The Bug Pages

Not an Insect Bug, It's a Bug-out Cargo Trailer Conversion Project

Planning started in May, 2024. Substantial completion was mid-October. Qualifying road test was October 26th.

The Most Recent Developments are Here

Chronological Listing of Posts:

The Trailer Has History
First Steps: Disassemble
First Steps: Planning the Layout
Tanks
Power and Light
Bathroom
Water
Propane
Galley
Air Conditioner
Shakedown

The 2024 Hurricane Forecast Started This

To be fair, it wasn't just the forecast of an 85% chance of above normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic, but that was the prompt that put it all in motion. Living near the gulf coast (c.20 miles as the crow flies), I am interested in NOAA's thoughts on things like hurricane probabilities.

I also hated the idea that the trailer was going to sit there and deteriorate, living out the insult of being a storage shed for the rest of its (or my) existence.

And I have always wanted a camper, but never enough to actually buy one. (I did look at some. They appeared to be mostly crap.)

And I love a good project . . . most of the time.

The Driving Philosophy Behind This Build: Adequate Accomodation

I have no intention of winning any awards for posh with this. I do expect these things:

Rain-tight - If it's raining, I want to be dry.
Minimum two days of self-sufficiency - power, fresh water, toilet, kitchen.
Normal RV-type hookups.
Constructed from the least expensive good-quality things I can find at Home Depot and Amazon.
Constructed to last, and constructed with easy maintenance in mind. The road is harsh.

This is Emergency Housing First, Pleasure Camping Second

The trailer is one part of a plan which includes a cabin tent with cots for fair-weather sleeping.

Under worst-case conditions (or just as an option), two people can sleep inside the trailer in hammocks. That is actually quite comfortable.

Space is Reserved For Three Unhappy Cats

Most cats don't travel well, unless they are driving, in which case I don't travel well.

We have a bug-out plan for them as well. A 24x36x48 cat hotel (aka: cage) becomes their evening home. Under worst-case conditions, that hotel can be housed along with the two humans all sleeping happily together inside the closed trailer. Yes, that was sarcasm.

During the daytime, flexibility will be the rule. We've yet to see all this in actual practice, so . . .

If we have to leave, this should provide the basics we all need to survive and return in a few days. That's the plan.