7'*18' V-Nose Cargo Trailer Toy Hauler Conversion

[flboy]

. Are the rings on the strap metal, and if so, is there any risk that they will abrade the paint on the awning arm?

The rings are metal, but, the sraps wrap onto themselves so there should not be any paint damage.

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[flboy]

I am boon docking in the RV Hall of Fame parking lot tonight in Elkhart, Indiana. I went to the Museum of RV's there today that had the first RV's starting in the early 1900's. For anyone that may think slide outs and many of the seemingly recent innovations in RV's are new.... I learned today that most are not... some things just come into vogue in their own time. I saw a fold out pod that was made for a Model T pickup (among many other old custom made 1930 era RV/trailers with slide outs) .... I wanted one!

Got a lot of cool ideas for my next build, which may be a complete renovation/rebuild of an old classic Class A motor home... I am partial to the old Winnebago Brave's.. Nice and short to fit just about anywhere but lots of real estate to make it completely self contained (gut it an build a custom interior to my liking). Would be easy to drop a new crate motor in one also. Will pull a small 6*12 cargo trailer and convert it to a bike hauler/shop/storage pod. Need another project!

[pchast]

Interesting idea.

[foxontherun]

Don, what are you feeding Lex, Fertilizer? She is growing quick!
Harry

[flboy]

Don, what are you feeding Lex, Fertilizer? She is growing quick!
Harry

Lol! Yes.. she is a week over 5 months and will probably get to 85lbs like her momma. Her daddy was about 115lbs the breeder said. She still has more growing to do.

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[foxontherun]

Don, hope your trip is going well. My wife and I visited the RV museum when we went to pick up our trailer in MI back in 2018. Pretty neat to see all the old RV's. Question for you, what size wire do you have running thru roof to carry all your solar? I am in planning stages for adding solar at some point and want to go ahead and install the interior wiring to accept what comes in from the roof.

I plan to probably have six 6V golf cart batteries for around 1380 amps. I will probably start out with four (920 amps) to see how that pans out first but do plan to build the system for six so it is ready to go. Where my planned solar entry is will be on driver side and batteries are going to be on passenger side (prefer no holes in roof); so there will be about 14 feet from entry in side wall across the trailer and down to batteries. What size wire would you recommend?

Thanks!
Harry

[flboy]

Don, hope your trip is going well. My wife and I visited the RV museum when we went to pick up our trailer in MI back in 2018. Pretty neat to see all the old RV's. Question for you, what size wire do you have running thru roof to carry all your solar? I am in planning stages for adding solar at some point and want to go ahead and install the interior wiring to accept what comes in from the roof.

I plan to probably have six 6V golf cart batteries for around 1380 amps. I will probably start out with four (920 amps) to see how that pans out first but do plan to build the system for six so it is ready to go. Where my planned solar entry is will be on driver side and batteries are going to be on passenger side (prefer no holes in roof); so there will be about 14 feet from entry in side wall across the trailer and down to batteries. What size wire would you recommend?

Thanks!
Harry

Hi Harry.. the size wires depends on how you plan to set up your system. For instance, a 24VDC array configuration will reduce current by half and therefore, reduce wire gage need. Also, I have two independent systems (500W and 300W) which also reduces the gage need for the power in each run, but also increases the wire (linear feet) need.

I have used 8 gage wire from arrays to the solar controllers. 8ga is good for 40A which my 5 panel configurations needs for maximum output. I'd need a larger gage if I was to run all panels through the same wire (all 800W). Figure out how much solar power you will have, then decide on 12VDC or 24VDC configuration then determine maximum current the wires may carry based on your configuration. There are wire gage calculators online to help you select the proper gage for the maximum current. That's what I'd do in any case.

I have 4 Gold Cart Batteries and they are 450aH total for 225aH useable. 920A (assuming you mean Amp Hours "aH") seems like a lot for 4 batteries unless they are just huge. What batteries are you planning to get?

[foxontherun]

Thanks for the reply Don. The battery I am considering is this one: https://www.batteriesplus.com/productdetails/sligc115

Each battery is 230 amp hours if I am reading spec right. My plan is to start with 4 but build for 6 in case I need more. I am assuming this would mean I have appx 460 usable @ 50% (4 battery scenario). Is that correct? I had not considered a 24 volt system. Have to check that out.

Thanks

[flboy]

Thanks for the reply Don. The battery I am considering is this one: https://www.batteriesplus.com/productdetails/sligc115

Each battery is 230 amp hours if I am reading spec right. My plan is to start with 4 but build for 6 in case I need more. I am assuming this would mean I have appx 460 usable @ 50% (4 battery scenario). Is that correct? I had not considered a 24 volt system. Have to check that out.

Thanks

You are welcome. BTW, those batteries are almost the same as mine which are 225aH. The batteries you are looking at are 230aH at 6V. When you put two in series for a 12VDC cell, it is still just 230aH but now 12VDC. Then when you put the two 12Vdc cells in parallel, you will have 460aH with 230aH (50%) usable at 12VDC. 6 batteries will give you 690aH at 12VDC with 345aH useable.

If you are going to go with 6, you should probably start with 6 new batteries. Adding 2 later to a bank may not be good idea. Typically all the batteries need to be very close in capacity/age or there will be some imbalance and decreased efficiency. If they are not too far apart in age, maybe not a big deal. Just something to be aware of and consider.

Good luck.

[foxontherun]

Thanks for correcting my math; very important to remember, ha! I will be sure to go with six batteries. I think I will go with 12v solar when I get to that point.
Harry

[flboy]

Had a rough time getting to camp today. Got down the wrong forest road that turned bad and no way to turn around with the CTC. Backed up almost a 1/2 mile up hill and around corners with drop offs... took me an hour! Thankful for 4wd and my F150 holding it together!
Lesson learned! In future when I have my KTM-690 on board, I will unload it and scout the area before I head down. Right now I still have the Kingpin on board and I am a rookie at this wandering thing! Rookie mistake!

Here is a pic of the campsite I finally settled into in the Vermont woods (Green Mountain National Forest), and of course, Lex who thinks she owns my Zero Gravity chair!

Dropped my wife off in Buffalo on Thursday last week. Will pick her back up in Manchester NH this Friday and then spend a week or so at the in-laws in Massachusetts doing some projects. Thankful plane tickets are so cheap due to Covid-19. Busy making lemonade from lemons!

[foxontherun]

I can see it in Lex's eyes...WHAT! You think I am going lay in the floor or something? This is my chair!! Find your own!

Don, I cannot imagine backing up that far; you da' man! I hate backing mine into my yard about 200 feet and it's pretty much open with the exception of a fence down one side. Guess this might be a place where it would come in handy to have hitch on the front of vehicle as well.

Harry

[flboy]

Yes, it was nerve wracking.. but had no choice. Live and learn. Will be more cautious next time.

Lex and I have been on the road together almost 2 months now. She is getting use to the nomadic pace. Only constant for her now is me, the truck and CTC. She is an awesome travel companion. Some work at times however.

I am going to look into the hitch on the front. That would have been much easier I think. I have never pushed a trailer.. suppose it will react better with turning front wheels closer to trailer hitch... just not sure how I would see ahead (mirrors work well backing up)?

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[PiddleFart]

I had the same thing happen one time in a travel trailer. I made sure to mount a camera to the rear of the cargo trailer.

[PiddleFart]

I think the tongue weight might be a little much for the front end of your truck.