Many of us have these simple enclosed cargo trailers. They are useful, but I just can't leave well enough alone so I added some modifications to mine to make it even more useful and well I just like to spoil myself.
This is a 6 x 10 multipurpose trailer that needs to haul stuff and provide shelter when I want it for occasional camping. So here is some of the what and how I modified mine.
I started out with a ladder rack system that gives me versatility and adjustability for those occasional times I need to haul a ladder or long lumber along with stuff inside. So here is what I came up with, just simple Galvanized Unistrut thru-bolted to the roof members. Sliding cross braces forward and back to give me lots of movement and locations for mounting tie downs etc.
Once I got that on there and some tie downs I thought hey now I can add some solar to keep batteries charged for running lights, charging phones tablets and oooh maybe a fridge or electric cooler and run my security cameras that work as a backup cam and camera inside the trailer to view my load through the WiFi. That would be cool. So after some brainstorming for a while I mounted a 175w panel on the new ladder rack and connected it to a PWM charge controller and I had power to recharge a battery. I had previously added a 7wire RV plug with the Aux power connected to the wiring inside. So the solar will also charge the truck battery if connected.
That wasn't enough power to run the fridge for a whole weekend on the 2 batteries I had so I added another older 216w panel. I have them both connected and can see 17A from them but have 2 MPPT controllers on the way so they will each run separate to maximize my output from them since one will be hanging on the side during transit. I didn't want them to be wired in series and lose most of the output while in motion.
So my solution was this side mounted panel that flips up to flat or an angle for winter months.
The hinge is mounted to a scrap piece of 3/16 steel I had about 4 1/2" long with holes drilled to line up.
These simple Galv Barrel bolts secure the panel in the down position into another 2x2 1/8" bolted to the side wall at the studs. Holes are caulked with OSI Quad caulk. An excellent exterior caulk available in hundreds of colors.
Simple 1x1 Alum Angle for an L bracket with a 1/4-20 tapped SS bolt. The 2 nuts are tightened to make a jam nut and not move holding the panel where you want it. In this case flat for summer. I can also place a nut on top to prevent the rod from lifting off the bracket from wind etc. Which would take a strong wind. The bottom of 3/8" Allthread (threaded rod) is sitting in hole where barrel bolt drops in. The end is ground down to a smaller diameter to fit and slide in easier.
At the angle it's very sturdy in the holes and won't likely pop off by itself in the wind.
So this is what I'm left with, It works well and folds quick and easily.
Then I needed a decent battery box. So I built one with room for 3 Group 31 or Golf cart batteries. As well as a small side box for my inverter so it's close to batteries but not inside. The battery box is vented in the bottom and the side so it should create a natural convection current. The inverter box is just screen on the bottom with a couple vents in the back.
Materials used:
2x2 1/8" Alum Angle
1x1 1/8" Alum Angle
3/8" Allthread
1/4" SS bolts
Galvanized Unistrut with corresponding hardware
175w Hightec solar panel
216w Older Sharp panel
Victron 75/15 charge controllers with Bluetooth
