Tips and Advise On Gutting A Travel Trailer For Parts For The Conversion...

[Highway Yacht]

I just bought a used 24 ft. Prowler Travel Trailer today with plans of gutting it and installing alot of the "Workings" in my conversion. Now I won't have to go buy everything individually. Everything in the travel trailer works but it does not have a waste holding tank as the trailer was set up on a permanent site on a nearby lake and was plumbed directly into the campground sewer with PVC pipe. Right now I plan on using the freshwater tank, water pump, cabinets, countertop, sink, gas hot water heater, fold down eating table, inverter, fuse panel and breaker box, roof top air, 12v overhead lights, and the gas heater with wall mounted thermostat. How many of you have done this same thing and can you give me any tips and advise? The gas/12v Fridge works but I think I will opt to use a full size home fridge.

[belfert]

I would be surprised if a travel trailer at a permanent site would have an inverter.  It would be more likely to have a converter instead.

You'll probably find that the freshwater tank is 50 gallons or less.  It might fit your needs, but a lot of busnuts put in far larger freshwater tanks since we have the space if the bus is a highway coach.

[Tenor]

I gutted a 73 Winnebago on my first conversion and am just completing stripping a 1995 travel trailer.  I reused the mechanicals, the kitchen counter (temporarily, just to get going for  this summer), the bathtub, black tank.  I also recycled all of the drain pvc.  The fresh plumbing was the old quest stuff that failed otherwise I would have recycled it too.  I'm putting the converter in my motorcycle trailer and have an inverter for the bus.  Window awnings may be the right length, definitely the patio awning.  Electrical outlets, lights, hinges and handles, porch light.  I am using the smallish fresh water tank for drinking water only, allowing me to use other water sources (river, stream, lake) for showers.  I pulled 2x2's for bunk bed structure and paneling for attaching my shower surround.  Speakers, stereo, wiring (that stuff's expensive now).  It's a great way to do it.  I always think "hey, I paid for it, I should find a way to use it".  I just bought a furnace and some other pieces from a trashed travel trailer too.  Good Luck!

Glenn

[bobofthenorth]

I've always thought that would be a great way to get components but don't settle for the wimpy tanks out of a travel trailer.  We are sitting in a CG on the north side of Saskatoon waiting out the miserable weather that just won't quit.  The water isn't turned on here yet so everybody has to make water runs periodically.  Its a lot of fun watching our neighbours packing water in bottles or dragging their trailers up to the tap while we sit here happily working off our 120 gallons of storage.  The poor SOB next to me was up at 6:00 this AM changing propane bottles.  We've got 100 gallons of propane onboard but he obviously ran out over night and was having a cold morning.

[Tenor]

Jlink,
I bought 100 gal tanks for freshwater and grey water.  I don't think I'll be filling 30 gal of black with my family in a week, which is my general length of stay at any given place. 

[jackhartjr]

Tenor, please think about that 30 gallon black tank...and I'm sure others will say something too.
We have a 30 black in our S&S that is for the comode and the bathroom sink.  With 2 of us in about 4 days I am getting the 'blue' tank out and dumping.  Now again the sink is plumbed into it too as to put more water in the mix. 
I doubt 30 would do it with a family for a week.

Others?

Jack

[Stan]

I question how much money you will save, especially if you put any value on your time. You are not using the fridge (the expensive item) and the furnace wouldn't be big enough. Cupboards in a RV trailer are made so cheaply I doubt that you could remove and reuse and have them look acceptable. Water and sewer pipe and fittings are quite cheap and you don't want leaks. The 12 volt electric panel is probably usable but the AC panel will be too small for a conversion. If the trailer was on utility lines, the water pump may or may not be good if sitting for years unused. Designing a bus to fit the furniture is an unusual way to do it.

For most people, kitchen stuff has to meet with wife approval so that is another consideration. Remember the adage,'When Momma is happy, everybody is happy'.

[TomC]

Buying new polypropolyne (sp?) tanks are relatively cheap.  I have a 130gal water tank, 85gal gray water, 45 gal black water.  These are good for a week of dry camping with my wife.  On my next one, I will go with 150 gal water, 100 gal gray and 75 gal black water, since I'm building on a 3 axle truck.  You can always not carry that much water, but it is frustrating to either run out or fill up too fast.  Get bigger tanks and chuck the little ones.  Good Luck, TomC

[kyle4501]

I think it is a great way to get started. In my trailer, we have 30 gal black & 30 gal grey. Upgrading later shouldn't be a problem since most conversions are never finished as we are always making improvements. 

The required tank size depends on how you use it.

To minimize water required for flushing, we spray the bowl with cooking spray & the paper products go in a special "toxic waste container". I wanted to keep track of how much water we were using, so we started flushing with a gallon jug. We rarely used more than 2 gallons a day with the 4 of us.

We have had no problems with tank capacity or blockages.
(Amazing when you consider what I'm full of  )

[Sam 4106]

Hi Stan,
I agree that it may not be feasible for everyone to buy a used travel trailer for components, but it sure was for us. The trailer we bought had been tipped on its side in a wind storm and was not repairable. We paid $1500 for it and used a near new roof A/C, gas water heater, 30,000 BTU gas furnace (big enough for our 35' bus), converter, two 30# propane tanks with regulater and all the fittings, 45 gal. black tank, water pump, and many small items that add up fast if you have to buy them individually. We sold the refrigerator, microwave, cabinets, and aluminum scrap for over $500. Then I made an 18' car hauler trailer from the chassis and sold it for $600.
I tore the trailer apart and converted the bus to a useable point in the 7 months that I was laid off from my seasonal construction job so I lost no income while doing so. One of the intangible benefits of dismantling the trailer was learning how the trailer was constructed which gave me lots of ideas on how to do things in the bus and saved a lot of weight. As an example, I have seen people use 2X4s to build a bed frame, I used 1X2s and 1/4" plywood. Not for everyone but it worked great for us.
Thanks, Sam 4106

[Stan]

Sam 4106: Since I was full timing, I preferred to use new components but I did check out the prices at the RV salvage and RV surplus yards. There are some very good deals on new components at the surplus places and also some very good prices on used components at the salvage places. In either case, you don't have any work getting the part out and frequently get a guarantee that it works.

I am glad it worked out so well for you.

[Highway Yacht]

Wow.. what different opinions I got.. Its great to look at different situations at all sides.  Thanks all..  I got the Travel Trailer at a very good price, but the main reason I wanted to go this route is to see how all the mechanicals work together and to get an idea of the layout for the electrical and plumbing. This is my first attempt at converting a bus.  I will most likely be only staying in campgrounds with full hookups for the time being so the size of the waste, and fresh water tanks are no big issue. As for the gas furnace, I live in the Southeast and plan on staying around this area for the time being and we don't get THAT cold here. I plan on using the gas furnace from the Travel Trailer to keep the bus warm on days that are cool. I can always get a small electric heater to help with the gas furnace if it can't do the job by itself. Getting the cabinets out without damage is a concern but I'll just have to take it slow and easy to see how that goes. Once I tear into the Travel Trailer, I may find more things that I can use and then again, I might find somethings I want to use but can't. Someone brought up a good point about the fridge...I might change my mind and end up using it as well, off of the electric side if I can install it without hooking up the gas to it and cutting into the bus for the gas outside vents.

[Tenor]

Jack,
Thanks for the caution on the size of my black water tank!  I did give it some serious thought though and it is only a black tank, the sinks and shower go into the 100 gal grey tank.  I know I am "full of it" but I don't put that much out in a week.  And since my wife's perfect, her stuff don't stink and my son is in diapers.  If I need in the future, I'll create a dump from the black into the grey for extra capacity.

I forgot to add that I just pulled about 150ft of 12ga wiring from that trailer too.  That stuff's expensive!  I also just pulled the electrical outlets and the tank monitor. 

Glenn

[FloridaCliff]

Glenn,

One other thing to consider.

I have a seperate Grey and Black tank.

They both feed into a tee through a valve first, then out to the hose through a second valve.

This allows me to send some grey to the black if more room is needed.

My grey is 110 gal and the Black is 90 gal.

I just had to do this on a weeks trip.  Allowed me to wait until departing to dump.....priceless

Cliff