Rose Rolls - The unathorized Compass Rose autobiography

[Sparksalot]

Rose sporting her new nose. The new tongue is 22” longer than the original. I had to push her further into the garage to close the door again.

While making changes, I went ahead and gave her a new basket. These go on sale at harbor freight occasionally. I actually bought it months ago for this purpose.

Instead of the hitch plug in member I simply used spacers the same width. That also allowed the basket to drop right over existing bolt heads.

 

[Sparksalot]

I realized just now I have not posted complete pics of Rose is a very long time. This past July, I went to visit Slowcowboy and several others in Wyoming. An 11 day trip overall, all off grid with no services beyond an outhouse.

Very early in the trip, note clean car. In the Rockies near Colorado Springs.

Twilight in the Flaming Gorge, Utah. I was here 4 days.

At 8,000 feet in the Wind River. Walk The Winds 2019. Slowcowboy was again a pleasure camp with. Another 4 days here.

Square Top Mountain, Wyoming. In the Wind River. I climbed this one in 1998, and have been in love with the Winds since. This is also the mountain on the Wyoming license plates.

Badlands in the center of Wyoming. Note not so clean car.

Later the same day. The Snowy Range, on the continental divide. I actually couldn't camp at my planned spot, since there was 4 feet of snow behind the locked gates. Remember this is JULY.

Even later the same day. The background ridge is the continental divide. There was some really cool lightning that night after sundown.

 

[Sparksalot]

I was answering a question about axle clearance in another thread, I figured an update was in order. I flipped the axle three years ago. Here’s some current pics.

Overview of the setup

Clearance to the perch. Note frame is not notched.

This has been my setup since mid 2016. Over 10,000 miles since and zero evidence of the ubolts touching the spring perch.

 

[Sparksalot]

A while back I built some cabinets to get a bit more organized storage. The doors and faceframes were from scratch and dent clearance at Lowe's. They're over the fridge cabinets. I removed the junk backboxes, then built a new one to fit the curve of Rose's roofline.

Closed up, with the TV visible beyond. Usable when shore power is available.

 

[Sparksalot]

Not quite so long ago, I decided to upgrade the door seals based upon a conversation I had with Cary Winch from Camp Inn. In a nutshell, I used regular ole T-molding, some flexible rubber seal, and a relief notch cut into the doors themselves to allow proper crush space.

What the inside of the opening has looked like since Rose was built.

A before shot of the strike side.

And a before shot of the hinge side.

How did they ship that curve in a straight tube???

 

[Sparksalot]

The seal profile. Same spec Camp Inn uses.

Relief notch in the door. Cut with a router.

I took the opportunity while the door hardware was stripped to put a couple more coats of spar varnish on.

With the T-molding in place along the interior edges of the door opening.

Now with the seals in place attached to the T-molding.

The entire finished seal.

The finished interior look.

 

[Sparksalot]

I added a set load bars to create a roof rack. The main idea being to add an ARB or similar awning fixed on the curb side. The pop up canopy is getting to be a pain. Plus I’ve never liked the space it takes somewhere while traveling.

The rack will also give a convenient hanging spot for a solar shower, and perhaps a solar panel or two.

Lastly, I might mount a Road Shower or DIY equivalent on the street side.

Also shown, the bike rack and spare tire mount.

 

[*Inside]

How's the roof vinyl holding up? So far yours is the only one that I've come across that uses that material. It seems to be much easier & more economical to put on than aluminum, etc.

 

[Sparksalot]

It’s doing very well. I’ve kept Rose in a garage her entire life except when camping so that has helped.

The installation was very easy. There is a 1/8” foam underlay which is glued down. The vinyl is stapled at the edges only. Then trim to cover the staples.

You have to look a little harder to find widths over 54”, but it’s out there.

 

[rjgimp]

Sparksalot, fantastic build! Three years or so I've been here and finally got around to reading through it - all in one day! Stepping back in time, the 2008 me is inclined to say that you and the Mrs S sure make some cute kiddos! Did Workingstiff go far in the BSA? I'm an Eagle and tend to have an eyebrow raise involuntarily when I hear of a kid crossing over from Cubs. Are you still homeschooling? We do that and it is awesome! No lines or crowds to fight with in late October.

 

[Sparksalot]

Sparksalot, fantastic build! Three years or so I've been here and finally got around to reading through it - all in one day! Stepping back in time, the 2008 me is inclined to say that you and the Mrs S sure make some cute kiddos! Did Workingstiff go far in the BSA? I'm an Eagle and tend to have an eyebrow raise involuntarily when I hear of a kid crossing over from Cubs. Are you still homeschooling? We do that and it is awesome! No lines or crowds to fight with in late October.

The stiff did two years in scouts then stopped. He won’t go camping anymore and will give no explanation.

He was homeschooled all the way through. The princess is nearly done with high school and does go to the local high. Best choice for her personality and interests.

I’m glad you read the whole thing. I go back at time to figure out what I did and when. It’s a nice time capsule.

 

[Sparksalot]

I was finally able to get an awning in December. Rona had them out of stock in North America.

 

[Sparksalot]

Well goooollleee, Sgt. Carter.

It occurs to me today is Rose's birthday. I picked up the very first plates for my new "utility" trailer on this day in 2008. Yup, Rose is now a teenager.

 

[Sparksalot]

What does Rose look like from above?

 

[Sparksalot]

A teardrop is never done, chapter 37.

Looking into the wayback machine, some might remember this pic from 2008. Note the cabin on Rose.

And the rats pic.

Somewhere recently another one joined us. The next chapter begins soon.

 

[Sparksalot]

I’ve decided it was time to get some bigger bearings to ditch those little utility trailer pieces. So, out with the old axle, in with the new.

Since everything was outta da way. Fender mounting.

After 4 years, the axle has only hit the bracket once. I was on what was called a road, but was really a pile a rocks. Not something I wish to visit again.

I opened the notch a little more to account for the larger axle diameter.

Mounted up.

And then I’m stuck. The hubs were shipped wrong. Back to the catalog.

 

[Sparksalot]

The second set of, correct, hubs arrived early enough to get busy today. So, unwrapped the axle. Dexter EZ lube 3500#.

Box full of joy.

Coming along.

Remember the “rats” pic above. Apparently not all axles are the same length. A little tough to see, but there’s 1-1/4” of clearance between the widest part of the tire and the frame. Yay, no mo spacers.

I like this full look. I had 1” spacers in there before. Not this time.

 

[Sparksalot]

You might be asking, “whuh fer?”

Speed limitations. Turns out 12”, 13”, and maybe even 14” trailer tires have a speed rating of, drum roll, about 65mph. Little bitty trailer bearings are probably right in there.

Going to the 3500# axle and hubs gets larger inner bearings.

The wheels are for a 1996 Ford Ranger. A quick call to discount tire, and viola, a new pair of shoes. Speed rating is more than I need. The 14” Tires are less than 1/2” larger diameter than those tall skinny 13” trailer tires.

Again, whuh fer? Long distance trips, like to New Mexico or even Wyoming. A 1,000 miles at 65 sux. Walk The Winds anyone?

 

[Terra6]

Agree with you on the axle and tires.
If you're going far distances, upgrade tires to at least 14 inch.
Safety and flat tire issues. Flat or blowout can damage axle, rim and trailer. It's happened to me after crossing the country. Got a flat that bent the rim and axle. Had to go to a mechanical shop for repairs which took a couple days.

Did make it across the country twice before but luck can only take you so far...

 

[Sparksalot]

I’ve gone to Wyoming and back twice now, 3,500 miles each trip without incident, but I’ve had the feeling I’ve pushed luck far enough. Rose has about 30,000 miles on her, so it was time for a bearing replacement anyway. Even with better tires, I still was worried about the bearings as a weak point.