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profa_212
July, 2025

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Roughing It?

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PurpleWenis
Posts: 72 - Karma: 273
My friends and I are all from the North East and frequently stay at Sunday River. This season we are thinking of remodeling an old camper trailer, that my friend already has, with a bunch of bunks to save money. We are pretty sure the wiring and gas lines are shot so we will basically gut the whole thing.

Some of our ideas include: a wood stove for heat, a rack on top for skis/rails/etc., a drop in from the top to be able to hit urban/any rails we bring.

The process hasn't begun yet, and we haven't fully verified the feasibility, but does anyone have any suggestions to make the trailer a little more comfortable? Has anyone done this before? Easy ways to heat it? Thanks.
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11 years ago
147 8
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foyt20
Posts: 21 - Karma: 32
Thats a cool idea. In for final product.
11 years ago
5 0
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Bum.Life
Posts: 507 - Karma: 2,608
Obviously you'll want warm sleeping bags, but if you put a wood stove in there you will be fine. A wood stove in such a small place does wonders
11 years ago
8 0
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TurquoiseGrizzly
Posts: 1819 - Karma: 13,149
Just keep the skis in the camper and put rails, boxes, etc. on top so you have them everywhere you go. BOOM.
11 years ago
7 0
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tripnip
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 482
wood stove maybe a bit of a pain, might want to look into something that is a little more efficient.
11 years ago
2 2
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PurpleWenis
Posts: 72 - Karma: 273
tripnipwood stove maybe a bit of a pain, might want to look into something that is a little more efficient.


I don't think any of us have a nice enough generator.
11 years ago
0 0
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profa_212
Posts: 9326 - Karma: 41,852
tripnipwood stove maybe a bit of a pain, might want to look into something that is a little more efficient.

Not that much of a pain really. My girlfriends house runs off one, and it works quite well.

Make sure to have someplace for wood storage that is dry.
11 years ago
5 1
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amieastcoastyet
Posts: 172 - Karma: 173
on paper it sounds sick. But at then end of the day life happens. GO for it if it works it works if it doesnt oh well at least you have done something cool.
11 years ago
8 0
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wreck.yoself
Posts: 656 - Karma: 46
Sounds amazing, wish I had friends that were that motivated to do ski trips!

Make sure you make it good enough to show up LTC!!!

Inb4 - these kids are trying to copy LTC (but ur idea is way cooler)
11 years ago
6 0
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Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,018
if you sleep in a camper with a wood stove, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE dont forget to leave an opening so smoke/CO can get out.

don't want to read an article about a bunch of sunday river kids dying because they inhaled too much smoke
11 years ago
25 0
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PurpleWenis
Posts: 72 - Karma: 273
Peter.if you sleep in a camper with a wood stove, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE dont forget to leave an opening so smoke/CO can get out.

don't want to read an article about a bunch of sunday river kids dying because they inhaled too much smoke


Yeah I think we have that part handled thanks.
11 years ago
3 2
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Slush
Posts: 1916 - Karma: 12,961
This sounds like a sick idea, I wish I had friends who would want to do this!

Go for it bro! Maybe instead of a wood heater a mini pellet heater might work. Pellets are crazy cheap and you can buy a bunch of em. Pellet stoves are waaaarrmmmmm.

As for the urban/rails ramp, maybe like some sort of collapsable fold out from the top of the camper would be cool, also a metal rail or something could be put up on top that you could bring to grind

Bunks sound cool, but if I may put my input in, maybe make everyone's bunk some storage shelves or something. Trust me in a small space, everyone could use their own little area to put stuff in. It'l be much appreciated when you got a few people in there for a couple of days. It'l keep you more organized, dry, and happy.

Good luck!
11 years ago
4 0
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Stadtski
Posts: 972 - Karma: 3,349
Peter.inhaled too much smoke


This might happen anyways. lets be real.
11 years ago
22 0
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LAME.
Posts: 5795 - Karma: 2,446
As far as heating id say go propane. Ive done tons of research as i am sort of a tiny house addict and i would highly recommend a dickenson stove, heard nothing but great things about them, and propane is relatively cheap and easy to come by.

cream of the crop right here.

http://www.dickinsonmarine.com/propane.php
11 years ago
0 0
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skidemon22
Posts: 4467 - Karma: 2,065
pics or it didn't happen
11 years ago
6 1
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Dick*Bandit
Posts: 858 - Karma: 492
http://vimeo.com/60201908

just do this, you'll be happy forever.
11 years ago
7 0
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PurpleWenis
Posts: 72 - Karma: 273
LUPTONAs far as heating id say go propane. Ive done tons of research as i am sort of a tiny house addict and i would highly recommend a dickenson stove, heard nothing but great things about them, and propane is relatively cheap and easy to come by.

cream of the crop right here.

http://www.dickinsonmarine.com/propane.php


the point is to not spend a lot of money. not sure we can buy a $1000 propane stove
11 years ago
2 0
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Willskiforfree
Posts: 929 - Karma: 3,167
Yes follow through with this then post plz
11 years ago
1 0
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Slush
Posts: 1916 - Karma: 12,961
PurpleWenisthe point is to not spend a lot of money. not sure we can buy a $1000 propane stove


Pellet stove. My dad bought one for 500$ that heats our entire cottage
11 years ago
2 0
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50Kal
Posts: 2838 - Karma: 5,584
Put down heat resistant tile, then your stove. Campers start on fire easier than people think.
11 years ago
0 0
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.Morton
Posts: 443 - Karma: 1,559
I hope you go through with this.
11 years ago
0 0
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LAME.
Posts: 5795 - Karma: 2,446
PurpleWenisthe point is to not spend a lot of money. not sure we can buy a $1000 propane stove


If the lines and electrical are shot a $1000 stove will be the least of your concerns. and the resale value on those bad boys are decent. just my 2 cents.

goodluck.
11 years ago
0 0
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OwenReynolds
Posts: 223 - Karma: 1,955
For the electricity issue you can bypass getting the lines redone by investing in a generator. Of course, depending on the model they can be fairly pricey.
11 years ago
0 0
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Bagina
Posts: 849 - Karma: 2,888
Sounds rough.
11 years ago
1 1
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cheener12
Posts: 2881 - Karma: 5,887
BaginaSounds rough.

pussy
11 years ago
3 0
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Bagina
Posts: 849 - Karma: 2,888
dgravespussy


To be honest I didn't read the thread, I just read the title. So if anything you're a pussy for reading the thread.
11 years ago
5 1
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PurpleWenis
Posts: 72 - Karma: 273
LUPTONIf the lines and electrical are shot a $1000 stove will be the least of your concerns. and the resale value on those bad boys are decent. just my 2 cents.

goodluck.


We aren't gunna replace any of that except getting it street legal. Think we know a welder who can dig us up a stove for heat. As long as we have good sleeping bags we can survive I think.
11 years ago
0 0
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11661 - Karma: 24,369
BaginaTo be honest I didn't read the thread, I just read the title. So if anything you're a pussy for reading the thread.


i like this logic
11 years ago
3 0
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caucasian_chad
Posts: 4078 - Karma: 3,625
OwenReynoldsFor the electricity issue you can bypass getting the lines redone by investing in a generator. Of course, depending on the model they can be fairly pricey.


A marine deep cycle battery fully charged before leaving would do the trick for light occasional electric use like charging phones or a small light. Plus if it dies all you have to do is fire up the truck and hook it up with jumper cables for like 15 minutes and it'll be good to go again.
11 years ago
0 0
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CasualOrbit
Posts: 108 - Karma: 104
We heat our house with a wood stove, its the 21st century and we still heat it with wood and flame! Nothing like straight heat. Baby will last you as long as you feed her need. Also Inhale... The correct smoke!
11 years ago
1 0
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Hugh_Conway_jr
Posts: 746 - Karma: 467
You can do it..

I would go with a propane furnace from an old RV/Camper. They are designed to work with your application, they will install easy, are a minimal fire risk, and propane is cheap, easy, and not a pain to haul around. your risk of fire and CO poisoning are higher with a wood burning fireplace, and the weight of the stove and wood would be problematic.

You will probably have to reinforce the walls and roof if your going to using it as a drop in ramp. Campers are not the most structurally sound things, and they are not designed for much roof weight.

RV parts, like stoves fridges and furnaces are super easy to find used and cheap. and the framing / finishing is easy. It is a good idea to repack the wheel bearings, and have a spare tire.

Take pics, and let us see how the project unfolds.
11 years ago
0 0
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cannonballer
Posts: 168 - Karma: 592
Wood stove = too long to heat and too long to cool. You don't want to head out for your ski day leaving a hot stove potentially burning down your digs.

Propane = quick to heat. And off is off, safe to head out and with no worries. Also venting a propane is easy compared to wood since the exhaust isn't so hot.

Whatever you do, just make sure you vent it!! Don't want to hear about bunch of dudes at SR who never woke up due to CO (hint: not Colorado).
11 years ago
0 0
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cannonballer
Posts: 168 - Karma: 592
....and you can get a decent propane heater for under $100.
11 years ago
0 0
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j-bratton
Posts: 11 - Karma: 90
What about a kerosene heater? I know when I'm working out in the garage one of those suckers heats it up really fast!
11 years ago
0 0
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RubberSoul
Posts: 11249 - Karma: 14,642
BaginaTo be honest I didn't read the thread, I just read the title. So if anything you're a pussy for reading the thread.


11 years ago
3 0
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Kimmler
Posts: 1316 - Karma: 623
Get a corn stove. The price of corn is pretty cheap right now, cheaper than wood pellets (unless you plan on not buying wood and just 100% cutting your own for free). My families cabin has a corn stove and it works great, and is super cheap.
11 years ago
1 0
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FunkySane
Posts: 616 - Karma: 1,203
Stoked for you, I hope it turns out great!
Check out this youtube channel, it has some stuff you might find useful:https://www.youtube.com/user/tinyhouselistings/videos
11 years ago
1 0
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lineskis413
Posts: 124 - Karma: 1,708
me and my buddy took an old pop up camper and turned it into a ice fishing shanty. the thing is warm as hell and the wood stove put in is killer! go for it bro!!
11 years ago
0 0
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gabew34
Posts: 500 - Karma: 497
get a whisperlight stove to use outdoors for cooking, space heater or woodstove. thats gonna be sick anyway
11 years ago
0 0
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KingTaco
Posts: 2510 - Karma: 2,830
pics of the camper!
11 years ago
0 0
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robotdna
Posts: 1232 - Karma: 2,959
Profahoben_212Not that much of a pain really. My girlfriends house runs off one, and it works quite well.

Make sure to have someplace for wood storage that is dry.


Really? Cool. How does that work?
11 years ago
0 0
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PurpleWenis
Posts: 72 - Karma: 273
just following up on this. by the time we were home for break it was way too cold to do work on it. we stayed in a house and got 15+ days in a month
11 years ago
0 0
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