Newbie with my enclosed trailer

Started by zwr250f, Dec 08 2009 01:28 PM
20 replies to this topic

  • zwr250f

Posted 08 December 2009 - 01:28 PM

#1


I started doing a search...3hrs of reading later...my brain is hurting...LOTS of info here...good job guys.

So I just bought a used 7x16 enclosed with rear ramp door and rv style side door. It has a ac/heat rv type unit on the roof. heat work but doesn't put out much heat.

What are the most common things to start off with. I have a generator that was given to me..it is WAAAYYY to loud to run near other people. I was thinking about mounting a propane wall heater with the bottle mounted on the tongue, can I run a deep cycle RV battery for the interior lights. I know I'll have to have a generator for the air.

toilets..do most of you use the little portable ones?

Sinks, showers?

thanks all.

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  • Chickenhauler

Posted 08 December 2009 - 09:08 PM

#2

As far as the heater goes, if it isn't vented, don't do it. CO poisoning is too risky.

For a trailer this small you can heat it with a small electric ceramic heater. Heck, you can turn it into a sauna with some of them.

The genset.....take a good look-see at the exhaust system and contemplate how hard it would be to install an additional muffler on it. My parent's unit on their RV was LOUD, and the pipe just happened to be the same size as a Geo Metro muffler. Their genset now sounds like a Geo Metro!

  • zwr250f

Posted 09 December 2009 - 06:08 AM

#3

^^that was my first thought..surely they make some sort of aftermarket muffler for this beast.

  • dirt_momma

Posted 09 December 2009 - 09:39 AM

#4

My hub built a plywood box with that styrofoam insulation attached to the inside, and left one side of the box off, on the exhaust side. It cut down the noise dramatically, and only cost about $20.

To add a potty and shower and all that fun stuff, the cost is going to add up quick. With tanks, water pumps, water heaters, and stuff like that, you might as well either camp near a shower and toilet, or buy a solar shower and dig a hole.

  • Chickenhauler

Posted 09 December 2009 - 09:51 AM

#5

zwr250f said:

^^that was my first thought..surely they make some sort of aftermarket muffler for this beast.

Honestly, a muffler's a muffler when you get down to it.

It's either a packing style (like our bikes) or it uses chambers (like an automotive one).

I'd just find out what the diameter of the exhaust pipe is, then go talk to your local auto parts store and start digging through the catalog and find something that fits that is reasonably sized and could be mounted to the framework of the genset.

Might want to fab a heat shield from some tin so nobody gets burnt by it, though.

  • slowbike

Posted 11 December 2009 - 06:36 AM

#6

Cheap generators are loud not only from the exhaust, but they also generate a lot of mechanical noise, so you might be surprise how little a different muffler quiets it.

If you have some cash burning a hole in your pocket, look around for a Honda EU2000i generator.

I've camped many times with mine, running all night with a small electric heater on low setting and it kept the chill off in the RV.

  • emerybrian

Posted 11 December 2009 - 07:12 AM

#7

dirt_momma said:

My hub built a plywood box with that styrofoam insulation attached to the inside, and left one side of the box off, on the exhaust side. It cut down the noise dramatically, and only cost about $20.

Yeah, and then you aim the open side right at your neighbor. Nothing is more soothing to me than the sound of a Harbor Freight generator rattling itself to pieces 10' from my campsite running all night.

slowbike said:

Cheap generators are loud not only from the exhaust, but they also generate a lot of mechanical noise, so you might be surprise how little a different muffler quiets it.

If you have some cash burning a hole in your pocket, look around for a Honda EU2000i generator.

I've camped many times with mine, running all night with a small electric heater on low setting and it kept the chill off in the RV.

The Yamaha quiet generators are really nice, too. Loud generator should be illegal.

  • zwr250f

Posted 11 December 2009 - 07:55 AM

#8

I've got to figure out exactly how many watts I need...like I said the gen I have now is the powermaster 5000W model. I'm relatively certain my air unit doesn't need 5KW!!

I may have to pony up and buy a good QUIET gen.

  • naturaledge

Posted 11 December 2009 - 01:55 PM

#9

emerybrian said:

Yeah, and then you aim the open side right at your neighbor. Nothing is more soothing to me than the sound of a Harbor Freight generator rattling itself to pieces 10' from my campsite running all night.



The Yamaha quiet generators are really nice, too. Loud generator should be illegal.

:lol::lol::lol: Ain't that the truth. Not to mention the exhaust fumes blasting at you and you can tell they haven't tuned the thing since wooden teeth were still the next best thing. :thumbsup: N-edge

  • Chickenhauler

Posted 11 December 2009 - 02:08 PM

#10

emerybrian said:

Yeah, and then you aim the open side right at your neighbor. Nothing is more soothing to me than the sound of a Harbor Freight generator rattling itself to pieces 10' from my campsite running all night.



The Yamaha quiet generators are really nice, too. Loud generator should be illegal.

Whatcha doing camping in closer proximity than you live in houses?

Never have figured that out....pack up all your crap, drive hours and hours to get to the "wilderness", only to live closer to different people who annoy you than you did at home?

  • Rusty93

Posted 11 December 2009 - 02:30 PM

#11

I have almost the exact same trailer. The roof mounted heater doesn't put out tons of heat but along with a small fan circulating the air around it actually does a good job.

I have a blow up camp shower thing that I hang from a bracket on the side of the trailer outside. I have a fresh water tank & a pump that goes to an outlet on the side of the trailer. Got a little shower head/hose that has a little thumb on/off button. Works real good. Don't have a water heater yet, but you can heat up 5 gal of water in a big pot on a propane burner outside and suck that water through the pump for a hot shower.

Use the portojohns and/or nature at races. If its just me, I piss in a gallon jug so I don't have to go outside in the middle of the night.

I'm only in thing to sleep so as long as the bed is good, I don't care much about the rest. I don't need the taj mahal on wheels.

  • emerybrian

Posted 11 December 2009 - 02:42 PM

#12

chickenhauler said:

Whatcha doing camping in closer proximity than you live in houses?

Never have figured that out....pack up all your crap, drive hours and hours to get to the "wilderness", only to live closer to different people who annoy you than you did at home?

Ahh, I should have said "my pit area" rather than "my campsite". At some tracks around here you can setup away from others, but then your pits are far from the track; other's you have to take whatever they have. I'm not bothered a Honda or Yamaha (camping NOT contractor model), Onan, etc. The most ridiculous thing all season was a family running a refrigerator in their 7x12 trailer for the entire weekend. I kept thinking they had to run out of gas at some point, but nope, they brought and used like 20 gallons. Instead of all that gas I buy 40 lbs of silent ice for like $5, but I'm crazy.

  • emerybrian

Posted 11 December 2009 - 02:57 PM

#13

As far as a heater, look at the "buddy" heaters. They are indoor-safe propane heaters. They have various sizes, and the larger ones can connect to a bulk tank. I bought the smallest one for my van (6x16? in trailer measurement). It worked really well. I actually slept within 5 minutes of missing signup it was so nice in there!

  • Rusty93

Posted 12 December 2009 - 12:49 PM

#14

You wanna talk about loud generators, try camping at a Nascar race. No hookups and literally 3000-4000 campers. All running generators and packed in tight like eggs in a egg carton. People will run them 24/7 even when they are inside watching the races. They will fuel them up without even turning them off. The stupidest thing is that the temp will be like 60 which is perfect camping weather and still these idiots run the gen all day and night. And you are never there! You are in the track watching the races. Never turn them off. Really unbelievable.
I have to go because my old lady is a total Nascar freak. Otherwise I would go riding instead.

  • 06yz

Posted 13 December 2009 - 04:38 PM

#15

emerybrian said:

As far as a heater, look at the "buddy" heaters. They are indoor-safe propane heaters. They have various sizes, and the larger ones can connect to a bulk tank. I bought the smallest one for my van (6x16? in trailer measurement). It worked really well. I actually slept within 5 minutes of missing signup it was so nice in there!

Yup, this is what I used last year racing the winter circuit, it is awesome!!!!!

http://www.mrheater....?catid=41&id=24

MAX!!!


  • Goebz

Posted 15 December 2009 - 11:12 PM

#16

IF YOU SEARCH ENOUGH YOU CAN GET TEH BIG BUDDY FIOR $100
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It will run off 2tanks and has an electric fan to push the heat out.

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You can also run it off a 20lb cylinder with an adapter hose.

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You can also buy a fitting to refill your small tanks from a 20 lb, this has save me tons as I use this to heat my 2 car garage in the Ohio winters.

Posted ImageIt is also very quiet.

I bought the nice lined carry bag from Cabela's and it holds 2 extra tanks.

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  • mxgregg

Posted 21 December 2009 - 12:22 PM

#17

Here is my trailer. Just finished. I also use a Big Buddy heater with a 5 gallon propane tank and it works great.

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  • 06yz

Posted 21 December 2009 - 01:17 PM

#18

mxgregg said:

Here is my trailer. Just finished. I also use a Big Buddy heater with a 5 gallon propane tank and it works great.

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NICE, how big is it? 8'x20' square nose? What do you clean the floor w/?

MAX!!!

  • mxgregg

Posted 21 December 2009 - 02:15 PM

#19

7' x 16' and I just use a damp mop. I put a couple of good coats of wax on it right after I installed it and it is now working great.

  • 06yz

Posted 22 December 2009 - 05:58 AM

#20

mxgregg said:

7' x 16' and I just use a damp mop. I put a couple of good coats of wax on it right after I installed it and it is now working great.

What kind of wax do you put on a vinyl floor? Does the wax make it slippery?

MAX!!!!



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