Enclosed trailer help?

[syoungs]

So I'm tired of loading camp into the truck, and forgetting stuff, unpacking as soon as I'm home, etc.
I figure a smallish enclosed trailer would be the ticket for storing and packing around my camp. Just now starting to look around, I will probably purchase new, and I'll have to finance a portion of it for a few months.

So my perceived wants in a trailer;
Roof height (inside) of 6'6 or taller
Barn doors
RV entry door
V nose front
Longer then standard tounge
Dual axles.

My overall plan is to install a bathroom in the v nose, simple wet bath most likely, with 75-100gallons of water storage. Grey and black tank.
Possibly a kitchen/workbenches area, used for food prep only. Small sink most likely as well.
Removable shelving to hold hunting/camping gear
I'd like it big enough to haul a quad or a dual sport dirtbike. It will include a couple 6v batteries to act as a charging station for electronics, run my cpap at night, and power exterior flood lights.
This will also pull multiple duties for my firework business, helping people move, etc.

I'm thinking a 7x16 with v nose would be about the right size, overkill for just the camp, but leave me a bit of room to grow into.

Now what features should I look for when purchasing? Any brands to run to, or away from? Any dealers to avoid?

Any help or experience with what I've got planned would be appreciated! It's a big chunk of change to bite off for a pretty simple box on wheels...

[full choke]

I have owned 3 different enclosed trailers. The only brand I would stay away from is Mirage. They are complete POS'. Other than that- enjoy your project and post pics of the process.

[gaddy]

I think it's a great idea. I borrowed a trailer 1 year and it worked out great. Weatherproof storage for things not being used at the time, keeps critters away from coolers etc.. A word of caution-make sure its mouse proof. Some years back a buddie got a 14 ft just for hunting camp and to haul his quad in. End of his first year he cleaned everything, set up, cleaned and dried his wall tent then stowed everything in the trailer. Gets to elk camp the next year and found that mice had made a home in the wall tent. They had eaten holes in it, pissed and pooed all over and it stunk. After he sealed it all up it worked out great for him. He also installed screened roof vents to allow for ventilation which helped. If it had been in my budget I would have gotten one myself.

[follow maggie]

I used a Cargo Mate 7x14 for my business a couple years ago and loved it. I sold it when I switched to a big truck for hauling my tools, materials & working out of. I wish I hadn't sold it, because now I'm saving up to buy another one. When I bought the last one, I looked at every major brand and this is what I learned: they're all built the same, as long as you compare the same tier of product- ie: the budget line or the supreme expensive line, what have you. The price difference between a Wells Cargo or a CargoMate etc. is the freight & profit margin. CargoMate & Continental Cargo (they're the same) are made in Oregon, so the freight is much cheaper compared with Utah or Indiana.

If you think you're going to haul an atv in it, get the ramp door. Yeah, you can get a ramp later, but it's one more thing that has to be stored in the trailer when you're rolling out to camp.

[92xj]

I'd just look for an older but in good condition mallard travel trailer....oh wait....

[vandeman17]

I'd just look for an older but in good condition mallard travel trailer....oh wait....

Hey now...  my dad has been walking around the trailer dealer lots lately. Bet he would make you a deal

[Crunchy]

Utility trailers are the way to go.  Quad and wood go in the bed of the truck.  Everything else goes in the utility trailer clean and dry.  Places we camp you cannot get a long travel trailer.

[Wingin it]

I did the same thing a couple years ago and am still happy about it. We use it for dry storage and also our camp kitchen. I have two flood lights on the back, an RV porch light at the man door, and interior lights. All LED and one deep cycle will last all week. Lots of things a person can do with these trailers.

[NRA4LIFE]

Why not consider a lightly used travel trailer, kinda smallish?  A lot less work and everything is ready to go.

[Boss .300 winmag]

I bought a new Continental last year, definitely get a ramp door you’ll use it to haul lots of stuff that’s to heavy to lift up, furniture, appliances, lawnmowers, motorcycles, etc..  You get what you pay for, flat roofs will leak faster, don’t get the ones with chip board floors that they are saying is weather board, almost everything is LED lights now, get a spare tire, obviously roof vent, indoor lights, RV door like you said.

The only problem I’ve had is interior lights quite working, and my rear tires lose air sitting, I think it might be due to jacking up the trailer to make sure no standing water stay on the roof, but from now on it will be stored in the barn flat so I’ll see what happens.

[syoungs]

I'd just look for an older but in good condition mallard travel trailer....oh wait....

Wife would kill me if I drug home anotherTV, but I wouldn't mind having that one back 


Thanks for the advice so far, the ramp would get in the way of the forklift, so I gotta stick with the barn doors. Probably going to go look at a few next weekend,  knowing they are all about the same should make my choice easier when it comes time to do it.

If I find one without a RV door, is it gonna be a real pain to remedy that? Or should I just hold out for one that does?

[Boss .300 winmag]

I'd just look for an older but in good condition mallard travel trailer....oh wait....

Wife would kill me if I drug home anotherTV, but I wouldn't mind having that one back 




Thanks for the advice so far, the ramp would get in the way of the forklift, so I gotta stick with the barn doors. Probably going to go look at a few next weekend,  knowing they are all about the same should make my choice easier when it comes time to do it.

If I find one without a RV door, is it gonna be a real pain to remedy that? Or should I just hold out for one that does?

Forklift? Hold out for the RV door it’s nice to have. If you have the bar lock door someone could lock you in it if you didn’t lock the bar off. 

[syoungs]

I own a couple firework stands, last few years I've found myself borrowing a friends enclosed to shuttle inventory between em, forklift came in real handy! Lol

[Special T]

My father added an RV door into the side of his. Great move and not very hard. Makes it much easier to packem to the roof! Also to strap them down. We added some Z bar to the inside. Can be purchased at 6 roblees and is what is used for freight companies to secure freight inside the trailers. Very adjustable and $well spent. 2c

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[Skyvalhunter]

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