Homemade rig

[norfla71]

I've posted several threads on here about various items, including a year long family trip. However, the only certainty is life is not fair; I had to take a lower paying job last year, and we lost the fiver this year. As luck would have it I have a great job opportunity with a major aircraft company. However, it's about 80 miles from the house; 3 hour daily commute adds up to over $300/month in fuel alone and 60 hours of lost time (about what I can do with my current job every week if things get really busy). Plus my car is 15 years old and has about 200,000 on the clock; way too much wear and tear. I really need to stay near work during the week.

The biggest issue is not being able to afford another rig right now, and I don't want to spend good money on something that will not be useable by my family later. I believe the solution sits in my yard; I have a 99 Suburban and a 5x10 utility trailer that's just collecting junk at the moment. Initially I'll be boondocking in the Burb; really only need a dry place to sleep and store stuff. However, that will get old quick. Considering the time investment, I'll have to pull the trailer to the site and work on it there in my spare time.

From research, it looks as if others have made decent rigs with the same size trailer, so I'm going to use it to build mine. I built my 8x12 shed, so most construction should be similar; I'm looking at maybe going for the micro house thing for cheap, but still keeping it registered as a trailer v/s RV.

This is temporary; I only need a dry place to keep my stuff and self while working. Once bills go away, and we get to keep more of what we make, I'll start looking for a more permanent rig that we can actually use as a family. Once I get started I'll repost.

[norfla71]

The trailer has 3500# axles and weighs 500#. I plan on using light but strong materials, at least in my price range (less than $1,000 total). It will just be for me to use while working; place to stash clothes, cook a small meal and catch some sleep. I also have to do this in stages, as I can't afford to do it all at once. A couple of pieces of plywood one payday, etc..

I believe my ramp is 48", which will make it a useable 60sqft. I plan on following a build I saw on the net, similar to a fold down camp trailer. The 3 sides will be fixed, but the roof will be fold down and the ramp extensions (and that roof section) will be removable and stored inside the trailer during transit. The bed platform will be hinged for more space when not being used and it will have the bare essentials (vying for all electric; I can get small 110V appliances that will fit the need, and I always see them at Habitat and junk stores for cheap). Really want to avoid the hassle/expense of plumbing gas.

Essentially, it's a short term solution. Like the Burb, which I bought specifically because it's a 2500 and needed a motor/trans refresh (and had never done one) and the shed, I could have just bought something in better shape or ready made for more money (and saved a ton of headaches) but I'm also doing it because I want to prove I can use my hands for something other than turning wrenches.

If this works out my next build will be a 30' race trailer. I hate the thought of spending what dealers want for even a basic nothing rig these days, not counting their fees. For now I'm snowballing ideas.

[gaymeadowsman]

Check these out
Gypsy Wagons

[DrewE]

What is the weight rating of your trailer?

You might want to check out plans from e.g. Glen-L. Even if you don't follow one of the exact models, the construction methods and systems are similar. For a trailer, building something that is fairly lightweight but still sturdy enough is a big part of the job. In that sense, it's rather different than building a shed, where weight really isn't much of a concern.

A 5x10 travel trailer is going to be rather smaller than you imagine. Even if you extend the width somewhat beyond the utility trailer deck (since you don't really need wheels outside the edges of the trailer) it's still quite small. You'll have a pretty hard time making something usable by a family without some significant compromises, like not eliminating the bathroom or the kitchen or requiring some people to sleep in tents.

If you want the challenge of the project and need something to do, by all means go for it for that reason. But if you're interested mainly in something that makes financial sense, I think you'd be much better served to sell your car and your trailer and buy a used travel trailer. Even if you're building your own, it might make sense to buy one just for the appliances and fixtures.

The idea of a making a school bus conversion (or perhaps a step van conversion) does have a good bit of merit. You'd end up with a much more useful RV in the end than you would based on your trailer.

Anyhow, that's my opinion.

[Bob_Vaughn]

Why not check with the county school bus garages and see if you can get a school bus cheap. I have seen some neat conversions on the internet.....Plus you could sell it when you no longer need a place to sleep...

[norfla71]

Mobile at the new Airbus final assembly. I have a ton of stuff laying around to use.

[jjrbus]

I have done a bus conversion and am redoing a Toyota RV. First is weight, is the trailer heavy enough to carry the weight?

2nd unless you are building a simple box to sleep in I will hazard a guess you will spend way more than you think you can do it for. Unless you have ALL the material laying around the yard.

I think looking for an older small trailer for cheap that can be resold later is the better option. But you gotta do, what ya gotta do.

[2012Coleman]

So will you be at Cecil, NAS, or JIA? I'd try to find an RV park that is close by and see if there are any residential units for rent. Check out fleetwoodrvpark.com