This Quick and Easy Cargo Trailer Conversion will be helpful to anyone who is renovating a cargo trailer, van, RV, trailer, or motor home. Courtney and Sara used innovation and cheap trailer living as their guide to create this enclosed cargo trailer conversion to camper. Make sure to comment below what you think about these enclosed trailer camper plans.
Enclosed Trailer Camper Plans
These women had two weeks to get together their dream home on wheels. They chose a cargo trailer to convert into a camper. With the advice of some close friends, these ladies figured out exactly how to install solar on their RV renovation, lay out a plan for how they wanted their camper trailer to look like and function, and get to work on making their dream easy cargo trailer renovation a reality.
Watch the Video Cargo Trailer Conversion Tour
cargo trailer camper conversion
The women knew they wanted to have enough power to charge their devices, using ample lighting, and run a rooftop fan. (You can read our article on the best rooftop vans for your RV, van, or cargo conversion.) On the advice of a friend who had converted a van they chose a Renogy solar set-up.
We have also used renogy in our previous trailers. You can read our article about our easy solar installation.
Solar Power for the Cargo Trailer Conversion
When making a camper out of a utility trailer, these are all the items Courtney and Sara purchased to give themselves ample power.
Renogy 400 Watt 12 Volt Polycrystalline Solar Starter Kit with Wanderer 30A PWM Charge Controller /Mounting Z Brackets/Adaptor Cables/Tray Cable
Get at least 200W solar, you could add more if the battery doesn’t stay charged
Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Battery 12 Volt 100Ah for RV, Solar Marine and Off-grid Applications.
Make sure you get an encolsed battery if you are going to be living and sleeping in the same area. You’ll need a circuit breaker between the battery and the fuse block.
T Tocas 50 Amp Circuit Breaker Trolling with Manual Reset, 12V- 48V DC, Waterproof (50A)
Wire will connect the battery to the fuse block
Spartan Power SP-2FT1/0CBL 1/0 AWG 0 Gauge Battery Cable Set
With an extra positive wire (same link, just chose one only).
Battery Negative ->Fuse Block Negative
Battery Pos->Circuit Breaker->Fuse block Positive
Blue Sea Systems ST Blade ATO/ATC Fuse Blocks
You will have options here, you want a grounded one with 6 circuits.
3/4 Gang Marine Boat Rocker Switch Panel - 12V LED Lighted Switches, Fuse Breaker
This will take a lot of the pain and time out of wiring switches and powered items, you can control four things with it
GS Power’s 16 Ga (True American Wire Gauge) AWG Tinned Oxygen Free Copper OFC Duplex 16/2 Dual Conductor Red/Black AC Marine Boat Battery Wire.
Titan Tools 11477 Ratcheting Wire Terminal Crimper
560PCS Heat Shrink Tubing 2:1, Eventronic Electrical Wire Cable Wrap Assortment Electric Insulation Heat Shrink Tube Kit with Box(5 colors/12 Sizes)
Ginsco 250pcs Heat Shrink Wire Connector DIY Kit Waterproof Marine Automotive Terminals Set
There are a number of technical websites and forums about how to install solar on your van or cargo trailer conversion. I'd suggest asking any questions you might have about solar installation on a Cheap RV Living forum or just searching the posts there. It is an incredible resource for how to's from people who have done it.
The above list of solar installation needs were provided to me by Sara via her friend. I'm not a professional installer and decided to have my solar professionally installed. If you haven't watched our video on the solar installation we did on our travel trailer I'd highly suggest it. Click here to learn more about what how we chose to install solar.
Enjoying Life in a Trailer Build-Out
When making a camper out of a utility trailer, these women choose a couple of quality items to make their life better. In the video, Courtney suggests calling Truck Fridge directly to see if they have any scratch and dent models for sale at a discount. You can access their website here.
This particular 12 volt fridge by TruckFridge is incredible because of the livable features Courtney shows in the video, like liftable shelves for larger items.
Many people use a cooler for their build out instead of a fridge. If you can afford the solar build out in your cargo trailer conversion or van renovation to do a 12 volt fridge it will greatly improve your quality of life. If you just can't do the power needs or can't afford a fridge. We used this Coleman Xtreme Cooler for years and got solid results by using a large block of ice.
Custom Water Build Out on enclosed cargo trailer conversion to camper
Above is an awesome example of a water set-up diagram you can use for your trailer build out, or van renovation. It was created by Sara and Courtney's friends of Van Life Customs in Colorado.
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