Shakedown trip.... it's done!!

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Shakedown trip.... it's done!!

Postby desertmoose » Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:01 am

Well, we finished our tear. Loaded up and left friday afternoon for a creek in the mountains a couple of hours away.

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Kat showing off the tear before we hit the road.

After setup.. (level and chock, then open the hatch...) we had hot dogs over the campfire for our first meal.

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we had a good nights sleep the first time with the sound of the creek. Here's Kat the next morning enjoying the quiet.

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This is a smile of someone that is NOT working on the tear...

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Galley shot

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Pretty country here.

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RH cargo drawer holds the shade, and a 8x10 tent for the bathroom.

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Slides in and the water jug fits behind it.

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Center cargo drawer holds the camp chairs, propane grill, pie iron, waffle iron, and toasting forks.

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All ready to hit the road. LH drawer has the stove, utensils under the stove, and folding table. counter inserts to fill where the jug and ice chest go ride under each while on the road.

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Tongue box holds the battery, propane tank, lantern,poop bucket and seat, bag of sawdust, hatchet, hammer, bow saw, shovel, tarp, spare wheel bearings, leveling blocks and ropes.

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We really liked lying in bed and looking up at the stars through the front window.

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The underbed storage was great for shoes and other odds and ends.

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Was a good trip. only problem we had is the water jug spout wouldn't seal, and kept dripping. we had to set it upright when we weren't using it.

Next trip is a week run to Tuscon to see Kat's mom.
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Re: Shakedown trip.... it's done!!

Postby eaglesdare » Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:29 am

:thumbsup: :applause:

gorgeous spot! :wine:
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Re: Shakedown trip.... it's done!!

Postby grant whipp » Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:43 am

Way to go, Sam & Kat ... :thumbsup: ...!

Beautiful & unique trailer well done, and a beautiful shakedown trek! Hope I get the chance to check it out in person some day! Now that the work is done, time to really enjoy the fruits of your labors! Happy Camping, and as always ...

CHEERS!
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Re: Shakedown trip.... it's done!!

Postby Ratkity » Wed Apr 25, 2012 10:06 am

:applause: :applause: :applause:

Beautiful tear and excellent craftsmanship then what looks like a perfect camping spot! Life is good.

Great pictures, thanks!

Hugs,
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Re: Shakedown trip.... it's done!!

Postby Oldragbaggers » Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:35 pm

Looks like heaven, and a heavenly camper. Great job.
Life is sooooo good.........
Sail...camp....bike...repeat
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Re: Shakedown trip.... it's done!!

Postby nrody » Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:55 pm

Well done :) I like the sliding storage. ;)
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Re: Shakedown trip.... it's done!!

Postby desertmoose » Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:43 pm

Slow:
You're right, it's on the big side.
We wanted the storage underneath, along with a queen size bed. The cabin is 4' tall on a foot tall bank of drawers.

Taking that into account, we made the body 5' wide (inside), 5' tall, and 10' long. Same proportions as a standard 4x4x8 teardrop. What makes it look really large is I made the frame for off roading. Bottom of frame to the ground is around 21 inches with 15" wheels.

You don't see too many tears with steps welded onto them....

Sam
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Re: Shakedown trip.... it's done!!

Postby the other side » Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:05 pm

Neat ideas!!! Great way to make the underbed storage WAY easier to ACCESS!
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Re: Shakedown trip.... it's done!!

Postby rmclarke » Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:19 pm

Super job!!! :applause: :applause: :applause:
Nice design and use of space (I would love to have those slide outs) :thumbsup:
and I really like your color scheme with those nice gently curving lines! And your tongue box too! :applause: :applause:
And from your pictures, it looks like you're enjoying it a lot already. 8)
Way to go!!
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Re: Shakedown trip.... it's done!!

Postby desertmoose » Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:14 pm

Additional comments (without pictures) on the shakedown trip.

Our tear needs a new name. We were going to call it the “Horny tow’d” after my favorite lizard. Kat has spent a year looking for Horny toad pattern fabric for the curtains, etc. None to be found. Lots of geckos and salamanders though. So, we’re doing the interior in generic outdoor pattern cloth.

The tear tows great, from 65 mph on the highway to 5 mph crawling across the ruts. I really like the shocks on it. The big truck (Dodge diesel one ton) doesn’t know it’s back there. Towing with Kat’s Tacoma is easy also, but you can tell (barely) it’s behind the truck.

We woke up to frost on everything in the mornings. When it melted off, it left yellow sticky streaks down the side??? Not sure what is was, but it washed off ok when we got home. I did find a small leak in one door, and a puddle under the hurricane hinge in the galley when I washed it. Will have to look at sealing things a bit.

No problem where we went this time, but a side curtain/ tent will be needed in a busy campground.

I need to put something under the stove, The top of the slide out drawer is getting a bit too warm.

Brewing coffee in a percolator is a lost art for me. We will take powdered creamer next time, so we don’t have to get in the ice chest every time we got a cup of coffee.

Everything rode just fine. We were a bit cautious lifting the hatch after the bumpy ride in, but didn’t need to worry.

Sam
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Re: Shakedown trip.... it's done!!

Postby Verna » Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:48 pm

I love your storage drawers!!! Such a great idea. And the tongue box....and.....well, I love it all!!! Good job. :thumbsup:
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Re: Shakedown trip.... it's done!!

Postby mkitchen » Wed Apr 25, 2012 6:45 pm

That looked like some pretty nice country. Would you mind sharing where you went. I don't need specifics, just the general area.
thanks
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Re: Shakedown trip.... it's done!!

Postby S. Heisley » Wed Apr 25, 2012 7:12 pm

Duplicate...deleted.

This post showed at the bottom of page 1 and at the top of page 2; so, I deleted the one on the top of page 2. When I did that, it deleted both of them....go figure.

Sorry..... :shrug: :cigar: :scratchthinking:
Last edited by S. Heisley on Fri Apr 27, 2012 8:35 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Shakedown trip.... it's done!!

Postby Woodbutcher » Wed Apr 25, 2012 7:55 pm

Great job! You really put a lot of thought into your design. Enjoy using it now and while you relax around the fire you can start thinking about building the next one! :lol:
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Re: Shakedown trip.... it's done!!

Postby Maureenm » Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:38 pm

Beautiful! :applause: :applause:
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