I just bought a 4year old Merhow Equistar 3H slant, that came with air conditioning and an awning.  The DR is not finished at all and I would like to make some additions so I can take it out of state in the next month or so.  My boyfriend will be doing the construction, in between his full time job, and building our house, so I need to have a plan on what we can get finished on weekends or evenings in between everything else.

This is my first GN, and though I have scrolled through some past threads, I am a bit overwhelmed by them.  Not sure what I need to have to accomodate the additions I want to make.  I don't even know all that I don't know, but I think its a lot!

I'm guessing the first thing we want to add is insulation.  As far as I can tell, neither the horse area nor the DR are insulated and I am a big wuss about the cold.  Is the foil-backed bubble insulation the best bet? We thought the spray foam might get dirty and not hold up.

What kind of additonal wiring do I need, to accomodate a mini-fridge and a microwave?  Does the wiring need to be done before the insulation?

I tried using the back tack area to haul my saddles, and everything came out filthy and covered in dust and shavings.  A friend suggested moving the saddle rack from the back tack area into the DR and bolting to the ceiling.  Has anyone done this and is it a better option than installing a hanging saddle rack to the side wall?  I would like to use the back tack area for hauling water/feed/hay etc.

Any advice appreciated - I understand this is a process that will take a little time.  Would just like to start out with the necessities (heat, electricity and storage) and add shelving and maybe a cowboy shower/portable toilet in the future.

Thanks for replying.  I don't plan on leaving dirty saddle pads in the DR - I can always stick them in the back after they've been used.  But I have a lot of money tied up in my saddles and try to keep them clean.  Just wondering what the best option is for a saddle rack in the DR.  No one else does this?

Forgive me but I was hauling with a little BP stock trailer previously, so having the space and the options are new to me I don't want to make assumptions about them.

Will I need a generator to run the fridge and microwave? What's a "gray water" tank?  I assume it's different than the horse water tank. What's the best insulation for DR and horse area?  As I said, I'm not sure what I need to start with - electrical or insulation.  Sorry if this has been covered before.

I started my conversion in August and finished late september but I can tell you emphatically that it'll be tough to do in a month if you're only doing it part time.  The insulation and framing goes pretty quick but beyond that, you'll start dealing with walls that aren't square, arched ceilings and a tapering nose. 

I had a floor layout with measurements and cut-outs of how I wanted things to be built, a plumbing and electric plan, then a blueprint for cabinent and storage construction.  Even then you'll encounter challenges that change your plans.

You can get a lot of information from this site using the search as Gard suggested.  That's what I did and wouldn't be able to figure a lot out without studying/researching every thread, site I could find and looking at LQ trailer interiors in the 4 sale section.

Here's how my project turned out.  It cost me about $3500 and a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/forum/photos/photo-thumbnails.asp?albumid=201

Good luck!

Thanks so much for all the great suggestions - they are truly appreciated.  Drawing up a plan on paper is an excellent idea to start!