Cargo trailer to camper conversion, unique A/C install.
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2019
- This video shows how I installed a window A/C unit into my cargo trailer camper. Tidy, clean and convenient installation with readily available materials.
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I was very impressed with your install! (Hint to others that may try this: Install the access panel door with the hinge on top so that the door swings up and provides some rain protection for the AC and the opening.)
Wow thats awesome. Like how proud you are abiut it too.
Great idea as I live in the Pacific Northwest 👏
Wow, you are genius at simplicity !!! So many other people have these crazy setups to accomplish what you did. I think I will use the original trailer sidewall material I remove to make the opening instead of your use of the blingy diamond plate. This keeps the opening a little less obvious for my application. I will mount my AC unit higher to hide it in an overhead wall cabinet. Thanks so much for posting such a great idea!!!
Thanks. I actually wanted to use the piece I cut out also but it was a bit damaged so I went with the diamond plate.
The best idea for an a/c that I've seen
Thanks.
That slide system is exactly what I was searching for. Excellent build you did there.
What an absolute joy to find this extremely well considered and meticulously precise installation of a secure, sliding A/C platform into a cargo trailer camping conversion!
From the high quality materials, aluminium, stainless steel and plywood, piano hinges, internal and external weather stripping rain guttering and chequer plate sheet aluminium, to the high standards of workmanship, this installation is outstanding in every respect!
It is rare to see such a high quality installation and this is an absolute gem!
I am happy to subscribe to see more excellent craftsmanship on this trailer.
Thanks for all the kind words.
I installed mine in the front toolbox with a hole cut through the trailer front wall with an exhaust fan mounted on the front side to exhaust the heat. I can run the ac going down the road so it’s cool when I stop since mine runs on solar power and no one even sees that it has an ac even when running.
Thanks for sharing this. You gave me the solution for the same issue I have. Nice clean workmanship there.
The shelf pull out is a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
that’s sweet I love the door for it.
You’re awesome. I just found the solution to install an AC unit in my 8 x 22’ enclosed trailer. I didn’t want to roof mount because you’re exposed to tree branches and puts a hole in your roof.
Came across a few plans out there but your set up is by far superior hands-down than anyone else I’ve come across.
Your ingenuity and thoughts with Common parts is amazing.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing this! We’re doing this to our CTC this weekend!
I did mine this way too except I put mine right above my fender since I have double axles the fender was long enough for me to mount it this way and when I tell you that little a/c is amazing honey it’s so cold and quiet. It’s energy star rated so it doesn’t drain my battery too bad. I have 2 lithium 200ah batteries hooked together parallel which makes 400ah going thru a 5000k watt inverter. I don’t even have solar panels installed yet. I love this video thank you so much 😊
Super slick install, best I have seen, thanks for sharing!
Awesome install. I've been contemplating mini-splits or window units etc, but this video swung the pendulum in favor of the window unit.
I knew I'd like this soon as the music started... beautiful piece - what is it?
The AC install is sheer genius! No one has ever done that. What a very clever idea to put it on slides. You are one smart man with great taste in music!
@@SlimSh8E Thanks a lot! Classy little piece. I like the way you think.
This is just what I was looking for! Great job!
Just bought the single shelf slide from Lowes. Thanks for the great idea and heads up on how to pull this off.
Brilliant solution, and beautifully executed.
Best window unit install on the internet! I think I am going to mount the hinge on the top so that it becomes a rain cover.
Yessss!!! Even smarter! You guys have such great ideas!!
I am putting together a 7x16 and I am installing my access door so it flips up to, as you say, act as a rain cover AND shade to the top of the unit. I am going to leave a gap of 4 to 6 inches for air flow across the top of the AC from the access door. I have drawn up a folding exterior stainless steel shelf to give some additional support whirl the AC is thru the wall.
@@ernestpaul2484 would like to see what you come up with. Just finished insulating so still have a ways to go.
If you see me going down the road with the same unit, I swear I didn't steal it from you, I swear. Great job.
You should be proud that is one of the best installs on a a/c unit I have seen yet. We have an indoor one 6000 btu portable. Been debating on a window but did not like the idea of it sticking out the side or front. Haven't started our build yet. We brought a used heavy duty cargo at a real good price. It will hold up to 3000 pounds, its 5 x 10, ours will not be no where near that heavy. Haha! Great job and the first I have seen that makes total sense and practical. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. Well be showing my husband this one. Peace.
Thanks!
Pretty NICE setup!
This is fantastic! I have a 5th wheel with those old jalousie windows in it 😒 and I'm thinking of cutting a hole in the side somewhere to install an AC unit like yours. What you did is perfect. Looks clean to. Love that! Sure wish you would have shown the inside. You did a great job and thanks for posting the video!!
we love our honda 2000 too, great little machine! (nice job on the ac....im stealing ideas for my build in the spring, thanks!)
Great video and great idea!! Using your idea for my build. 👍🏽
Great idea! Exactly what I'll do in my build.
This is exactly what I have been looking for💯💯💯💯💯 Thank you for this video omg this is amazing
Very innovative. Thanks for sharing.
Yep iT’s the best AC window install On UA-cam great job
Nicely engineered.
Outstanding idea. I really like it. Thanks for making the video
Thank you!
Be awesome to see a tour of your trailer.
Nice Job!
Great job 👏
Great idea 👍🏻
Genius. Nice video man.
Great video 📹.......
Like this ac set up
Nice job.
Great idea…
That looks like an East Coast lumber t shirt. 😎
Yep!🙂
Great idea....thanks
thank you for the speedy reply
This is great. Nice Idea... Very Cool LOL
Great video idea! New Sub. Always thumbs up from the 641..
Very Smart man 👍🙏
Nice!
Nice install. I may follow your lead on mine.
Genius, thanks
Best i've seen
Thanks!
Very smart
Nice
Very nice. I was thinking about doing a door and just lifting the unit in place each time I want to use it, but really like your idea. Unfortunately, I now realize that my trailer is framed 16 on center so I would have to modify framing to make it work. Bummer. This pushes me back to just using a window unit with a camper shell on my truck. Mmm.
I am 16" on center as well and simply going to cut then build a header and footer of sorts. It's not like there is much really load-bearing. A friend did this with great success. :-)
Very clever. This is great for van/trailering, but might also work for people who want to move their ac inside during winter, but are too old to be taking it in and out, or the unit is in an area hard to access. Thanks for sharing.
I travel with my job and am suffering during the summer. This is the most incredible set up I’ve ever seen. Simply ingenious idea. Would you consider doing the same installation for me. I’m certainly more than willing to pay you what you charge. I plan to use the Jackery 1000 and my van also has a 110 outlet for camp grounds.
Thanks! This is not a cut and dried operation for me since I've only done it once. I could not hold myself out to be one to do this for others, as with many of my other projects I'm just playing it by ear so to speak, although I do have the advantage of over 40 years in construction. But thanks for the offer. I would just suggest that you look into running any A/C unit with the Jackery 1000. I've not owned one, but I originally tried to run my A/C with a Bluetii EB150 and it just didn't work. If you could get the A/C to run I'm afraid it would not be more than a couple of hours at best. JMO.
@@SlimSh8E Thank you so much for responding. If you would consider doing the cut out and roll out system, I’ll take full responsibility of the power source. I would really appreciate it. I’m willing to drive almost anywhere.
@@SlimSh8E I an so sorry. Didn’t mean to pressure you. That was unfair. Again ingenious set up
Great job. Now I want to do this to my Aliner so the A/C doesn't stick out while driving down the road. Where did you find the sliding shelf.
Lowes cabinet department.
What were you previously using? Did you mean a portal reverse cycle aircon with a vent? Or an evap one?
What materials do I need? Could you please send me a list of what I need? Materials and where to purchase? Dimensions? Making a refrigerated unit out of my enclosed trailer. Thanks.
Thanks so much. I've been watching every video I could find and they were either to "Ghetto" or were just stupid builds. But this is brilliant. The little hatch cover looks good and the slider solves the problem of where to stash the ac when traveling. Any chance you can add a link to where to get the slider, or at least what it's called? Thanks so much
Thank you! The slide is an item used in kitchen base cabinets to store heavy appliances. They are readily available at stores such as Lowe's or Home Depot in various widths to match the cabinet you are using. They are rated for up to 100 lbs. so there should be no concerns about using a small window A/C unit.
Great job , wondering what state you live in.maybe I could get you to do this for my cargo trailer. Would pay you , awesome job..
Thanks, I consider that a good compliment. But having put in over 50 years in the work force I think I will concentrate my efforts on my travels.
@@SlimSh8E happy travels and stay safe, and thanks for getting back with me.
I have my cargo conversion almost completely finished except for the installation of the window unit. Your plans and how you did your window unit is by far the most travel friendly way I have found. Question though, Have you taken it out and had any sudden rain downpours come down on you while its hanging out of the trailer? I am wondering how the foam barrier held up to a strong rain event? Thank you for any information and I can't wait to give your roll out process a try! :) Thanks again.
Yes I have been through many a rain storm both while traveling with unit tucked away and while it is out at the camp site. After one of those days where it rains all day, about two months ago, I did notice that I had a bit of moisture at the bottom corners inside. It wasn't a stream of water by any means, but you could see some moisture on the plywood. I think for the most part that the door stop which is behind the foam seals holds the water out. But about an 1 1/2" at each bottom corner I had to eliminate the stop because of the rail that the wire shelf mounts to. I think this is where the water came in. Again, not that much for an all day event. Probably a bigger concern is the condensate that is left in the bottom of the A/C when you are finished using it and store it for the trip home. On my Fridgidaire unit they did not have a drain and upon referring to the instructions it was stated that the fan slung the water away and helped to cool the unit. I found that a drill with a quarter inch bit took care of that problem :). I think if you could have a continuous door stop all the way around that would serve as a water stop also. But I cut my hole as wide as I could, from framing to framing, and as a consequence I had to cut a bit of the stop off to allow the rail to pass by as previously explained. Let us know how yours comes out and any improvements you might have come up with. Thanks.
@@SlimSh8E Roger that. Thank you for the response. I will see how mine works out and I will watch for the condensation thing for sure.
Portable or mini split
Great video. Is that a 5,000 ac and what size is your door cut out that fits your ac. Appreciate any information you can give me. Have a great day.
The door is 17 1/2" wide x 15 1/2" high with a 1/2" stop all the way around which brings the opening down 1" each direction. Yes this is a 5000 BTU Frigidaire but it looks like they don't have this model anymore. They do have one that is completely the same except with manual controls instead of digital. It uses about 4 amps or 380 watts with the compressor running. I would pick out your A/C first because according to my research most other 5000 BTU units are slightly larger than this one and so this may present a problem when it comes time to replace the unit. Hopefully the one I have will last a long, long time, LOL. The slide out baskets also come in various sizes.
Thanks for your response. Was thinking that the trailer manufactured could install a little door in the V-nose of the cargo trailer, making it the size 19"w X 17" h with the door opening upwards. Would you think that would accommodate for the ac that you mentioned. Would appreciate your thoughts on this. Great job on that ac hatch of yours.
Did you have to cut through any of the square tubing in the trailer sidewalls? Most trailers are 16 inch centers and most A/c units are 16 1/2 to 18 inches wide. Upright tubing would be in the way I figure.
My original idea was to simply cut a hole in the front of the trailer and mount the A/C in a fixed position as so many do. When I realized, as you have stated, that the framing was 16" o.c. I pulled back and thought about it for a few days. This is when I came up with the idea for the deployable A/C in the side where the framing was 24" o.c.
would you put a link to buy the appliance slide?
I just went down to the local Lowe's and found it in the cabinet section. It's a wire frame basket on a full pull out slide. Home Depot and others likely have it too.
Could you measure the width of the outside unit and inside of the basket? I'm only finding one with a 21 inch width and I'm wondering if a 18.5 inch wide unit will fit in it?
Hi, here is a link to the one I got. A little more expensive that what I remember, but it works great for my Fridgedaire 5000 BTU compact. The inside width is 16 1/4" which gave me about 1/4" of room width wise. The inside depth is 21 1/2" which is about 4-5" more than the A/C. I put my A/C to the back of the basket and use the space leftover for storage. They advertise mine as 17 1/2" wide and it is, as I mentioned, 16 1/4" on the inside so I would think that a 21" wide basket would fit an 18 1/2" wide A/C unit easily.
Link: www.lowes.com/pd/Rev-A-Shelf-17-5-in-W-x-6-in-H-1-Tier-Pull-Out-Metal-Basket/50271547
Thank you! We are going to copy your wonderful set up.
@@SlimSh8E - Love your idea and the way you think. I've had my experiences with portable indoor AC's and like you said, "wasn't efficient at all". Nor do I want a roof mount AC. Not too good for a roof going down bumpy roads with that weight on top. I think window AC's are the best way to go. Inexpensive and efficient. Thank you for sharing the link for Lowes as well as your video.
Where did you get the diamond plate door
I bought a sheet of aluminum diamond plate at Lowe's, cut it to size and glued it to a piece of 3/4" plywood. Installed it with a piano hinge, sealed and painted the plywood to be water resistant. Has held up pretty good so far.
Wish I knew the manufacturer of the slide..my loco lowes has no idea what I'm asking about..
Several companies manufacture these but I used the Rev A Shelf and I just looked and they are in stock at my local Lowe's. They come in various sizes and it looks like the price has gone up, but I got mine before the tariffs so that is to expected. Should say the weight capacity, I believe mine said 100 lbs.
I am thinking of having barn doors or a single door in rear. Then in the left side cut a hole high up on the door and use same technic but in rear instead of side also put it very high so the inside the basket isnt in the way
Loved this idea so I have replicated. Thank you!! It's a lot more difficult to build from scratch than one might imagine. I'm to the easy/last part now just building the door.
Was there a particular reason you hinged it on the bottom instead of the top for added rain protection??
Yes, I wanted to keep the opening as small as possible* and also I could not figure out how to effectively seal the 6" or so that I felt I needed above the A/C so that it does not interfere with the exhaust from the unit. Also, I had planned to put that 1.5" x 1.5" angle above the unit to help in shedding water, but that may not be totally necessary. It may be that having the door close to the top of the unit will not hinder the cooling effect but I would also say that window units typically hang out the window without anything to protect them from the rain and it doesn't seem to be an issue. I'm glad you liked and used the idea. I camp a lot and it has worked great for me here in Florida where A/C is typically needed year round. ( * My door is plywood with aluminum diamond plate. The bigger the door the more chance for warpage. One corner of mine has taken a slight warp of about 1/8". A bit of an aesthetic issue but not a functional issue so far. If you use plywood too make sure it is CDX and seal the edges real good, otherwise the edge grain of the ply is prone to moisture problems.)
@@SlimSh8E Good point on the door I will paint it entirely.
Hey, thanks for your response. I am in Jacksonville Florida how about you?
I thought about interference with intake as well on top of the AC unit. If I can create any kind of breathing gap I predict that will not be an issue. And you make a further good point about most of these AC units hanging out in the weather anyway. I'm hoping the door pushing water off at an angle will help with any potential leakage around the system.
@@pfpvilano Thank you. I hope that you and others will continue to improve on this idea and post your experiences.
I like it, one thing is have it tilted up a small amount dont have ac level, need it to be angled no little to let it drain
Looking to replicate this idea! Do you know the size of the hole you cut in the trailer? Thanks!
The opening I used is 17 1/2" wide x 15 1/2" high. This allows for about a 1/2" of door stop all around without having a lot of excess opening. That would of course vary depending on the model of air conditioner you use and possibly the brand of slide out. I would purchase the A/C and slide out and do a mock up first to get a good idea of your particular needs. Thanks.
Absolutely! Thanks for the reply!
😂 any way you can provide the model of the sliding shelf? All the ones that that I find are too narrow and width. Their elongated instead of wide.
Sorry, but it's been so long I don't have that information. Here is a link to a similar, perhaps the same brand, item. www.homedepot.com/p/Rev-A-Shelf-18-in-x-22-in-Single-Kitchen-Cabinet-Pull-Out-Wire-Basket-5WB1-1822CR-1/312772045
How did you mount the aircon to the basket?
It's a combination of zip ties and the 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" aluminum angle fitted around the basket. The zip ties hold it pretty well and you can just put them wherever you see an opportunity. With the aluminum angle (inside) being cut to fit around the basket I used silicone caulk to seal any gaps and this also helps to hold the A/C in place. Have not had any issues with it moving around and I go to a lot of primitive sites with rough washboard roads. Also, not so obvious, I used some soft foam stuffed between the bottom of the A/C and the basket. This lines up with the bottom piece (also using soft foam) used to weather proof the bottom. It's a little tricky getting it in there but when lined up they make a fit that keeps out insects fairly well. Thanks for the inquiry.
So did you have to ahem air con to get a tilt so drain woul work? Also what is the depth of the basket I went to lowes today and all they had was a 17 3/8 wide 22 " deep width is perfect but depth is wider than I like also I read a few commits what do yo think about swing door up? Thanks Jan
@@janharris2171 I did not concern myself with tilting the basket in relation to the trailer floor. I have found that if I park my camper level or leaning slightly to the A/C side there are no issues. The Frigidaire that I have has an indentation on the bottom where all the condensate accumulates. Other brands may be different. The shelf is made for the base cabinets in a kitchen which are 24" deep so I would say it is about 20"-22", not an issue for me because I mounted it below my countertop and use the rest of the depth for storing small items. I have seen the comments about mounting the door on the top which I think could be a good idea but you will have to figure out how to make it high enough so that it does not impede the airflow from the A/C. For me this would have not worked because I wanted to make the opening as small as possible in order to get a good seal on the inside and I would think you would want at least 4"-6" above the unit for ventilation purposes. I just went out and measured mine and it must be the same one, about 17" wide. The inside of the wire basket is less and my A/C fits in with about 3/16" on each side, basically perfect.
How is it holding up?
Holding up pretty well. A bit of maintenance for the plywood on the door, the weather takes a toll. Had an issue with the slide, but it was just a screw backing out. Was fine after I tightened it. Fridgidaire A/C continues to be reliable.
has anyone else tried this?
Its been 3 years since you made this video. Is there anything you would do different or change?
I think the first thing I would change would be to mount the A/C up higher. I have a small table fan to circulate the air, but without that the cool air seems to accumulate in the back corner. Even though the trailer is only 5 x 10, without the fan the upper front of the trailer is noticeably warmer than the corner where the A/C is mounted. Again, not a problem as long as I keep some circulation with a small fan. I would also search for another material for the door. The diamond plate holds up fine but the plywood, although I painted it thoroughly before attaching it to the plate, seems to need regular maintenance i.e. a fresh coat of paint periodically. I'm hoping that in the future to get a high top van (if we can ever get over these supply shortages and subsequent price spikes) and I would like to install a similar small unit in that but in a fixed position. I think by using a louver on the outside wall of the van and a sheet metal surround of some type just inboard of the part of the A/C unit that would normally hang out the window, would provide adequate ventilation without the need to move the A/C in and out. I've seen a number of installs with the whole unit inside the camper but no real detail as to how the provide sufficient ventilation without interior moisture problems from the condensate. Anyway, that's another subject, but if I come up with any other concerns with the current setup I'll come back and post them. Thanks.
@@SlimSh8E Thanks for the reply. Yours is the best setup I have seen, and I have watched a lot of videos. I am not a fan of holes in the ceiling or the floor due to rain and road water figuring out a way to get in. Other than the air circulation issue, which you can easily and inexpensively solve, and maybe using a different material for the door, you may be giving into the grass is greener trap (I have done that...UA-cam will do that to you). Like you said condensation drainage is the biggest challenge, and you already got that figured out and dealt with. One other thing though, I did not catch what the barrel bolts are for. I could not tell from the video what they were locking.
@@todgak2070 On the inside I installed an 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" aluminum angle on the top and sides of the A/C unit to stop its outward movement at the correct position and act as an interior seal. So when the A/C is deployed that angle is tight to the interior plywood and the barrel bolts are fastened to the plywood so that the barrel can slide over that angle and hold the unit tight into position. If I needed to, I could move the trailer with the A/C deployed and it would not move, but the main reason was to keep a good tight seal against the interior plywood. So one side of the angle is fastened to the A/C and the other is at right angle with the A/C and flush with the plywood. Hope I've been able to explain it in an understandable way. Thanks.
can't hear you .
i had the same problem, fortunately its easy to grasp visually.
Thanks for the critique. This was my first video with the DJI Osmo Pocket and it is obvious if I am going to be more than a few feet away from the camera I will need a wireless mic. Unfortunately DJI wants $40 for a little plastic interface between the Pocket and a wireless mic. It's not that I can't afford it but I think we all feel like we are getting ripped from time to time for some proprietary accessory. Anyway, I now know that I need to up the volume in post editing in the future. BTW, although I'm not happy about the expensive accessories, the Osmo Pocket is a great little camera with a 3 axis gimble that will track you as you film. Worth looking into.
Sorry Dude, I really wanted to see your video. But, you were not load enough. I couldn't hear you.
Yes, sorry about that. I have tried to increase the volume on UA-cam but I don't find that option. In the future I know to increase the volume in post editing.
no problemo with headphones:)
That would suck having to seal the window unit every time you park.
Yeah, you're right about that. Every time I do it I think "Well, that's 15 seconds of my life I will never get back".
@@SlimSh8E hahaha it took 14 seconds to put the bottom piece in. I watched you video again and you really are better off being that you didn’t have a choice except go into the side. Bug splatter would have taken it’s toll on it going down the road. Excellent installation. You are all set with your Honda generator. I just bought a Frigidaire 5000 btu that I am going to put in the back window of my van. I have heard that the air conditioners with the electronics will not last but you are proof that they do. Also I think a cargo trailer is the only way to go on a pull behind camp trailer. It will never come apart on you like the manufactured junk they are selling nowadays.
@@JohnDavis-yz9nq 😃 Thanks. I really have been wanting to get one of the high top vans, but car dealerships have very little inventory and prices are sky high right now so I will stick with the trailer. I still keep the Honda in my tool box but I don't use it too much anymore. Went with a solar system. I have 1200 watts of solar panels and a 3000 watt inverter with 7200 watt hours of batteries. Enough to run everything in the trailer, including the A/C, for 12 hours or more (overnight). I think you will be happy with the Frigidaire, they seem to be pretty durable.
@@SlimSh8E yes vans are almost impossible to find now. They are hard to find even out of state and they are selling for new car price. My van is a F250 econoline regular van. When I did the build I did not raise the roof. Outside of the AC on top it looks like a regular van going down the road. The roof mount ac is about to crap out on me so I plan on putting a fantastic fan where the ac is and go with a window unit. The RV roof mounted air conditioners are expensive and only are built to last about 7 years and are junk nowadays. Window units are so much cheaper and once the frame work is done they can be easily installed. Pull it out and slip another one in.
I bought a Frigidaire 5 K for my van. Are you aware that the EPA requires the new very flammable refrigerant R-290? Just wondering how safe it would be in the back widow of a van. I have my frame work about done for the window and I am going ahead with it regardless. The new refrigerant is equivalent to propane. Life seems to be getting harder instead of easier. We bought a new refrigerator for our house and they are bringing the third one today. The first one would not cool at all. The second the compressor runs all of the time and doesn’t shut off. I’ve been told a refrigerator is built to last only 7 years. I miss the days when you bought a refrigerator plugged it in and didn’t have to worry about it for 25 years.
Nice job but I can’t hear you...🤦♂️
Yes, that was a problem but I think it is better now. Thanks.
@Gypsy Mike LOL! Yeah, me too. I spent many a day with a circular saw at arms length and no hearing protection. Young and invincible like most of us I guess. Glad you could innovate!
you need a mic,, i can't hear you
GREAT IDEA, BUT STOP TALKING