The Conversion: From Cargo to Camper

First, we insulated the floor of the trailer using liquid nails and reflectix radiant barrier insulation at around 25 dollars a roll. I opted for the reflectix insualtion because of the outstanding reviews on cargo van and rv forums. It seems to provide the best protection against moisture which is crucial when you are camping throughout the 4 seasons. Whenever possible we used salvaged material to stay within the budget. For example, the vinyl wood-look flooring was left over from my aunt's condo renovation. We measured and cut the vinyl with an exacto, layering it over the insulation with a generous coating of flooring adhesive. We used about 4 large tubes for the floor alone. 

Next, we insulated the walls and the door of the cargo trailer using the same reflectix barrier insulation and liquid nails. We also used a staple gun as necessary for added support. Following the insulation, we secured pine paneling to the trailer walls and doors with screws, giving it a nice rustic look.

With my mother and uncle's help, we installed used RV windows vertically (found on ebay). It was significantly cheaper than having an RV dealership do the installation. The windows are a nice size and provide ventilation and natural light. 

For the ceiling we used rigid foam insulation and liquid nails. The cargo camper is a short little thing, no more than 5'5 in height. I didn't want to sacrifice anymore space with paneling so I got a little creative and decoupaged brown meijer grocery bags directly onto the insulation for a leather look. 

There are some details we left out of the pictures. My mother cut and measured trim for the windows and sealed all of the gaps between panels using caulk.  In the front of the camper, we cut a hole and added plug so that an extension cord could be run through to a solar panel system or directly to an electrical hookup, available at almost any rv campground.  The RV windows have a chain/latch system to hold them open vertically, The interior door has a handle, lock, and latch so that it can be  propped open when the weather is nice and locked from the inside at night. We added a corner shelf using plywood and basic brackets and an Ikea folding table for a desk/dining. There are handles below the shelves so that appliances, storage bins, and equipment can be secured using bungee cords. The curtains are custom with fabric from Joanns. 

There are still a few things to be done. In the future, I plan to mount a solar panel with a hook up to two golf cart batteries and install LED lighting. I would also like to install a simple grey water sink with hand pump. I would also like to paint the exterior of the camper but I haven't settled on a color or pattern yet. I hope you have enjoyed the process so far! Stay tuned for more changes to the "Gypsy Queen"!

Why?

Just few months ago, I found myself simultaneously overwhelmed and underwhelmed with my daily grind. I was in over my head with responsibilities around the house and juggling too many jobs at once. I would often lay down at night feeling depleted and confused. I had everything I needed: a beautiful house, plentiful workload, supportive friends and family... So why did I feel this way? I was going through the motions just fine but my soul was desperately in need of something I couldn't quite put my finger on. Soon I recognized an accumulation of material clutter and a sense of anxiety building around my relationships. I realized that I was getting swept up in a fast-paced, consumer-based lifestyle that I didn't want any part of. I was doing what I was "supposed to" and ignoring what spoke to my spirit. All the while I had been reading books written about adventurous women like Anne LaBastille (Woodswoman), Clarissa Pinkola Estes (Wild Women Who Run With Wolves), Cheryl Strayed (Wild), and Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love) and watching shows about living in Alaska and following blogs about tiny houses and off-the-grid living.  I knew what I needed to do all along.

 So when it came time I opted for a lay-off from work, made all the necessary arrangements for my home, and started planning my big move. I had been saving for a vacation so I when I knew where I wanted to go, I began figuring the cost of lodging and travel in the Southwest for a 3 month period of time. It turns out that standardized travel is EXPENSIVE. Even considering resources like AirBNB and Couchsurfing, with my budget I wasn't going to be able to stay as long as I wanted to. At the time, my mother purchased her second RV, a big thing with extensive amenities. I really enjoyed taking RV trips with my mom but it seemed excessive for me. I began to research vintage campers, van conversions, and tiny homes on wheels. I turned up nothing within my budget... Until my mother showed up with a 5x8 stealth cargo trailer and a brilliant idea. So we read up on cargo to camper conversions, watched youtube tutorials, stalked RV forums, and scoured ebay for materials like used RV windows. 3 months and a couple trips to the hardware store later, a 4 season off-the-grid cargo-camper was born! In my next post, I will reveal my cargo camper, "Gypsy Queen", and share the details of the conversion process.