Now that I have a trailer that my car will be able to tow, I am now ready to start trying to figure out where to start. I am guessing that the electrical stuff needs to be done, along with adding the insulation, before I start paneling things, and adding shelves and whatnot.
From what one person suggested, because my trailer is so very small, I really do not need large fans to move air. They suggested PC fans, one in each side panel. I already put three of them in my Amazon wishlist. But I need to know just what else I will need for completing these fan installations. The gap between the outside trailer wall, and the structural plywood they have is 1 1/2 inches. The size specs say the fan is 1 inch thick. I am imagining I should have grills on both the outer van wall and inside. Am I think this correctly?
I also am wanting to keep the entire trailer using 12VDC. I would like to get a solar panel kit that includes the solar panels, and all the wires and electronics required to use them. It would be nice if the batteries also came in the package. But I am not sure just how much power I need for overnight usage. So here is what I plan on having. Yes, those two computer fans used to move air out of the trailer. Or do I use one to bring in air, and the other to exhaust the interior air?
I am also going to get a 13 inch flat screen TV that says it runs on 3 amps at 12VDC. I would also like to have something that can play DVD/CD, and also has an AM/FM radio. Of course it will all be 12VDC, if there is such a thing. I also need a couple of LED lights inside, but am not sure I need an LED light outside. SO I need to ask the experts if exterior lighting is a necessity. Since I will not be having an air conditioner for such a small trailer, I will have to make due with a quiet fan unit, or some kind of evaporative cooler. I will be doing most of my camping in the high desert of southern California, so this type of cooler might be a good thing to purchase, but have not found anything that runs on 12VDC, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg, and your next child. :-)
I do not need a hot water heater. I plan on using my one burner propane stove to boil water in the winter, and use solar water heating bags during the summer for my showers and general use. I have looked into an indoor propane heater, but there doesn't seem to be anything small enough for my trailer.
Oh yes, my trailer is a cargo type that has outside dimensions of 4x6. Yes, it is tiny, but it is just the right weight for my little Honda CRV which technically is not supposed to tow anything. I was told I am limited to the trailer weight and another 390 pounds to be safe. Not sure that also includes weight I might put in my car. Hopefully not. I have a lot to learn about all of this, so towing and weight capacity is something I need to figure out.
All of this is one reason I am trying to keep every thing small and light weight. Oh, the inside of the trailer is only 44.5 inches wide, by about 72 inches long, and has 51 inches height on the sides, and 55 inches at the center of the trailer. So I have pretty good headroom.
Now that I have blathered about a lot of stuff, is there anyone out there who can adopt me during this build to help me through it.
As I said before, everything needs to be as compact and light weight as possible, as I really want to keep my total weight at around 900 pounds. I know I was told 1000 pounds, but I would really like to keep my 2001 small 4 cylinder engine powered Honda CRV "Blue Pony" happy. I have a basically new engine, though it is actually rebuilt. But it only has 20,000 miles on it. I also have a new radiator of the same age. It has new shocks/struts. It has a lot of other little new things. So I have treated my Blue Pony very well, and hopefully she will be happy with her new companion she will be towing. Anyone familiar with the Morongo grade that goes up from the Palm Springs, California area to Twentynine Palms, knows that grade is fairly long and steep. The new trailer I towed home yesterday only put the engine temperature to about 2/5ths, and my transmission only geared down a half dozen times to get back up to speed, gearing down and up smoothly. I guess that gives anyone with questions about my car an idea of what I have, and how it performs. CaleyAnn