Thoughts on enclosed trailer mods and upgrades

[BrapBraap]

Putting together an enclosed trailer for the first time. Hauling a sandrail and some kids quads for now. Any thoughts on additions or mods would be appreciated. Ordered a 24’x 106” with drive over wells and that’s about it. Planning on a handful of mods as time and money allow. Pulling it with a discovery DP. Winch and a workbench and electric Jack on the menu. Fuel station hopefully sooner rather than later. Thought I’d ask and see if any special nuggets came up from you guys.

 

[EastMT]

Toolbox, 120 and 12 volt lights, magnetic walk thru bug screen for the man door, some kind of tie down system or tracks.

 

[Drjekal]

who's building it for you?

 

[BrapBraap]

Fractal 

 

[MWB]

Do not put anything on the wall between where you get out of the car and where you get out of the trailer

 

[dbart]

I have a 16' box trailer and I bought tall and short cabinets from Home Depot (metal ones), I have 2 marine batteries, solar panel to charge batteries, 50" tv, blu ray player, microwave, coffee maker, fold up couch from Ikea that turns into a bed, 4 tie down hooks in the floor, LED lights in ceiling, insulation on the ceiling, I cabinet on the wall (door side), Bug screen for the door so I can keep it open. Everything gets put away in the cabinets for traveling.

It's my Fort and I love it.

 

[BRANDON LONG]

I've had quite a few trailers built and this one is by far my favorite. Couple specifics that I really like are the following:

- Cabinets up front and passenger side so I do not hit my head.

- 12V & 110 lighting.

- I have entry doors on both sides. Its super convenient for loading and unloading at the house and nice when camping to open it up. 

- Oversized axles with (two) spare tires. We have all had that feeling when you're on your spare and now think about not having another. 

- Couch for hanging out on those windy days but if you're driving over your fenders that may not work out. 

- Tie downs, tie downs, tie downs. Install more than you think. 

 

[Bobalos]

There is a small heater installed in the cabinet on the left.  worked great to get the bite out of the air, but the trailer leaked heat too much to make it warm.  we used cots and sleeping bags (stored overhead).  It is a 1993 Wells Cargo. there is an inverter under the front cabinet for the 2 outlets on the counter.  AC outlets as well for when the Genny was plugged in.  2 AGM's up front that did the trick.  did a LOT with this trailer.  cheap industrial carpet to insulate & sound deaden the floor.  we have slept 6 in here. 

 

[Mac]

- Front cabinets high and low and a bench top.

- Good lighting.

- Electrical with outlets that you can power with a motorhome or external genny.

- E-TRAC the full length of the floor to tie things down.   I found this works better than in the floor tie-downs.

- An in-floor trap door for a spare tire.

- wall mount for a camp table.

- hang bars for jackets and tie-down straps.

- a belly water tank (if you need extra water for moho)

- fuel station 

 

[THD]

E-track on the floor and walls, it's very versatile for tying stuff down and hang stuff on it 

Only thing I would add to what has already been mentioned is a vice on a bench top.

 

[Whipsandshyt]

Solar and good Lithium batteries. You could do alot of solar and back feed the coach? Fuel station

 

[Bobalos]

My Wells Cargo has a spare tire well in the floor & while its a great idea, for hiding a tire, I found out the hard way it is the dumbest thing any trailer company could have done.........

know what happens when you have a non-running car in the trailer, its raining & you are driving on a hill........  You get a blowout & you have no way to get the damn spare out......  LOL. 

It does work awesome for spare parts though.  the car is most likely not in the trailer & opening it up to get parts is no big deal........ 

& IMO, the most awesome trailer tool of all time........

 

[Looney Duner]

Everything said here is solid advice, I also just bought a fractal trailer last season,  seems solid for the cost. 97" door opening and no cables on the door is super nice touch. E track on the floor is the only way to go in my opinion. I've had it in 3 trailers now. Load the car, figure out where it is going to sit, marke the floor and put the e track under the tires. When the car pulls in the strap goes over the tire. Super easy and fast, and secure. 

 

[Jtmoney714]

Everything said here is solid advice, I also just bought a fractal trailer last season,  seems solid for the cost. 97" door opening and no cables on the door is super nice touch. E track on the floor is the only way to go in my opinion. I've had it in 3 trailers now. Load the car, figure out where it is going to sit, marke the floor and put the e track under the tires. When the car pulls in the strap goes over the tire. Super easy and fast, and secure. 

Post some pics of that set up please. I’ve been contemplating doing the same thing. 

 

[Looney Duner]

Post some pics of that set up please. I’ve been contemplating doing the same thing. 

The car is in the garage, I'll get some pics when I load it back up, but I can get some pics of the e track this weekend 

 

[HozayKwarvo]

Depends how much time you plan to spend in it and what you want to do with it... is it just hauling cars? Might you be camping in it or using it for a storefront? Working on one now that will be used for all of the above. Coin floors, e-track on floors and the walls at 2' and 5', two 3x6 concession windows passenger side with a 20"x30" RV window on driver's side, RV electrical with converter setup, LED lighting strips on a switch, flood lights outside passenger and rear, 110 outlets above, below work bench, centered passenger and drivers side, and an outlet outside (put them where you may need them), RV step on side door, RV latch side door as opposed to the lever style (don't want some jackass locking me in), Fantastic Fan with the MaxAir vent cover, diamond plate across the tongue to hold the mini-split going on it ... no overhead cabinets in the front - leaving it open for the air handler for the mini-split, bench and lower cabinets in the front, insulation of walls and roof, electric tongue jack, tapped 12v pig tail drop top/center (into running lights) for a backup camera since I have to put it within inches of the 5th wheel in order to fit into a spot... really all depends on what you want to use it for, many of the options I'm looking at I wouldn't put if I was just hauling toys.

 

[Fullthrottleguy]

My Wells Cargo has a spare tire well in the floor & while its a great idea, for hiding a tire, I found out the hard way it is the dumbest thing any trailer company could have done.........

know what happens when you have a non-running car in the trailer, its raining & you are driving on a hill........  You get a blowout & you have no way to get the damn spare out......  LOL. 

It does work awesome for spare parts though.  the car is most likely not in the trailer & opening it up to get parts is no big deal........ 

& IMO, the most awesome trailer tool of all time........

View attachment 82331

I had a similar experience  - I was so happy thinking my tire was out of the way  ... then ok Sh&t I needed it.  Converted the well into a Camp chair  holder ...

All the advice is solid  - 

I would add

nothing is better than Tongue mounted genny with a tool box on top -  you move the battery outside into the tool box   and put an air compressor in there as well, now everything that corrodes or makes fumes is outside  all external connections  and things you need are there and easy to get to and you are not crawling under a bench to check or change batteries and you can run solar wires outside if you want without making holes in the roof  - which is never a win

A Max Air on each vent is always a good idea or swap the plastic tops for metal tops - you won't miss the light  and you never have to worry about a crack or one flying off  while driving

Depending on where you store, a window is really nice to have not just for light  but if it opens its really nice if you are working in there 

If you store somewhere your don't want people looking in a nice RV style velcro window cover works well -  its just as easy to break in the trailer door as a window - so theft risk is low 

I am huge fan of Fuel stations if you can afford it too

Good luck with the Fractal - Anthony and team build a nice trailer

 

[Rockwood]

I had a similar experience  - I was so happy thinking my tire was out of the way  ... then ok Sh&t I needed it.  Cmnverted the well into a Camp chair  holder ...

All the advice is solid  - 

I would add

nothing is better than Tongue mounted genny with a tool box on top -  you move the battery outside into the tool box   and put an air compressor in there as well, now everything that corrodes or makes fumes is outside  all external connections  and things you need are there and easy to get to and you are not crawling under a bench to check or change batteries and you can run solar wires outside if you want without making holes in the roof  - which is never a win

A Max Air on each vent is always a good idea or swap the plastic tops for metal tops - you won't miss the light  and you never have to worry about a crack or one flying off  while driving

Depending on where you store, a window is really nice to have not just for light  but if it opens its really nice if you are working in there 

If you store somewhere your don't want people looking in a nice RV style velcro window cover works well -  its just as easy to break in the trailer door as a window - so theft risk is low 

I am huge fan of Fuel stations if you can afford it too

Good luck with the Fractal - Anthony and team build a nice trailer

Only bummer about a fuel station is you're forced to stop on the way out, or lugging your chit to the gas station before the trip.

Any stop for us means stopping for food.  There goes $60 and an hour of dune time. :biggrin:

 

[BONES]

Just bought a 26’ enclosed, so this thread caught my eye. You guys have pictures of the insides of your trailers?