HORSE TRAILER GUEST HOUSE

We did a makeover on our fourth bedroom this past summer changing it from makeshift guest/workout room to a cool den/hangout room.

The guest room lost is necessity when the grandparents moved closer to us... they were the only ones who consistently stayed in it.  So when my cousins from Washington planned a visit we needed a comfortable space for them. 

Our living quarters horse trailer is parked next to the house with its own yard entrance...just like a guest house would be.  And its about the square footage of the now popular "tiny homes" with much nicer finishes! 

  

 Our trailer is very compact but has a heater (yes, the desert does get cold in February!), full kitchen with fridge and microwave, full bath with shower and comfy queen bed.  There is a door to the horse compartment which turns into a flex-space.  Its been used as a toyhauler, garage and an office while Rusty works off-site events.

This weekend it got to be a hang out and dressing room for my cousins.  Here's a couple tips for converting your trailer into temporary people living space.
First concern is, of course, the residual  horse manure in the trailer.   I usually keep a clean horse trailer, probably the result from my first trailers having wood plank floors under the mats.  Leaving any type of build up would cause the wood to rot out faster.  This trailer is new so it cleans up squeaky clean.  However, my last trailer was a 1992 and it scrubbed up just as well.  I did have it hot water pressure washed once...it was all aluminum, you couldn't even guess it was that old.  I use a pressure washer to wash the walls, floor and under the mats. I found that sprinkling Simple Green on the rubber walls and floor, letting it sit for a couple minutes and then doing a final pressure washer rinse makes the trailer (and the ground around the trailer) smell like minty toothpaste.

Downsizing from a toyhauler to a LQ horse trailer meant losing the dining banquette.  Rusty created a removable hightop table for the back.  Its half of a pine round top from a home improvement store that attaches ingeniously to the wall using two pieces of modified e-track tie down rail.  (I will show details in a future write up on the modifications we've done to make the small space live bigger.)  The folding bar stools are a set of four from an online retailer.  They are strong enough to hold 300 lbs. yet light enough to all be stored in the closet cabinet in the trailer.  This could be replaced with a free standing collapsible patio set.  I'm really excited about finding the ideal rug.  The faux cowhide is 55"x63" and fits perfectly in the two horse compartment.  It has a rubber backing  like a bath mat which is ideal for the trailer floor.  Its also thin like a hide would be so it folds up small and stores easily in the trailer.  Found it also online...its super soft underfoot and very affordable.  Finally, we set up a small propane portable heater on a glass patio table. The compartment is insulated but it does get chilly and it kept it very comfortable while they were back there.

Final tip...stock your guest house with snacks.  We put together a coffee station with creamer in the fridge and disposable coffee cups.  Leaving breakfast munchies like muffins, fruit and small cereal boxes let your guests get up and enjoy their mornings at their pace.  I personally crave a little bit of chocolate at night so I leave some available as well as grazing items like crackers and cheese so guest don't feel awkward requesting snacks after meals. 

And...wha la...the day after they flew back to the cold northwest we are transformed back to a horse hauler and off to a ride.  It really makes the investment in the trailer feel worthwhile when its being used for multiple days and multiple purposes.