Trailer build, not a clue what I'm doing!

zbmmike

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So, I am new to the sport. 2 seasons. And I had an open 2 place trailer that worked well, I got off Kijiji for cheap, worked on it and it turned out pretty ok. However my wife is riding with me and always complained about having to change in the snow or in a tight truck cab, so I went back on Kijiji and found a really good deal on a smaller enclosed trailer.



I only needed a smaller one and didnt have a diesel to pull a big one so I found a 20' Wells Cargo enclosed. It was pretty rough, but the axles and wheels and frame were all in really good shape, it has some scratches and dents but more cosmetic then anything.

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I looked at some of the fully built trailers and decided that I wanted to add some things for us, personalize and have some nicer things. First was the heat. I bought a 40k RV furnace, and installed it, I was nervous about this, actually cutting a hole in the side of the trailer, and running power and gas lines ect, for someone who has never done this I was nervous, however after install I can say that if anyone was thinking or worried its not as hard as you think......

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Not so scary. I routed the gas under the deck and drilled holes in the joists to get to the front and added a twin 20lb propane tank holder.

Next I wanted somewhere to stand or sit that was dry on feet to get dressed, as did my wife, so I thought why not some carpet. However after thinking, I wanted something that I could replace a piece at a time, and something that was soft underfoot I decided to go with foam carpet squares. Now I realized that some moisture would eventually get into this and come off the sleds and gear and soak the carpet so I installed some plastic tiles that hold it off the floor. As well I installed an angle at the end that I will be siliconing so that it keeps the water out.
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Once I finished this, I installed a rolling Toolbox I got on sale at Home Depot, then some cabinets that I got on sale at Canadian tire, then I put in some more foam on the front door (we wont be using this unless emergency to get out anyways), and finished the Furnace box, and built a small bench and shelf in the front for Battery and lights and such.
As well I decided that I needed a drain, because when the sleds melt the water runs forward and I didnt want this into any of the dry area.
I still have another drain and this one to finish but you get the idea.

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I am looking into a folding bench, as I need one more for sure, and I also want a Helmet shelf with hooks, and a hook system, for avy bags and suits and such.


I am doing this all on a budget, and hard work, its not easy but the savings are worth it I think.

If you have any suggestions I am all ears, as like I say this is only 3rd year (upcoming) of sledding so I am still learning.

Thanks
Mike
 

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Tchetek

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Is it a 16 foot box plus 4’ foot v to make the 20 foot?
 

zbmmike

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Yes you are right, 16' walls and 4' V. It's not exactly what I wanted but I got lucky and found it for a little under 5k, I was also worried that some riding areas have some tighter roads and I dont want anything that really limits what staging aread I can get too.
 
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dabensmiller

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You are on the right track in my opinion. You will figure out other useful mods to make as you go. I did a similar build a few years back, i did it over 2-3 years.

Get yourself a affordable marine deck and 2 speakers and mount in a box, cheap and effective stereo.
 

Summitric

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Put some cheap cup/beer holders mounted on the walls(got mine from princess auto) ..... The rack/guide system from home depot works pretty good for a variety of hooks and easy installation and economical …. Yup, marine stereo and some marine speakers, always a must ;) and there are some cheap easy surface mount adaptor housings at canadian tire or even boat/rv parts supply businesses.
 

Tchetek

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That will be a nice size. Easy fit 3 and still have the v to get ready.
 

vodoo103

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Progress looks really good.

Some of the guys love the folding benches, but I'm not a big fan of them. Never seem to be in the right place and too much $$ for what they do. Had them in my previous trailer, but just use some good folding camp chairs now instead.

If you're on a budget, it's an easy one to leave off the list until later.
 

zbmmike

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Ya I really would like another bench for sure, and have looked at some folding ones, and they are crazy priced!! Theres a place in red deer that make them for $400 or mirage have some for $300 I think. I was looking at some aluminum step ladder work platform deck at princess auto, and perhaps with a good hinge I am thinking it might work for a folding bench, and they are only 89.00. I will see in the next week or so and update if I attempt this. I will be adding some cup holders for sure, as well I would like a helmet shelf, again the place in red deer have a nice one, I know they are a bit pricey at$200 but it might be worth it.
So far all in I'm about at $6800.00, and that includes everything, RV battery and spare wheel and holder and everything inside and propane tank holders. So I think that's not to bad
 

zbmmike

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No insulation plans yet, however I might spray foam the undercarriage. I was thinking maybe doing the walls (ceiling has foam), but wasnt sure what the beat approach would be and or if I even needed it..

It is only 20' so the furnace has it hot in approx 4 min, although I havent had it out in really cold temps.

The only other thing I was thinking of was a window, I like the idea of more natural light and most of the newer ones come with it.

I was also thinking of ceiling hooks to hang gear to dry out, anyone have or used these? Are they handy?
 

dabensmiller

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No insulation plans yet, however I might spray foam the undercarriage. I was thinking maybe doing the walls (ceiling has foam), but wasnt sure what the beat approach would be and or if I even needed it..

It is only 20' so the furnace has it hot in approx 4 min, although I havent had it out in really cold temps.

The only other thing I was thinking of was a window, I like the idea of more natural light and most of the newer ones come with it.

I was also thinking of ceiling hooks to hang gear to dry out, anyone have or used these? Are they handy?

The biggest problem with having a heater and no wall insulation is not heat loss, it will be condensation. I would not bother with spray foaming the floor, insulate the walls and you'll be much better off. I bought the foam for mine at home hardware, took me a day on a 28' trailer.
 

zbmmike

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The biggest problem with having a heater and no wall insulation is not heat loss, it will be condensation. I would not bother with spray foaming the floor, insulate the walls and you'll be much better off. I bought the foam for mine at home hardware, took me a day on a 28' trailer.
What do you mean condensation, sorry if I dont quite understand.
When the Heater is on the snow on sleds and gear will be melting and it will be quite moist in the trailer anyway. Would that help to get rid of it ?, or would it be better if o got a small vent fan on the lower wall vent to try and move the moist air out?
 

LBZ

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You will still get condensation even with the heater running. To help I would put a couple rv roof vents in and if you can afford it get the humidity control auto ones with fans. This will help get the moisture out.

You may want to look at getting a small inverter generator as well if you don’t already have to keep your batteries up if you plan to keep the furnace and these fans running all day/night. My Yamaha 1000 as do many other small ones have a dc charging plug right on them. A small ac to dc charge unit is also a good investment so you can plug into a block heater plug at a hotel or house and leave your heater running and not kill the batteries.
 

zbmmike

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I have a changer built in with a plug out the front for just that to charge batteries, and I was thinking maybe a small inverter generator, but I don't or havent done alot of multiple day trips, so havent thought about it to much.

I think that a fan vent is maybe the best option for moisture, as well the drains should be able to get rid of most of the water from the trailer.


On another note, I used Behr deck over for the floor and it didn't hold up at all.. I am thinking maybe armour coat box liner would be a better choice?

Anyone have any experiance with box liner fir the floor? Dont use Deck over, that I can tell you. Plus i think I'm going to go black, as the tracks leave black Mark's on the grey color so black should hide that.. any thoughts?

Thanks everyone for all the advise, it is appreciated.

Mike
You will still get condensation even with the heater running. To help I would put a couple rv roof vents in and if you can afford it get the humidity control auto ones with fans. This will help get the moisture out.

You may want to look at getting a small inverter generator as well if you don’t already have to keep your batteries up if you plan to keep the furnace and these fans running all day/night. My Yamaha 1000 as do many other small ones have a dc charging plug right on them. A small ac to dc charge unit is also a good investment so you can plug into a block heater plug at a hotel or house and leave your heater running and not kill the batteries.
 
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Tchetek

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What do you mean condensation, sorry if I dont quite understand.
When the Heater is on the snow on sleds and gear will be melting and it will be quite moist in the trailer anyway. Would that help to get rid of it ?, or would it be better if o got a small vent fan on the lower wall vent to try and move the moist air out?

May get condensation build up inside the wall cavities. Might rust the steel tubing, But you are gonna have a lot of moisture inside anyway with sleds melting.
 

zbmmike

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Yes this is true, but insulation in the walls wont help keep moisture out of the steel/roof.. so maybe someone can explain why that would help with moisture, and I'm just new to this and honestly dont know. I think if I put a fan on the floor vent, (down at bottom of wall) this will keep the warm air in instead of blowing it out the roof vent.. again not sure if this is the best approach.

I will post some pics this weekend of installed drains, and I will be adding a helmet shelf.

I was thinking of doing carpet halfway up the walls as well, anyone ever done this? Pros/cons?, was just thinking aesthetics it might look good.
I have also decided to try the armour guard roll in box liner for flooring, and then some great new friends over at Superclamp are helping with some new glides and traction grids, so cant wait for those too! Does anyone think that I should run a row of e-track down the middle?, I wont have any at the edges as the glides go right to edge, but maybe down the center? Any thoughts?

Mike
 

Tchetek

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With no insulation the void between the wall cavity. The moisture in the air will likely fill the whole 1” cavity with frost.

If you used ridged closed cell insulation there will be no void. Also a vapor barrier would be good idea too.

E track down the centre and along the base of each wall.
 

Oilboy

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for a folding bench on a budget get a folding tire rack meant for your garage, I had 2 in my last trailer and they worked great, held my 240# no problem and they fold up and out of the way with a latch so they don't open onto the sleds


also on the furnace get some 3'' pvc and duct the heat to the back and point it a the floor, itll speed up drying a lot
 
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