7x24 "Rustic" Toyhauler
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 4:31 pm
This thread will be a build journal for our new CTC.
About four years ago, I did a 6x12 GA steel trailer conversion. Pretty standard: full-size murphy bed in the back, some basic project source Lowe's cabinets and a shelf up front in the V, 200W of solar and 200AH of batteries for a nice 12V system. The trailer is a Diamond Cargo and I had them do the windows, doors, etc. I never did get the walls insulated properly but the ceiling has 2" of polyiso and its held up well in Nevada heat as well as Southeast humidity and even some frigid winter camping in the mountains out west. We've towed it with a cross-over SUV and it works well enough.
We added it up, and in the past four years we've easily spent over 24 nights per year in our trailer. Probably more like a month plus every year. Its also really saved our bacon a few times... Whether it was breaking down for two weeks (no hotel cost -- just camp!), or the main house HVAC going out in the summer in the southeast (just sleep in the trailer), its been used a lot.
Since then, we've added a few family members (up to three kiddos and a dog) and 6x12 just isn't enough space. Additionally, I move for work every two years so having something that can (1) haul a bunch of stuff and (2) let us live out of it for a week on the road plus 1-3 weeks on the arrival side while securing a house (if necessary), or (3) that I can geo-bachelor out of for awhile would be super helpful. We do a lot of boondocking camping, typically for 2-14 nights at a time, so building something that can be used off-grid (and not "needing" a KOA) is important, so that means lots of insulation and thought towards solar, etc.
Our tow vehicle is a Chevy 2500 with baby duramax, tow capacity 6200 lbs.
So... we are upgrading to a 7x24. This thread will chronicle the build!
About four years ago, I did a 6x12 GA steel trailer conversion. Pretty standard: full-size murphy bed in the back, some basic project source Lowe's cabinets and a shelf up front in the V, 200W of solar and 200AH of batteries for a nice 12V system. The trailer is a Diamond Cargo and I had them do the windows, doors, etc. I never did get the walls insulated properly but the ceiling has 2" of polyiso and its held up well in Nevada heat as well as Southeast humidity and even some frigid winter camping in the mountains out west. We've towed it with a cross-over SUV and it works well enough.
We added it up, and in the past four years we've easily spent over 24 nights per year in our trailer. Probably more like a month plus every year. Its also really saved our bacon a few times... Whether it was breaking down for two weeks (no hotel cost -- just camp!), or the main house HVAC going out in the summer in the southeast (just sleep in the trailer), its been used a lot.
Since then, we've added a few family members (up to three kiddos and a dog) and 6x12 just isn't enough space. Additionally, I move for work every two years so having something that can (1) haul a bunch of stuff and (2) let us live out of it for a week on the road plus 1-3 weeks on the arrival side while securing a house (if necessary), or (3) that I can geo-bachelor out of for awhile would be super helpful. We do a lot of boondocking camping, typically for 2-14 nights at a time, so building something that can be used off-grid (and not "needing" a KOA) is important, so that means lots of insulation and thought towards solar, etc.
Our tow vehicle is a Chevy 2500 with baby duramax, tow capacity 6200 lbs.
So... we are upgrading to a 7x24. This thread will chronicle the build!