Wow. Been a long time since I edited the blog.
Well, last Thanksgiving, I took a few days off. Tried my darndest to get the TT finished up enough to take a trip. Wasn't to be.
I did get it briefly on the road for inspection and license, so it now has plates. Also got the holding tanks all repaired.
Most of the interior is done. Have a few things in the bathroom and some of the kitchen cabinets. Just finished building a box for the radio and have to install it and mount speakers.
Jennifer made some beautiful curtains and those are up everwhere but the bathroom.
I'll post some updated pics soon. Hoping to take her out for a real maiden voyage in April if we can find an open campground.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Monday, October 19, 2009
Inside pics
Jennifer took some pics of the recent progress...
Here's looking into the bathroom. Walls are just about done (covered in FRP). Access panel by the window is for the rear view camera and antenna.
Lower access will be under the sink cabinet, for the cable connections and power.
Other side of the bathroom. Tub drain plumbing is all set. Haven't fastened the tub in - the outside shower goes under the seat.
The original skirt (in pretty bad shape) has a door to access the tub plumbing. The outside shower box is new and the toilet will block access even if I had a door. Been contemplating how to solve that and came up with a decent idea - the shower box insert into its frame goes in from the outside. It's held in place by tabs that snap and have to be released from inside. If I grind off the snap tabs and drill holes for stainless screws, then I can make the shower box removable from outside. I'll use stainless braided hoses under the tub that attach somewhere accessible.
(The frame is for the overhead vent) 
Here's looking into the bathroom. Walls are just about done (covered in FRP). Access panel by the window is for the rear view camera and antenna.
Lower access will be under the sink cabinet, for the cable connections and power.
Other side of the bathroom. Tub drain plumbing is all set. Haven't fastened the tub in - the outside shower goes under the seat.
The original skirt (in pretty bad shape) has a door to access the tub plumbing. The outside shower box is new and the toilet will block access even if I had a door. Been contemplating how to solve that and came up with a decent idea - the shower box insert into its frame goes in from the outside. It's held in place by tabs that snap and have to be released from inside. If I grind off the snap tabs and drill holes for stainless screws, then I can make the shower box removable from outside. I'll use stainless braided hoses under the tub that attach somewhere accessible.
(The frame is for the overhead vent)
Here's a view looking forward. The overhead cabinet/bunk is in up front. The two upper cabinets are mostly in (I need some more screws to wrap it up). Other cabinets are just in place for measuring but aren't fastened. I need to finish up the front wall so I can fit everything in place - some of the cabinets will need trimming.
Refrigerator cabinet is finally up and the fridge is off the floor and out of my way. Area below fridge was used for microwave by previous owners (they took out the furnace) but I need it for the furnace. Wish I had it installed already - it sure got cold yesterday.
Monday, October 5, 2009
No pics this weekend either.
Got the bumper and the tongue primed and painted. Mixed up flat and gloss black rustoleum and ended up with a satin finish. Looks pretty good - its too late in the season to fuss over it too much.
Got the rest of the ceiling installed.
Put in the final vent over the bathroom - this one has a fan.
Jennifer insulated the back wall and the little wall between the doorway and the back.
I managed to get the side wall of the shower up and covered with FRP. The upper and lower halves of the back wall are luan to be FRP'd shortly. Also started fitting the wet wall for eventual luan/FRP.
New tub isn't exactly the same as the old. I'll have to cut off and extend the drain to get it to come in right under the tub drain.
Originally, I was going to redo all the plumbing. It's the silver/grey stuff that has fallen out of use because the chlorine in city water deteriorates it from the inside out.
Anyhow, I can do that later, and just reusing all that's good will save me a bunch of time. I'll need some new lines for the shower box, but otherwise, most of the old stuff should work.
Going to try to wrap up enough of the bathroom that I can install the closet for the fridge and furnace - I may need the furnace installed soon with the cold weather we've been having.
The steps I installed last week have been somewhat disappointing. The tabs that hold the retaining bolt for the higher step are bending and letting the step droop. The lower step's retaining tabs were never right and now it droops even more. I'm going to have to reengineer some of it, which will likely require a little welding after I remove it. PITA.
Got the bumper and the tongue primed and painted. Mixed up flat and gloss black rustoleum and ended up with a satin finish. Looks pretty good - its too late in the season to fuss over it too much.
Got the rest of the ceiling installed.
Put in the final vent over the bathroom - this one has a fan.
Jennifer insulated the back wall and the little wall between the doorway and the back.
I managed to get the side wall of the shower up and covered with FRP. The upper and lower halves of the back wall are luan to be FRP'd shortly. Also started fitting the wet wall for eventual luan/FRP.
New tub isn't exactly the same as the old. I'll have to cut off and extend the drain to get it to come in right under the tub drain.
Originally, I was going to redo all the plumbing. It's the silver/grey stuff that has fallen out of use because the chlorine in city water deteriorates it from the inside out.
Anyhow, I can do that later, and just reusing all that's good will save me a bunch of time. I'll need some new lines for the shower box, but otherwise, most of the old stuff should work.
Going to try to wrap up enough of the bathroom that I can install the closet for the fridge and furnace - I may need the furnace installed soon with the cold weather we've been having.
The steps I installed last week have been somewhat disappointing. The tabs that hold the retaining bolt for the higher step are bending and letting the step droop. The lower step's retaining tabs were never right and now it droops even more. I'm going to have to reengineer some of it, which will likely require a little welding after I remove it. PITA.
Monday, September 28, 2009
No pics today
Didn't take any pictures this weekend.
This was potentially the last decent weekend weatherwise. Tried to wrap up the outside as much as possible.
Received the white paint and finished off the roof with a second coat.
Got the new stairs and installed them. They angle just a bit away from the camper - I think I'm going to have to shim up the back at some point. I added two 2x2 angle brackets on either side so there are 12 mount screws instead of six and have 1 1/2 stainless lag screws into the solid wood deck I put in that area. I reinforced the entire outer edge of the camper with aluminum angle. The stair flange just fits between the outside of the frame and the outside of the box - I think the flange is causing the angled appearance. No biggie - it holds the lag screws in really well!
Found out after installing them, and then reading the instructions, that the stair capacity is 200lbs. Looks like I'm not allowed on the stairs.
Managed to cut off the landing gear in back, which were pretty useless and bent up - with the additional height, I don't think I'll need them, plus they were made too long by the higher stance of the new axle/springs.
Cleaned up the front tongue, primed and painted it with one coat of white. I don't like the white.
Big thing was cut off the old rusted out bumper and welded on a new one after reinforcing the supports. My flux mig doesn't make pretty welds most of the time. It's solid though now. Got a coat of primer on it. Wow, what a lot of work that was. Went through a whole spool of welding wire and I was covered in dirt.
I think I'm going to end up painting the bumper and tongue black. I was going to do white since it's more original and can be seen easier in dim light, but I think the black looks better, and more contemporary, and I'll just get some reflective tape on, which will be better in the long run anyhow for visibility.
Also managed to get the second vent (of three) installed in the roof last night. Broke the only two saw blades I had for the saw and had to do most of the cut by hand. I'm pretty sore, but I had it in just as it was getting dark (8pm). If I hadn't broken the saw blades, I'd have had both installed.
Couldn't sleep this morning - got up about 4am. Cleaned up the garage and the inside of the trailer in preparation for finishing the celing and starting on the bathroom. Also put rebuilt cargo doors together. One's going to need a few screws to hold it on well, and I'll probably run a thin line of caulk along the aluminum channel interface. The frames need to be cleaned up (last thing with goop) and the hole has to be cut in the back for one of them. When I do that, I'll also install the outside shower box. Still have to drill the rebuilt doors for the locksets.
Got a full set of new cam locks - all with the same key. That will be nice. Between the two cargo doors, the shower box door, and the electrical box door, there are 5 outside locks. I bought six so I have a spare.
Supposed to rain pretty much every day for the next week. I'll be concentrating on the inside unless I get a break in the weather. Once most of the bathroom is in, the rest should flow pretty quickly...
Don't have too many more things to purchase, thankfully. All that's left on my list for major expenses are:
Two deep cycle batteries (Tractor Supply has good prices)
Two new propane tanks
New propane regulator
Counter Tops or laminate (two kitchen counters, bathroom counter, dinette table). The sink counter is easy. The stove counter has a cutout - I'll either build one from scratch, or piece it and build the cut out from scratch. I think I can just cover the table and bathroom counters with laminate.
Tow mirrors for the truck
Get the trailer title transferred, weigh it, inspected, and get plates
Shocks? Was planning on getting these. I may hold off and see how it tows first. Easy to add later.
Should be only a week or two and I'll be able to take it out on the road.
This was potentially the last decent weekend weatherwise. Tried to wrap up the outside as much as possible.
Received the white paint and finished off the roof with a second coat.
Got the new stairs and installed them. They angle just a bit away from the camper - I think I'm going to have to shim up the back at some point. I added two 2x2 angle brackets on either side so there are 12 mount screws instead of six and have 1 1/2 stainless lag screws into the solid wood deck I put in that area. I reinforced the entire outer edge of the camper with aluminum angle. The stair flange just fits between the outside of the frame and the outside of the box - I think the flange is causing the angled appearance. No biggie - it holds the lag screws in really well!
Found out after installing them, and then reading the instructions, that the stair capacity is 200lbs. Looks like I'm not allowed on the stairs.
Managed to cut off the landing gear in back, which were pretty useless and bent up - with the additional height, I don't think I'll need them, plus they were made too long by the higher stance of the new axle/springs.
Cleaned up the front tongue, primed and painted it with one coat of white. I don't like the white.
Big thing was cut off the old rusted out bumper and welded on a new one after reinforcing the supports. My flux mig doesn't make pretty welds most of the time. It's solid though now. Got a coat of primer on it. Wow, what a lot of work that was. Went through a whole spool of welding wire and I was covered in dirt.
I think I'm going to end up painting the bumper and tongue black. I was going to do white since it's more original and can be seen easier in dim light, but I think the black looks better, and more contemporary, and I'll just get some reflective tape on, which will be better in the long run anyhow for visibility.
Also managed to get the second vent (of three) installed in the roof last night. Broke the only two saw blades I had for the saw and had to do most of the cut by hand. I'm pretty sore, but I had it in just as it was getting dark (8pm). If I hadn't broken the saw blades, I'd have had both installed.
Couldn't sleep this morning - got up about 4am. Cleaned up the garage and the inside of the trailer in preparation for finishing the celing and starting on the bathroom. Also put rebuilt cargo doors together. One's going to need a few screws to hold it on well, and I'll probably run a thin line of caulk along the aluminum channel interface. The frames need to be cleaned up (last thing with goop) and the hole has to be cut in the back for one of them. When I do that, I'll also install the outside shower box. Still have to drill the rebuilt doors for the locksets.
Got a full set of new cam locks - all with the same key. That will be nice. Between the two cargo doors, the shower box door, and the electrical box door, there are 5 outside locks. I bought six so I have a spare.
Supposed to rain pretty much every day for the next week. I'll be concentrating on the inside unless I get a break in the weather. Once most of the bathroom is in, the rest should flow pretty quickly...
Don't have too many more things to purchase, thankfully. All that's left on my list for major expenses are:
Two deep cycle batteries (Tractor Supply has good prices)
Two new propane tanks
New propane regulator
Counter Tops or laminate (two kitchen counters, bathroom counter, dinette table). The sink counter is easy. The stove counter has a cutout - I'll either build one from scratch, or piece it and build the cut out from scratch. I think I can just cover the table and bathroom counters with laminate.
Tow mirrors for the truck
Get the trailer title transferred, weigh it, inspected, and get plates
Shocks? Was planning on getting these. I may hold off and see how it tows first. Easy to add later.
Should be only a week or two and I'll be able to take it out on the road.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Wheels and lights
Painted wheels and put them on.
Also finished taillights and finished wiring clearance lights.
Also finished taillights and finished wiring clearance lights.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Inside and Outside
Made some progress since last posting.
Front
Side - looks like rain's coming...
In the meantime, the transmission of the truck died and I had to take a detour from the camper to rebuild it.
Fall is here and I'm running out of season - we still hope to take the TT out before it gets too cold.
3/4 of the ceiling is in. I thought I took pics, but I guess I didn't. It's exterior luan covered in white FRP panel. Ceiling area rewired. New lights ready to install. I'll snap some pics when I get back inside.
Outside - painted most of the roof - I noticed black streaking was starting and deduced it was the bare aluminum. Got 80% covered with white before I ran out of paint. Have to get more and finish it up. Wasn't sure I'd have another nice weekend w/o rain so I taped out the stripes this morning - a lot of the exterior items are waiting on the stripe painting. Also installed the water heater, electric hatch, and the two water hatches - not hooked up inside yet, but sealed to the out.
Here is a pic of it taped up. Had we known how nice it would look with lime green accents, I'd have ordered lime green paint.
Here she is all painted with the tape removed. There are some areas with some edge bleeding - especially the entry door, that I'll have to touch up. Probably next year.
On the sides and back, the double stripes come together where a corner or tail light gets installed.
Front
Side - looks like rain's coming...
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