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

[wagondude]

That is a really slick looking trailer. The lines fit with the new TV much better than the old one.

 

[zkengle]

add[/b]-ict like me!

Well that explains it!

Quite the additions! I still have some things to add, but it shouldn't get that hefty.... I hope.

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

Plain?

Yeah its a bit too much white right now, but some fenders and graphics (and the second solar panel on the hatch) will help that out.

That is a really slick looking trailer. The lines fit with the new TV much better than the old one.

Thanks! They are definitely more congruent in design, which even I think is really interesting because I finished the preliminary trailer design back in the fall when I had no thoughts on getting a new car. Then it just kind of worked out!

Fate?

 

[zkengle]

So last night was a late night

As soon as I got home from the office, I got to work on the trailer. Surprise surprise!

Wanted to get the porch lights installed so I didn't just have wires flowing in the breeze going down the highway. I had the assemblies painted already, so it was just a matter of attaching them and connecting the LEDs. It didn't take too terribly long, but since I'm leaving for the maiden voyage today I still had quite the list of other things to do.

After all that, I started digging through my camping gear and loading up the Cubed! Once I was satisfied with my current stock, I headed off to Wal-Fart. Damn I hate that place. But it was 10:45pm, so the place wasn't busy at all. The only reason I went there is because it was the only place that was open where I could get Coleman fuel. And I NEEEEEED my Coleman fuel. I figured that since I was there I would just suck it up and do the rest of my grocery shopping there as well.

So now the trailer is stocked up and I'm ready to roll! I just have to survive the next 3 hours in the office without going postal.


Wish me luck!!

 

[KCStudly]

I can feel the excitement from here!

 

[Kharn]

Zach,
You could always just give up your white gas ways and step into the light of propane.

 

[zkengle]

I can feel the excitement from here!

Is it ooozing that much??

Zach,
You could always just give up your white gas ways and step into the light of propane.

I gave up those little green bottles years ago. Bottles are for babies.

 

[sumo-TNT]

You are the man. The camper looks awsome . I am amazed at how fast you work.

 

[Kharn]

Zach,
You could always just give up your white gas ways and step into the light of propane.

I gave up those little green bottles years ago. Bottles are for babies.

Real men have a 5, 11, or 20lb tank. They also build muscles.

 

[Johnysteam]

Nice hatches. I love this build. thanks for sharing. You really have set the design for the future

 

[S. Heisley]

Excellent attention to detail...lots of unique ideas.
Once again, ya done good.

 

[zkengle]

Thanks everyone!

Maiden voyage was a lot of fun! We had perfect weather the whole weekend! It did get a little chilly at night, but we stayed nice and toasty by the fire.

Even some wildlife was so impressed that he came to check it out up close!

Meanwhile, my worthless Beagle was sleeping just inside the cabin and never budged.

He came back each night around 10:30 to say hi and hunt for snacks. We refrained from feeding him and kept having to run him off. Curious little guy though!

 

[Kharn]

Looks like a fun time.
How was the Crosstrek with towing?

 

[zkengle]

It did really well. There is one big hill climb on RT15 North coming into Williamsport which she was screaming up, but otherwise it was great. Averaged just over 20mpg for the whole trip, which probably would have been a little higher if I didn't have the cargo basket on the roof. But that was used to collect some firewood, so I'm glad I kept it on. Power-wise it definitely doesn't compare to my Outback, but I'm still absolutely happy that I traded it in for the XV. No regrets here!

 

[Ron Dickey]

so you have had your first official inspector. They say that is why my first trailer had gun ports for windows. The first SLO Gathering had 5 of those creatures per trailer. We used Pinesol to keep them away.

You have found a new use for the shasta swish Light works well.

Looks like you will be going out again really soon.

Ron

 

[KCStudly]

Nice spot. Did I miss you saying where it is at?

Looks like you had a good time!

 

[zkengle]

so you have had your first official inspector. They say that is why my first trailer had gun ports for windows. The first SLO Gathering had 5 of those creatures per trailer. We used Pinesol to keep them away.

You have found a new use for the shasta swish Light works well.

Looks like you will be going out again really soon.

Ron

If we would have had more than one visitor, then I could see it being a problem, but the one we could handle and it gave some excitement

This weekend, we're going to a house party on Saturday night and will be taking the Cubed along so we have a place to stay and don't have to drive afterwards

Then, next weekend, we have another TearJerker gathering with the Chesapeake Bay Chapter, at Cunningham Falls. Lots of camping going on this summer, and this is a heck of a start!!

Nice spot. Did I miss you saying where it is at?

Looks like you had a good time!

We had a great time! This trip was a small boondocking gathering with a few TearJerkers in the Loyalsock State Forest (Masten, PA). Free camping and no cell phone service!!

 

[Kharn]

It did really well. There is one big hill climb on RT15 North coming into Williamsport which she was screaming up, but otherwise it was great. Averaged just over 20mpg for the whole trip, which probably would have been a little higher if I didn't have the cargo basket on the roof. But that was used to collect some firewood, so I'm glad I kept it on. Power-wise it definitely doesn't compare to my Outback, but I'm still absolutely happy that I traded it in for the XV. No regrets here!

Glad you like it, I love my Impreza.
Just watch out for the little plastic tab that hides the gas door handle's screw. That thing is always popping off and getting lost.

 

[zkengle]

No progress on the trailer, but I did start working on the stove for the galley. I took a Coleman 425 along on the maiden voyage, but I couldn't comfortably fit both my cast iron pan and skillet on there at the same time (mmmmmm bacon and eggs). So for the more permanent fixture, I've decided to tear down and refinish a 1961 Coleman 426C that I've had laying around since last year. My original plans for the stove were to refinish to its original green and red glory, but now I've decided to give it a paint scheme that matches the camper.

Last night I tore it apart and drilled out a bunch of the rivets so I could really break it down. They'll get replaced with stainless steel #3 pan head slotted screws, per a suggestion from our resident stove expert Doug Hodder.

Pre-stripper....

Forgot to take a post-stripper picture, but it was weird how some paint peeled right up while other areas didn't seem to react to the stripper at all. Oh well, it'll all get sanded smooth and primered. More pictures to come once I make some more progress.

 

[zkengle]

I've made a little progress on the stove. I dont know if my stripper is old, but in some spots it didnt even dull the stoves green paint. In other spots it peeled right up. It took a couple evenings, lots of sanding, lots of stripper, but its starting to look fresh again. Right now it has a few coats of the Rustoleum's High Temp grill paint (white and black - both flat). And the fuel tank is a lovely gloss orange Valspar spray paint that matches the trailer well enough.

My girlfriend also helped me modify the cornhole game boards that I made to match the X-II. We painted over the blue with orange, and added some LED hole lighting.

Just about ready for the TearJerkers Cheasapeake Bay Cunningham Falls Gathering this weekend!!

 

[Breytie]

I dont know if my stripper is old

Funny enough, I also noticed the same thing: As strippers get older, they get less of a reaction !

Seriously: brilliant work, keep setting the setting the standard that high!