Cargo Camper Conversion Project - The Beginning

When the Covid-19 pandemic started in 2020, we began working on a cargo camper conversion. The main idea was to build a small camper that could sleep 3 or 4 comfortably with power and a portable toilet. Nothing too complicated.. no shower or running water.. just a simple camper. 

This blog is essentially the build log; a place to share how we built the camper so others working on similar projects might grab a few ideas for their own. 

How we started:


A basic enclosed cargo trailer


Simple interior with side vents and nothing else.

We purchased a 6x12 enclosed cargo trailer with a 6' interior height, RV door, ramp rear door, 3500 lb axle. The low ceiling height helps reduce drag when towing (even this is a sail behind our truck), and my family are short enough that 6' isn't an issue.

That's it for this post. Subsequent posts will be by topic as we built out.. insulation, solar, etc.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Window Mount AC Install with Cargo Hatch

Image
I had a hard time deciding which way to go for AC in this trailer. I really didn't want to deal with a roof top unit (installation or cost), and a mini-split seem like overkill for our simple camper. I do love how quiet a split is and they can be less expensive than a rooftop, but the complexity was really what kept me away. We ended up going with a 5000 BTU window AC unit and mounting it through a hatch on the side of the trailer. The hatch installed just like a window - cut hole, butyl tape the exterior frame, line the cutout with Eternabond tape, and screw in the frame. The hatch I purchased did not come with a frame, so I created one using 1/4" aluminum flat bar and framing it with wood. One advantage to this setup is we don't have to haul around the AC when it's cooler, and we can open the hatch for more daylight or fresh air. The small AC unit is easy to lift into place, anything larger and we would have had to consider installing the rear door to support the wei
Read more

More Storage!

Image
It seems we are continually optimizing our storage spaces and we still don't seem to have enough places to put "things".... like cell phones, binoculars, or shoes. Food, clothes, blankets, tools and camping gear we have pretty well figured out. After spending time on Google to see what others have done we decided we would add a few more shelfs in the kitchen area, some cargo net pockets in the seating/sleeping area, and added a wall of pegboard in the kitchen for hooks and some baskets. I built a small 3 shelf unit up in the nose of the kitchen for small things like bug spray, sunscreen, spices, etc. I also framed in the shelf we have above our lower cupboard, and that helped keep things tidy.  We installed another shelf in the forward section of the kitchen by our cooler space and that created space for water storage out of the way of everything else. We also put 10 hooks up in various locations to hang collapsing bins, hats, bags, etc. The pegboard is installed on the w
Read more

Overhead Cabinets, Shaker Doors and More Storage

Image
We built a basic set of overhead cabinets with shaker style doors for one side of the vnose in the kitchen, and put a shelf on the other side. The cabinets are simple 2x2 construction mounted with screws to the wall framing. We finished the face of the cabinets with 1x3's and shaker style doors we made with 1x3's and 1/4 in plywood. The finished product looks decent and is very light weight. We also made a cabinet door for the lower kitchen cabinet to match the overheads.  A small set of shelfs was added for more storage near the seating/bed area. These have proven to be very useful for phones, board games, and smaller items. I may add cabinet doors in the future.. still considering options.
Read more