Trailer modifications

[Fishsqueezer]

Our troop owns a cargo trailer that is essentially a big empty box with wheels. We would like to modify it with racks to stack chuck boxes, tents, and other gear to make it more accessible and easier to organize. We are concerned about balance side-to-side and weight distribution front to back. Are there any plans available to modify a cargo trailer to these purposes? Would we be better off with the strength of steel or aluminum racks or the ease and adjustability of wood? I would appreciate any thoughts or experiences.

[EagleInKY]

We use the mesh closet shelves that you can easily get at hardware stores. Wire is strung from the beams to the shelves for support. This adds very little weight to the trailer and allows for us to stack tents, tarps and light- to mid-weight items on them. We built in some wood boxes down the side for storage, and then stack heavy items on top of them during transit. We've played a little with weight distribution, and it's never really been a problem. If you have two axles, you shouldn't have much concern, as long as the weight is distributed throughout.

[hops_scout]

Our trailer has metal (sorry dont know exactly) racks that are from the old WalMart when they moved into a larger store. These work ok, but they can be a pain to get things off the top racks and to get the patrol boxes out at times. Whatever you do, if this trailer is going camping (would make sense, huh:)) make sure you don't put too much into it. That's part of our problem. Anybody need six 20lb propane tanks on one campout? How bout 20 (no joke) 2-burner Coleman stoves all in the trailer.