Building an enclosed utility into a camper vs teardrop

[Nesquik]

Hello all.

I’m looking at a 14 day trip next year, and hopefully several weekend trips. I’ll be towing with a minivan (3500 lb max- I would prefer to stay around 2000 lb)

I need space to sleep 2 adults, one young child, and 3 chihuahuas. My primary concern is climate-controlled sleeping, and a comfy place for the dogs to reside for an hour or two at a time.

Pop ups won’t work; hardsides are a necessity.

The next good option seems to be teardrops, but having a floor that is also your bed won’t work with 3 dogs.

I’m thinking of buying a 5x10, adding two windows, framing it out with 2x2s and insulation, and doing a very simple couch that folds into a bed, with a bassinet/small bed for the little guy. Electric heat/AC, battery powered lighting. Other than adding scissor jacks for leveling, and some sort of smart monitoring of the internal temp (if we go to lunch and the dogs hang back)....am I missing anything? Any reason this wouldn’t work?

I have a professional carpenter to help with the framing and windows. Walls will be cheap beadboard to keep it light. The trailers are only around 1000# so I think I’ll easily be under 2000#. Never offroad or anything of that sort. Just mini-vanning down the pavement for now.

Thoughts?

 

[tatanka48]

when starting a thread like this it helps when the OP provides information about the point of origin and proposed area of travel

Nesquik, viable answers/suggestions to your inquiry depend on knowing WHERE YOU'RE AT & WHERE YOU'RE HEADED

you can easily add more weight in a 5x10 than you will be comfortable towing

butt it aint the towing that will be the real issue

it will be STOPPING it safely

if you're headed into the southwest during the warmer months the inside of cargo trailers will not be a friendly environment for your 4-legged friends in way less than a coupla hours even if it were comfy to begin with

more information please

T

 

[Nesquik]

when starting a thread like this it helps when the OP provides information about the point of origin and proposed area of travel

Nesquik, viable answers/suggestions to your inquiry depend on knowing WHERE YOU'RE AT & WHERE YOU'RE HEADED

you can easily add more weight in a 5x10 than you will be comfortable towing

butt it aint the towing that will be the real issue

it will be STOPPING it safely

if you're headed into the southwest during the warmer months the inside of cargo trailers will not be a friendly environment for your 4-legged friends in way less than a coupla hours even if it were comfy to begin with

more information please

T

I’m sorry I wasn’t more clear in my initial post.

The “where” is most accurately answered by saying “only where I can plug in and run the air conditioner”

As for the weight, the only thing I intend to build is a simple wood frame for a bed, and walls with 2x2s. I can’t see that being 1000+ pounds but maybe I’m wrong?

 

[CampStewart]

I think you would be best suited by buying a used hard sided camping trailer with heating and a/c built in. This is the time of year they are most reasonably priced. OP why do you think you would be better off with a teardrop or cargo trailer?

 

[Nesquik]

I think you would be best suited by buying a used hard sided camping trailer with heating and a/c built in. This is the time of year they are most reasonably priced. OP why do you think you would be better off with a teardrop or cargo trailer?

Primarily, the floor plans of campers leave very very little actual floor space for my pups. Though, if it has two beds, I could use one as the “dog area”

There’s an older aliner expedition I might take a look at.

 

[dreadlocks]

yeah thats same issue I had when looking for a dog friendly camper, I got a 120# Pyrenees and most small campers were not going to work.

ended up getting a small toy hauler, which is basically a cargo trailer modified for camping.. works great.. however keeping such a trailer under 1 ton is gonna be more difficult than you think, aircon, water, gas, dogfood, etc adds up fast.. I used to tent camp out of a 4x7 that I towed behind a GolfTDI, and that thing was at 1500# just full of camping gear for a week or two.. when I went from tenting it to a camper I hadda get a far more appropriate tow vehicle to make it work.

Checkout Intech's campers, they are fully aluminum which makes em about half the weight of most campers its size.

 

[vintageracer]

A used factory built camping trailer or a cargo trailer that you outfit is going to cost about the same money with little to no additional work needed by you for a used factory built camper other than the HOUR'S involved in finding that camper. Your 2000 lb weight criteria makes it tough to find a factory built camper in that weight range other than a fiberglass egg trailer or a CHEAP as in construction "sticky" built trailer.

You make no reference to your budget for this trailer. Purchasing and outfitting a cargo trailer can easily cost you $3K-$4K for the trailer, its construction along with any necessary van add on's such as trailer brake controller, sway control, spare trailer tire and more needed to safely pull this trailer. Given that minimum "Guesstimated" budget must be at least $3K-$4K there are options in used RV camper trailer market to look at. Once again that weight restriction is going to be a major limitation in your search for a RV trailer.

Fortunately you state that you will not off-road and campgrounds with hook-up's are your preferred camping sites due to the needs of the animals. That means a "Sticky" built trailer (Wood Frame) may just work for you since road travel only is your game. Just remember that campground sites are in high demand across the country due to the huge sales (500,000+/year) of RV's that are mostly trailer's the last several years that are looking for a place to camp. The change to computer reservations only at many campgrounds and the use of lottery systems for campsites at some parks makes the ability to secure a campsite in higher demand areas you may want to visit a "Crap Shoot" at best. Point being just because you have a tow vehicle and proper trailer that fits your needs does not mean you will have a campground campsite where you want to go.

The cargo trailer idea is a good alternative IF you have the money, time and skills to outfit that trailer. Your goal of 2000 lbs for a cargo trailer conversion will be tough to meet. That will all depend upon the cargo trailer you purchase. Think Aluminum and therefore think expensive. Only way "I" see you doing the cargo trailer conversion within potential cost and real weight considerations is with the purchase of a used aluminum cargo trailer at a cheap price. That may be tough to do!

Consider looking at small older 13ft fiberglass shell camper trailers. They might meet your weight requirements however given their popularity they may not meet your budget.

I suggest you start shopping NOW for a used HARD TO FIND light weight camper the fit's your limitations as "Campstewart" suggested!

 

[Nesquik]

yeah thats same issue I had when looking for a dog friendly camper, I got a 120# Pyrenees and most small campers were not going to work.

ended up getting a small toy hauler, which is basically a cargo trailer modified for camping.. works great.. however keeping such a trailer under 1 ton is gonna be more difficult than you think, aircon, water, gas, dogfood, etc adds up fast.. I used to tent camp out of a 4x7 that I towed behind a GolfTDI, and that thing was at 1500# just full of camping gear for a week or two.. when I went from tenting it to a camper I hadda get a far more appropriate tow vehicle to make it work.

Checkout Intech's campers, they are fully aluminum which makes em about half the weight of most campers its size.

I wish I could afford such a thing; aluminum breaks the budget right now.

 

[Nesquik]

A used factory built camping trailer or a cargo trailer that you outfit is going to cost about the same money with little to no additional work needed by you for a used factory built camper other than the HOUR'S involved in finding that camper. Your 2000 lb weight criteria makes it tough to find a factory built camper in that weight range other than a fiberglass egg trailer or a CHEAP as in construction "sticky" built trailer.

You make no reference to your budget for this trailer. Purchasing and outfitting a cargo trailer can easily cost you $3K-$4K for the trailer, its construction along with any necessary van add on's such as trailer brake controller, sway control, spare trailer tire and more needed to safely pull this trailer. Given that "Guesstimated" budget of $3K-$4K there are options in used RV camper trailer market to look at. Once again that weight restriction is going to be a major limitation in your search for a RV trailer.

Fortunately you state that you will not off-road and campgrounds with hook-up's are your preferred camping sites due to the needs of the animals. That means a "Sticky" built trailer (Wood Frame) may just work for you since road travel only is your game. Just remember that campground sites are in high demand across the country due to the huge sales (500,000+/year) of RV's that are mostly trailer's the last several years that are looking for a place to camp. The change to computer reservations only at many campgrounds and the use of lottery systems for campsites at some parks makes the ability to secure a campsite in higher demand areas you may want to visit a "Crap Shoot" at best. Point being just because you have a tow vehicle and proper trailer that fits your needs does not mean you will have a campground campsite where you want to go.

The cargo trailer idea is a good alternative IF you have the money, time and skills to outfit that trailer. Your goal of 2000 lbs for a cargo trailer conversion will be tough to meet. That will all depend upon the cargo trailer you purchase. Think Aluminum and therefore think expensive. Only way "I" see you doing the cargo trailer conversion within your cost and weight considerations is with the purchase of a used aluminum cargo trailer at a cheap price.

I suggest you start shopping NOW for a used HARD TO FIND light weight camper the fit's your limitations as "Campstewart" suggested!

Thank you for your response. I’ll continue to look now.

My budget is a flexible $3000-$4000, though I’m mostly looking to avoid heavy depreciation. I considered something like a scamp that holds its value

I just don’t want to spend $7500 on something that works for two years and is then only worth $4500. I’m eventually looking to get a full-size van and camper when the family grows and requires more room

 

[CampStewart]

Find something to rent for this trip so you will have a better idea of your needs if you wish to own something in the future.

 

[UHAULER]

I guess I will be the one to say go for it. Buy a small cargo trailer and start building it how you want. Just don't get carried away with heavy building materials inside. You don't need to make everything out of 2x4 and 4x4 lumber, you are building small bed frames not a freakin' house

 

[john61ct]

You will end up much heavier than you want, unless you start with a fancy aluminum job, and use super light construction, 8020 rather than wood.

And pack light.

Entirely do-able but $$$$.

If not bush bashing, go wide, ideally bed goes across for better living space.

Yes lower MPG, just go slower highway speeds.

 

[Nesquik]

I’m surprised to hear that this cargo trailer would be so heavy. They weigh in at 1000# as they come (just chose a random cheap on CL that’s $1500 for reference)

Crazy to think framing out some 2x2s would add a thousand pounds, but I’m no expert.

 

[Nesquik]

I’m currently browsing the used market. Lots of climate controlled teardrops with decent kitchens in the sub-$10,000 price range

I’ll need to find a used one, but maybe they’ll work. For full hardside manufactured trailers, it looks like most of them are crap in my price range and weight requirements. Not surprised. I’d rather crawl around in a quality teardrop then deal with QC issues on a cheapo full-size

 

[john61ct]

I only meant expensive compared to going cheapo with wood, ready-built is very poor value.

not at all meant to discourage you, DIY is the way to go

Just go as absolutely light as you can every step of the way, spend the money, ideally shoot for 1500 dry, your van's transmission will thank you.

ideally get a temp gauge and dedicated cooler for it

And put electric brakes on the trailer