7x16 Cargo Trailer Conversion
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 23 июл 2022
- 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!
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.
Great colors! Also your additions
Thank you!
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Say hello to Drew at Restless Spirit and the girls at Packer Saloon from Sysco Bob.
Ha! You got it 👍🏻
Wow!! So impressed! I could easily and comfortably live in this! Happy travels!
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.
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.
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!
Wow!!! This is such a thoughtful and well layed out cargo trailer conversation!
Thanks so much, Chris!
Nice clean build. Content like this is few and far between. Thank you
Thanks, Mike! Really appreciate that. Thanks for watching.
Thumbs UP! awesome build - thanks for sharing...Really appreciate the modular approach for the storage and such, as well as the fridge and solar/electrical simplicity. This build nailed it. I'm wanting to solo travel and base camp to then use my BMW adventure bike for local exploring/camping and such. This type of build philosophy which allows a motorcycle to be stored inside seems perfect. Glad I found your video - thanks again and and safe travels to you and yours...
Thanks so much! In the winter when we’re back in TX racing motorcross, I swap the mountain bikes out for my Honda CRF250R and we turn it into home base for a race weekends - so can confirm it fits that use as well :)
I was just looking at these trailers this evening and stumbled across your video. Well done sir!
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing. Pretty awesome setup.
Thanks for watching!
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 :)
Very nice, thanks for giving us so
much inspiration!
Thanks for watching, Eric!
Thank you man for the inspiration and getting straight to the point of the video 👍
Thanks for watching, Smitty! Just trying to share some ideas for folks who want to do the same thing.
love the idea of the drawers in the toe kick area, plus the metal cabinets.
Thank you! They’ve been working out great so far.
Bought their 8.5 X 20 full front bedroom build coming soon 🔜 👍
Very nice! Can’t wait to see your build.
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!
Great point about not doing anything custom unless you absolutely have to. A friend of mine said the same thing when I was renovating my house. Sometimes things need to be replaced and it's much cheaper and easier with standard sized components.
Thanks for watching!
Great build! Very well-thought out
Thank you!
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?
Very cool ideas!!❤🇨🇦
Nice build, scenery, and video!
Thanks!
Incredible build…excellent! Peace and Blessings
Thanks so much!
Awesome set up and build. Keep us updated on your adventures would like to see how it goes
Thanks, Creg. Appreciate you watching. Will do!
This thing is sweet! Looking to build something like this! Great ideas here!!
Thanks, Chandler! Good luck on your build!
Like that C.T. Camper , A Quality Build Out .
Thank you!
Badass Rig man! I like the simplicity and you checked all the boxes, minus the silly s*** you see on other RUclips videos for tiny homes / van life. Cheers be safe have fun!
Ha! Thanks man!
Super cool! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching, Tony!
Badass bro
Thanks!
Awesome build!
Thanks, Joel!
Awesome Build!
Thanks, Chad!
Looks awesome!!
Thank you!
Great setup
Thank you!
Looks perfect!
Thanks!
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!
Beat conversion yet. With murphy bed , cargo/ shower area and off road.Also like the bluetti.
Thanks, Ken! Appreciate you watching.
Super sick!!
Thanks, John!
Nice build!
Thank you!
Wow, perfect....✌️
Thanks for watching!
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.
Very nice, sometimes I wish I went with a larger ctc project. Maybe when I get a more suitable vehicle. Great video.
Thanks!
Awesome camper, thanks for the video! My 4x6 v-nose toy hauler-camper-theater is quite compact. Front 4x5 deck plus roof rack and hitch rack is extra room for 2KW Inv-Gen, Solar pnl, and Awning. 3 cabinets house cooking equip. and the 24"TV/entertainment ctr. Twin tri-fold sofa-bed, 5K BTU AC, elec heat and induction cooktop complete the collection (so far). Planning a folding room pinned onto my ramp that will be outside galley and inside privy w/shower pan. that will tie down on the front deck. Pulling it with a 1.8L Scion XD gets 20mpg (headwind) and 28mpg (tailwind)
Thanks, John! Would love to see your build when you're done!
@@theoffroadnomads8341 Thanks Garrett, I've never done a video but have lotsa pics of my conversion. Being a newbie, I watched hundreds of conversion and DIY videos to get ideas. Like your floor for instance. Where's it from?
@@johnw65 Apologies for the late response. Missed your comment. We got the flooring from Amazon. Here's the link: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08528N2CV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1&psc=1
If that doesn't work for any reason, search "We Sell Mats Forest Floor Farmhouse Collection 3/8 Inch Thick Printed Wood Grain Mats, 24 in x 24 in"
There's almost endless options. We've had the floor for 3 months now and it's held up incredibly well to water, dirt, hiking boots, etc. No real sign of wear to be honest. We'd definitely go this route again.
Way cool. I want one to haul my Harley.
It’d look great with a Harley in it! We used it to haul my dirt bikes before we did the whole build out. Worked great!
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.
Nice clean build. I looked at that cargo trailer company before converting mine as well. Went for same kind of look on the outside as yours. You can see my conversion on my Channel. I saw someone ask about build out cost, Glad to see others like you saying what it actually cost to build one of these out. Best of luck out there!
Thanks for the comment! Couldn’t agree more. We wanted to be transparent about the process and the cost. It’s not cheap, but for us, it was the more affordable option compared to what we found on the market. Have fun in your build!
Beautiful nice job
Thank you!
You did a very nice job
Thank you!
Terrific job!
Holy Solar Batman! That's a lotta juice! Great build guys!
@@traviswiest1556 Thanks, Travis! It's definitely a bit overkill from a power perspective but that's what we wanted. We never wanted to have to worry about power production or storage.
Thanks, Dr Mott!
I found a company that makes 8x16 trailers :)
Can you do a video on what you have done to the Jeep? And what do you do for bathroom and shower needs?
Absolutely, we’ll get around do that one day.
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.
@@theoffroadnomads8341 - My family tends to camp off grid so bathrooms are not quite as available. One of the things that popped to mind was a two sets of brackets to put a shower "stall" and a potty "stall" on the outside easily. Mostly to keep direct sun and insects off of you. Maybe under an awning in case weather was towards the colder side?
Either way, I love your setup. I have been looking at Novak helping setup a Jeep as that would give me more power and towing capacity. I look forward to seeing your setup.
@@rickgrimes931 Thanks for the great suggestions, Rick. Safe travels out there!
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.
Nice rig👍
Thanks, Patrick! Appreciate you watching.
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!
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.
Very nice!! Did I miss seeing the bathroom area? Cool idea for the flooring indeed...all nicely thought out.
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.
This has been fine for both my wife and I.
@@theoffroadnomads8341 Cool. Enjoy your travels!!
@@chewar7537 thank you!
Very nice
Thanks, Austin!
You guys did an amazing job with this one. Do you have a price breakdown video or build video of you building it out? Thanks!
Thanks, Jake! We’ll add that to the list of videos to make in the future :)
This is a neat camper build i have build planned but im going a completely different route with my build 6ft.x12ft.x6 ft 6 high interior dimensions two bedrooms (Small)
Center 6x6 ft. Area will be the kitchen/ living area tv is gonna fold down from ceiling no plan for toilet but might add one in later revisions of plans backbedroom room will feature a fold up bed to facilitate a 48inch back door for loading and unloading my toys (boat and mini bike) will have a small fridge for cooling drinks and maybe food will have a butane stove but no oven will have space for a good yeti style cooler
Lighting will primarily be 12 volt
It will have an outside awning of my design also have provisions for watching tv outside under the awning
Also camper will have two tables for use outside at this time theres no plans for a shower but plans maybe be modified to facilitate a shower but probably be an outdoor shower i also intend for this camper to have a side entry door depending on trailers axle location if possible i may add a second side door for convienence
The box will be a wedge nose where the batterys will be stored lastly the box will be sheathed in actual fiberglass what do you think at the moment the cost to build is gonna be in the 8000 range excluding small things like fixtures and fittings and wiring but ive estimated an additional 2500 over the 8000 for those costs let me know what you think
Sounds like a great build. Good luck!
@@theoffroadnomads8341 i hope so im ive been saving for a while for this also im going over my plans again looking for
ways to cut cost but also considering
making the camper box interior about 18 inches longer to slightly enlarge bedrooms
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.
I love your build and your great ideas on eliminating weight. I could live in this built, at my age I just need an inside bathroom. Lol! Be proud of your built young man.
Thank you so much! The bathroom situation certainly isn’t for everyone, but that’s why we build it for our needs, not everyone else’s :) Thanks for watching!
😘❤️👍
Very cool
Thank you!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Did you do any upgrades to the suspension of that jeep to accommodate the extra weight when towing? Love the fact that you guys went out and built exactly what you wanted btw… love the build… looking forward to see you guys put out more content… you got a sub from me…
Yeah, we’re running some stiffer Fox suspension + air bags in the rear to help with the extra weight.
Thanks for watching!
Bad ass.!
Thanks, Michael!
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 😊
How’s the starlink working while traveling
It's been amazing. Absolute game changer for us. Highly recommend it.
Do you haul that with your Gladiator?
Yep!
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.
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.
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
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.
Amazing build here...thanks for taking the time to make this video -- for the cabinets, how do you bolt them down or prevent shifting during transit? Thanks again!
Thanks, Jeremy! The cabinets are screwed into the walls. No issues with that yet and we’ve been down some pretty bump roads.
@@theoffroadnomads8341 Awsome thank you! I have the same trailer as you and are installing gladiator cabinets based on your build too - thanks for the info!
@@theoffroadnomads8341 And did you do the same for the tall cabinet as well? Or is that in the ground? Thank you!
@@theoffroadnomads8341 Cool - I appreciate the intel!
@@JeremyDBrown-zt7ci sorry for the delay, missed you comment. All the cabinets are screwed to the wall, and to the wooden drawers I built below them. I had to add a 2x4 piece behind the tall cabinet as it was spaced further from the wall due to a slightly different design than the other cabinets.
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!
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.
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’
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!
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.
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
BTW…..good name!!
Back at ya, Garret!
I enjoyed the tour a lot. Just once question- where was the toilet?
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.
Would you be willing to share source of equipment. Looking to convert haul two Harleys and a small bed for two or two single and storage.
To be power like an rv with solar options.
Like the Starlink
@@daven432 you can get most everything from different stores, just depends. Pretty much everything is either from Lowe’s, Home Depot, or Amazon.
Gladiator Large Gear Box (Container Store)
Gladiator Bottom Cabinets (Container Store)
"Gladiator 28"" HARDWOOD TOP"
Gladiator Top Cabinets
Siena 16 Gauge Stainless Steel 15 in. x 15 in. 1-Hole Drop-in Workstation Bar Sink
Peerless Xander Kitchen Sink
Zinus Deepak Easy Assembly Wood Slat 1.6 Inch Bunkie Board / Bed Slat Replacement, Full
allen + roth Medium Grey Heathered Seat Pad
Birch 5 ft. L x 30 in. D x 1.5 in. T Butcher Block Desktop Countertop in Clear UV Finish
Lucid 8 Inch Gel Memory Foam-Mattress - Firm Feel - Gel Infusion - Hypoallergenic Bamboo Charcoal - Breathable-Cover
Standing Desk (Amazon)
4-Tier Storage Dresser with 8 Easy Pull Fabric Drawers
Reliance Products Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Rigid Water Container
"RecPro RV Stove Gas Range 21"" Tall"
Forest Floor Farmhouse Collection 3/8 Inch Thick Printed Wood Grain Mats, 24 in x 24 in
Lumber for Bed Frame, Dinette, Celining, and Bed Ceiling (Lowes)
Bluetti AC 300 w/ 2 B300 Battery packs
Renogy Solar MC4Y2 Male and Female Branch Connectors MMMF+FFFM, 3 to 1
Renogy 20FT 10AWG Solar Panel Extension Cable with Male and Female Connectors, 20Ft. 10AWG, 1 Pair (Red and Black)
Anderson to MC4 Cable for Redarc Solar Panels - 5' Long
"Renogy 320-Watt Monocrystalline Solar Panel (2-Piece)
(2)
"
Renogy 200W Mono Solar Panel
Maxx Air 00-07500K MaxxFan Deluxe with Remote - Smoke
Joolca HotTap
Kohree 5 Gang Rocker Switch Panel
Dometic CFX3 75
RockyMounts Driveshaft HM Bolt-On thru-axle bike rack
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.
Solid Build. I got my 7x18 in the spring and love it. I had the side door located back farther so I could build a 5' deep kitchenette. I'll be adding fresh water tank, sink, water pump, 4gal electric water heater, same exact dometic freezer/fridge as you and putting a shower on the outside that is ran by the electric water heater and pump. I am in the process of completing my build sheet and I am a little stumped on the solar build I am going to do. I am most likely going to do what you did, however do you have a video explaining how you hooked up your solar? I know our battery runs the puck lights and the other lights/AC unit runs off the 110v 30amp plug. I am just trying to connect the dots here lol. Also, do you have a link to that screen for your door?
Thanks! Sounds like you're on your way to a great build yourself.
Installing Solar Panels: ruclips.net/user/shortsFs65UxU2eMM
Solar System: ruclips.net/user/shortsQwRfqENC2K0
For our overall power system, we only use the included Battery from Colorado Trailers to run the stock interior/exterior LED lights. Everything else runs off of our Bluetti AC300/B300 system that is powered by 1,040 watts of solar. We have the Bluetti AC300 + 3 B300 batteries, and run that through a 12v Fuse Box into the 12v Control Panel inside the trailer. We also have a few 120v adapters running from the ports on the Bluetti into the main living area to power any 120v systems. So we never use the included power sockets from Colorado Trailers as we're never connected to shore power.
Happy to answer any more questions if that didn't help!
Here is the screen (Size 30" x "80 fits our door perfectly): www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JHMJWVH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
@@garrettlong8245 thank you for the clarification! Once I pull the trigger on the Bluetti I’ll probably have more questions! But for now that makes sense. I’m basically going to copy your solar/power build. I am also trying to find scissor stabilizer jacks that can be mounted under the front “V” shaped frame of the trailer to give more stability to the front rather than relying on the lift Jack in the front only. IDK if you have thought of that or have a solution for the trailer canting when not hooked to the hitch. If I find a solution, I’ll drop it in the comments.
@@user-ut3nk9og6y Sounds good! We haven't really had an issue with ours moving a lot on the stock jack. But keep us updated :)