Posted 2005-09-13 9:59 AM (#30271) Subject: Weekender conversion
Member
Posts: 49 Location: Clarksville, Tennessee USA
Has anyone converted a dressing room with a 2 ft. shortwall into a weekender? Looking for ideas on just how to squeese some basic comforts into this limited space. Walk through door limits the interior wall, and the outside door is on the long wall! Not much to work with, but I cannot believe it is impossible. This is a 2002 CM GN, two horse slant load so can't really give up the forward horse space. Any info will be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks WildEquine@peoplepc.com
Posted 2005-09-13 10:18 AM (#30272 - in reply to #30271) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455 Location: Ontario - east of TO
It can certainly be done - you just will not have much else in there other than the GN bed.
No reason you can't have storage in the nose and along the GN. You can put a closet or a sink on the short wall - all depends on what you need in there - you will now be able to do a full kitchen and bathroom, but you can certainly do something with it.
Maccwall's (other poster) first trailer was a 2ft SW... here's his pictures
Posted 2005-09-13 8:25 PM (#30342 - in reply to #30271) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489 Location: CA
I have a 3ft SW, and although it's not luxurious, it's "home" on alot of weekends each year. I have a mattress and a little storage table and boxes in the gooseneck, and I put a tall pantry-like cabinet on the long wall where the door is on mine also. I don't have a midtack or rear tack, so my saddles are on the SW, with bridles etc hanging on a bunch of hooks on the slant wall and brushes etc in the boxes on the door. It's crowded with my 2 kids (hubby stays home), but I pretty much only sleep there when I camp. I have a Coleman Hot Water unit, a Coleman stove, table and chairs that I put outside. Porta-potti is inside under the saddles (unless in use!).I recently put in a fan/vent and an extra light up in the gooseneck for reading. I have a little heater, but I haven't used it yet, since I prefer hot water bottles, because I'm nervous about having anything propane inside with me. This past weekend I camped with a friend who had a "maiden voyage" LQ. Man, was that thing nice! One thing I really liked on hers was a little table attached to the outside of the trailer. It folded out and had outlets for your coffeemaker etc above it. There was another little fold out platform for the Coleman stove, which I thought was funny since she had a stove and micro inside. Anyway, with an awning, I think that would be a nice outside living area I would like to add. Gawdddd, this is long. Sorry! The short version is: You can do it. It won't be fancy.
Posted 2005-09-13 11:24 PM (#30345 - in reply to #30271) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 456 Location: south of Cowtown, TEXAS
I have seen a 2' shortwall with sink, micro and fridge. Micro was overhead and sink/counter was taller than normal to accomodate the plumbing above a small fridge. It can be done! I say, use the boot box for small water tank and storage. Use the nose for storage and hang up lots of stuff on the slant wall - even on the door.
Posted 2005-09-14 8:07 AM (#30352 - in reply to #30271) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Member
Posts: 49 Location: Clarksville, Tennessee USA
Thanks everyone for the input ... keep it coming. I want micro, frig, a closet, and tv shelf, and a good way to get into the nose since there is not enough space for a boot box. Your ideas make it seem do-able for sure. Don't spend much time inside and still want to keep enough room for dressing at shows. The conversion sites just don't help for they cater to the larger trailers. "Mikey"
Posted 2005-09-14 8:10 AM (#30354 - in reply to #30271) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
I have a 4 ft SW and a weekender crammed in. my SW is on the drivers side. I have a small sink on the rght, small fridge dinnette and a over head micrwave. The TV stand it on the wall in GN drivers side. its small and simple but works for me. I should think if you really get clever you can fit most of what you need in a 2 ft SW
Posted 2005-09-14 9:03 AM (#30357 - in reply to #30271) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455 Location: Ontario - east of TO
I think you could build a cabinet on the SW with the fridge underneath and the micro on top of it and clothes storage above that. The TV shelf on the GN wall and a simple ladder to get into the GN bed - one built for bunk beds would work great and you could store it on the bed when you are not in bed so it wouldn't be in the way for dressing a such.
You could even have a door covering the micro wave that would fold down (hinges along bottom of door) like a small counter for when you use the microwave. Depending of the size fridge you get you would likely have plenty of room for dry food storage along side the fridge and micro in the cabinet.
Posted 2005-09-15 6:04 AM (#30397 - in reply to #30271) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455 Location: Ontario - east of TO
You would have to insulate and put in a vapor barrier. - but as long at that is done you will not have a problem. It is done all the time in steel and aluminum horse trailers as any LQ (professional or DIY) would have to get the same treatment.
If you use a foam type insulation you only need to tape along the seams and beams as the foam itself is a vapor barrier. Same with the foil bubble wrap. If you used a fiberglass insulation you'd need to use a full vapor barrier plastic or buy the stuff with a built in VB backing.
Posted 2005-09-16 11:39 AM (#30462 - in reply to #30352) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
I'm so glad you asked this question as I am looking at doing the same thing myself, although I'd rather have an indoor shower :) Try a bunk bed ladder to get into the nose and not lose floor space. Microwave cart if made right can hold fridge (mine sits where the bottom doors went), MW on top of cart and TV could sit on ledge above MW. You will need to have TV secured while traveling but works well for me.
Posted 2005-09-18 7:58 AM (#30545 - in reply to #30271) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Member
Posts: 49 Location: Clarksville, Tennessee USA
I am supplying my hubby with all the info furnished and this conversion will be our winter project. We have tried in vain to find a company in the Nashville area that does conversions, but have had no success. We had bought a home done weekender some years back, and it became a nightmare! Paneling started buckling and separating. This made the idea of doing it ourselves a bit disillusioning on a new trailer! The sites with step by step instructions are WONDERFUL.....good for ya'all! There will be lots of questions on down the road, but for now it is measure, plan, and price.
Posted 2005-09-18 12:28 PM (#30556 - in reply to #30354) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Member
Posts: 17
Location: Fort Pierce
Hi,
I just bought a 4' short wall Sooner and would appreciate some floor plan ideas. Short wall is on drivers side and there is no door to the horse area. It already has finished interior walls and A/C so I have a head start.
Posted 2005-09-18 6:06 PM (#30570 - in reply to #30556) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 456 Location: south of Cowtown, TEXAS
Originally written by ztug on 2005-09-18 12:28 PM
Hi,
I just bought a 4' short wall Sooner and would appreciate some floor plan ideas. Short wall is on drivers side and there is no door to the horse area. It already has finished interior walls and A/C so I have a head start.
Thanks
Is the door on the short wall? Click the link below to see my 4' SW
Posted 2005-09-18 11:45 PM (#30594 - in reply to #30560) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Member
Posts: 17
Location: Fort Pierce
Turfa,
Looks like you did a really professional job! Love you web site too. I was thinking something similar or maybe a couch / bed like my R/V or a convertable dinette?
I'll be using it for the kids one day shows and a weekend camping trip with the family (4) and the 4 horses several times a year so extra beds would be handy.
Posted 2005-09-19 9:57 AM (#30603 - in reply to #30271) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Newton, NJ
Turfa, after insulation, how did you attach the plywood walls? I did not see any furring strips in your photos. I also have an aluminum trailer and would prefer to not drill holes in the supports for furring strips. Is there an adhesive that would support the plywood?
Posted 2005-09-19 1:12 PM (#30625 - in reply to #30271) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
So here's a question for the group. Economically does it make sense to do the inside of a 2' shortwall trailer or to "bump up" to one with a larger dressing room? For the most part I really like my trailer and am riding the fence between not spending the money to do an interior that I probably would never get back if I sold it, or buying one enough larger and getting a good used that has at least the wiring done. Thoughts?
Posted 2005-09-19 4:32 PM (#30636 - in reply to #30625) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455 Location: Ontario - east of TO
Originally written by terri s on 2005-09-19 2:12 PM
So here's a question for the group. Economically does it make sense to do the inside of a 2' shortwall trailer or to "bump up" to one with a larger dressing room? For the most part I really like my trailer and am riding the fence between not spending the money to do an interior that I probably would never get back if I sold it, or buying one enough larger and getting a good used that has at least the wiring done. Thoughts?
If you are just looking for a place to sleep you can do it pretty cheap - I don't think I've crossed the $1000 mark yet and I don't have that much left to buy.
Though i have no wiring and no shower or toilet - but it serves our needs just fine - and it's starting to look pretty good too if I do say so myself
Posted 2005-09-19 4:41 PM (#30637 - in reply to #30271) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
Right now I have a mattress in the nose and a porta-potty. Would like to be able to run a fan, make coffee and maybe even watch a few minutes of TV (like there's really time to do THAT at a horse show!) so think I'll need some wiring. I can do this a little at a time, just not really sure how many of my friends I can rope into helping! (I own a screwdriver a hammer and a drill!)
Posted 2005-09-19 6:30 PM (#30639 - in reply to #30271) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Veteran
Posts: 171 Location: Henderson, TN 38340
Capt Tom & Jakey1
Thanks for the compliments, but not all is as great as it seems. Most of the seams in the wall are located behind cabinets Etc. I used screws to attach the plywood and paneling at the top and bottom. The uprights were glued with RTV silicone to dampen squeeks and allow some give for expansion and contraction. The top and bottom of the paneling was then covered by the finished woodwork. This has been partially completed and is not in the pictures on my web site. I did a lot of searching and used all of the sources at my disposal as an engineer to come up with a better way to attach the paneling. 3M has some fantastic foam double sided tape that I wanted to use, but they did not recommend it on wood based products.
Posted 2005-09-19 6:59 PM (#30640 - in reply to #30625) Subject: RE: Weekender conversion
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 524 Location: Lone Oak, Tx
I can say this. The only reason we have the trailer we have now is because our other was stolen from us. It had a 2ft SW and we used the heck out of it and it was very cozy. It was a bit tight but very comfortable. I enjoy the extra room we have in the new trailer but like I said we wouldn't have it if other hadn't been stolen.
Weekender conversion
Has anyone converted a dressing room with a 2 ft. shortwall into a weekender? Looking for ideas on just how to squeese some basic comforts into this limited space. Walk through door limits the interior wall, and the outside door is on the long wall! Not much to work with, but I cannot believe it is impossible. This is a 2002 CM GN, two horse slant load so can't really give up the forward horse space. Any info will be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks WildEquine@peoplepc.com 
