7x16 Cargo Trailer Conversion

A 7x16 cargo trailer is the largest size we commonly convert, and for good reason. At 112 square feet, you're working with more usable floor space than a Sprinter van — and you can still tow it with a standard full-size truck. This is the trailer for people who want to live in it, not just camp in it.

Who a 7x16 Is Best For

This trailer size makes the most sense for:

• Full-time travelers: You're spending months on the road and want the space to actually live comfortably, not just survive.
• Couples or small families: Two adults can live very well in 112 square feet. Add a kid and it's still workable with smart layout choices.
• Remote workers: Enough space for a dedicated work area alongside your living space. You're not choosing between a desk and a kitchen.
• People who want a real bathroom: A 7x16 is the smallest trailer where a full wet bath (shower + toilet + sink) doesn't eat your entire layout.
• Weekend adventurers with a truck: If you already own a 3/4-ton or 1-ton truck, this gives you a fully equipped base camp that goes wherever you do.

Interior Dimensions & What You're Working With

Interior dimensions run roughly 84" wide × 192" long × 78-84" tall, depending on manufacturer. That's 7 feet wide, 16 feet long, and about 6.5-7 feet of headroom. After insulation and wall finishing, you lose about 6-8 inches of width and a couple inches of height.

The extra foot of width over a 6x12 makes a huge difference. You can walk past furniture without turning sideways. You can have a real hallway. You can fit a bathroom that doesn't require contortion to use.

Bed Options

Rear queen bed (most common): A full queen across the back wall with 12-18 inches of clearance on each side. Underbed storage handles most of your gear. This is the standard setup because it works.

Walk-around queen: The bed is slightly narrower and offset to one side, leaving a walkway on both sides. More comfortable to get in and out of, but trades some storage.

Murphy bed or convertible: The bed folds up against the wall during the day, opening the entire rear section as living space. Great if you're a full-timer who wants more room during waking hours. More complex to build, but the payoff is real.

Bunk setup: Two bunks stacked on one side, leaving the rest of the trailer open. Works for families or two friends traveling together who want separate sleeping areas.

Kitchen

This is where a 7x16 separates itself from smaller trailers. You can fit a real galley kitchen: a 2-3 burner stovetop, a sink with running water, 2-3 feet of counter space, a 12V compressor fridge (not a cooler), and actual cabinet storage for pots, pans, and food. Some builds include a small oven or convection microwave.

The kitchen typically runs along one wall, with 4-6 linear feet of counter and storage. That's enough to cook real meals — not just heat up canned food.

Bathroom

A 7x16 is the first trailer size where a built-in bathroom makes practical sense. You can carve out a 24" × 36" wet bath area with a shower, toilet (composting or cassette), and small sink. It uses about 6 square feet — roughly 5% of your total space.

The alternative is still a composting toilet in a privacy curtain area and an outdoor shower, which frees up that space for storage or living area. It depends on how important indoor plumbing is to you.

Living & Work Space

With 16 feet of length, you can have a dedicated seating area — a dinette, a small couch, or a fold-down desk. Some full-timers build in a proper desk area for remote work. Others prefer a convertible dinette that doubles as a workspace and guest bed.

Storage

Underbed drawers, overhead cabinets, a full closet, pantry shelving. A 7x16 can hold enough stuff for months on the road without feeling cluttered. You're not living out of bags — you're living out of cabinets and drawers like a normal person.

Systems in a 7x16

Electrical

A 7x16 typically runs a 200-400Ah lithium battery bank with a 3000W inverter. This handles a fridge, lighting, charging, a water pump, ventilation fans, and occasional high-draw items like a hair dryer or coffee maker. 400-800W of solar keeps the batteries topped off during normal use. If you're running AC or a lot of electronics, you'll want to size up the battery bank and consider a DC-DC charger that pulls from your tow vehicle's alternator.

Plumbing

Fresh water: 50-80 gallon tank. Gray water: 30-50 gallons. If you're including a flush toilet, you'll need a black water tank (20-30 gallons) or a cassette system. PEX tubing throughout, with a 12V water pump and a tankless propane water heater for hot water. This setup can support 3-5 days of normal use between fill-ups.

Heating & Cooling

Insulation: Thinsulate in walls and ceiling, XPS foam on the floor. A diesel or propane heater (20,000-30,000 BTU) handles winter camping down to single digits. Most people add a roof vent with a fan for ventilation year-round. AC is optional — a small mini-split or roof-mounted unit can work in a 7x16, but it needs a serious electrical system to support it. Most three-season campers skip AC and rely on ventilation and shade.

Hot Water

A tankless propane water heater is the standard. It gives you unlimited hot water on demand and doesn't take up space with a tank. Some builds use a small 6-gallon tank heater instead, which is simpler but limits your hot water supply.

7x16 Conversion Costs

A 7x16 costs more to build than a smaller trailer because there's more square footage to cover, more materials, and usually more complex systems (bathroom plumbing, larger electrical, etc.).

The trailer itself runs $8K-$15K for a used 7x16 in solid condition. New trailers run $10K-$20K+. Add that to your build budget for the total investment. Most of our 7x16 builds fall in the Standard to Premium range because people choosing this size are usually building for extended or full-time use.

Layout Examples

The Full-Timer

Queen bed in the rear, wet bath behind a door on one side, full galley kitchen along the opposite wall, dinette/workspace near the front, closet and pantry storage throughout. This is a home on wheels — everything you need for months at a time.

The Remote Worker

Murphy bed at the rear that folds up to reveal a desk and work station. Kitchen along one side, composting toilet behind a curtain, fold-down table for meals. During the day, you have a full office. At night, pull down the bed and you're in a bedroom. Dual-purpose everything.

The Family Rig

Queen bed in the back for the adults, bunk beds along one wall for kids, compact kitchen, wet bath, and a small dinette for meals and schoolwork. Tight but functional for a family of four who's committed to the lifestyle.

The Adventure Base Camp

Beds take a backseat to gear storage. A smaller sleeping area up front, with the rear converted to a gear garage — bikes, kayaks, climbing equipment, surfboards. A basic kitchen and no bathroom (you're using campground facilities). This is for people who sleep in the trailer but live outside it.

Towing Requirements

A 7x16 empty weighs 3,000-3,500 lbs. Fully built out, you're looking at 5,500-7,500 lbs depending on how much you put in it. This needs a real truck — not a mid-size or an SUV.

• Minimum: Full-size half-ton truck (F-150, Silverado 1500, Ram 1500) with a towing package. Check the specific trim and engine — not all half-tons are rated the same.
• Recommended: 3/4-ton truck (F-250, Silverado 2500, Ram 2500). These handle a loaded 7x16 comfortably with margin for hills, wind, and altitude.
• Ideal: 1-ton truck (F-350, Silverado 3500, Ram 3500). Overkill for most, but if you're towing regularly over mountain passes or in heavy wind, the extra capacity pays off in stability and confidence.

Always check your specific vehicle's towing capacity and payload rating. The weight of the trailer is only part of the equation — tongue weight, cargo in the truck bed, and passengers all count against your payload.

7x16 vs Other Options

vs 6x12: The 7x16 gives you 55% more floor space (112 vs 72 sq ft), room for a real bathroom, a bigger kitchen, and more storage. The trade-off: heavier, costs more to build, and needs a bigger tow vehicle.

vs 7x14: The extra 2 feet of length (14 sq ft) doesn't sound like much, but it's often the difference between fitting a bathroom or not. If you're debating between 14 and 16, go with the 16 unless towing capacity is a hard constraint.

vs Sprinter van: A 170" wheelbase Sprinter gives you roughly 70 sq ft of usable space. A 7x16 gives you 112 sq ft. The van drives itself and is more stealthy. The trailer gives more space, keeps your daily vehicle free, and costs less to build. Different tools for different situations.

Our Approach to 7x16 Builds

A 7x16 gives you room to do almost anything, which means the design phase matters more. It's tempting to cram in every feature you can think of, but the best builds are still intentional. We spend time in the design phase figuring out your actual priorities — not just what's possible, but what you'll actually use every day.

We build 7x16 trailers with the same systems quality as our van conversions. Same electrical components, same plumbing standards, same insulation approach. The only difference is the platform. If you're used to our van work, expect the same quality in a trailer.