Trailer Questions

[wrenfro12]

After three years of competing with just a small pickup and open trailer....I have finally purchased an enclosed trailer. I got a used trailer from another team that had already done some work to the inside. They mounted a row of kitchen cabinets with a counter along one side. They never put any plumbing or electrical to the trailer.

My questions are many but here are the first things I want to solve...


1) What is the best way to keep these cabinets from opening during transport?

2) Where do I find the electrical hookup supplies?

3) What size would you recommend for a grey water tank?



Now to go search for a real truck....my Ford Ranger will not handle this trailer.

 

[Ron_L]

1) What type of cabinets? You would install a hasp like folks use on shed doors, etc. similar to this...

2) Almost any RV supply place will have electrical parts, plus Amazon has them.

3) As big as you can fit :-D The grey tank on our toy hauler is 40 gallons and it will get about half full at a typical competition.

 

[MikeJ65]

Here is the poor man's approach that I used. The inlet is mounted between frame rails and the extension cord or generator plugs into it. This is a plus on a cargo trailer because you don't normally have a good way to handle a pigtail other than cut a hole in the floor and drop it through.

The breaker panel is small, but you can do 4 circuits with double breakers, which should be enough for most trailers. I just ran 10 ga. from the inlet to the breaker panel and wired everything from there. It doesn't do some things that a typical RV will, like automatically switching from generator to shore power, but it is plenty good for a comp trailer.

Inlet: http://www.menards.com/main/electri...er-with-motor-base-inlet/p-1517610-c-9525.htm

Panel: http://www.menards.com/main/electri...e-4-circuits-load-center/p-1736336-c-6438.htm

 

[cpw]

We bought these for our cabinets: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Hardware-House-64-4567-Contractor-10-Pack/dp/B002BY9JT6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1421249444&sr=8-4&keywords=rv+cabinet+latch&pebp=1421249449249&peasin=B002BY9JT6"]Amazon.com: Hardware House 64-4567 Contractor Pack Roller Catch, Brown, 10-Pack: Home Improvement@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41oDyIhU7zL.@@AMEPARAM@@41oDyIhU7zL[/ame]

Coupled with non skid shelf liners, we haven't had any issues. Look at the child safety section of your local home improvement store, and they'll have plenty of cabinet security devices.

I agree with the other two commenters, check out an RV supply store for anything electrical to figure out what you want to do, then either purchase there or amazon or ebay.

 

[Burnt at Both Endz]

Our cabinets have handles that are back to back, so we use the small ball type bungee strap to keep them from opening.

 

[FlavorSavor]

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Southco-Adjustable-Operated-Compression-Non-Locking/dp/B00GM5ENS2/ref=sr_1_13?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1421262923&sr=1-13"]Southco C2 Series Powder Coated Zinc Alloy Adjustable Lever Hand Operated Compression Latch with Raised Trigger, Non-Locking, 0.20" Thick, 0.91"-1.81" Grip Range, Black: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/418ZzF90Q3L.@@AMEPARAM@@418ZzF90Q3L[/ame]

 

[wrenfro12]

I guess I should be a little more specific about the power question.

How much stuff do you run off of 12v or would it be ok to just wire everything as 120v ( lights and such) ? I know RV's have those 12v distribution systems and batteries but I was just not sure how necessary that was in a 16ft BBQ trailer.

As far as the cabinets go. What I have installed is just inexpensive wood kitchen cabinets. Does anyone use the magnetic locks? and are they strong enough to keep the doors closed ?

 

[mgp03051]

We used this for our power feed..http://www.starmarinedepot.com/mari...zz25408.html?gclid=CLD_zJzClMMCFdgZgQod-qIADQ pics of it here http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=157907

 

[MikeJ65]

I don't see a need to run any 12V power. CFLs and LEDs have very low power consumption and will run easily off a small inverter powered by your truck battery if you need some 'emergency' lights. I ran track lighting so that I can get really good light on the prep table where we do boxes. I run two 150W equivalent daylight CFLs, which is plenty in a 7x12 trailer with white walls and ceiling.

 

[Ron_L]

12V is on most RVs for dry camping (no power). If you are going to have comp provided power or your own generator then there really isn't a need for 12V

 

[Jabber]

You may not need 12 volt power but we get alot of sleep by running our Guru on 12 volt power knowing its not going to go out if the power goes out.

 

[sdbbq1234]

After three years of competing with just a small pickup and open trailer....I have finally purchased an enclosed trailer. I got a used trailer from another team that had already done some work to the inside. They mounted a row of kitchen cabinets with a counter along one side. They never put any plumbing or electrical to the trailer.

My questions are many but here are the first things I want to solve...


1) What is the best way to keep these cabinets from opening during transport?

2) Where do I find the electrical hookup supplies?

3) What size would you recommend for a grey water tank?



Now to go search for a real truck....my Ford Ranger will not handle this trailer.

1 - bungee cord.
2 - hole in the floor and a 25' shore cord (I always carry a 50' extension 30amp cord as well).
3 - as other have mentioned, 40 gallon is the standard on RVs.

wallace(Don)

 

[Smokedelic]

These are cheap and easy to install to keep cabinets and drawers closed during transit....
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Dreambaby-Safety-Catches-12-Count/dp/B003NSAY7U/ref=sr_1_6?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1421337195&sr=1-6"]Amazon.com : Dreambaby Safety Catches, 12 Count : Cabinet Safety Locks : Baby@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41h79TiuG%2BL.@@AMEPARAM@@41h79TiuG%2BL[/ame]
And one of these is an easy way to handle grey water without permanently mounting a gray water tank...
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Tote-N-Stor-25608-Portable-Waste-Transport/dp/B0085KGOIE/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1421337357&sr=1-1&keywords=portable+grey+water+tank+for+rv"]Amazon.com: Tote-N-Stor 25608 Portable Waste Transport - 25 Gallon Capacity: Automotive@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41xhY2DvmNL.@@AMEPARAM@@41xhY2DvmNL[/ame]

 

[Smokin Mike]

We bought these for our cabinets: Amazon.com: Hardware House 64-4567 Contractor Pack Roller Catch, Brown, 10-Pack: Home Improvement

Coupled with non skid shelf liners, we haven't had any issues. Look at the child safety section of your local home improvement store, and they'll have plenty of cabinet security devices.

I agree with the other two commenters, check out an RV supply store for anything electrical to figure out what you want to do, then either purchase there or amazon or ebay.

This^^

It works well

 

[J&B'sBBQ]

I guess I should be a little more specific about the power question.

How much stuff do you run off of 12v or would it be ok to just wire everything as 120v ( lights and such) ? I know RV's have those 12v distribution systems and batteries but I was just not sure how necessary that was in a 16ft BBQ trailer.

As far as the cabinets go. What I have installed is just inexpensive wood kitchen cabinets. Does anyone use the magnetic locks? and are they strong enough to keep the doors closed ?

We have the magnetic ones in our home from when my daughter was an infant, and you will not open that cabinet without a magnet on the outside of the door *unless something shifts and hits the release button*. We still use them on our bottom cabinet that has cleaners and such, and five years later they still work perfectly.

 

[HookedonSmoke]

You may not need 12 volt power but we get alot of sleep by running our Guru on 12 volt power knowing its not going to go out if the power goes out.

Exactly what he said...if you are running a device like that, 12V is a must IMO

 

[wrenfro12]

One more question for those that roll out your smoker and cook on the ramp...

What is the best coating to put on the wood floor? This is specifically for the ramp and not the inside of the trailer. I want to accomplish a few things with this. I want to protect it from weather, keep it from becoming slick or slippery and make a little more flame/burn resistant.

 

[cpw]

One more question for those that roll out your smoker and cook on the ramp...

What is the best coating to put on the wood floor? This is specifically for the ramp and not the inside of the trailer. I want to accomplish a few things with this. I want to protect it from weather, keep it from becoming slick or slippery and make a little more flame/burn resistant.

We bought spray on bed liner for ours, and it works pretty well. The only real issue is grease and gunk doesn't come off without scrubbing. I've seen a lot of people with aluminum diamond plate, and that seems to work well.