Installing Windows

marking the location of the window

fitting window frame support

brackets holding window frame support in place

right side windows installed

left side window installed

 

 

First Things First

One of the first steps in a cargo trailer build is to pull out all the plywood / OSB wallboard the trailer had installed by the manufacturer. Once you have the plywood removed, you want to check for any gaps in the sheet metal or evidence of leaks. You can check for gaps by getting in the trailer on a bright day and closing all the doors; any gaps in the sheet metal should be easily seen with the light from outside streaming in. Leaks can be detected by looking the trailer over carefully along all the seams in the roof and sides. You're looking for water stains on the metal or signs of rust. Mark the areas with a sharpie and wait for a good rainstorm, or better yet, grab the garden hose and thoroughly drench the exterior of the trailer. Then go into the trailer and recheck the entire roof and sides, paying special attention to suspected leak areas. I sealed all my wall and floor gaps with great stuff foam, the smaller roof gaps I covered with Dicor self-leveling RV sealant. I then removed every exterior screw on the exterior skin (for good measure) and applied flex seal to the threads of the screws, and reinstalled them (sounds worse than it is). In my opinion, this is one of the most important steps you can take. If you're going to put a lot of time and money into a project, you don't want it ruined by water leaks.

Rust and water streaks on the wall next to the roofline

A gap in the front corner of the trailer at the wall and floorline

Trial Run

Nicky enjoying the campfire next to the trailer

Just after we purchased the cargo trailer, we took it out (as is) on a camping trip to get a better feel for the trailer and how we might want to set it up. We put two Coleman camping cots, a portable toilet, and the rest of our camping gear in the trailer and headed off to our favourite campground, Rollins Pond State Park, in the Adirondacks. The trailer towed great; it has a single 3500 lb Dexter torsion axle. We hardly knew it was behind our 2018 Ford Explorer; that being said, we still plan to add brakes to the trailer and an anti-sway bar for safety. Before this first outing, I had an image in my head of how I was going to convert our trailer into a camper; by the end of the weekend, Nicky and I had already started to tweak our original ideas. When we originally started looking into converting a trailer, we found many inspirational builds. Here are a few of our favourite builds: 

https://tinyhousetalk.com/couples-cargo-trailer-camper-conversion/.

                                           A solo lady camper with some great building skills (if  you're unable to see the video clip, scroll down and select "view web version" located below the "Home" tab)

                   

                   Kevin Robinsons's cargo trailer YouTube video build series,  (if you're unable to see the video clip, scroll down and select "view web version" located below the "Home" tab)

               This is one of about fifty videos Kevin has posted to YouTube about converting a cargo trailer 

Buying a cargo trailer to convert into a camper.

 

Bringing our trailer home

In August 2020, my wife and I purchased a 2016 6x10 enclosed Haulmark Transport trailer. Our intention is to convert it into a small DIY camper to travel around the country in during our retirement. Over the years, we have had a variety of camping setups, from tents to Class A RVs.  During that time, we learned how we travelled and camped as a family and wanted to make something that would allow us to accomplish that in the most economical way possible.  Why convert a cargo trailer? Well, first of all, they're readily available and affordable to purchase. It's a blank canvas; you can design the interior as basic or as extravagant as you would like and are able, and don't forget they are exceptionally sturdy; they were built to carry cargo after all.