Outfitting enclosed utility trailer for sleeping

[lromanchuk]

I was wondering what you guys have done to outfit your enclosed trailers for over night use in sub zero temperatures. I recently bought a 16x8 enclosed and I'd like to use it for sleeping at lakes. My concerns are heating the trailer at night and not dying of CO, and the condensation buildup that happens over night. Ive heard of guys that froze the door shut and had to damage the seal to get out. The trailer does have one roof vent that can be opened.

What do you guys do?

Thanks.

[3blade]

A buddy at work got himself a generator and some kind of electric heating blanket, along with a cold weather sleeping bag. Don't know what he used for a cot/mattress, but according to him he slept fine while in the mountains. Also said he woke up pretty quick if the generator ran outta gas.

[jkind]

Propane heaters cause a lot of humidity but if you install a wood stove with a chimney to the outside then there will be no humidity and less chance of CO.

Either way you should install a CO detector.

[Just Cowboy]

Use a generator outside and electric heater in side

[bradvtown]

We use a wood stove piped outside and an old tent trailer furnace for when the wood finally burns out. Definitely put a carbon monoxide detector in. We had the winds change and the generator exhaust start coming into the trailer. Saved our bacon that night.

[Chris88CL]

Here's mine. It's more complete now. Fold down queen bed. It will undergo a reno in the spring.

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=291611.0

[Mackinaw]

I have full Insulation in mine floor roof and walls use a propane heater for fast heat but then a small wood stove from. Princessauto for main heat works great at coldlake.

Mack

[warriorboy10]

I had a 8-1/2' x 20' enclosed. Put a small fire box in it. Spent many very cold nights -30 ish and always more than comfortable. Hang anything wet high and in a short period nice and dry. Couple of cots, it was awesome.
Use a small generator for some light and misc power or a lantern and ur set.
Sold it but thinking of doing the same set up again.fishing, hunting or whatever nothing better in my mind...

[happyfeet]

Best option here http://www.deluxewalltents.com/diesel-heaters/

But it's almost pointless if you don't insulate

[Walleyedude]

I don't think I'd want a wood stove in my enclosed utility trailer. Fire/burn hazard, smoky, lots of wasted space, and inconvenient having to light and maintain a fire, haul firewood, etc...

My suggestion would be to look into retrofitting an RV furnace like in the link above. I had one in my enclosed trailer, with a 100lb propane bottle mounted on the outside in the frame. A 20lb or 30lb bottle mounted outside on the hitch like a typical RV setup would more than do the trick too. A couple of 6V batteries or 12V batteries and you'll be able to go for several days. If you've got a generator, then there's no limit.

Worked like a charm. It was consistently toasty warm even in an uninsulated trailer, minimal condensation, and no real concerns about CO as everything is vented outside.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Propane heaters cause a lot of humidity but if you install a wood stove with a chimney to the outside then there will be no humidity and less chance of CO.

Either way you should install a CO detector.

My suggestion would be to look into retrofitting an RV furnace like in the link above. I had one in my enclosed trailer, with a 100lb propane bottle mounted on the outside in the frame. A 20lb or 30lb bottle mounted outside on the hitch like a typical RV setup would more than do the trick too. A couple of 6V batteries or 12V batteries and you'll be able to go for several days.

Either of these two would be my choice, with a preference for the wood stove (because it's dryer). And insulation. Another option is getting a catalytic heater like this one here (http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/olympian-wave-8-catalytic-safety-heater/19334).

I've been looking at making a rig like this, but I'm still about two years out from pulling it off at the moment.

[Barnes19]

I know a couple guys who slept in a cargo trailer for ice fishing, took the snowmobiles out put in the cots. They ran a generator with electric space heaters.

[skidderman]

40,000 btu RV propane heater vented to outside. If I was to do again I would go 30,000 btu.

Wired for 110

110/12 inverter charger converts 110 to 12 volt & maintains 2 12 volt batteries. Not cheap but the best part of the build as I don't have to worry about a dead battery at 3 AM.

Insulated roof & ceiling. Going to insulate floor this coming spring.

May put a sliding side window as well so I can get a cross breeze on hot days.

Two 40 pound propane tanks mounted on hitch. One tank lasts 5 to 7 days depending how cold it is.

Honda 2000 inverter to keep the batteries charged.

Small freezer & a 110 volt fridge.

[lromanchuk]

A lot of great suggestions. Thanks guys. Im leaning towards a small wood stove vented out the roof.

I don't want to fully convert this trailer into a camper. i still want to be able to use the space for hauling skidoos, quads and cars. I think a small wood stove should do the trick.

[Roebag]

Fold Up Bunks and Wood Stove. We love ours we camp in it regularly. Wood heat is best for consistent below 0 degrees temperature. Propane or Kerosene for weather above zero

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s89/roebag/Miscellanoues/AdamOnBunks_zps14847358.jpg (http://s150.photobucket.com/user/roebag/media/Miscellanoues/AdamOnBunks_zps14847358.jpg.html)

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s89/roebag/Miscellanoues/BottomBunkDown_zpsc805fbeb.jpg (http://s150.photobucket.com/user/roebag/media/Miscellanoues/BottomBunkDown_zpsc805fbeb.jpg.html)

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s89/roebag/Miscellanoues/AllBunksUp_zpse05c924e.jpg (http://s150.photobucket.com/user/roebag/media/Miscellanoues/AllBunksUp_zpse05c924e.jpg.html)

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s89/roebag/Miscellanoues/TrailerLoaded_zps89a52571.jpg (http://s150.photobucket.com/user/roebag/media/Miscellanoues/TrailerLoaded_zps89a52571.jpg.html)

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s89/roebag/Miscellanoues/IMG_1215_zpshpy89trc.jpg (http://s150.photobucket.com/user/roebag/media/Miscellanoues/IMG_1215_zpshpy89trc.jpg.html)

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s89/roebag/Hunting%202014/IMG_0884_zpsf54cf4b7.jpg (http://s150.photobucket.com/user/roebag/media/Hunting%202014/IMG_0884_zpsf54cf4b7.jpg.html)


Before the bunks were installed

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s89/roebag/Hunting%202014/IMG_0873_zps596cdcf9.jpg (http://s150.photobucket.com/user/roebag/media/Hunting%202014/IMG_0873_zps596cdcf9.jpg.html)

[lromanchuk]

Looks great. Functional and comfortable

[CanuckShooter]

Propane heaters cause a lot of humidity but if you install a wood stove with a chimney to the outside then there will be no humidity and less chance of CO.

Either way you should install a CO detector.

Not all propane heaters cause humidity issues.

[CanuckShooter]

I don't think I'd want a wood stove in my enclosed utility trailer. Fire/burn hazard, smoky, lots of wasted space, and inconvenient having to light and maintain a fire, haul firewood, etc...

My suggestion would be to look into retrofitting an RV furnace like in the link above. I had one in my enclosed trailer, with a 100lb propane bottle mounted on the outside in the frame. A 20lb or 30lb bottle mounted outside on the hitch like a typical RV setup would more than do the trick too. A couple of 6V batteries or 12V batteries and you'll be able to go for several days. If you've got a generator, then there's no limit.

Worked like a charm. It was consistently toasty warm even in an uninsulated trailer, minimal condensation, and no real concerns about CO as everything is vented outside.

Same here, for consistent heat without all the fuss of a woodstove, and no getting up in the middle of the night to add wood to the fire.

[CanuckShooter]

A lot of great suggestions. Thanks guys. Im leaning towards a small wood stove vented out the roof.

I don't want to fully convert this trailer into a camper. i still want to be able to use the space for hauling skidoos, quads and cars. I think a small wood stove should do the trick.

check out this site...they have a whole section on converting cargo trailers, it's a great resource for gathering ideas.

http://www.tnttt.com/index.php?sid=83ced2a79e4ee6443c1272c1de1451fc

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

[pikeman06]

Excellent thread guys. Very practical and cost effective way to pack all the junk you need and still have a place to dry off and have a good nites sleep. Spent my share of evenings in a paper thin nylon tent and after a few days you've had enough and cut a good trip short just cuz of a sore back and a bunch of soggy gear and food. I would go with the genny and electric heat myself with outdoor fire. Leave the propane at home. Getting handy with open fire meals that taste incredible.

[Roebag]

What I like about having a wood stove

Nothing dries cloths faster
The heat and the smell is therapeutic and good for the soul
Wife and kids never complain about being cold
Nice to sit around and visit at anytime of the day...and everybody loves it

I think once you try it you will find it truly does add the 4th season to camping or even day trips ice fishing to the lake. Often we will set up and use it for a base camp on day trips and everyone can stage from it except for the pit masters

This is where I got my plans from

https://www.moto-tally.com/ScoringTrailer.aspx

[jkbloom]

I purchased a Legend all aluminum 21 foot enclosed trailer, I ordered 1 set of bunk beds and 1 double bed that can be turned into a couch as well, beds come from Blazin bell tech, they fold up against the wall and stick out about 4", for heat I run a generator with 2 electric heaters, I also take my big heater buddies for back up, I run 2 battery powered fans that hang from the roof to keep condensation down, we also ordered blankets that go against the wall and the beds from a refrigerator company, I forget the name. I also have 2 sliding windows and a roof vent with a fantastic fan, I don't post pics here, but if you would like PM me and we could figure out how to send you pics, it is a very SWEET setup and everyone wants to camp with me now, haha.

[Blastoff]

I purchased a Legend all aluminum 21 foot enclosed trailer, I ordered 1 set of bunk beds and 1 double bed that can be turned into a couch as well, beds come from Blazin bell tech, they fold up against the wall and stick out about 4", for heat I run a generator with 2 electric heaters, I also take my big heater buddies for back up, I run 2 battery powered fans that hang from the roof to keep condensation down, we also ordered blankets that go against the wall and the beds from a refrigerator company, I forget the name. I also have 2 sliding windows and a roof vent with a fantastic fan, I don't post pics here, but if you would like PM me and we could figure out how to send you pics, it is a very SWEET setup and everyone wants to camp with me now, haha.

Sounds like a nice setup, if you could post a few pics. Legend trailers are getting more popular here recently, I like the all aluminum option.

[jkbloom]

I can't seem to get photobucket or tapatalk for my BlackBerry, I will try to download on my PC later and post pics

[sns2]

Here's mine. It's more complete now. Fold down queen bed. It will undergo a reno in the spring.

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=291611.0

Chris, that is an awesome job you have done. What a great thread!

[Mackinaw]

Here's mine. It's more complete now. Fold down queen bed. It will undergo a reno in the spring.

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=291611.0

Did you ever get your sleeves from catch cover?

Mack