Thoughts on enclosed trailer mods and upgrades

Fullthrottleguy said:
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
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Glad somebody chimed in with this about the tongue mount tool box. One of my neighbors has a good size toolbox on his desert trailer. Something like 60" x 18" x 18", not one of those trapezoid shaped tongue boxes but an actual rectangular below the bed rail mount truck box. I was definitely thinking of putting the 2k genny in there as well as the battery and maybe an air compressor.  Maybe wheel chocks and some of the other bs like wheel chocks and whatnot.

- I heard people aren't crazy about e-track on the floor mostly for mud/dirt type stuff due to clogging. Maybe not a big deal for the sand. I asked Fractal to put in 8 D-Rings. Hopefully enough to start. I like that they are flush mount so I don't have to trip over them. Planning to go with E-track on the walls with probably a set at waist height and another at chest or head high for mounting a couple cabinets or helmets, etc. I have a feeling I'm going to get carried away with the E-track.

-Not sure what vehicles are in my future. I'm thinking it'll be 3 quads and a rail at some point. Maybe there could be a kids RZR in there too, I dunno. Was planning to outfit a workbench up front that could maybe hinge up in case I get a dirt bike again and I could just E-Track it to the front wall. Probably just put a rolling toolbox strapped to the wall instead of permanent built in, just to keep it configurable.

- Spare tire in near the ramp up high seems like the right place for it. On the passenger side of the rail. I've definitely felt the anxiety of wondering if the spare will be enough to make it home, so two is a good idea for piece of mind.

-I guess I'll add that I store it at home in the side yard and security is not an issue. guess I should have ordered a window but too late now.

-Only other thing I'm thinking is I like epoxy floor + poly clear coat instead of rhino lining (heavy and gets hot in the sun) and before the coin flooring too as water always seems to get under that stuff and rots the floor before you can see it. I like the idea of sealing that wood floor as well as possible.

Thanks for all the great input, super helpful.

 
BrapBraap said:
Glad somebody chimed in with this about the tongue mount tool box. One of my neighbors has a good size toolbox on his desert trailer. Something like 60" x 18" x 18", not one of those trapezoid shaped tongue boxes but an actual rectangular below the bed rail mount truck box. I was definitely thinking of putting the 2k genny in there as well as the battery and maybe an air compressor.  Maybe wheel chocks and some of the other bs like wheel chocks and whatnot.

- I heard people aren't crazy about e-track on the floor mostly for mud/dirt type stuff due to clogging. Maybe not a big deal for the sand. I asked Fractal to put in 8 D-Rings. Hopefully enough to start. I like that they are flush mount so I don't have to trip over them. Planning to go with E-track on the walls with probably a set at waist height and another at chest or head high for mounting a couple cabinets or helmets, etc. I have a feeling I'm going to get carried away with the E-track.

-Not sure what vehicles are in my future. I'm thinking it'll be 3 quads and a rail at some point. Maybe there could be a kids RZR in there too, I dunno. Was planning to outfit a workbench up front that could maybe hinge up in case I get a dirt bike again and I could just E-Track it to the front wall. Probably just put a rolling toolbox strapped to the wall instead of permanent built in, just to keep it configurable.

- Spare tire in near the ramp up high seems like the right place for it. On the passenger side of the rail. I've definitely felt the anxiety of wondering if the spare will be enough to make it home, so two is a good idea for piece of mind.

-I guess I'll add that I store it at home in the side yard and security is not an issue. guess I should have ordered a window but too late now.

-Only other thing I'm thinking is I like epoxy floor + poly clear coat instead of rhino lining (heavy and gets hot in the sun) and before the coin flooring too as water always seems to get under that stuff and rots the floor before you can see it. I like the idea of sealing that wood floor as well as possible.

Thanks for all the great input, super helpful.
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square tools boxes you just have to be careful when you turn -  some peoiple do an extended tongue for RV's and they work with big toolboxes. 

On the epoxy floor I am sure some people onGD have a lot of experience, but I was going to do it on the last trailer with some sand for grip and was told it would crack  due to temp changes and stress from twisting  - So I went with floor paint.  I like coin floor as long as you remember not to turn wheels on it and don't mind the cost.  Good Floor paint/sealer  is cheap (but todays standards) and easy to touch up - I also like the light color to help with light reflection - Coolest thing I have seen, I am copying is LEDs at floor level 

 
Flip axels to avoid bottoming out - and in soft sections helps to keep you from getting stuck (becomes an anchor if the trailer drags in the sand)

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Fullthrottleguy said:
these are the one's I am looking at for my new trailer - I had these 2 trailers ago - free shipping over $500

http://www.midwestracecabinets.com/store/p114/47''_Wall_Cabinet__13''_deep_16''_tall_47''_wide.html

we put their winch box in my friends toyhauler  - it was so nice having it under the floor 
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I bought these cabinets and put them in a trailer a few years ago. They look good and do the job. The ones I got were also built very light and put together in a manner that left a lot of sharp edges. I would consider them again but would also look at alternatives. 

 
If you have a water tank installed on the trailer as a back up for the motorhome, put a sink in the trailer. The enclosed i purchased had a small bar type sink in it. I had never given a sink much thought. Now I wouldn't do another enclosed without one. Makes my life so much easier washing up after maintenance, CV issue, spilled fuel, etc and not tracking the mess into the motorhome..... happy wife happy life lol

 
Speaking of water tanks, on a fractal trailer build I watched I saw their water tank setup, it was pretty sweet. On the side of the trailer there was a typical door for the water fill but it was actually a water pump switch and hose bib. So when you wanted to transfer to the Moho you just hooked up your hose to the hose bib and hit the switch. Probably a common way to do it I just never seen it done before. 

 
BrapBraap said:
Speaking of water tanks, on a fractal trailer build I watched I saw their water tank setup, it was pretty sweet. On the side of the trailer there was a typical door for the water fill but it was actually a water pump switch and hose bib. So when you wanted to transfer to the Moho you just hooked up your hose to the hose bib and hit the switch. Probably a common way to do it I just never seen it done before. 
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This is a must for me. We have a couple little kids and go through showers. A buddy has this in his enclosed and always ends up giving us his water before he leaves. He has a 100 gal tank mounted over the axles, it’s a pretty sweet setup. 

 
1tonfun said:
If you have a water tank installed on the trailer as a back up for the motorhome, put a sink in the trailer. The enclosed i purchased had a small bar type sink in it. I had never given a sink much thought. Now I wouldn't do another enclosed without one. Makes my life so much easier washing up after maintenance, CV issue, spilled fuel, etc and not tracking the mess into the motorhome..... happy wife happy life lol
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Buddy waterproofed a corner with a drain straight to the ground and uses a simple shower curtain for stag trips.  Works pretty well.  

 
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69Hondo said:
I have been thinking about doing this. How does the tire clearance look, is it a big gap?
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Not the best comparison photo's - but here are some before and after...i haven't towed it yet with my motorhome - I did the flip a few months back.

I was worried it was going to look stupid, not that it matters, but still...It doesn't look that bad and I'm happy with it.  I don't bottom out when leaving my street (back corner would drag) - and am hoping if I hit soft sand it will not be what drags me down.

I've been stuck once in my motorhome (Gordon's) - and the trailer was dragging - if it wasn't dragging it,  I most likely would have made it through the soft patch as I was only 10ft from hard pack. Well worth the 200 bucks and time in my opinion...

One potential issue is if you double as a car hauler and tow lowered cars - cars will bottom out easier given the ramp is a bit steeper.

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wesinls said:
Not the best comparison photo's - but here are some before and after...i haven't towed it yet with my motorhome - I did the flip a few months back.

I was worried it was going to look stupid, not that it matters, but still...It doesn't look that bad and I'm happy with it.  I don't bottom out when leaving my street (back corner would drag) - and am hoping if I hit soft sand it will not be what drags me down.

I've been stuck once in my motorhome (Gordon's) - and the trailer was dragging - if it wasn't dragging it,  I most likely would have made it through the soft patch as I was only 10ft from hard pack. Well worth the 200 bucks and time in my opinion...

One potential issue is if you double as a car hauler and tow lowered cars - cars will bottom out easier given the ramp is a bit steeper.

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How high did it lift yours? I want to do mine so I can get 16” wheels and better tires in there. 

 
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