"The X-Cubed" C.T.T.

[Ned B-TNT]

Zach,
congrats on getting to campable! Wish Syracuse were closer to your neck of the woods, I'd zip over to kick the tires in a heartbeat! I 'knew' you'd have orange on the paint scheme. Oh, and while they might not have gotten a perfect match, often just getting in the color family will more than do the job... as evidenced by your trailer. Funny thing, I saw an XV in the same color tonight, (near Ithaca NY) and I thought... Hmmm, why do I know that car?

 

[Kharn]

Congrats!

 

[zkengle]

Looks very nice. I really like this design, plus you work very fast.

Dan

Thanks Dan! I have a very understanding gf that doesn't mind (too much) my long hours in the garage. She knows that it means she doesn't have to sleep on the ground (which she actually doesn't mind too much either)

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....

Two years??

Not sure I'll be ready in another two years after this build! It was fun but there were quite a few times I was banging my head against the wall. But we'll see how bad I get the itch to build again. So far it has been every two years

I'm going to make my own fenders to match the linear design of the rest of the trailer. They'll just be 3/4" wood frame with 3/16" underlayment skin on the top side, and 1/4" acrylic skins on the underside. Haven't decided what color fenders or any further design I'm going to do yet. Orange might be nice for the fenders though.

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?

Nice! You'll be happy with them after you forget about their cost.

Havent worked out a final scheme yet. Martiangod has me thinking about orange fenders now.

Zach,
congrats on getting to campable! Wish Syracuse were closer to your neck of the woods, I'd zip over to kick the tires in a heartbeat! I 'knew' you'd have orange on the paint scheme. Oh, and while they might not have gotten a perfect match, often just getting in the color family will more than do the job... as evidenced by your trailer. Funny thing, I saw an XV in the same color tonight, (near Ithaca NY) and I thought... Hmmm, why do I know that car?

Thanks! Hey, if you aren't busy this weekend, I'm hosting a Liberty Bell Chapter TearJerkers gathering in Northern PA (Google Masten, PA). Campsites are about 3 hours North of me (I'm about 5 minutes from Maryland), and it looks like the campsites are only about 2.5 hours South of you! Come on down and join us for the weekend! Its a boondocking trip in the middle of the State Forest, so theres no electricity or running water, but there are crystal clear springs and swimming holes! It will be a smaller gathering because of the "lack of amenities" but I think we're going to have 5 or 6 trailers, and the one guy is even coming in from Staten Island. There should at least be a port-o-potty on site. No charge to camp! I'll be getting there Thursday afternoon and staying until Sunday afternoon. Message me if you want more details!

Congrats!

Thanks! You better step away from the computer build, and get back on the trailer build! Theres camping to be done!!

 

[alaska teardrop]

• Cool Zach

• Wonderful job of documenting your design ideas & build. And especially the chassis/axle concept.

• Fred

 

[Ron Dickey]

You made the grade not as for camping..... I do not think people will leave you alone...... well maybe when it get's dark and they can no longer see it. But then there are all those fancy lights X-Cubed light show come one come all and see that great light show he put's on!!!


Real it looks incredible good job take lots of pictures of it's first camp out.

Ron Dickey

 

[zkengle]

• Cool Zach

• Wonderful job of documenting your design ideas & build. And especially the chassis/axle concept.

• Fred

Thanks Fred! When I built my first teardrop I didn't know about torsion axles. On my second build I would have loved one, but didn't do enough research to feel comfortable with it. Once I did all the reading for this build, it just made sense to do it, and it really wasn't hard at all! The ride is sooooooooooo smooth.... and QUIET!!!

You made the grade not as for camping..... I do not think people will leave you alone...... well maybe when it get's dark and they can no longer see it. But then there are all those fancy lights X-Cubed light show come one come all and see that great light show he put's on!!!


Real it looks incredible good job take lots of pictures of it's first camp out.

Ron Dickey

Thanks Ron! I never really do anything to "blend in" so I won't be surprised to be giving a few tours here and there

Its all in good fun and if I can help spread the interest in these small campers, then that's even better!!

 

[zkengle]

Working on the last push to get ready for my trip this weekend!! Its campable, but as I said there are a couple things that I wanted to get done.

Made the doors to close off the galley from the sleeping cabin. The one will be used as a doggy door for my Beagle. The other side is a place to put a 5000btu AC unit if I ever decide that I need to take one along.

I also mounted my el-cheapo $11.58 Chinese battery level indicator. It reads about .2V low, but that's ok because I'd rather it read low than high. It only has a 15mA draw, but I added a switch anyway so I can turn it off whenever. I forgot to check it, but I'm wondering if the switch may be the culprit of the voltage drop. Either way I'm not worried. Its just there for a quick reference to give me an idea of where my levels are at.

Two more sleeps and then I'm off on the maiden voyage!!!!!! (not that I'm excited or anything)

 

[Kharn]

Can Fred get back in once he exits?
My dog isn't allowed anywhere near the camper, 1) she'd take up all the room, and 2) she'd scratch the heck out of the paint.

 

[zkengle]

Can Fred get back in once he exits?
My dog isn't allowed anywhere near the camper, 1) she'd take up all the room, and 2) she'd scratch the heck out of the paint.

When I'm at the campsite up north the door just stays open and he comes and goes as he pleases (unless its raining and muddy). I'm planning on making a screen similar to the "Magic Mesh" to help keep bugs out.

 

[zkengle]

Took the Cubed to get weighed at lunch. About 200lbs more than I was guessing, but then again I wasn't taking into account its sheer size.

1280lbs before camping gear. This weight includes two batteries, the mattress, and one of the solar panels. The only things left to add are the fenders and the second solar panel, so that will tip me just over the 1300lb mark.

With gear I'll be right at my cars official "American" towing capacity, but those numbers are much lower than the towing capacities from across "the pond". Its because of the damn lawsuit happy Americans and all the bullshit safety legislation that the towing capacity listed here is literally half of what it is overseas.

For example, UK and Australia's XV are rated to tow 1400kg/750kg (with and without trailer brakes). Converting that to imperial units: 3086lbs with trailer brakes, 1653lbs without.

As a car guy, I know that many things have an impact on the tow ratings, but mechanically its virtually the same vehicle. The United States is just full of idiots that can't think for themselves and then if something does go wrong they want to make a quick buck and blame their own stupidity on someone(or something) else. /rant

 

[jonw-TNT]

Took the Cubed to get weighed at lunch. About 200lbs more than I was guessing, but then again I wasn't taking into account its sheer size.

1280lbs before camping gear...

Zach - are you using trailer brakes?

Just curious...

 

[zkengle]

Took the Cubed to get weighed at lunch. About 200lbs more than I was guessing, but then again I wasn't taking into account its sheer size.

1280lbs before camping gear...

Zach - are you using trailer brakes?

Just curious...

No, I didn't get the axle with brake flanges. I'm going to see how she handles this summer, and if it does feel like its pushing too much maybe I'll swap out the axle this winter. I'm sure this axle will still be in good shape and maybe somebody on here would be interested in buying it for a good price. We'll see though. I've had it hitched up the past few days and been driving around town with it. It feels extremely manageable behind the Crosstrek and I was honestly surprised when I saw the scale printout reading 1280lbs. The Crosstrek's CVT is as smooth as butter and power delivery feels very good despite the small displacement of the engine, compared to my 3.0 Outback.

 

[working on it]

Took the Cubed to get weighed at lunch. About 200lbs more than I was guessing, but then again I wasn't taking into account its sheer size.
1280lbs before camping gear.

Pretty much the same feeling here, and after adding camping gear, I hit 1438 lbs. I knew then that the HHR was a no-go as my TV. And, since the big truck was now the TV, my decision for no brakes was OK. But, eventually, I'll get a medium-sized TV, and will want brakes, so, when circumstances required a new axle...I went big, 3500lb with brakes. By the way, 1760lbs now. Oh yeah, the Cubed is even nicer than your previous one, both unique designs with great flair.

 

[Ned B-TNT]

Zach,
I'll be driving in circles as usual this weekend (I'm a medical courier), thanks for the invite though!

 

[zkengle]

Pretty much the same feeling here, and after adding camping gear, I hit 1438 lbs. I knew then that the HHR was a no-go as my TV. And, since the big truck was now the TV, my decision for no brakes was OK. But, eventually, I'll get a medium-sized TV, and will want brakes, so, when circumstances required a new axle...I went big, 3500lb with brakes. By the way, 1760lbs now. Oh yeah, the Cubed is even nicer than your previous one, both unique designs with great flair.

Thanks! I just looked up the HHR specs and looks like power wise the Crosstrek is about the same but the final drive ratios are slightly different and the towing capacity is rated higher for the Crosstrek.

How did you go from 1280 to 1760?!

I hope I don't gain that much camping weight!!

Tomorrow , once I'm loaded up for my trip this weekend, I might have to stop by the scale again and see if they'll let me weigh in again (municipal use scale, not public).

Zach,
I'll be driving in circles as usual this weekend (I'm a medical courier), thanks for the invite though!

Too bad! Maybe another time! Keep an eye on the TearJerkers forum for upcoming events!

 

[zkengle]

Although I should probably be packing and organizing for the trip this weekend, I spent a few hours in the garage again last night working on the camper.

First up was the side porch lights! The paint is drying on them right now, but here's a picture during construction:

They're painted black and they'll each have two 1.5W led fixtures inside, shining down.

In the midst of my porch light construction, a sweet storm came through and tried to drown the Cubed. So far she seems to be watertight!

While I was in the garage, the GF was inside making room-darkening sun-roof covers. She must have really thin eyelids because even a little light wakes her up!

These are two separate panels that can be snapped on and off indepently of each other. The bottom side is the same fabric as the door curtains, and the top side is the special opaque material used especially to block light.

Almost ready!!!

 

[ryuandwings]

What is the tongue weight limit on the Crosstrek in US? Is 200lb like Outbacks?
I am curious to see what kind of tongue weight you are getting with the X-Cubed and how you Crosstrek is handling that.

Oh by the way, you did an awesome job on you build!

 

[zkengle]

Thanks Ryu! Yeah, tongue weight limit is 200lbs. I'm not sure what it is right now, and I don't have a bathroom scale. I'd venture a guess that its around 75-100lbs as it sits. The rear end does squat a little bit, but not too much. I'll probably get some 1/4" or 3/8" 'saggy butt spacers' from Subtle Solutions to help out with that. I'm also thinking about their 1" lift kit, which I installed on my Outback. Its just a little extra boost, without screwing up the suspension geometry.

I want to add a cargo rack on the tongue similar to what my last trailer had, but havent got around to it. The tongue rack made traveling with my 10x10 canopy so much easier.

 

[working on it]

Pretty much the same feeling here, and after adding camping gear, I hit 1438 lbs. I knew then that the HHR was a no-go as my TV. And, since the big truck was now the TV, my decision for no brakes was OK. But, eventually, I'll get a medium-sized TV, and will want brakes, so, when circumstances required a new axle...I went big, 3500lb with brakes. By the way, 1760lbs now. Oh yeah, the Cubed is even nicer than your previous one, both unique designs with great flair.

Thanks! I just looked up the HHR specs and looks like power wise the Crosstrek is about the same but the final drive ratios are slightly different and the towing capacity is rated higher for the Crosstrek.

How did you go from 1280 to 1760?!

I hope I don't gain that much camping weight!!

I reviewed my weight/balance spreadsheet, and found that I'm only at 1711 lbs. When I first weighed the trailer at 1280 lbs, it had no cargo (specifically the water jugs-2 of them =100 lbs, and a loaded ice chest=58 lbs), which added another 158 lbs. Initial camping weight was therefore 1438 lbs, as I reported in Sharon H's compilation of trailer weights. Since then, I added a much larger tongue box (with tools, nuts/bolts, electrical supplies, and spare parts- packed to the gills), with underlying slide-mount structure, and later had to re-do my suspension, adding a much larger and heavier, braked 3500 lb Dexter axle, heavier springs, hardware, and the 1/4" thick steel angle stock to hold it all together. And a second mattress, and two more side tables and mounting hardware. Then I re-made my generator mounting, added a 3.5 gallon fuel tank, and a fire extinguisher (#2 on the trailer).That's where the extra weight came from. Where others may build new trailers, I seem to just keep on adding things. Hope you never become an add-ict like me!

 

[kayakdlk]

Zach,
The trailer looks great. In have been following your build and as always your builds are top notch. Compared to your previous build it looks too plain so I am expecting some wild paint scheme or graphics down the road. Have fun on its first camp outing

Dan