Cargo Trailer Conversion Build Episode #2 - Subflooring, MaxxAir Fan Installation, Ceiling Install

[@davidvanvalkenburg8731]

Awesome video guys. I have learned a lot from watching this. Here shortly I am getting a trailer and also going to upgrade it to be a barbecue competition trailer.

[@seannfawnc2282]

I hope you take us along with you on your adventures in the tiny home

[@venture.explore.discover]

Just subscribed and hoping you post more build videos soon… I’m planning on building a small cargo trailer conversion that my small Jeep can tow and your content is very useful and entertaining!

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hey there fellow explorer! Thanks for subscribing and watching our videos! Congrats on your future build! We've seen Jeeps tow 5x10s and that's perfect for adventuring! 🏔 Let us know if you have any questions when you do your build! Episode 3 is now posted - make sure to hit the notifications button so you don't miss our future episodes! - Maranda & James

[@tonywtc]

Hey, Im really looking forward to the next episode, I hope you guys are able to put it up soon! Good work. I hope you also plan to make a video at the end of the build to talk about things you would do next time if you had to do it again.

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hey there Tonywtc! Episode 3 is now posted kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2TJlHaer7qjsMU and episode 4 is coming soon! Make sure to hit the notifications button so you don't miss our future episodes! That is a great idea and we definitely will be making a video of the top 10 things we'd do differently if we could do it again! We could definitely fill a list of 10 things lol Thanks for watching and let us know if you have any questions! - Maranda & James

[@stevel1733]

Great job guys! A small tip. When using the hole saw drill the pilot hole then reverse the drill for the initial start. This will minimize tearout if not alleviate it all together. Just a small fyi.

[@Pulverado]

I appreciate all the extra effort it takes to record and edit the process. I’m soon to be taking it on solo. Desperately awaiting more of the build. As well as things you would have done differently, in hindsight. Thanks, P

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hi there Pulverado! Thank you for the kind recognition of the recording & editing process. It definitely isn't easy 🥴 Congrats on your upcoming build! Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! Episode 3 is now posted kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2TJlHaer7qjsMU Make sure to hit the notification button so you don't miss any future episodes! We'll be making a video of the top 10 things we would do differently if we could! Thanks for watching! - Maranda & James

[@CarlosHernandez-kt4ej]

In all my projects arround the house, always my wife is working with me. That's the best. TEAM WORK. Good job guys.

[@kirstenstrobel4387]

“Measure 20 times, cut once.” Words to live by! Like that you are talking things out as you are working and that you *both* are using the tools. It’s looking good!

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Thank you! James was so patient teaching me to use the tools and although I was nervous at first, I’m glad I got to learn how to use them!

[@peakoffroad]

Currently doing a cargo trailer conversion to live in whenever I'm traveling for work. I appreciate the info and detail in your videos!

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hey Peakoffroad! Thanks for watching our videos and we're happy to help in any way! Congrats on the cargo trailer conversion! It's super helpful when having to travel for work. We'd love to see your build when it's complete! 🎉 Let us know if you have any questions. Episode 3 is now posted and episode 4 coming soon! kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2TJlHaer7qjsMU Make sure to hit the notifications button so you don't miss future episodes! Thanks! - Maranda & James

[@alanosborne1947]

I agree with Sheltdog8463 except I would use Crazy Seal to cover your whole roof. I noticed you have the typical cargo trailer roof using an alumasteel material and it was put on in sections instead of one solid piece from front to back. You have the potential for roof leaks at every joint. The Crazy Seal will seal any joints protect your roof for up to 50 years and reflect heat and cold. I'm also wondering why you put a Maxair vent in unless you're installing window in a future vlog. Good luck nice build so far!!

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hi Alanosborne1947! Good catch on our roof being in sections. We used FlexSeal and lap sealant to seal the joints! We're confident it will hold up but maybe on a future build we could totally use Crazy Seal so thank you for the tip! Episode 3 is now posted and it actually contains our window install! lol Check it out kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2TJlHaer7qjsMU Make sure to hit the notifications button so you don't miss our future episodes! Thank you for watching! - Maranda & James

[@billstoys8324]

This is the BEST video series on how to build a camping trailer. Great work. The only thing that I would have done differently is put the max air fan where you put the skylight and that way you would not have had to cut an extra hole in your roof. Looking forward to your next video.

[@thehomesteadpastor1234]

Great Video guys. Any updates on future videos?

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hey there! Thank you so much for checking in on us! We had some personal/medical issues that prevented us from being able to post our episodes. But good news! We're back in full swing and episode 3 is now posted! 🥳 Episode 4 is coming soon. Don't forget to hit the notifications button so you don't miss future episodes! Thanks! - Maranda & James

[@lewislewis8350]

Really enjoyed your video. We are going to incorporate some of your ideas into our current build (7x14 cargo trailer). Nice job y'all.

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hey there LewisLewis8350! Thanks for watching and the super kind comment! That means a lot to us that you're incorporating some of our ideas! 🙏🏻 Let us know if you have any questions. Episode 3 is now posted and episode 4 is coming soon! 🥳kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2TJlHaer7qjsMU Make sure you hit the notifications button so you don't miss our future episodes! Thank you again! - Maranda & James

[@adamrahim1993]

Appreciate the video and great details! Another episode coming soon?

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hi there Adam! Thank you for watching our channel! Episode 3 is now posted - here's the link for you to check it out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2TJlHaer7qjsMU Make sure you hit the notifications button so you don't miss our future episodes that are coming soon! - Maranda & James

[@peterkaks4395]

Am starting on a double horse gooseneck trailer conversion and this is inspiring watching you getting it done your way !! Kudos guys

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hey Peterkaks4395! Congrats on your gooseneck conversion!!!! That's awesome! 🥳 We'd love to see your build when it's complete! Let us know if you have any questions. Episode 3 is now posted if you'd like to check it out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2TJlHaer7qjsMU Make sure to hit the notifications button so you don't miss future episodes! Thank you for watching! - Maranda & James

[@dontgetgaslighteddontgetga1675]

Love the way you guys actually explain everything more videos please!

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hey there - we truly appreciate the kind words! We had such a hard time finding resources so we wanted to be as thorough as possible. Let us know if you have any questions. 👍🏼 There will definitely be more episodes soon. 🎉 Thank you!

[@patrickgosselin9756]

I appreciate the attitude of doing things right even if its a PITA. Nice work all around and thanks for the great vid!

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hi Patrick! Totally agree - even when it’s a PITA, it’s crucial (especially for the bank account) to do things right the first time. Thank you for watching! We’ve got many episodes coming soon so stayed tuned and let us know if you have any questions. 🎉

[@7thwards408]

Hey James you and your companion I know I'm looking at your build it's been 8 months ago since y'all did this job but I'm a carpenter 40 years in it's just always something about that cutting that hole in the top of anything so good and glad everything worked out for you have a happy cargo vaning

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hey there, You are absolutely right on that! The first hole was the scariest - and heck, it didn't get any easier with each hole. LOL. We're glad we did it right the first time. We sure do admire a tradesman like yourself with true experience & knowledge! Thanks for watching! We appreciate the kind comment! - Maranda & James

[@HuntrPat]

Had a question concerning insulation reflective side in or outside. Got my answer corrected. Good job to the both of you.

[@donaldperkins6148]

Awesome I have really been thinking about doing this you have inspired me so I think I will do it this summer little by little . love how two done this . by far the best.

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hi Donald! Thank you for your kind compliment! You should totally do a build if you can/want to!! We believe anyone can do it as long as they do the research/planning beforehand! Let us know if you have any questions when you begin your build journey! Episode 3 is now posted if you'd like to check it out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2TJlHaer7qjsMU Thanks for watching! - Maranda & James

[@wrxs1781]

Well done "team".

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Thank you!!

[@jordanaskew8824]

I need this electrical video lol

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hi there Jordan! Electrical video is coming soon, I promise! Do you have any questions that we can answer before the episode is posted in the future? Thank you for watching! - Maranda & James

[@woody22660]

Nice job so far. A bit over kill on the sub floor, but as long as you like it. 😉 That thing is definitely going to be insulated well.

[@robert-l2s6e]

I am enjoying the build and it appears to be well thought out and very well built, my only concern would be GVW after build and how much room for additional travel weight?

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hi there, Thanks for watching! Great points you have. Our 7x16 is a double axel that's rated for 7,000lbs. Empty it was 2,200lbs. After our build was completed, we weighed in at about 5,500lbs fully loaded with water and all belongings. We were pretty conscious of the total weight throughout the build and tried to use lightweight material where it made sense. We've got new episodes coming soon, don't forget to subscribe! 🥳 Thank you! - Maranda & James

[@bryancherry9253]

enjoying watching you two build this out. Did you consider filing the square tubing with expanding foam when you did the insulation?

[@tracysanzone9146]

Unbelievable! I keep waiting for contractors, somebody else but geez you two really did this all yourselves. I loved seeing more of your personalities and how you just figure stuff out. When will we learn more about your overall budget? Can't wait to keep watching!

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Thank you! We will definitely be going over the budget in future episodes. We plan to be honest and transparent about where we succeeded and where we didn’t and our budget was unfortunately the toughest area. Thank you for watching!

[@mikesanzone9452]

Wow you guys covered a lot in this episode!! Great content and commentary. I think I could do it now after watching this. What's up next?

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Thank you for watching! Anyone who has the desire to can absolutely do it! We’ve got many more episodes to come so we hope you tune in and keep watching. Let us know if you have any questions- we’re happy to help! Thank you!

[@phantomxter]

Looking good

[@sheltdog8463]

Just FYI, to prevent any future roof leaks buy a gallon of Kool Seal from the roofing dept and you can have it tinted if you want and coat the roof with two coats. It will give you a extra layer of protection and also lower the temperature on that tin roof. Another thing I done was enclose underneath the trailer with roofing tin. This will eliminate drag while pulling the trailer and it makes a huge difference when it comes to gas mileage!

[@ondreacounts2556]

The roof's on those cargo trailers are either aluminum or steel. Those are the only 2 options that are available from the many companies that make those trailers. If someone wanted a tin roof, they'd have to install one their self after they bought the cargo trailer. Just a little fyi

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hey Sheltdog8463! Thank you so much for those pro tips!! We used FlexSeal and lap sealant for our roof and it's 100% covered with either solar panels or our roof deck! So thankfully, it doesn't get too hot. But we'd definitely look into that Kool Seal on a future build. We've totally thought about doing roofing tin on the underneath of our trailer! Great idea. Would you say it's really eliminated drag for you? Could you put a percentage on it? It's just so expensive so we haven't made the investment yet not knowing 100% it would make a difference. Thank you for watching! - Maranda & James

[@michaelposey6529]

@ondreacounts2556 While you are correct, check the thermal conductivity of those materials against each other. I doubt he really meant it was made of tin. It's a very common figure of speech.

[@rongreen1199]

Trying agan. I see no bell for notifications? Subscribed and liked but I would like to be notified when you have another video

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hey Ron, We answered you in another comment. Let us know if you get those comments. - Maranda & James

[@kractass]

Great job so far guys!! Just wondering about the ramp door. You haven't done anything with it yet. Is it insulated from the factory? Keep up the good work.

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hi kractass! It's not insulated from the manufacturer and we did not insulate it ourselves. We end up putting vinyl flooring on it to act as insulation due to space. If we would have tried to insulate, it could've messed with the ramp cables and where they're located on the inside of the trailer. Thanks for the question and for watching! Episode 3 is now posted - go check it out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2TJlHaer7qjsMU - Maranda & James

[@CatfishLove]

A router would have worked well for creating grooves for wiring. Good job guys.

[@samuelcbarnes3410]

Make sure you seal your whole roof with white sealant

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hi Samuel, Thanks for the tip! We used FlexSeal and lap sealant to cover our roof for leak protection. Episode 3 is now posted! Don't forget to hit the notifications button so you don't miss future episodes! Thanks! - Maranda & James

[@michaelposey6529]

For the underside, use corrugated plastic sheets. Lighter and provides some insulation value as well. Roofing flashing is quite heavy.

[@lifebelowzeroak]

I would love to watch the in-depth on electrical.

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hey there, Thank you for watching! I promise that the electrical video will come soon! It's such a long process to comb through 5 months of a build process and edit it down to 30 mins 😮‍💨 We appreciate your patience! Do you have any questions that we could try to help answer for you in the meantime? Thanks! - Maranda & James

[@wadeintoit]

Hello, did you guys ever film the dedicated "electrical" video? I would be very interested in seeing that.

[@rubiken06]

Just curious if cost savings is key to this build why not insulate under existing floor and not have the added cost of sub floor?

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hey there rubiken06, Thanks for the question! If we had insulated under the existing floor, our insulation would have been exposed to the elements outside. The existing flooring was the only thing between the trailer and the road. In order to cover that insulation (underneath the trailer), we would have had to put a protective layer over it anyways. It was not only easier but better for mold reduction to insulate the trailer from the inside. It was the cost of 4 sheets of 1/2 inch particle board so not too crazy. Hope this answers your question. Thanks for watching! - Maranda & James

[@bobknob8440]

I'd like to know how the floor is holding up. I've seen mixed info installing the subfloor this was which is why I added 2 inch wide strips in my floor to support the 3/4 ply.

[@kimdagnillo8246]

The ceiling too, I would screw on not brad nail but I’m no expert, just another DIY ER

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hi Bobknob8440, Our flooring has held up fine so far! We didn't want our nice vinyl flooring on every square inch of the trailer so we definitely opted for a subfloor. However, our subfloor is only roughly 1/2 inch particle board (wood is so expensive!!🤯). Thanks for checking in! Episode 3 is now posted so don't forget to check it out! - Maranda & James

[@danhensley6230]

Which model Ryobi staple gun were you using, please?

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hi Dan! Here's the link to the brad nailer we got! www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-ONE-18V-18-Gauge-Cordless-AirStrike-Brad-Nailer-Tool-Only-P321/315855110 Do note that the link is to Ryobi's newest version! We have the same model, just 1 year older. So this new one has more bells & whistles lol 🔔 Thanks! - Maranda & James

[@gokrisgaming]

one thing you could of did when cutting the roof is outlined the cut with painters tape to make sure you never went outside the line.

[@topcheese2889]

Jigsaw for the roof vent fyi

[@evanwindom3265]

Do you have any concerns about the foam in the floor compressing over time and creating gaps or soft spots? Stryofoam just doesn't seem like a great substrate for walking on, even if the weight is distributed by the subfloor. I'll be interested to see how you handled the huge edge at the door. 2" of foam and particle on top created quite a difference in floor height.

[@fordilac]

Particleboard is always a bad choice.

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hey there, In certain circumstances, we 100% agree with you. However, for the application we used it for (the subfloor that our permanent flooring would go on), it suffices for both function and budget. Thanks for watching! New episodes coming soon 🥳 - Maranda & James

[@flashgordon3017]

i agree if it gets wet it swells up and turns back to sawdust speaking from past experience.

[@stopneverstop]

actually old boy, its improvise adapt and overcome (motto of the British army)

[@alienxyt]

Where did you guys go!?

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hey there alienxyt! Thank you SO much for checking on us! 🙏🏻 We had some personal/medical issues that prevented us from posting the episodes. BUT, good news! We're back in full swing and episode 3 is now posted! 🥳 Don't forget to hit the notifications button so you don't miss future episodes! Thank you for watching! - Maranda & James

[@richiemohabir4021]

What was your insulation cost?

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hey Richie! Prices have since gone up since we bought insulation but we paid roughly $30/panel of 2-inch insulation - we had to use 4 of those. It was roughly $18/panel of the 1.5-inch insulation - we had to use 14 of those to cover the walls, v-nose, and ceiling. It was between $400-$450 to insulate everything! I'm sorry we don't have exact numbers yet - we're still reconciling our receipts to understand the cost of everything. Thanks! - Maranda & James

[@terrylynnforemanael-bmi5604]

On The wiring, why didnt you just cut a groove in the insulation to run the wire in?

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hi, We didn't want to lose any R value if we could help it. We also didn't want the wiring to have too much friction and overheat or become exposed due to the friction. With the way we did it, our wiring has plenty of room to breathe, spread out, take some time off 😉 lol. Thanks for the question! - Maranda & James

[@justinkennedy5459]

Any update on the wiring video?😊

[@pocketchange1951]

👍👌❤🇨🇦,

[@shopart1488]

I would love to see a version of your build without the music it really takes away from the video quality. I will still give it a thumbs up. If using music check the volume at the door.

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hi, We've adjusted music volume in newer episodes and do our best to accommodate all people. You can always mute it and have subtitles 👍🏼 Thanks for the thumbs up! New episodes coming soon 🥳 - Maranda & James

[@terrylynnforemanael-bmi5604]

You should have ditched the sky light and replaced it with the fan

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hi, We have BOTH 😉 Thanks for watching! Make sure you're subscribed to see the new episodes coming soon 🥳 - Maranda & James

[@dannelson8556]

You forgot the expansion gaps in the floorings so Unfortunately that floor base is going to be buckling as soon as it gets hot, It won't be long before RV parks and campgrounds start banning these DIY cargo trailer conversions as they are literally death traps, You'll notice there's not a single fire escape... have you ever noticed that RV have lots of windows ? they aren't there for the view but rather each window acts as a fire escape. Foam and plywood burs very quickly and when one of these catch on fire you only have minutes maybe seconds to get out a window before the smoke overwhelms you. With only 1 exit, and all the power up front if a Fire breaks out you'll be trapped

[@homeiswheretheheartsare]

Hi Dannelson8556, Fortunately, we've been through 2 Vegas summers (115 & hotter) and nothing has happened to our flooring! Thanks for checking on it though! Episode 3 is now posted! As you'll see, we installed a window - so worry not Dannelson8556! We thought of the same things you're mentioning and created solutions for them. We definitely don't subscribe to cargo trailers being death traps - there are solutions for everything. Just gotta use our brains 🧠 All the power isn't up front? Our electrical is run through our dinette. You sure that was OUR episode you're talking about? lol Oh, another thing not to worry about, we also have 2 fire extinguishers. 🧯 Thank you for the great points you brought up! Don't forget to hit the notifications button so you don't miss our future episodes! - Maranda & James

[@douglaschilton1203]

WAY too much trouble and expense for the puck lights. You should have just used battery powered stick on puck lights. You can put them anywhere. Get some rechargeable AA batteries and your l set. Use your solar powered power station to recharge them. LEDs draw nothing and so a battery would last forever practically.