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 ; )

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?

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 ; )

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.

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