Hunt camp enclosed trailer build

Jlrineer1

Member
Nov 29, 2015
67
0
Hey everyone,
I figured I'd post some pictures of the trailer we're planning on pulling out to WY. It's a work in progress and any suggestions from things people have tried in the past would be greatly appreciated.

Just an overview of what we've done/plan on doing.

We bought a brand new 8'x16' lark enclosed trailer. Lark isn't the top of the line on quality as we found out after ripping into the trailer, but it works for what we want it for and it was very affordable. We pulled all the plywood trim and walls off and placed 1/2" foil face insulation between all the wall and ceiling studs. Cut a 120v gfci outlet in the side for generator hookup. We replaced all the side panels and cut luan sheets to fit the ceiling. We were able to get ahold of cabinet grade plywood for free so we built 3 full size cabinets in the v nose. We had enough wood to do 3 small overhead cabinets as well. One of our camp members is a licensed electrician so he wired the entire trailer for lights. We're putting 2 fog/spot lights on the back and 2 on the door side. We'll have 3 double LED lights inside. All the lights are run off of 2 Srm-24 interstate rv batteries. We have a 30 amp converter/charger hooked to the 120v generator outlet and a second 120v outlet hooked directly to the generator. We cut an rv style window into the door and installed an rv style door latch. We're planning on building 2 sets of folding bunk beds in the back of the trailer and a table that folds up to the wall. We have a mr.buddy propane heater with a 30 gal tank we'll be using for heat and cooking. We'll eventually put some indoor/outdoor carpet in the sleeping space for a little insulating effect.


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Colorado Cowboy

Super Moderator
Jun 8, 2011
8,358
4,750
83
Dolores, Colorado
Tim beat me to it.....lots of great info on this thread. I used mine last fall and it turned out great. There are a couple of things I learned that I fixed, but overall very happy.
 

Tim McCoy

Veteran member
Dec 15, 2014
1,855
4
Oregon
Didn't mean to steal your thunder CC, but this thread has been top of mind. My brother and I are tossing around the idea around for our MT hunts. We have got on a ranch in MT, away from motels, and are thinking a trailer may be the ticket, vs a wall tent. Still mulling it over. We already have a wall tent, but are thinking an insulated trailer in mid-Nov may be easier to heat with propane than the tent and messing with wood. Not sure we could keep the tent warm with propane in the event we get a -5 to -15 cold snap. But buying a pallet of North Idaho energy logs for a wood stove in the tent may be where we end up.
 

Colorado Cowboy

Super Moderator
Jun 8, 2011
8,358
4,750
83
Dolores, Colorado
One thing I learned about mine is that it is not insulated well. It has a metal exterior skin with 1 1/2" wall thickness which is insulated. This last November deer hunting it got down to 5 degrees outside. I have a 6,000 btu rv wall heater that I ran all night. Best it could do was about 40 degrees in the am. Pretty cool getting out of the sleeping bags! I do have a lot of sealing to do as it was a snow machine trailer with a lay down front ramp in addition to the rear ramp. Leaks air pretty bad. I am going to seal the door and am considering adding more insulation. I also have the option of running an electric heater as I have a generator I can plug in.

The other thing I have to do is add some kind of folding steps for the side door. I made some wooden steps, but they are too damn heavy. The folding bunks are great, very comfortable. I have a 12'x12' outside picnic shelter that I put up so we can cook outside.

Pretty happy with the way everything turned out, only a couple of things to fix. It also gives me a place to store my 2 atv's at home. I can get the out of the garage now.

Keep us posted on your progress.
 

buckbull

Veteran member
Jun 20, 2011
2,167
1,354
do these trailers have insulated floors or is that something you would have to do yourself?
 

Jlrineer1

Member
Nov 29, 2015
67
0
Thanks Tim and CC I figured there was a thread, I just couldn't find it. The floor is not insulated, I plan on getting a piece of thicker carpet to lay down in order to give it a little something extra. We only had 1" between the metal and siding to work with so we used 1/2" insulation. We may have to bring the walls out a little farther and add some more depending on how bad it is with the cold. I am glad we went with the trailer idea though. I have a 32' camper and I think that's just to big to be taking 1800 miles across country.

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brian.320

Member
Feb 27, 2011
73
30
urethane floor underneath $500 should cover well worth it

Hey everyone,
I figured I'd post some pictures of the trailer we're planning on pulling out to WY. It's a work in progress and any suggestions from things people have tried in the past would be greatly appreciated.

Just an overview of what we've done/plan on doing.

We bought a brand new 8'x16' lark enclosed trailer. Lark isn't the top of the line on quality as we found out after ripping into the trailer, but it works for what we want it for and it was very affordable. We pulled all the plywood trim and walls off and placed 1/2" foil face insulation between all the wall and ceiling studs. Cut a 120v gfci outlet in the side for generator hookup. We replaced all the side panels and cut luan sheets to fit the ceiling. We were able to get ahold of cabinet grade plywood for free so we built 3 full size cabinets in the v nose. We had enough wood to do 3 small overhead cabinets as well. One of our camp members is a licensed electrician so he wired the entire trailer for lights. We're putting 2 fog/spot lights on the back and 2 on the door side. We'll have 3 double LED lights inside. All the lights are run off of 2 Srm-24 interstate rv batteries. We have a 30 amp converter/charger hooked to the 120v generator outlet and a second 120v outlet hooked directly to the generator. We cut an rv style window into the door and installed an rv style door latch. We're planning on building 2 sets of folding bunk beds in the back of the trailer and a table that folds up to the wall. We have a mr.buddy propane heater with a 30 gal tank we'll be using for heat and cooking. We'll eventually put some indoor/outdoor carpet in the sleeping space for a little insulating effect.


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missjordan

Veteran member
Dec 9, 2014
1,136
22
Missoula, MT
Looks good! We camped in a enclosed trailer one year in the Missouri breaks. Ours wasn't insulated but wasn't too cold unless it dipped below 10 degrees! Then it kinda sucked. Those bigger propane blast heaters work good for getting the initial cold out of the trailer if you've been gone all day, then we ran an electric heater all night hooked up to our generator. Once you got comfortable it was pretty cozy but not something I'd want to do again if it got really cold out.
 
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IDELKFVR

Active Member
Dec 15, 2013
271
0
EMMETT,IDAHO
Trailer looks good I have done the same thing except mine is an insulated snowmobile trailer. I like the ground clearance you get with them. I put a radiant heater in that works awesome and use a Mr. Buddy heater on the floor level. I am going to put some cabinets in the front like your doing I have a few over head ones put never enough cabinet space. They work great been camping like that for about 15 years and rode out some pretty good storms.