afishinado
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Joined 12 years ago
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Re: Trying to decide which toy hauler to buy.
I am about to start my 3rd summer with a 06 KZ Sportsman. Tow it with a 06 RAM 3500 Megacab dually... I have decided I just didn't like the RV life traveling, chasing good weather, dodging wild fires etc. So I am selling the truck (really really nice) and using the TH for our summer home in the Black Hills of SD, hire someone to move it to and from storage. This summer we will buy a new one. Only doing that to get a few different features we don't have now, washer & dryer. Bigger fridge, bed, shower, garage, etc. Look into a SIDEWINDER 5th wheel king pin, I can turn my Mega cab 90 degrees, before less than 45.. Here is a list of the new ones I am interested in so far: Voltage 3970 Voltage V4000 HEARTLAND CYCLONE CY 4150 * KZ Venom V3911TK Keystone Raptor 412TS554Views0likes0CommentsRe: Converting a enclosed utility trailer into a TH. Ideas...
Dunno why I couldn't upload the last reply with the images?? Yesterday, finished all the wiring, laid peel'n'stick linoleum to do the front 4' and picked up two 5x7 berber throw rugs for the rest which we'll lay out when the bikes are off and we're camping ($58 at Lowes total) sweet.. Did some experimenting with the AC, wanted to see if with the slider door closed (with four 14"x14" openings) if it would stay cool below the window line so we could leave the dogs in it while out riding. Figuring cold air sinks and heat rises, maybe.. Well it was over 90 degrees yesterday and the lower half the unit was 76 degrees, perfect. Also didn't know how long the deep cycle battery/inverter would run the fridge, 26 hours and I was still showing 11.8v and the fridge was running. Happy.4KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Converting a enclosed utility trailer into a TH. Ideas...
Note, when we headed home at the end of last summer, every one of those bins you see stacked in the photos were full. We're used to doing that twice a year, we were NJ-FL snowbirds since 2000, no biggy. Because I had so much time to do this, and again, this is to probably do 6 or so camping trips a year, I shopped hard. Bought the fridge off CL for $50.. The AC was brand new off eBay broken enclosure $65. New, unused in the box portapotty $15. Have air mattress thanks to the G-kids everywhere. Been fun just doing it actually.4KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Converting a enclosed utility trailer into a TH. Ideas...
tinner12002 wrote: toedtoes wrote: Rather than putting more money into a 2nd trailer when you haven't enjoyed the first, why not look at ways to simplify what you are doing with the first one. You mention "packing and unpacking" - how about looking at how to minimize that. Dedicated gear and clothes that stay in the TH, etc. I have my clipper set up so I can be ready and on the road within about 10 minutes - just load perishables, camera gear and critters. While your idea of the smaller utility trailer is a nice idea, seems to me you're going to be doing just as much work to get it ready and you currently do with the TH. X2 as I was thinking the same thing...If that's what the OP is wanting to do there are a lot of options with trailers already set up like he's wanting from the factory but still will be packing and unpacking. Like I said early on... The conversion was an afterthought, I bought the trailer just to haul our stuff (including two Harleys) back'n'forth once a year. Home and SD are 2300 miles apart, we aren't leaving all our stuff out there for 8 months! I will also point out that I don't think I spent $1000 on the conversion, said'n'done I'll be in it for under $6k, one already set up (nicer of course) sells for around $20k. Now we will have a way to haul the bikes to another destination camp and ride a couple days. This is not replacing my 5er which will stay put in SD July-Nov 1st. The other nice thing is I will using my Tahoe all summer, not a big dually (which I am putting up for sale shortly). Just going to pay a guy to move the 5er from storage to the site and back every summer. Going to upgrade to a newer nicer 5er to stay in, as it will now be our summer home.4KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Converting a enclosed utility trailer into a TH. Ideas...
Update: Ceiling insulated, countertop in, sink with cold water only (plumbed to use Campsite water & drain to campsite waste), refrigerator, air conditioner (uses 6" vent out side), 900 watt inverter to run fridge while traveling, deep cycle battery, 12v charger. Everything is wired to the outside hidden underneath to hook up at any facility. Decided I wouldn't put windows in it unless I have to, today made what will be a sliding door for when we're occupying it. It has for 14" square windows that will be screened. We will leave the dogs in it when we go riding, I'm thinking since cold air drops, the lower 3' of the trailer will stay cool with the windows open (and the AC on). Bought a 27" flat screen TV/DVD player combo which will be mounted all the way in front. Thought hard about painting the inside, putting something on the floor, but decided against it, just going to get a couple 6x6 area rugs that can be rolled up when the bikes are in it. Using two twin mattresses to sleep on, and to of those folding canvas chairs for watching the tube. The motorcycle mounts pop out with two bolts. Keep in mind, the main purpose of the trailer is to tow our bikes and, and all our other stuff out to the RV in South Dakota and back to FL (snowbirds). Making it a 'camper was an afterthought, but I think it will do a amicable job for 2 or 3 day trips out of Rapid City. We will use the RV park bathroom facilities (altho I did get a portapotty for emergencies). We have no plans of cooking or eating in it (but I gotta have my coffee in the morning). We are doing a 'shakedown' or test trip to the Keys mid April to see how it all works...1.3KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Converting a enclosed utility trailer into a TH. Ideas...
Mr Bojangles wrote: Afishinado: Reading your parts break down, what does the 10 and 20 mean in your reference to ebay items? Door window 1 $100.00 $100 ebay 10 Side window 2 $100.00 $200 ebay 20 Respectfully, Jim o Jim the windows I am estimating at 10lbs each... 10 for one, and 20 for two. Because I plan on putting almost everything in the front, knowing the weight is super important on some stuff.343Views0likes0CommentsRe: Converting a enclosed utility trailer into a TH. Ideas...
Doing some Due Dilligence before I begin. Thought I would share.... Item Name Qty Price Cost Make & Model Supplier Weight Refrigerator 1 $258.57 $259 GE GDE03GGHWW Lowes 63 Battery 1 $124.99 $125 Diehard series 27 Sears 57 Inverter 1 $150.00 $150 10 A/C Unit 1 $389.95 $390 Dometic 13500BTU RV Parts C 74 TV 1 $175.00 $175 LG 22" Sears 6 TV mount 1 $40.00 $40 Sears 4 sink 1 $60.00 $60 Small Stainless ebay 8 water tank 1 $0.00 $0 15gal w/pump have it Grey water tank 1 $0 Door window 1 $100.00 $100 ebay 10 Side window 2 $100.00 $200 ebay 20 Insulation board 3/4"x4'x8' 12 $11.48 $138 Polystyrene Lowes 1 Microwave 0 $89.00 $0 Have one 8 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 Total Cost est $1,636 Total Wt 261344Views0likes0CommentsRe: Converting a enclosed utility trailer into a TH. Ideas...
LowRyter wrote: I wonder if you can get an 18ft Toy Hauler all rigged for less $$? ................. There were several at the Sturgis motorcycle rally this year $20k+/-, I didn't look at them (before I decided to do this), but the trailer dealers had utility trailers on their lots they took on trade for them. Again, having a 5er TH, I don't need a shower or toilet in this. Like I said in my original post I already bought the trailer and towed it (loaded) from SD to FL... Strabo wrote: Have you ever lived in a 7' x 14' space? I have not, nor do I intend to. Will I sleep in 7x14 with wife and dogs for 2 or 3 days at a time? Certainly. This is really the vision I have.... But with the V front, I need to be just a little more creative. Thanks Roy . toedtoes wrote: Rather than putting more money into a 2nd trailer when you haven't enjoyed the first......... I enjoyed the 5er, just not enough! Friend, this little trailer will be less work, a lot less when we do take it on a side trip. This project merely will expand what we do, plus save me from towing the big one 5000 miles a year plus side trips. With this trailer, I could hire someone to take the 5er to the campground and back to storage once a year. Doing that I could then sell the dually, I would save a nice chunk of change, one less vehicle to maintain and insure, plus driving my Tahoe all summer in SD is way nicer than a dually pickup.227Views0likes0CommentsConverting a enclosed utility trailer into a TH. Ideas...
After almost 2 years I have decided the RVing life is too much like owning big boats, been there done that. The coach performed fine, the pickup did well also. The whole chasing good weather, setting up frequently, unpacking, packing just didn't put my fun meter in the red.... So..... We really love the Black Hills of SD which we have stayed for weeks at a time in summers past (including this past summer). So I decided to leave the TH there in storage this winter, next summer move it to the park we like, and settle in for July trough October. I bought a new 7x14 enclosed trailer to tow the bikes and stuff we didn't want to leave there home and back again. I will hang on to the dually for at least another year so if I decide to visit another area, I can pull it. But I wanted the option of getting rid of the dually and towing the small trailer with my Tahoe. Now.... I am thinking the 7x14 with some mods would make a cool mini toy hauler that we could do short 3 or 4 day trips in, and also serve as a guest cabin if we have visitors in SD. We never dry camp, always stay in a park, so I'm not planning a shower or more than a portapotti in the plan. I have seen some YouTube videos on full conversions, but always looking for more input. I'm planning a minimal grey water & freshwater, just enough to wash my hands, wash the coffee pot, no hot water system. Inverter for power, as most times it'll be plugged in to a post. Three cu ft 120v fridge, no LP. Microwave, TV. Going to use a good cot, and wife likes air mattress.... Undecided about; Whether to use a roof top AC or a portable, like the rooftop, but a portable is 1/2 the price and only requires a 4" diameter vent on the side. Do I have to insulate the walls or can I get away with just the ceiling? Heck of a lot more work to remove and replace the plywood sides. Haven't decided what to do on the floor, it has flush tie downs and I use 'Biker Bars' for the Harley's which come out in about 3 minutes. Thinking either a manufactured finish flooring or more than likely just carry a cut carpet to roll out. All input appreciated!48KViews0likes38Comments
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