CARGO TRAILER CAMPER CONVERSION BUILD PART 2

[@FernTheCamper]

I am in love with that solar rack. LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I'm tempted to put a solar on the top of our Ford (we have a 100 watt already on the HC1) but keep changing my mind if I shouldn't get a storage rack instead. Renogy has been really good for our HC1, you've def chosen well there. Looking forward to seeing the final conversion :-)

[@explorer867]

Thank you Fern for your input on the Renogy solar panels. I did lots of looking around at solar equipment and settled on Renogy as the best equipment for the dollar spent. The roof rack is top end quality and I'm very happy with it. Adding the angle aluminum works great but does add $80.00 + $15.00 hardware to the equation. Well worth it. Thank you for watching our video and have a great day.

[@jamesbradford2564]

thing of going the cargo van route so I am watching all your posts :]

[@explorer867]

That's a good way to go for sure James. Thanks for watching my videos and please give a thumbs up and subscribe. Have a good weekend

[@Robinson-Homestead]

Thanks great video and nice setup I need to get mine on to that will work.

[@explorer867]

This is a great setup. Very solid racking system. As we're back in the snow and cold weather this week's video won't feature the finished setup as it's to cold in the shop to seal the mounting brackets to the roof. This week's video will be how to use Mylar food storage bags for long term food storage. Have a great day Kevin.

[@Robinson-Homestead]

@@explorer867 thanks you do great videos my friend.

[@Skyhawks1979]

I like the detail that you are providing on your build. It helps a lot.

[@explorer867]

Its been a fun project.

[@MySliceOfHeavenoutdoors]

very nice set up, that buck at the end was huge

[@explorer867]

Yes the buck was nice size. When I took that picture he was 15 feet away. Fun times. Have a great day

[@gonagain]

That's the strongest mount I've ever seen!

[@explorer867]

Yes, its strong for sure. The mount is all aluminum so its very strong and lightweight. It bolts to the trailer roof structure with 8 bolts and the solar PV's are bolted with 4 bolts in each panel. Lets just say they're not going anywhere LOL.

[@TheHondaxr200]

Fantastic Video!

[@explorer867]

Thank you Jdub137. Thank you for watching our channel and for leaving your comment. Have a great week.

[@Helmarasmr]

Great upload! Thumbs up

[@explorer867]

Sorry its taken so long for me to respond but somehow your comment ended up in the spam file. Thank you for watching the video and leaving your comment. Hope to see you again soon.

[@MelinWisconsin]

“Get our and enjoy it!” We all need that reminder once and awhile. Thanks guy!

[@explorer867]

Thank you for watching our video and leaving your comment. That's so true we all need a reminder to get out and spend time in the bush. Take care and have a great day.

[@MelinWisconsin]

Explorer 867 you as well! Take care guy!

[@HoneyandMe]

Awesome set up!👍

[@explorer867]

Honey and me, This is a fun project and we'll benefit from the solar power too. 😊 I'm sure your weather up your way is improving like area is. I have spring fever so bad lol. Have a great weekend.

[@HoneyandMe]

Explorer 867 We’re in Texas at the moment, doing our annual snowbird trip, waiting for the 3 feet of snow that was on our driveway to melt😋

[@explorer867]

@@HoneyandMe That's a good thing lol. Glad you guys got away from the cold. Our snow as you noticed in the last video is all but gone here at the 4250 foot elevation, but mountains still have plenty. Have a great weekend.

[@HoneyandMe]

Explorer 867 The snow at our house sticks around through March and into April. I’ve been known to remove the last piles of it from my garden so it can get a start😋But we are southern exposed, so the driveway clears off in March.

[@jamesnelson167]

I like your trailer. I am looking at a used 6X10 EZ Hauler. I am trying to find info on how to ground a breaker box to the aluminum frame. I want to install a exhaust fan in the roof and some electrical outlets. I would probably stay in campgrounds.

[@explorer867]

James, have fun with your trailer. Thank you for watching my video and check out my other videos. Please subscribe, give thumbs up, and let others know about our channel. Have a great day.

[@LosvideosdeGustavo2025]

Good video Sir

[@explorer867]

Thank you for watching. Please like, subscribe, and let others know about our channel. Have a great week.

[@jamesnelson167]

@@explorer867 So I have not seen any videos on the inside set up of your solar panel on the cargo trailer. Question. Do you have the power system grounded? May be a dumb question but how did you ground to a aluminum trailer ?

[@explorer867]

@@jamesnelson167 what I did for my trailer is ground system to battery. I would recommend that you contact a professional solar installer to ask that question. Have fun with your project.

[@BluWaveOdyssey]

That's an awesome solar set-up you have going on there. I like this. Solar is something I want to add to our trailer as well. 400 watts should be plenty too. Thanks for the sharing this video!

[@explorer867]

Hi BluWave good to hear from you. Thank you for watching our video. The trailer/camper project is moving along at my pace Lol. Keeping it fun and not work. Working with Renogy has been a pleasure with the purchase and delivery painless. I ordered the 400 watt premium package. They had a sale last month so keep an eye out as they do this from time to time on some of the Renogy product. I'm thinking we will go with the Battle Born 100AH Lithium battery. These are the best bang for the buck with a top end BMS and that means everything when it come to safety, reliability, and longevity. The BMS will shut the battery off if it identifies unsafe operating conditions and regulates how much power you can take out of the battery. I know TMI Lol. As I said earlier great to hear from you both and take care.

[@DreamingOutloudRVing]

Awesome solar set up! We love watching custom build projects keep it coming!! Thanks for sharing!

[@explorer867]

Will do. Thank you for watching and commenting. Have a great weekend

[@NinthElement]

Hi neighbor. This build is sounding VERY fancy. Thank you for taking us through step by step and your thoughts regarding each step. Critical thinking around the logistics of your build is helpful for us to know. Great video. Cheers!

[@explorer867]

Glad your enjoying the build. The solar project is fun . Have a great weekend.

[@Toonstead]

Happy st.patricks day!!! For some reason KZbin stopped showing is when you have a new video. I rerung the bell!

[@explorer867]

I have a feeling KZbin has done that to a bunch of my Subscribers. Thanks for getting back to me Jim, have a great day

[@wildernessone6558]

Very nice 👌 👍👌😊 I love the pictures at the end of your video too!

[@explorer867]

Thank you for watching and glad you liked the pictures at the end of the video. Have a great day

[@SmallSpaceLiving]

Wow man you hot that looking amazing. I am I think going to go with Rengery panels as well.

[@explorer867]

Purchasing the solar package from Renogy was painless. The panels look to be made well as does the mppt 40 amp charge controller and the other supplies that came with the kit. They had a sale on there kits last month and was a good time to purchase. Keep your eyes peeled for there sales. Thank you for watching subscribing and your comments. Have a great weekend.

[@TwoSleepyRavens]

That is straight up amazing. I love it. Thank you for sharing. I learned a lot.

[@explorer867]

Your welcome. Glad you visited the channels and learned something too 🤠 Have a great weekend.

[@bikeninja956]

thanks for sharing, super nice build out....so a few questions, I apologize if you have answered them already... 1. What height of vantech racks did you order, I notice they have "standard" and "high" versions. Do you feel you have enough room underneath these to pass your hand for cleaning purposes. 2. why go with "top mount" vantech mounts as opposed the "side mount" versions? and are you bolting into studs or just the sheet metal, I imagine these need to be bolted down well as the panels act as big spoilers while going down the highway. 3. How are the panels fastened to the L brackets? are you screwing them in from underneath?

[@explorer867]

These are the standard height racks and yes you can clean under them easily. Watch the video again as I do answer the questions your asking about. Have a great day

[@bikeninja956]

@@explorer867 I've watched all 9:51 minutes and you didn't answer the specific questions I'm asking about...please try to answer them(Questions 2 and 3) if you can. I would appreciate it. Thanks.

[@explorer867]

@@bikeninja956 Bike Ninja, I'm sorry you are correct. I did a take off on the mounting holes on the back of each panel and drilled corresponding holes on the aluminum rails then using the mounting hardware from renogy bolted panels to the rails. The other question you were asking regarding mounting of Vantech rack I answered in the Cargo trailer camper conversion build part 3 video. In this video I show where and how they are mounted to trailer. The top mount was a cleaner mount for my application. Thank you for asking your questions and if you have any other questions please ask. Please Like and Subscribe to my channel. Have a great day

[@bikeninja956]

@@explorer867 no worries :) Really appreciate the info. It's about what I thought, you screw them from underneath...tough call whether to go top or side mount for the vantech brackets...I'm thinking side mount maybe, just less chance of leaks...but not sure... Cheers.

[@HappyPlaceCamping]

We've considered solar and then decided not to do it at this time or maybe ever. We just aren't sure it's something we want to do. But I like the rack you added to the roof. Will keep that in mind just in case.

[@explorer867]

Solar is expensive for sure. It's great for us as we're usually off-grid camping so no shore power. If your in improved campgrounds really you don't need it. Thank you for watching the channel and for leaving your comments. Have a great day

[@rongreen7308]

I just subscribed. I see you did the solar panels a few years ago. How are the panels working for you? I am curious how well the eternabond tape help up. I seen somebody else have tape not do very well on their flexible panel.

[@explorer867]

Thank you for subscribing. The solar panels are working out very well. Only maintenance is keeping them clean so they produce to capacity. The eternabond tape is working out very well. After applying the tape I used self leveling seam sealer on the edges. This said preparation is everything. Make sure you use 120 grit sandpaper to rough up surface area then clean area with rubbing alcohol. Have fun with your project🤠 Let others know about our channel on your social media please.

[@oscarmike4596]

Thanks for the video. I wish you had done a video on the application of the Eterna-bond. Did remove the flashing stuff from the manufacturer or apply it on top?

[@explorer867]

Yes I removed the manufacturers tape lightly sanded area with 120 grit sandpaper then cleaned up the area with rubbing alcohol. The Eterna-Bond tape really sticks so lay it out a foot at a time. Take care and have a good week.

[@kingair350]

where did you get the rack

[@explorer867]

I ordered it from VanTech out of Brooklyn NY. WWW.VANTECH.US Have fun with your project.

[@davetoms63]

What can you really expect out of 300 watt panels? The cost of these setups dont seem to give you much for the money. Generator and gas will charge a battery way cheaper

[@explorer867]

David, Thank you for your point of view. I guess it's all relative to your power needs. This works well for now and as I need more power I have another 100watt panel that can be applied to the system with 290 watts on the pickup camper canopy. All this said if need be I do have a Yamaha generator. Thanks for watching

[@davetoms63]

@@explorer867 It was a serious question. I'm looking into solar, but the cost, and fact it cant keep up with A/c has me thinking twice. I'm putting together a 7x16 trailer and power is my sticking point. Really leaning towards a Honda EI 3000 and a couple 100 amp hour lithiums

[@explorer867]

@@davetoms63 I think if you plan on running a AC unit then solar may not be the best choice for your needs. Solar isn't the least expensive way to go but what I enjoy about it is that it's a quiet alternative. Like I said I do have a Yamaha generator also but as I'm not running an AC unit or other high wattage appliances I'm good with the solar. Please give a Thumbs Up, Subscribe and tell others about our channel on social media. Have a good rest of your week.