20ft rv trailer

So I have an opportunity to get a 20ft rv trailer. I know there are a lot of threads about converting theses but I haven't found exactly what I'm looking for. First if I get this about how much could be made off the sides roof etc. basically everything but the flat deck, Second would I be able to use this as a decent hauler for some a good amount of weight. I've heard I'd need to beef up the frame to make it sturdier but I know some of you have done this so many you could shed some light on the amount of work needed. thanks always for your help.

Also is there money in buying these and scrapping them out? I know it all depends on purchase price but maybe you could help me out here too, what should I expect to pay for something like this?

I think you'll find it pretty much comes down to how good of a builder you can be, and how much the axles will hold ; )
You'll find differing opinions of value, and maybe some good advice about doing such, but I'm also guessing the value is what you can get out of it, and how much it's worth to you.
Now, that I haven't really answered any of your questions, i'll let someone else reply. haha

haha thanks bear, I don't think I'd have much trouble doing the mods and I really want something that will easily haul cars and trucks and possibly two cars

Have you got a welder? I began building a trailer with the notion of bolting it mostly, but wound up using both bolts and welds for strengths sake. I found a decent little 220V welder at Harbor Freight for about $60 I believe it was(on sale), but was only rated for up to 3/32 rods(if my memory is correct). I tried using 1/8(4/32) rods and about burned it up trying. I finally backed off to the recommended size rods, went slower to let it build up the puddles more(the effect I had hoped for with the bigger rods, but it wasn't strong enough to burn that hot), and began producing some decent welds with it

yes I have a welder and some nice steel laying around

long as your axles and springs are good, i suppose you can beef up the platform to be anything you want it to be. I'm still hoping you'll be getting better advice on how, specially for the car hauler bit, than I can give ; )

Bigdog: I would warn against trying to do the conversion. When I was in the market for a car hauler.. I nearly made the same mistake. I nearly bought a 20 foot camper and they guy was like "Oh shoot it would be easy to make it into a car hauler) Car haulers are built very heavy for the task they were intended to be used for. Heavy framing, heavy axles. Campers are made to support a flimsy body, some OSB and seats and carpet. After doing all the math and time and outlay of cash. I was much better off buying a car hauler specifically and adding too and fixing that. I have dropped a bunch of cash into my 16 ft car hauler.. and that was without having to beef the frame, modify the springs, ensure I had capable rims and load bearing tires etc etc. Winches, Hooks, stake pockets, tiedown D rings, winch etc etc.

But here is how I offer advice: You can take all of it, some of it or none of it.. and I won't get my feelings hurt. but my overall opinion is- if you want something to work on (i.e. project trailer) buy a used car hauler- you will have plenty of $ and time in it. I'm actually darn near the cost I would have been at if I just rolled into my local PJ trailer dealer and bought a new one. My trailer is solid now, but it took a lot to get it road-worthy and legal.

sledge: thanks for the input, that's kind of the answer I was looking for. now for my next question, would it be worth while to buy and scrap the whole thing out? or I'm sure I could sell the trailer as a utility trailer. also what kind of weight could I expect from something like this?

Bigdog: You could scrap it out, most modern body RV's are steel sheeting.. So they really don't pay squat (.10 cents a lb where I am for sheet right now) You could gut it and attempt to sell the frame as a utility trailer.. I would do a quick CL search in your area to see if these things are listed, do they sell (you could even call a guy who has had one for 3 months and see how distressed he is and how badly he wants it gone or is he sticking to his guns to think it will sell and knows it will)

Here are some things to chew on: You gut this out you will have to find a place to dispose of all things non-metal. Where do the couch cushions go? Cabinets? Beds, Carpet, OSB? Will you have to pay to haul these to the dump? That "junk" makes up most of your weight. Some yards may allow you to leave all of this inside and have you pull it right in, drop it, and pay you sheet price without touching it.. some will refuse because of the wood and insulation content: Make some calls around your area to yards to see what their criteria is on prepping it.

If you do gut it to the frame and you have basically 2 axles, a frame and a tongue- does it have brakes on the axles? Where are the lights now? My point being- even if you gut it to the frame and it has 4 wheels- it still becomes a project for someone even if they want to haul garbage on it. Most states will require that it be checked by the governing bodies because the title says "Camper" and now it is to become a "Utility trailer" they will run over it, upside it, down the other side and it will most likely have to be re-titled since it is not its original titled use.

There is a lot to think about, believe me I had to do it with making my decision as well. In the end- I left the dude with the headache and moved on. Even scrapping it wouldn't have covered his measly asking price of $350 bucks with the steel it had contained in the camper itself.

I think it could be a great trailer for tin/shred, even for plastic or cardboard. You could put all kinds of volume on one, even if not so much just concentrated weight.
and Sledge is right on, you really need one ready made for it. I built my little trailer out of scrap and sheer neccessity, during a period of time but no money, and as is usually the case, could have bought a better one later for little more than I had in it. Not to mention the time involved.
If you look around enough, you can likely find one ready made like you're needing, from an individual, business, or agency, who bought it and never used it, and just wants it gone(if you're lucky, and diligent ; ) and won't be found squirming under an occasional heavy equipment type piece of machinery
back to the one you're considering, i believe it could be a great trailer for large, light, loads. (like the ones you'll see with cattle panel type sides around it 8 foot tall ) I have a frame here from an old 16ft travel trailer which basically only needs a floor and some sides on it, and one likely thing you'll find on yours too is the inside wheel measurement is only about 5-6ft, meaning even if it was a dual axle and beefed up for an auto, the bed would need to be raised above the wheels to accommodate a vehicle

so what I'm getting is its not really worth it to convert it and only really worth scrapping one if its free

In TN I was worried as hell about getting mine inspected. I needed it badly to pass, so I could get it on the road for moving across three states. It cost $25 for an inspection, and they sent a DOT officer to inspect it. I had built it starting only with an axle. The day they inspected was a Highway Patrolman showed up, and by the time I got out there he had a shop hammer and was kneeling near the front, and pounding on the tongue. When I got close enough to see, he had a steel stencil set, and was driving a serial number into the frame. After signing a couple papers he was gone, and after paying the tax office another 65 bux I had a tag and a title ; )

Quote:

---

If you do gut it to the frame and you have basically 2 axles, a frame and a tongue- does it have brakes on the axles?

---

A 20 footer could possibly only have one axle (if it was a cheap one) but usually have brakes on them.

I did it with a 24ft but it was an enclosed car trailer. It was really rotted out and built flimsy from the mf. Well we replaced all the cross members with tube and heavy channel instead of the cheap 1/16th channel it had. Also channeled the main frame and put heavy angle on top. Anyway the scrap from it brought about $500 the skin was al and had a bunch of steel supports. Still not done its a lot of work too.

I wouldn't recommend making this into any sort of trailer. The frames at best 1/8" inch steel, so you'd have to reinforce the crap out of it, making it super heavy, or use different material for frame rails which pretty much defeats the purpose. To me the only value there, besides scrap, is the axles and maybe a hitch. Other than that, pretty well worthless.

thanks for the advice, I might try scrapping one if I get it cheap enough