that bridge when we get to it hahaha.
Did you weigh your trailer curious where you ended up. I’m almost done with my build and I’m a little nervous where I’m going to end up with the weight. I’m pulling with a Jeep so max 3500 lbs.
Haven't weighed it yet. On my list. Kind of a big project though where I live. Probably a 3 hour round trip Hard to justify losing a whole Saturday on it as a doc hahaha
Great video! Your honesty is refreshing and appreciated. Other people can talk all they want, but you are actually doing it!
A terrific first run! Even though you have a lot of money in your camper, it truly shows. It is leaps and bounds ahead of traditional travel trailers anywhere near the same size.
A coworker of mine has a travel trailer similar in size, a single axle. It ran off the shoulder on a rural road, blew a tire. It twisted the frame and totaled the trailer! Just from a tire blowout. This was a trailer supposedly built to be able to go anywhere.
You made the right choice building your own.
I'm a ways behind you in my build and I've been learning along the way. There is a lot of good info here. I also hadn't planned on a towel hook. Waterproofing the walls and joints around the plumbing system with flex seal or something will probably save me in the future. Standing shower water will definitely be a problem in my wet bath, so I need a squeegee. Vertical walls on the urine diverter will probably be necessary to hit it from all sides safely. These things will no doubt be easier to deal with in the design phase so you've saved me a bit of trouble. Thanks!
Great video series! We did a 6x12 build last summer and have been loving it. I appreciate how genuine you guys are and how you show both the ups and downs in the build. I can sympathize with how much a PITA some stuff is and how it tested our marriage 😂
Yeaaaaa... real talk some days I wish I had just bought the damn thing hahahah
I really enjoyed this one. The evening fall lighting was gorgeous. Happy to see y’all actually camping in the trailer!
Make sure you look up minimum venting requirements when you build the box around the heater. You don’t want any wood/kindling too close to it hahaha. You might trade one problem for another if you aren’t careful.
I really like hearing the “what I wish we’d done” it’s super valuable info for anyone considering doing the same
For sure!
Cool trlr would use x chunks between tires to be sure it doesn't move at all also use tire locks like chain and locks would use as many locks as possible to make sure it's harder 4 it to be stolen also keep wrkn at it yall will get ur trlr fixed up also a electric 120v engine winch may wrk better 4 the weight on ur bed and sending up prayers 4 yall and bless great healthy peaceful safe journeys travels and happy camping
🚌🌅🌌🌄🏞🏖
👍👍💪🙂👍👍
Would love to hear more about your 4 Runner and how well it tows the trailer
glad you guys finally got to try things out. im anxious to see the bed lift build video. we have a motorcycle that goes in the back of ours, so the bed goes up and down. currently we do it manually, but i do have the frame and unistrut portion completed. just trying to figure out the best lifting mech. just saw one where they are using a wiper motor that is actually mounted to the bed, and it lifts using straps. looks pretty promising. keep the videos coming my friend. we love watching and borrowing the ideas. :)
Lift video definitely coming!
Thank you for your honesty about your build . You and your wife are Great!
Id build a flip up cover for toilet seat that covers it when showering, iam also wondering and hoping you guys thought about security for your build, definitely should have good lighting motion sensor lighting on all sides, and a alarm system, and good locks and chains and hitch lock
Great looking buggy! I recall our first get a way… some of the same issues of forgetting stuff, needs, additional upgrades. Heck, after several trips, we still add stuff. May I suggest… whatever you “need” for the buggy, buy it and leave it with / in the buggy. Even pots and pans, drink glasses, etc. nothing worse then being all set up at the camp site and figuring out you can’t cook bc you forgot to bring utensils 🤬. I actually got a set of cast iron skillets so I can cook over a camp fire if need be, and they stay with the camping gear!!
I found that using a couple of clear totes- that I labeled helps with storage of “camp gear” camp “kitchen”, camp “misc”. When we get home, everything is deep cleaned, and put in one of the clear totes, placed on the garage shelf or put back in the buggy, for the next trip. We even dry out, wipe out our mini fridge- we even leave the fridge door open for ventilation for a few days. Found out the hard way… what happens to a fridge if not properly dried out. 😖
We found using plastic silverware, cups, and paper plates works best for us. We even have a baggie of condiments from fast food joints is the best way. Wendy’s has the best “free” plastic ware. 😉. Ketchup, mustard, heck - long horn restaurants even have A1 sauce in those little tear open packs 😀.
Sorry, long winded response but just wanted to give you some tricks & ideas to make your trips more enjoyable.
This is great work! I've enjoyed the whole series. How is your fuel efficiency on the 4Runner when you're not towing versus towing? I have a similar sized vehicle and my biggest fear on a dual axle trailer is that I'll have to stop every 2 hours to fill my gas tank. Thanks!
It’s a real nice and modern build but no space for cargo, but whatever works for you. I think that when you do a conversion like this , you still have to have the cargo portion flexible.
Yep! You have to build according to your use case. We don't have any cargo so this worked for us.
for the CO detector you should keep it near your sleeping area. It’s normal for this type of device to put a small amount of CO, the detector is build to enter in alarm if the PPM in the air rise quickly, so it’s normal he went off when the detector is in a close cabinet near the heater. these detector are design to be put in an open area where you sleep.
We actually have a second one out there! But I wanted to know when ANY CO was detected as I didn't want any at all. Well below safety requirements.
I know I’m late…..You towed that cargo camper with that vehicle? I’m impressed, frightened, confused, Impressed again, and finally confused. How much does your trailer weigh? And what kinda car?
great build. new subscriber! funny... when you pan to the dog shes looking at you sideways. often means theyre going to ATTACK! then you keep panning and your wife is looking at you sideways! lol but seriously, im on my second cargo conv. i never stop searching on how others are doing things :)
You should use paper plates would be easier to clean and save on water.also the hot water heater I use a 5 gal bucket installed a small hot water heating element , like what they have in hot water heater. It heat's up quick.have a little spray pump.. great video .
If you built that,nicer than our boughten one,love the puppy dogs,enjoy
Using it is the best way to fine tune the little things. Like paper towels, bath mat, squeegee, etc. Will you be adding an awning? Did you plan for mostly cooking indoors or outdoors?
Get a holder from the hardware section at Home Depot to mount the broom on the inside of the door.
It's too tall! But we bought a Camco foldable RV brrom so it worked out
So I too am converting my cargo trailer to a toy hauler camper, so love your videos.
I did see another trailer conversion video where the guy put a bamboo grate (not sure if he made it or bought it, and I think he mentioned bamboo being a better wood for water situation (?) ) in the floor of his shower and would remove it from there when showering. Oh and you might think about keeping the propane cannister and hose ( 9:25 ) more distanced(?)/away from the flame, maybe put your ingredient containers by the wall along side the propane then you could slide the burner a little bit further away; since you are so safety conscious. Sorry not trying to be a safety Nazi. You just seem like a nice couple and I love dogs 😁.
Thanks for the videos and the insights, much appreciated. I have watched all of them and more than once on a few (I really want a mini split and spray foam) Keep them coming and take care.
Ok, apparently I'm a liar. I just realized I have missed a few of your videos, but I will watch them...and I did watch some more than once.
Good tips! I will keep these in mind as I continue testing!
Did you figure out what the problem was with the bed actuators? Looking forward to an update.
Computer fan might help draw fresh air
"I hope it all doesn't go to hell" I died laughing
Accurate
What are you using for heat? I know you have the mini split but your electrical system won't run that unless you're plugged into shore power.
My mini split has a heat pump but you're right we only use it when connected to shore power. But that's the kind of camping the wife and I prefer. If we ever start boondocking, we will cross that bridge when we get to it hahaha.
Did you weigh your trailer curious where you ended up. I’m almost done with my build and I’m a little nervous where I’m going to end up with the weight. I’m pulling with a Jeep so max 3500 lbs.
Haven't weighed it yet. On my list. Kind of a big project though where I live. Probably a 3 hour round trip Hard to justify losing a whole Saturday on it as a doc hahaha
What is the name of the campground
We actually stayed in a lot we found on HipCamp!