Posted 2010-11-14 7:06 AM (#127051) Subject: Converting a trailer to a bunk house
Veteran
Posts: 157 Location: Perkiomenville, PA
Hi there, folks. I am looking for ideas. Already have a living quarters trailer but its a two horse. My boarders come with me sometime and I also have a 16' stock gooseneck steel trailer, plywood lined/rubber mat floor, open slats on the side (Moritz) I use for taking them to the nearby trailhead. What I would like to do this winter is come up with some good ideas for converting that to useful space when I take them for overnight and week long rides next year. None of us like tents.
One thing I can share - landscape fabric layed on the floor of the trailer pulls all manure off clean when you arrive at the campground. That and just a bit of soap and water and you can keep it clean as new. Just tuck the exposed ends of the fabric under the mats. Saves a lot of shoveling.
So, starting from the premise that I am not mechanically inclined (no 12 volt or power involved), can "obtain" carpentry skills but don't have them, can you folks share with me tips on how to make this easy? I was thinking of a camping stove, the kind they use in tents, to dry and warm the trailer for our cool spring and fall PA nights. I am OK investing in a roof mounted hay rack which would double for gravity fed water. Was hoping someone saw good ideas for "over the wheel well" chuck boxes, covering the wall openings with something light and easy to remove, floor covering I can roll out for added comfort but not too much bulk, portable sinks you can make yourself for washing up, easy/light/inexpensive ways to create a "shower surround and outhouse" that won't flap in the wind. Things I can use to coat the ceiling that will stop condensate for when its not heated, etc.
Am looking forward to this winter project. Thanks for your help.
Posted 2010-11-14 12:17 PM (#127056 - in reply to #127051) Subject: RE: Converting a trailer to a bunk house
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
Hytech sales makes a ceramic paint additive that is designed to help insulate. I used this on my trailer and have had no condensation problems since. You can get lightweight polypropylene carpets that fold, used at dog and horse shows to cover dirt floors. Search for them on Google. Farmtek.com has a lot of things that might work for your window coverings as well. PVC is your friend for the shower surround. A sharp knife, some solvent, glue and fittings and you can make any number of knockdown frames for that. Walmart has lightweight folding tables that won't take up much space in your trailer. A carboy could be ideal for your sink. It is a large plastic container with a gated valve to open and close (water supply with faucets). It can open into a large dishpan (your sink). Just depends on how much effort you want to put in and how much portable stuff to involve. I would also find an RV catalog supply just for "idea shopping". There are dry sinks in those that could work well for you.
Posted 2010-11-15 6:21 AM (#127072 - in reply to #127051) Subject: RE: Converting a trailer to a bunk house
Regular
Posts: 70 Location: PA
Friends of ours tent camp with us occasionally and have 2 kids. They purchased an "outhouse/shower" tent at either K-Mart or Walmart. It had two sections, one for the porta potti and one for the shower. I think the shower side was set up to hang the shower bag, etc. It wasn't very expensive, seemed pretty easy to set up and packed up pretty small, and gave them all the privacy they needed. They even used it for dressing. I thought it was pretty neat especially since we camp where there are no facilities. Might be worth checking out?
Posted 2010-11-15 8:43 AM (#127078 - in reply to #127051) Subject: RE: Converting a trailer to a bunk house
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
I just saw where someone had fastened a hula hoop to their ceiling in the first stall with shower rings around it to hold a curtain. It didn't appear it would interfere with the horse and was about the right size.
Posted 2010-11-15 5:09 PM (#127106 - in reply to #127078) Subject: RE: Converting a trailer to a bunk house
Veteran
Posts: 157 Location: Perkiomenville, PA
Hey now -- that's clever! I imagine you could put one at the top and one somewhere near the bottom and it would keep the plastic from going into you!!! What a GREAT idea thanks so much for sharing.
Posted 2010-11-18 5:00 PM (#127262 - in reply to #127235) Subject: RE: Converting a trailer to a bunk house
Veteran
Posts: 157 Location: Perkiomenville, PA
I don't use shavings. Never have. Sometimes they blow around and get in the horses eyes, and all the time they don't let me totally clean out the trailer and let the floor dry. So, for me, its clean it all out every time and the landscape fabric works great.
Converting a trailer to a bunk house
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