Trailer workshop ideas?

[tomsteve]

when it comes to any form/size of shop, i have never heard someone say," i wish i put less lights in it."

 

[dwightr]

Spare tire
Jack
Lug wrench
Spare wheel bearings
100 miles from home on Sunday night is a bad time to realize you don’t have these things

 

[Red7Fifty]

Folding Drop Down Benches, Tables, Windows......all RV/Trailer related parts available here:
https://www.mirageinc.com/

 

[SMR]

Folding Drop Down Benches, Tables, Windows......all RV/Trailer related parts available here:
https://www.mirageinc.com/

Good reference source. Thanks. Bookmarked it for follow-up needs.

 

[SMR]

Spare tire
Jack
Lug wrench
Spare wheel bearings
100 miles from home on Sunday night is a bad time to realize you don’t have these things

Oh, man! Hope you made it home safe.

 

[RFMan]

when it comes to any form/size of shop, i have never heard someone say," i wish i put less lights in it."

The older one gets, the truer this becomes...

 

[rocketman328]

Thanks. All great ideas. I agree, the lighting in the trailer isn't the best to work with. Better at the rear near the ramp, not so good in the vee-nose front where I want to put this. Maybe a light under some overhead cabinets, directly over the workbench surface. The lights would probably have to be 12V, tapped off the tow vehicle or one of my 12V pad batteries not being used.

:smile:

For lighting, I would probably go with LED shop lights, get a small generator to power the lights, maybe a small electric heater for those winter launches, fans or AC for summer.

 

[58pan]

For lighting and fans I would look at RV 12v equipment and mount a RV battery outside by the tongue.
Long slow draws are hard on auto battery's and sooner or later you will leave a light on and kill it.

 

[John Kemker]

For lighting, I would probably go with LED shop lights, get a small generator to power the lights, maybe a small electric heater for those winter launches, fans or AC for summer.

For lighting and fans I would look at RV 12v equipment and mount a RV battery outside by the tongue.
Long slow draws are hard on auto battery's and sooner or later you will leave a light on and kill it.

I would go with a combination of these two:
1) 12V RV lighting and fans
2) RV battery on tongue of trailer
3) RV 12V charging system
4) Small generator for when 120VAC is not available.

 

[Donnager]

If you need modular track tie downs, straps, etc, This place is good to go to, although most of their stuff is on the larger size, and it can be a little pricey.

 

[ep29030]

For lighting and fans I would look at RV 12v equipment and mount a RV battery outside by the tongue.
Long slow draws are hard on auto battery's and sooner or later you will leave a light on and kill it.

They do have battery enclosures at Menard's.

 

[ep29030]

LIghting:I've been using a 14ft long strip of white LEDs. Use about 200mA of current on a 12V battery and pretty bright as well. If you would paint your walls white to reflect light around, the lighting becomes softer, and overall more useful.

 

[jadebox]

LIghting:I've been using a 14ft long strip of white LEDs. Use about 200mA of current on a 12V battery and pretty bright as well. If you would paint your walls white to reflect light around, the lighting becomes softer, and overall more useful.

I used strips of LEDs in our trailer. I like this technique for a few reasons.

They don't draw much current. I accidentally left the lights once when locking the trailer and they were still on when I reopened it a week later.

Even if they aren't very bright, they cover a large area without shadows. I put the strips across the roof every foot or so. So they illuminate the whole inside of the trailer and I can move around in the trailer without casting much of a shadow on things I am looking for.

Also they weren't very expensive and were easy to wire into my 12V system.

-- Roger

 

[58pan]

I used strips of LEDs in our trailer. I like this technique for a few reasons.

They don't draw much current. I accidentally left the lights once when locking the trailer and they were still on when I reopened it a week later.

I used strip LED's to light up my gun cabinet, never thought of using them in my little trailer. I'll have to get me some more.

 

[SCooke123]

Nice trailer so far --- making it multi-use really makes it that much better!

 

[SMR]

I would go with a combination of these two:
1) 12V RV lighting and fans
2) RV battery on tongue of trailer
3) RV 12V charging system
4) Small generator for when 120VAC is not available.

That is where I am headed. My SUV went to the west coast with my daughter in October, and I got a Savana cargo van to replace it as a tow vehicle. Planning a modest RV conversion for it, with solar panels on top and LiFePO4 house batteries. Might be easiest to run a cord from the van system to the trailer for lighting, fan, and audio rather than have dedicated power source in the trailer.

 

[Zonie]

I was gonna make one out of an old tent trailer. Use the slide out beds for big rocket tables, put a rollaway tool box, work bench, and a rolling desk chair. Probably keep one side as a tent so I could bunk in it too. Bought the trailer, but then got a travel trailer and couldn't pull two, so sold it.

 

[SMR]

Bought the trailer, but then got a travel trailer and couldn't pull two, so sold it.

Bummer. One of the criteria I had for my trailer launch pad was that it had to fit INSIDE my rocketry trailer to avoid just that, "the one or the other scenario".

But, I bet it is nice having a travel trailer. I am still stuck with hotels, though at some point in the future I plan a van conversion for those weekend launches.

 

[Zonie]

Bummer. One of the criteria I had for my trailer launch pad was that it had to fit INSIDE my rocketry trailer to avoid just that, "the one or the other scenario".

But, I bet it is nice having a travel trailer. I am still stuck with hotels, though at some point in the future I plan a van conversion for those weekend launches.

Well, I graduated to a class A diesel pusher, so now, it seems, I can pull a trailer again...
Careful getting an RV, they become a new (and expensive) hobby.

 

[SMR]

Careful getting an RV, they become a new (and expensive) hobby.

Oh, I am sure! My sister has a Winnebago, loves it in her yard but mileage issues means it doesn't get driven far. My plan is just to put a bed in a cargo van, with some wiring (solar) and storage for the occasional hobby road trip, not full time living. Already have the van, so expect the conversion to pay for itself in time by avoiding hotels and campgrounds. I had a hippie van in the 80's, loved the convenience.

 

[g.pitts]

Well, I graduated to a class A diesel pusher, so now, it seems, I can pull a trailer again...
Careful getting an RV, they become a new (and expensive) hobby.

So why is it I hadn't given a second thought about an RV until I read your post, and now I can't get the idea out of my head. This is entirely YOUR fault if I end up buying one!

 

[OverTheTop]

There is some information here on one that Krusty put together a while back:
https://forum.ausrocketry.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=3447
Although it is a van, you might find something useful if you peruse.

 

[SMR]

Although it is a van, you might find something useful if you peruse.

Thanks for the link. All information is good information. I may post a picture or two as I get into it, but my van conversion will most likely be on the van conversion forum. The trailer and van do tie together, however, as the trailer will have a power umbilical from the van house battery bank. Currently planning 4 x 100 Ah BattleBorn LiFePO4 with 600 watts of solar on the roof. Like Rocsim, there is software to complete your conversion in the virtual world before doing actual work. All I have completed so far is a rear door ladder and powered roof vent. Fortunately, I retired 1 Jun and suddenly have lots of time.