Robert's Cheap, Creative Construction Trailer
RIG DETAILS
| USED FOR | Construction |
| TYPICAL JOBS | renovation |
| BODY | Enclosed Trailer, Flat Nose |
ORGANIZATION
Robert uses his trailer for renovation and general contracting in Greenville, TX. The enclosed, flat-nose trailer is 14' long. If this trailer has a theme, it's making things secure and efficient on a budget, from the DIY security setup to the pocket door and metal shelving. It's filled with cheap tricks and organization ideas!
Check out Robert's Youtube channel for interesting renovation videos, tool teardowns, and tool comparisons.
See More:
The Basic Organization
For Robert, metal shelves were a great solution for the differently sized tool and material boxes he needs to carry. They are quick to put together, cheap compared to a full plywood buildout, and easy to rearrange when his tools or methods change.
Unlike builds with thick timber framing, metal shelves can also maximize available storage space since metal shelves and verticals are relatively thin. If he wants to reconfigure the layout, it's much easier than with a Ron Paulk-style buildout.
Materials cases are stored on pullout slides that allow Robert to either grab the case, or just open it up for grabbing something.
Many bungie cords help to keep organizer cases and tool boxes in place on the shelves.
Slick Pocket Door
Here's a feature we haven't seen on a tool trailer or a work van:
A pocket door!
The pocket door slides out from between two of the metal shelf units and holds levels, power tools, and caulk guns.
Vertical storage on flat surfaces is common on shelf ends and van bulkheads. It's a great way to have very visible and accessible tool storage, particularly for long items. Some tradespeople use this kind of space for Packout walls, battery charging stations, or just keeping frequently used items easy to reach.
It would be great to see more experimentation with this kind of storage!
Robert made the pocket door from two pieces of OSB glued and screwed together with a track mounted to the ceiling.
Serious Theft Prevention
Like other tradesmen, Robert is serious about protecting his tools, but he's got a unique, cheap setup for his trailer.
Two wifi-connected cameras point at the rear cargo area so that a thief can be seen coming and going.
But how do the cameras get wifi?
A smartphone lives on the van and acts as a mobile hotspot. The cameras get wifi through the hotspot, and the phone also provides geolocation through it's GPS.
The security cameras upload their data to the cloud and, with the geolocation info, Robert can see inside his trailer and know where it is at anytime.
The solar tie-in (below) creates a complete solution - so solution is always on and always watching.
If anyone steals the trailer, they're going to have a very short window to empty it!
Grid Power
Robert brings 120V into the trailer with an RV shore power socket. This power splits to provide electricity to his fluorescent lights, AC unit, battery charging station, and receptacles distributed throughout the trailer.
His battery charging station is powered from the grid and has a ton of Milwaukee and DeWalt batteries and chargers. He has so many batteries that he keeps track of the numbers of each kind by labeling the front of his battery box. He can do a quick count and know that he hasn't left any on the job site.
Solar Power
A 50W solar panel on the roof of the trailer charges a small battery through a charge controller. This system provides always-on, low voltage electricity to power the security cameras, LED lights, and the smart phone that provides the mobile hotspot.
Cool Air
It can get pretty hot in Texas, so Robert will sometimes use the trailer's air conditioning unit to cool it down. The ceiling-mounted unit is out of the way and is usually used in RVs. It came with the trailer on purchase and he can run it when he's connected to the grid.
Mark Where Things Go
Robert's miter saw has its own storage space in the front of the trailer. A combination of wood blocks, 2x, a bolt, and a hook keep it secured in place while driving, but he needs the saw to end up in a precise location every time he uses it.
Simple solution?
He taped the floor to act as a guide for the right side wheel. Now he runs the wheel on the tape and turns it when he meets the correct mark. This kind of thinking is a great time and frustration saver when you need to put things away.
See More
Robert has a ton of great videos, particularly on how he has modified or made tools. Check some of them out here:
Get work trucks and tips in your mailbox.
Your time is precious. We write about organization, tools, and techniques that make tradespeople work faster and more efficiently. Subscribe to get our articles and tips in your inbox.
We will not spam you.