Cargo Trailer Setup

[Dusty Stevens]

When you load them down to the levels we do in br you need a damn good trailer. Once you outfit the whole rig inside, load a golf cart, generator, ac unit, plus all the junk it takes to shoot it better be a nice one. When they get to the point of needing a 3/4 ton and load leveling hitch it seperates the marginal from the good ones. Tongue and groove floors, real ramp doors, awnings, fridges, etc makes a cheaper unit age very fast. The skins even start buckling on some after just a few trips. Here is one made in my town that is up to the task and already has all the dumb stuff figured out like beds and showers and whatnot. Its well worth the money to get that type stuff in it when you get it.

https://toyhaulersbyvrv.com/

 

[284winner]

I suppose it all depends in how much "roughing it" you want to do. When I built my trailer into a deer camp unit, I didn't include running water or a toilet. I have a pop up shower and a porta potty that both work very well. If my wife accompanied me on those trips, I'd probably want running water to make it more appealing for her. She can rough it just fine but having more amenities would work better for her. Especially when temps drop outdoors. My bunks, dinner table, sink, carpeting, windows, heat and lighting all were very comfortable like an RV unit. Just that when I'm in sub freezing temps, I don't want water lines freezing so just never installed them since I mostly use It in November in the North. As a shooting trailer, it would have been perfect if set up that way. It's all how you lay it out.

 

[TC260]

Great thread! I've often thought a cargo trailer could be converted into a more functional space for hunting/fishing etc than an rv trailer but never looked into it. RV's are great for sure but when I hunted out of a friend's for a bit I kept thinking to myself that almost the entire space is utilized for comfort. I want more like 1/4 comfort, 3/4 function

 

[KenOath]

Great thread! I've often thought a cargo trailer could be converted into a more functional space for hunting/fishing etc than an rv trailer but never looked into it. RV's are great for sure but when I hunted out of a friend's for a bit I kept thinking to myself that almost the entire space is utilized for comfort. I want more like 1/4 comfort, 3/4 function

A question.. are RVs more expensive than a customised Cargo Trailer in general?

 

[284winner]

Well considering you have a very nice comfortable and expensive rv and your hunting buddies are using it as a camp, who do you think really cares about keeping it in tip top shape ? Removing shoes, boots etc before entering isn't something hunters do but you would expect in a fancy expensive RV. All those things I considered when putting it together. Last thing i wanted to do is winterize and wash and clean inside and out at the end of November. I wanted carpeting under the bunks but sheet vinyl from entrance door to the bunk area for easy clean up. Indoor/outdoor carpet for easy clean up and if water gets in. Removable lexan storms that cover the windows to keep condensation off. It was a nice camp for a few hunters and easy to clean up when finished with for the season.

 

[Mark W]

Great thread! I've often thought a cargo trailer could be converted into a more functional space for hunting/fishing etc than an rv trailer but never looked into it. RV's are great for sure but when I hunted out of a friend's for a bit I kept thinking to myself that almost the entire space is utilized for comfort. I want more like 1/4 comfort, 3/4 function

Agreed! I have 23’ Jayco bumper pull that is great for taking the wife and dogs to the lake for the weekend but I never take it hunting. I’ve been wanting to put together a little 6’x10’ cargo trailer with folding bunks that is set up for my hunting trips out west. I would still probably spend a few nights in a hotel but it would be nice not to have to drive back into town every single night. Last year I ended up hunting in a spot that was 3 hours each way to and from the hotel.

 

[284winner]

Agreed! I have 23’ Jayco bumper pull that is great for taking the wife and dogs to the lake for the weekend but I never take it hunting. I’ve been wanting to put together a little 6’x10’ cargo trailer with folding bunks that is set up for my hunting trips out west. I would still probably spend a few nights in a hotel but it would be nice not to have to drive back into town every single night. Last year I ended up hunting in a spot that was 3 hours each way to and from the hotel.

IF you put bunks in a 6' wide enclosed trailer, make sure there both on one side doubled up. With a 6' wide trailer and bunks on each side, when they are down for sleep use, they'll be touching with no room to walk between them.

 

[284winner]

Agreed! I have 23’ Jayco bumper pull that is great for taking the wife and dogs to the lake for the weekend but I never take it hunting. I’ve been wanting to put together a little 6’x10’ cargo trailer with folding bunks that is set up for my hunting trips out west. I would still probably spend a few nights in a hotel but it would be nice not to have to drive back into town every single night. Last year I ended up hunting in a spot that was 3 hours each way to and from the hotel.

If a 7' wide option isn't out of the question, I'd recommend it. You could still do 30" bunks on each side and have enough space between them when they are down and not have to double them up in one side. I had an 8' wide model and made 32" double bunks on both sides opposing each other. I had about 30" between them when they were down and so they stayed down thru an entire stay. While stored up, I could still drive a quad between them.

 

[Mark W]

IF you put bunks in a 6' wide enclosed trailer, make sure there both on one side doubled up. With a 6' wide trailer and bunks on each side, when they are down for sleep use, they'll be touching with no room to walk between them.

Yea, that would be a little cozy. I was planning two folding bunks on one side. I found a set up on Pinterest that I thought was pretty slick.

 

[284winner]

Yea, that would be a little cozy. I was planning two folding bunks on one side. I found a set up on Pinterest that I thought was pretty slick.

With a 10' long trailer obviously they'd be upper/lower bunks. That's a nice set up. The only issue I had was, the top bunks in cold weather when a heater was running made it pretty warm up there. Sleeping on top of my sleeping bag was more common than in it. Other than that, It conserves space. I only usually had 2 in my camp at a time so each hunter used the top bunk for gear bags, bows, guns etc. During September bear hunts sometimes we had 3-4 in the camp. No heat usually so windows and doors opened up using screens.

 

[284winner]

My current trailer is set up for cargo with 4 hold downs in the floor and 4 on the walls, I will be adding 2 additional wall mounts near the v nose for securing my hand truck and forward loads,
I'm also considering E tracks although I'm not sure where to locate some.
Any suggestions or experiences would be helpful.
J

E Trailer carries E track. On my newest hybrid trailer, I installed both vertical and horizontal E track on the enclosed area of the trailer. Vertical I used to install bunks/shelves and horizontal for hanging gear higher on the front walls. Also used horizontal E track on the bed walls to allow securing items in the bed. Quad, propane tanks, water, fuel etc.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

My current trailer is set up for cargo with 4 hold downs in the floor and 4 on the walls, I will be adding 2 additional wall mounts near the v nose for securing my hand truck and forward loads,
I'm also considering E tracks although I'm not sure where to locate some.
Any suggestions or experiences would be helpful.
J

Discount ramps.com

 

[284winner]

Several online locations as well as trailer dealers sell the E track and accessories for it. I found a location online which I can't remember at this moment had free shipping. The price was the best of all locations as well. It's heavy material and so shipping gets pricy

 

[Dusty Stevens]

did somebody say bed?

 

[22DASHER]

did somebody say bed?

View attachment 1092176 View attachment 1092177

What does the inside of that thing look like?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

What does the inside of that thing look like?

I would imagine its the same as those smaller campers with the pop out beds. The bed slides in on rails unhooked from the canvas, it folds up against the hole, the outside door closes wrangling the canvas in behind it. Just like a pop up but the inside part hinges up

 

[sdean]

What does the inside of that thing look like?

Won't matter what it looks like after you ask what it costs. If you travel with your wife a camper is a whole lot nicer. To each his own.

 

[284winner]

I would imagine its the same as those smaller campers with the pop out beds. The bed slides in on rails unhooked from the canvas, it folds up against the hole, the outside door closes wrangling the canvas in behind it. Just like a pop up but the inside part hinges up

Don't see many enclosed cargo trailers converted to hybrid campers much yet. That's a first. If it has a rear ramp for hauling ATVs etc, it'll be a good idea and many more will follow. Seems that style will be much cheaper than the conventional tow behind toy hauler. I had a hybrid built with an open bed for ATVs, fuel, etc to keep that odor outdoors. The enclosed portion is for hunting gear, clothing, etc. Couple shelves/bunks for added area for storage or a bunk for sleeping on. Nothing fancy but fits my needs perfectly.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Don't see many enclosed cargo trailers converted to hybrid campers much yet. That's a first. If it has a rear ramp for hauling ATVs etc, it'll be a good idea and many more will follow. Seems that style will be much cheaper than the conventional tow behind toy hauler. I had a hybrid built with an open bed for ATVs, fuel, etc to keep that odor outdoors. The enclosed portion is for hunting gear, clothing, etc. Couple shelves/bunks for added area for storage or a bunk for sleeping on. Nothing fancy but fits my needs perfectly.

I posted the name of a company earlier that builds camper amenities in cargo trailers in my town- vrv. Theyll make the inside look like a cargo trailer with a toilet in the corner or look like a prevost inside

 

[284winner]

Sure would be the way to go vs a tow behind luxury model for a hunting camp. The 20' model I built had everything needed in a deer camp except running water and an inside toilet. Little cold in November sitting on the throne outdoors in a shower tent. Still, it worked fine. With cargo conversions, there are issues especially with rear ramp doors. Those could be overcome if I ever built another one. The truck camper I use now, is hard to beat tho. I just tow behind a hybrid enclosed trailer for gear and ATV.