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The Moonshine Motel - Enclosed Gooseneck "Crawler Hauler" Build
- Thread starter GLTHFJ60
- Start date
GLTHFJ60
Stupid is as stupid does
Yeah, it went well. Figuring out the inverter over drawing the batteries was a bit of a learning curve, but it was a ton of relief when we figured it out and were able to cool off. It was upper 90s for most of the week 
ridered3
Low Talent Wheelin
Yeah the temps were rough this week. We were camping at Adventure Offroad Park in South Pittsburgh, TN for the Ultra4 races.Yeah, it went well. Figuring out the inverter over drawing the batteries was a bit of a learning curve, but it was a ton of relief when we figured it out and were able to cool off. It was upper 90s for most of the week
GLTHFJ60
Stupid is as stupid does
Do you run your Ac throughout the day or just at night? I'm finding mine won't keep up during the day, but when there isn't sun on the trailer it'll cool off just fine. Tropicool on the roof will help with that a lot I bet, just haven't gotten there yet.
Firstram
Well-known member
Glad to see you’re hard work has paid off!
You’ll get the smaller details sorted as you go.
You’ll get the smaller details sorted as you go.
ridered3
Low Talent Wheelin
Mine doesn’t have a thermostat so I leave mine on all day on Medium cool and at night on Low cool when I have full hookups. Generally I’ll do Low cool all day and night when on generator power if the outside temp is hot or we plan to be in/out of the trailer a bunch.
Mine is good for 20* below ambient temp. So when it’s 95 outside it’s 75 inside the trailer. A house at 75 sounds miserable but feels amazing in such small square footage.
GLTHFJ60
Stupid is as stupid does
Good feedback, I feel like I remember you telling me that 20* rule before.
I keep my house between 78 in the day and 76-75 at night, so 75 sounds wonderful, lol
aczlan
Good Morning!
Any chance your inverter has either GFCI or AFCI on the circuit?
I could see a grinder tripping one of those, perhaps try something else with a similar heavy load such as a circular saw or a different grinder?
Aaron Z
CarolinaCrawler
Active member
- Joined
- May 27, 2020
- Member Number
- 1564
- Messages
- 43
I know you already have ac, but in my conversion I'm installing a mini split. I really like the idea of one of these in a camper. VFD starts on the compressor to make gennys happy, low amp draw and no surges, also have a heat pump. My trailer is a 34' but not as tall as yours and I'll be installing a 12k btu unit. I was on the fence about doing 2 9k units instead, one in the neck and one further back in the trailer, but I think one 12k should work.
GLTHFJ60
Stupid is as stupid does
The same grinders (three cause the issue on the one exterior outlet) do not cause the issue on the two other outlets in the trailer. All of them go through the inverter. No GFCI or AFCI as far as I know. I need to dig into it a bit more.
aczlan
Good Morning!
Interesting, I would probably disconnect the wire going to that outlet at the panel and stick a meter across it to see if there's any continuity from one wire to the other.
Aaron Z
ridered3
Low Talent Wheelin
The 20* is more just an unscientific observation for the old ac units that don’t have a thermostat. No idea if that’s true for newer ac units though.
With the exception of this past weekend (the little fella was with us), we could really get away just turning the ac on around 4-5ish and it would be fine by bedtime. But full hookups this past weekend and hot temps equaled the ac running from 5pm Thursday to 11am Sunday.
Snowy
Well-known member
I have a Carrier AirV 13.5k unit on my trailer and it absolutely kicked ass all week in the heat at Hot Springs this week. Pretty much stayed on straight through in 90-95* heat every day and it kept the trailer at 70-75 no problem. I never had the thermostat set at full cold either. I do have a wall at 17’ in the main box so it does reduce the area needed to cool down to 23’.
ridered3
Low Talent Wheelin
Got any updates to the Motel?
GLTHFJ60
Stupid is as stupid does
Nope, just been using it. Thought I fried a cell in my LiFePO4 battery array but it turns out they were just way, way, out of balance.
Going on another trip next week with it. Bought a $15 toaster oven to improve my cooking capabilities, lol.
GLTHFJ60
Stupid is as stupid does
The blackfish fab outlaw shower is tits man. It's so fuckin nice to have a shower in the trailer.
Probably even better is the nature's head toilet I installed earlier this year. Being able to roll out of bed and take a leak, and or a shit, is clutch as fuck. No smells either with the vent. 11/10.
Probably even better is the nature's head toilet I installed earlier this year. Being able to roll out of bed and take a leak, and or a shit, is clutch as fuck. No smells either with the vent. 11/10.
Java230
???
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2020
- Member Number
- 2303
- Messages
- 1,265
Should have stepped up to a toaster oven
Java230
???
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2020
- Member Number
- 2303
- Messages
- 1,265
I did the pee bottle delete mod. Worth it. Nature's head parts are a little chinsey, but works I guess.
ridered3
Low Talent Wheelin
That’s great all around in getting use out of it. My enclosed hasn’t moved since mid-June :(
GLTHFJ60
Stupid is as stupid does
Ive thought about doing that, but don't have a good path back to the Grey water tank from where it's mounted.
For the frequency I use it, I don't mind having to empty the bottle. Diluted vinegar spray keeps the urea smell away.
GLTHFJ60
Stupid is as stupid does
Chidrens will do that!! Have any plans for fall/winter trips?
Java230
???
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2020
- Member Number
- 2303
- Messages
- 1,265
No no, you drill a hole in the floor
ridered3
Low Talent Wheelin
That they will. He’s at a fun age (18 months) so will be able to bring him along soon enough. We’ve also been trying to reclaim/cleanup some family land so have been getting woods time without rock crawlers which is a different type of fun.
Was supposed to have been at Harlan first weekend in October but that fell through. Maybe a day trip leaf looking at Windrock next weekend and the usual trip to Hawk Pride over Thanksgiving but nothing on the books other than those.
GLTHFJ60
Stupid is as stupid does
Half an update?
Another long weekend in the books. Batteries were great. Toaster oven is a game changer. Needed to charge the batteries up the third night, but the diesel genny made quick work of it. About two hours gave me 50ah.
For heat, a single medium size buddy heater on high kept it easily 30* warmer than ambient temp, which was ideal. This will only improve as I add/finish the insulation plan.
The led strip lights and interior puck lights are fuckin killer.
It needs a sound system something fierce though.
I fuckin love this thing. Had two guys sleeping on cots in the "garage" to escape the cold. They loved it too, lol.
Another long weekend in the books. Batteries were great. Toaster oven is a game changer. Needed to charge the batteries up the third night, but the diesel genny made quick work of it. About two hours gave me 50ah.
For heat, a single medium size buddy heater on high kept it easily 30* warmer than ambient temp, which was ideal. This will only improve as I add/finish the insulation plan.
The led strip lights and interior puck lights are fuckin killer.
It needs a sound system something fierce though.
I fuckin love this thing. Had two guys sleeping on cots in the "garage" to escape the cold. They loved it too, lol.
ridered3
Low Talent Wheelin
Great half update and glad you are happy with the trailer. Remind me, does your roof top ac have a heat strip in it as well?
blthomas
Rusty junk hunter
Running that buddy heater, did you do any venting? I'm borrowing a enclosed trailer in 2 weeks, I have a buddy heater I'd like to run, but was concerned about co2 and condensation. Thanks
GLTHFJ60
Stupid is as stupid does
It does! Used it while running the genny to recharge the batteries the third night. Heat strip takes the chill out, but doesn't really heat well.
I closed the roof vents, kept everything closed until we went to bed, when I cracked one of the goose windows. No concerns with either co2, co, or condensation in the motel, but eventually I will put a co monitor in.
ridered3
Low Talent Wheelin
That’s been my experience with the heat strip too. Above 45* ambient and its a hot box sauna on top of the gooseneck but low 60* inside the trailer on the floor/living area. Below 40* ambient and it’s just blowing cold air all over.
We have a cheap Smoke/CO2 mounted on the wall to make sure we don’t wake up dead when using non-roof heat and crack the roof vent or bathroom vent to let some mixed air out too.
blthomas
Rusty junk hunter
I don't use my FB account for much, but searching cargo trailer conversions, seems like there is lots of concerns. Figured I'd ask, my plan was to crack two windows, one ford, one aft. Thanks for your input, actual experience is good info.