Posted 2013-06-05 3:11 PM (#152489) Subject: Looking for living quarters ideas from DIY'ers
New User
Posts: 3
My wife and I have been "horsin'" around with different trailers for years. Early years BP stock trailer, GN horse/stock trailer, Full living quarters GN aluminum, GN stock and now a GN Legend 2H with 4' short wall. We've only had the one with LQ so we kind of know what we want and yes, we realize that we are limited as far as LQ due to small short wall. I need those who have done full conversions from wiring, plumbing, insulation, wall finishes, cabinets, built-ins, etc. We're looking to see how much we can do with our small space. Our Platinum LQ had AC/DC and we're looking to mainly go with DC on this trailer. We'd entertain some ideas on AC but mainly want to rig up for back country, off the beaten path camping but not have to run the generator too much. Read peace and quiet. I don't have any pics but it's pretty standard 4' short wall X 6.5' wide inside the fenders, standard height, windows on each side of bed area, window on opposite door side a little forward of center of the wall and street side door. Also, has pass-through door the cargo area. We're already figuring a port-o-pot and cowboy shower for the closest stall to the LQ so no worries on holding tanks for waste water. Anyway, lets start this thing and we appreciate any and all help, comments, questions, ideas and concerns.
Posted 2013-06-05 7:28 PM (#152493 - in reply to #152489) Subject: RE: Looking for living quarters ideas from DIY'ers
Veteran
Posts: 175 Location: Florida
Just recently finished our 6' short wall - just waiting on the shower door to call it 'Done'. Made custom cabinets on both sides and front of the bed, and installed AC w heater, hot water heater, AC/DC refrigerator, built in microwave and a small sink on a counter. Used a recessed floor post to have removable 20x 36 table in front of a bench seat that is used to access the bed. All of this would fit in your 4' short wall. In addition I installed a 27" corner shower, toilet, and a 48 gal vertical water tank in the back corner with the additional 2' we have. It is all insulated, plumbed for hot and cold water, and 110v for outlets, h2o, refrig, TV, and AC. Also added several 12v lights, roof vent, and power for Refrig when travelling. LP also added for water heater. Took about 6 months planning and laying everything out, and 3 months of spare time to complete it. Spent lots of time finding suppliers for components that fit what I needed. However it looks great. Don't think we could have bought it done this nice. Have pictures from start to finish if you need some ideas. #1 - draw up what you want before you begin.
Posted 2013-06-05 10:14 PM (#152501 - in reply to #152489) Subject: RE: Looking for living quarters ideas from DIY'ers
Veteran
Posts: 171 Location: Henderson, TN 38340
Try again
I agree with the previous post. Draw it out with accurate dimentions. After I had my plans I built it roughly using cardboard boxes cut to the correct size taped together and taped to the walls. Just like make believe, and I had to change some of my plans as thing did not work out.
I had a cabinet in the front and one on the long wall in the bed area. This second cabinet was set up to accept "Short" hang up clothes hung flat to the wall. The long wall had cabinets above the base which contained a sink, and Microwave. Under the sink I had my grey water tank with a "Bilge Pump " for empting. In the corner I placed a closet which held the porta potty. The door on the closet had a second door attached to the back so I could double the size of the potty room which also had a 12V exhaust fan. The Boot box held the fresh water tank and pump. The table was sized to set upright in the boot box when stored. The table post was set into the floor. I had no "pass through" so I planned everything in the front.
Posted 2013-06-06 8:22 AM (#152505 - in reply to #152489) Subject: RE: Looking for living quarters ideas from DIY'ers
Veteran
Posts: 175 Location: Florida
No documentation on posting multiple pics at once so here's one - sorry for the posts above - also not allowed to delete them and administrator not responding.
Posted 2013-06-06 8:37 AM (#152507 - in reply to #152489) Subject: RE: Looking for living quarters ideas from DIY'ers
Ours is a 4 1/2 sw, It is kind of a standard set up I built. We camp the most at places without any power, our 12 volt works great for 3 days (the longest we seem to have time to go) but when we camp at places with electric hook up we sure like it. click here to see pictures>living quarters
Posted 2013-06-06 9:39 AM (#152509 - in reply to #152489) Subject: RE: Looking for living quarters ideas from DIY'ers
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
The problem with a DIY installation is knowing what equipment can be fit within a given space. The best way to learn is to see the results of "professional" installations. Perusing the many photos in the HTW trailer for sale section, will show the installations of various conversion companies and some DIYer's as well.
A few years ago we built an entire LQ for a friend, using our trailer's LQ as the model. Copying the efforts of commercial installers saves a great deal of development times, and helps to eliminate many construction errors. Knowing what the completed project can look like before you start, lets you better envision a future goal. It's much easier to modify a layout design than it is to construct one from scratch. Having a bulkhead one inch off, a wiring outlet in the wrong place or a plumbing fixture misaligned, can be frustrating when your project is temporarily at a standstill.
The ideas to use cardboard boxes as cabinets, masking tape on the floors, drawing paper on the walls, will all help to conceptualise your various wants and needs. Once the "big" parts are established, then what you place within them becomes important. This would include your electrical, water and gas services. How the areas are lighted is important. All of these services will need to be routed from somewhere to somewhere, which involves the installation of your initial structure.
Your DIY LQ can be built for about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of a professional installation. We have seen the efforts of several forum members, whose skills surpass the best professional results. Most of us have also seen used DIY LQs, that are best served by their removal and replacement. The process is involved and rewarding. Once it is finished, your pride and skills will both be greatly elevated.
Posted 2013-06-06 9:54 AM (#152510 - in reply to #152489) Subject: RE: Looking for living quarters ideas from DIY'ers
New User
Posts: 3
Thanks for any and all imput so far. We're still in the planning stage but have given lots of thought to it. Like I said in the original post, we've owned one before that had a professional installed LQ. We've got a little insight on what we do and don't want. Our Platinum Coach had a 6' SW and the cost to install that LQ was around $17,000. We're not going that elaborate or that rich. Basically, we're looking now at where and how we want to install the basic, but very important, items such as water, electric and gas. After that insualtion, wall and floor covering and on to other items. BTW, if anyone is having an issue uploading pics please PM me and I'll get with you through email for those. We love pics and visuals. Thanks again.
Posted 2013-06-06 11:27 AM (#152514 - in reply to #152489) Subject: RE: Looking for living quarters ideas from DIY'ers
Veteran
Posts: 175 Location: Florida
Emailed you some before / after photos. Must be a server problem on this forum as it's not allowing pics to be uploaded even though they are within size allowed. Administrators must not be watching their PM either.
Posted 2013-06-07 9:06 AM (#152528 - in reply to #152489) Subject: RE: Looking for living quarters ideas from DIY'ers
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342 Location: MS
Put your photos in photobucket or some similar host, then post the link. I don't think that you can directly post them from your computer here.
I believe that you can also create an album and post from there. Look up on the bar where it says Forums Albums Search, etc.
I also have redone two 2 horse with small shortwalls...on 4 foot and one smaller. The smaller one doesn't have any bath facilities, but there is a portapottie. Let me see if I can post any photos...it will be on another post because this one will time out.
Posted 2013-06-07 9:41 AM (#152533 - in reply to #152489) Subject: RE: Looking for living quarters ideas from DIY'ers
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
Linda-what is the dark brown on your walls made of? And how did you get your TV mounted and working with no wires showing? What did you use for your ceiling? I have a 2' short wall also and am looking for ideas. Love what you did.
Posted 2013-06-07 10:29 AM (#152535 - in reply to #152533) Subject: RE: Looking for living quarters ideas from DIY'ers
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342 Location: MS
Originally written by terri s on 2013-06-07 9:41 AM
Linda-what is the dark brown on your walls made of? And how did you get your TV mounted and working with no wires showing? What did you use for your ceiling? I have a 2' short wall also and am looking for ideas. Love what you did.
The dark brown is a material we got from Hobby Lobby. They also sell (or sold) it at Walmart. It is a faux embossed leather, like ultra suede. The bottom part of the wall that looks like wood is a vinyl tile that comes in strips. In this photo, the tv isn't plugged in, that is why there aren't wires showing. We could have easily run the wires before putting up the wall covering and put a plug benind the tv, though, and no wires would have shown. It is mounted on the slant wall to the horse compartment. We put a large board between the studs of the wall before we put the insulation and wall material up, then drilled a hole through the whole thing into the horse compartment and bolted it in.The ceiling is a vinyl material, also in a faux suede look. It is given a 'soft touch' appearance by being glued over the material that is used for car interior ceilings.
Posted 2013-06-08 9:56 AM (#152544 - in reply to #152489) Subject: RE: Looking for living quarters ideas from DIY'ers
Regular
Posts: 70
This is my favorite website to get ideas. They do ALOT of smaller LQ conversions, just click on all the example horse trailer jobs and have fun looking!
Posted 2013-08-15 11:42 AM (#154031 - in reply to #152489) Subject: RE: Looking for living quarters ideas from DIY'ers
New User
Posts: 2
Location: Nortonville, KS
check out this website, it gives good pictures and ideas, I could have used a bit more measurements and direction when I started as I wasn't handy, but it really helped me plan out my 4ft living conversion. I think I'm running btw $1500-2000 to do my conversion so far. http://todd.redwrench.com/Top tips:make a list of what you want to have in your LQif you do your own framing you can make anything any size you want, but make sure the appliances/accessories you buy will fit in thereafter checking dimensions to make sure you are happy with the layout (I used tape and boxes), use excel to draw out and measure how much lumber you will need for each projectmake sure you buy what you make your plans on or things won't fitput up paneling before framinguse thicker stripping on the ceiling if at all possible--I used 1 x 2" and putting the electric on the ceiling would have been much easier with 2x2'scheck out this conversion FB page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/565970220097130/Good luck!
Looking for living quarters ideas from DIY'ers
