"The X-Cubed" C.T.T.
- Thread starter zkengle
- Start date
Its amazing what one can get done over a 3-day weekend! (Okay, I had a little help from the GF and my buddy)
Prepped the roof panel to install the acrylic windows. I used DAP ALEX Plus to seal the acrylic panels in place. The paper backing will come off the acrylic after all the caulk is dry. I did trim back 3/4" of the paper backing prior to installing so the caulk had something to adhere to.
Also installed the frosted front window using the same method.
Had to tape the inside face to protect the frosting spray paint.
On Saturday morning, it seemed like as good of a time as any to start the exterior design. Flat black went on first.
While that was drying, my GF and I made a trip to Lowes to pick out a shade of gray for the sides of the trolley-top.
No, you aren't seeing things. The plan changed. Decided that it needed some color to liven things up a bit.
We took in a small bumper plug off the Crosstrek and had them color match as best they could. Impossible to match an automotive color in regular paints, but its close.
Did I mention we got the galley hatch installed?
With a pair 100lb gas struts. These feel a bit strong right now, but I still have to install the solar panel on the hatch.
Saturday night my friend came over and helped attach the rooftop solar panel. By the time he got there I had already installed the Fantastic Fan.
On Sunday morning I installed the Southco V7 latches on the hatch, because otherwise I wouldn't be able to maneuver it in and out the garage since the hatch struts were installed. Some orange pinstripe also made its way onto the camper, followed by the side marker lights.
Then the rest of the day was spent wiring. All the wires were already run up to the electrical compartment, but no connections to the PD4045 had been made yet.
The 4 similar black boxes (labeled A,B,C,D) are the control units for the 4 channel RF remote switches for all the trailer lighting. Then the 5th box is the RGB controller,which has a mode that changes the colors of the LED strips based on the beat of the music.
Warm white interior light pods and rear RGB LED strip....
Front RGB strip and reading lights.
Some of the galley lights (still in progress). Its really hard to see in this pic, but the light from the RGB strips projects down into the galley via a small acrylic window. Better pictures to come....
And finally, the front roof panel is installed! It still needs the struts and latches.
Prepped the roof panel to install the acrylic windows. I used DAP ALEX Plus to seal the acrylic panels in place. The paper backing will come off the acrylic after all the caulk is dry. I did trim back 3/4" of the paper backing prior to installing so the caulk had something to adhere to.
Also installed the frosted front window using the same method.
Had to tape the inside face to protect the frosting spray paint.
On Saturday morning, it seemed like as good of a time as any to start the exterior design. Flat black went on first.
While that was drying, my GF and I made a trip to Lowes to pick out a shade of gray for the sides of the trolley-top.
No, you aren't seeing things. The plan changed. Decided that it needed some color to liven things up a bit.
We took in a small bumper plug off the Crosstrek and had them color match as best they could. Impossible to match an automotive color in regular paints, but its close.
Did I mention we got the galley hatch installed?
With a pair 100lb gas struts. These feel a bit strong right now, but I still have to install the solar panel on the hatch.
Saturday night my friend came over and helped attach the rooftop solar panel. By the time he got there I had already installed the Fantastic Fan.
On Sunday morning I installed the Southco V7 latches on the hatch, because otherwise I wouldn't be able to maneuver it in and out the garage since the hatch struts were installed. Some orange pinstripe also made its way onto the camper, followed by the side marker lights.
Then the rest of the day was spent wiring. All the wires were already run up to the electrical compartment, but no connections to the PD4045 had been made yet.
The 4 similar black boxes (labeled A,B,C,D) are the control units for the 4 channel RF remote switches for all the trailer lighting. Then the 5th box is the RGB controller,which has a mode that changes the colors of the LED strips based on the beat of the music.
Warm white interior light pods and rear RGB LED strip....
Front RGB strip and reading lights.
Some of the galley lights (still in progress). Its really hard to see in this pic, but the light from the RGB strips projects down into the galley via a small acrylic window. Better pictures to come....
And finally, the front roof panel is installed! It still needs the struts and latches.
KCStudly
Senior Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2012
- Posts
- 9,715
Nice work and very good progress! 
Is the pin striping tape or brushed on? The reason I ask is because it looks like a good color match to trolley paint.
Is the pin striping tape or brushed on? The reason I ask is because it looks like a good color match to trolley paint.
Thanks KC! If I had to brush that pinstripe on I'd lose my mind! 
Its just a roll of vinyl automotive pinstripe that I picked up from ebay. The oranges don't quite match, but they're far enough apart that you can't really tell.
Its just a roll of vinyl automotive pinstripe that I picked up from ebay. The oranges don't quite match, but they're far enough apart that you can't really tell.mallymal":3v68f2os said:Fabulous work, and what a superb finish you got on your painted exterior. Looks a real pro job.
Thanks!
Kharn":3v68f2os said:The walls and hatch are just screaming for a design of some sort.
The sides will get something.... I just don't have the time until later this summer. June is already booked solid every weekend, and July is getting there.
The hatch gets a solar panel.
Last night I had to pull the X out of the garage a little bit in order to install the gas struts for the roof hatch. Its a bit of a squeeze....
.... but I have a whole 1/4" to spare.
The struts work great and open it right up, but they bent the strut brackets a bit so I have to research some stronger brackets. They work for now, but I will have to find new ones. I still have the protective paper on the underside of the acrylic panels because I'm not done painting under there.
Once I got the trailer back in the garage I installed and wired the tail lights. The tail lights are the Optronics GloLight series, which I recessed into the hatch about 1/8".
The high-center light is also made by Optronics. It functions as a tail light and brake light (but not turn signals). I had to install a 2-wire to 3-wire converter for it to function properly. The converter has a simple logic circuit in it that will only illuminate the brake light when a signal is received from BOTH the green and yellow stop/turn wires. Without the converter the high-center light would get brighter during braking, but it would also flash every time EITHER turn signal is activated.
The brake lights are INCREDIBLY BRIGHT!! If someone rear-ends me because they "didn't see my brake lights", I will light their car on fire using their drivers license and registration card as kindling.
Once all the wiring was finished I shifted my attention to the last two acrylic panels: the pane at rear of the trolley top, and the small narrow pane in the ceiling of the galley that goes up into the trolley top. These were a pain to install!!! It was supposed to be easy. It took 2 hours! The two panels kind of occupy the same space, and one has to be installed before the other or they won't fit.
Who has two thumbs and installed the wrong one first? This guy.
The major issue was that I had already cleaned up the excess caulk and removed the protective paper from the first panel before I realized my mistake. So as I was removing the panel I got caulk all over it.
Fortunately I'm using DAP ALEX Plus caulk, which is soap and water cleanup until it dries (7-14 days for full cure, depending on depth). Once I got the small panel cleaned up I started installing the rear window.
It was an incredibly tight fit because I'm an idiot and when I was cutting the panel to size a few weeks ago I didn't account for the paint buildup on the interior walls. So I ended up scratching the paint to **** in the process. Well finally I got the rear window into position and cleaned up the excess caulk. Before installing the small panel at the base of the rear window, I got out the paint brush and touched up the interior walls.
Finally I could install the small panel, but had to be super careful because there was now no protective coating (and I ran out of painters tape).
What a freakin night!! It was sooooo frustrating, but I struggled through and prevailed. Of course, it was now 2am and waaaaaaay past my bedtime.
The only thing remaining to be "campable" are the doors! (Ignore my lack of fenders for now)
I still have 6 days before the maiden voyage, but I still have a few things that I'd like to knock out of the way before then.
.... but I have a whole 1/4" to spare.
The struts work great and open it right up, but they bent the strut brackets a bit so I have to research some stronger brackets. They work for now, but I will have to find new ones. I still have the protective paper on the underside of the acrylic panels because I'm not done painting under there.
Once I got the trailer back in the garage I installed and wired the tail lights. The tail lights are the Optronics GloLight series, which I recessed into the hatch about 1/8".
The high-center light is also made by Optronics. It functions as a tail light and brake light (but not turn signals). I had to install a 2-wire to 3-wire converter for it to function properly. The converter has a simple logic circuit in it that will only illuminate the brake light when a signal is received from BOTH the green and yellow stop/turn wires. Without the converter the high-center light would get brighter during braking, but it would also flash every time EITHER turn signal is activated.
The brake lights are INCREDIBLY BRIGHT!! If someone rear-ends me because they "didn't see my brake lights", I will light their car on fire using their drivers license and registration card as kindling.
Once all the wiring was finished I shifted my attention to the last two acrylic panels: the pane at rear of the trolley top, and the small narrow pane in the ceiling of the galley that goes up into the trolley top. These were a pain to install!!! It was supposed to be easy. It took 2 hours! The two panels kind of occupy the same space, and one has to be installed before the other or they won't fit.
Who has two thumbs and installed the wrong one first? This guy.
The major issue was that I had already cleaned up the excess caulk and removed the protective paper from the first panel before I realized my mistake. So as I was removing the panel I got caulk all over it.
Fortunately I'm using DAP ALEX Plus caulk, which is soap and water cleanup until it dries (7-14 days for full cure, depending on depth). Once I got the small panel cleaned up I started installing the rear window.It was an incredibly tight fit because I'm an idiot and when I was cutting the panel to size a few weeks ago I didn't account for the paint buildup on the interior walls. So I ended up scratching the paint to **** in the process. Well finally I got the rear window into position and cleaned up the excess caulk. Before installing the small panel at the base of the rear window, I got out the paint brush and touched up the interior walls.
Finally I could install the small panel, but had to be super careful because there was now no protective coating (and I ran out of painters tape).
What a freakin night!! It was sooooo frustrating, but I struggled through and prevailed. Of course, it was now 2am and waaaaaaay past my bedtime.
The only thing remaining to be "campable" are the doors! (Ignore my lack of fenders for now)
I still have 6 days before the maiden voyage, but I still have a few things that I'd like to knock out of the way before then.
Took a few quick pictures on my lunch break.
License plate is mounted. Bought a plastic universal license plate bracket from Advanced Auto, and a few stainless steel screws and finish washers.
Closeup of the recessed tail lights. They are caulked inside and out. You just cant see it.
Bullet connectors for the hatch wiring, wrapped with split wire loom.
The rear window of the trolley top, also showing the smaller second acrylic window into the upper galley. The orange light is from a 36" recessed RGB LED strip in the ceiling of the trolley top.
And the reason I wanted the smaller second window - to let ambient light from the ceiling mounted RGB strip down into the galley. You can also see the 2-wire to 3-wire converter for the high-center tail/brake light.
License plate is mounted. Bought a plastic universal license plate bracket from Advanced Auto, and a few stainless steel screws and finish washers.
Closeup of the recessed tail lights. They are caulked inside and out. You just cant see it.
Bullet connectors for the hatch wiring, wrapped with split wire loom.
The rear window of the trolley top, also showing the smaller second acrylic window into the upper galley. The orange light is from a 36" recessed RGB LED strip in the ceiling of the trolley top.
And the reason I wanted the smaller second window - to let ambient light from the ceiling mounted RGB strip down into the galley. You can also see the 2-wire to 3-wire converter for the high-center tail/brake light.
Finished hooking up the rooftop solar panel last night, installed the 20A solar charge controller, and cleaned all the tools and construction garbage out of the teardrop to get it ready for "final" prep! Doors, carpet tiles, and mattress are next! 
Esteban-TNT
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2006
- Posts
- 1,684
Great job Zach. It's Friday. Have a 
to celebrate and calm your nerves.
Who would guess it all started with a NT 5x8 trailer. Its humble origin is well disguised/hidden by your creativity.
Happy trails!
to celebrate and calm your nerves.Who would guess it all started with a NT 5x8 trailer. Its humble origin is well disguised/hidden by your creativity.
Happy trails!
bdosborn-SMB
Senior Member
Go Zach go! The trailer looks great!
Bruce
Bruce
Ron Dickey
Senior Member
realy really nice you are lucky you made it doug H had to screw wheels on the bottom of his trailer remove the axel and pull one of his out.
Look really fine!!
I am impressed.
Ron D.
Look really fine!!
I am impressed.
Ron D.
Thanks for the kind words guys! Its been a heck of a long build (in a relatively short period of time).
OFFICIALLY READY TO GO CAMPING!!!!
Last night after getting all the tools cleaned up I just had to take it for a spin so we went and got some ice cream! This thing really looks wild at night!
This morning I installed the doors in the galley.
And also installed some carpet tiles in the galley.
I still need to order the formica for the countertop, make some covers for the lower-galley pass-through openings, and a handful of other things, but she's at least campable!!
OFFICIALLY READY TO GO CAMPING!!!!
Last night after getting all the tools cleaned up I just had to take it for a spin so we went and got some ice cream! This thing really looks wild at night!
This morning I installed the doors in the galley.
And also installed some carpet tiles in the galley.
I still need to order the formica for the countertop, make some covers for the lower-galley pass-through openings, and a handful of other things, but she's at least campable!!
Martiangod
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2012
- Posts
- 856
Looks wicked Zach.
In two years how ya gonna outdo this...lol
What style of fender are you going with? and will it tie in with the black, or go orange.
Bravo Sir...Outstanding !!! You deserve that beer....
In two years how ya gonna outdo this...lol
What style of fender are you going with? and will it tie in with the black, or go orange.
Bravo Sir...Outstanding !!! You deserve that beer....
Looks great! BTW... you have pushed me over the edge. The doors look great, and as a result, we have changed course again and are going to buy rather than build. I'm calling Frank tomorrow to get the rough in info on the
Are you going to change out the eventual color scheme completely from the blue/grey to be orange/grey, or is the current orange the only orange that will be one it?
Are you going to change out the eventual color scheme completely from the blue/grey to be orange/grey, or is the current orange the only orange that will be one it?
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