My 7x12 build. Building what I couldn't buy.

[BruiserCruiser]

So I looked around for a decent camper. I wanted it pretty small (sub 3500#), but still wanted it to be able to sleep 4, have a bathroom, kitchen, and dinning area... I looked at a bunch of different used campers, but found none that I really liked. I did find one new camper that had the right lay out, but seemed poorly made.

I've been a long time lurker here, but never signed up... For the last couple of years, I've followed a ton of the cargo trailer conversions on here... I decided that was probably our best option.

So my tow vehicle is an 05 Silverado, quad cab, 4wd with the z71 package. It has a ton of miles, but runs really well... With that being said, I didn't want to push my luck with the good old 4l60e transmission, so I wanted to keep what I got pretty light.

I started looking at cargo trailers. Most of the used ones I was finding were pretty beat up (either from construction companies or from grass cutters), and the ones that weren't all beat up were only a few hundred bucks cheaper than a new one.... so I decided I would just buy something new.

I jumped on market place, and found a bunch of dealers. Most of them were selling "Georgia" made trailers like Arising. Really good prices, horrible reviews...

I did some research, and decided to try and find something from wells cargo, interstate, haulmark, etc. Then I stumble across a semi local place that was selling doolittle trailers. Doolittle is a Missouri company that makes all types of trailers. Since they were so close, and they had good prices, I decided to check them out...

I really like the face they had an RV style side door (I think most companies are going to that.) I always like the exterior was mostly screwless. The walls were square 1" tubing, the frame looked good and solid. The walls had 3/8 inch ply wood, but the floor was 3/4" osb, which I didn't really care for.

Overall, I liked trailer, and the price was right, so I drug it home with me.

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[BruiserCruiser]

After getting the camper home, I went straight to work pulling off the walls so I could insulate them...

The first step was removing the trim, which I think was 1/8th lauan board cut into strips... I didn't plan on reusing it, so I wasn't very delicate when I removed it... lol

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[BruiserCruiser]

I wasn't going to do all the work myself, so I got the kids involved. The oldest boy is 15, almost 16... and the youngest is 8... First time either one has operated a drill, both did really well...

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[BruiserCruiser]

with the walls off, I started insulated. My wife helped me with that.

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[BruiserCruiser]

As I was insulating, the OSB flooring was really bothering me.... The next thing I know, I'm ripping it out too...

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Overall, I was pretty happy with the construction of the frame and walls!

[BruiserCruiser]

I painted one side of the plywood, and then install the painted side down...

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After putting the plywood down, I painted the top of it too.. because why not?

[BruiserCruiser]

I'm mostly done with the insulation... It's 1" foam with the reflective stuff on one side, I choose to put it facing out... I'm also taping every single seem with some alum. tape stuff my cousin gave me (hey, it was free.)

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[BruiserCruiser]

So that's where I am now. I still have to install two pieces of insulation on the ceiling, but first I have to put up some nailers/scewers? I also have to do the doors. When I do the back door, I will replace the osb with plywood as well.

[BruiserCruiser]

I was over at my cousins, and he said he had a little fridge/freeze combo that would be prefect for my combo. I was kind of hoping do a 12v cooler style fridge, but this was free and I think it will work well for us... When we camp off grid, we will just use a cooler.

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[Dahlia47]

how many volts/watts/amps does it pull? Im sure you would be able to find an adapter. There is an adapter for everything!

[BruiserCruiser]

how many volts/watts/amps does it pull? Im sure you would be able to find an adapter. There is an adapter for everything!

I'm not sure, I'd have to look.

[Dahlia47]

Im not sure what you plan to power it with, but its good info to know.

[BruiserCruiser]

I bought a washer and dryer set from my cousin (the same one that gave me the fridge.)

While I was out there pick them up, we got to talking about the camper. He asked if I wanted some free snap together "wood" vinyl flooring, he said it was new and still in the boxes... Heck yes, I like free stuff. As we're loading up the flooring, he asked if I wanted a little window a/c unit. It was a bit older, but still worked great... So we loaded that up to... He also gave me 4 new 4x8 sheets of bead board, and one new sheet of lauan. He also gave me enough wiring to do the 110v wiring, and enough to do the 12v side as well...

Funny thing is, my wife and I were going to go to lowes to get the flooring tonight, so it couldn't of been any better.

[BruiserCruiser]

This is the flooring I got... Not my absolute favorite, but I like it.

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This is the a/c unit. Kind of older, but if it works it works. It'll be inside a cabinet, I'll probably pop the front cover off and paint it black to freshen it up.

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[BruiserCruiser]

I'm going to try and get the floor down and the walls back up tomorrow. The goal is to have the camper down by April.

I'm building a 90 sierra, single cab, step side bed, 2wd. It's getting a cammed ls, gt45 turbo, th400 with trans brake, and ptc stall... It's down to a roller now, the goal is get the camper done, then finish the truck. I want to be racing by the end of April...