Suitability of Design

[Shadow Catcher]

There are a number of grades of what I am going to call 'suitability of design'. The creative, adaptive reuse, repurposing of this group, is to me highly interesting and I have gotten some great ideas. However what I see falls into a number of categories and I am trying to quantify them formally
1) what were they thinking, (or were they thinking at all).
2) make do (it sort of works, even if it is a pain in the ass to use),
3) works OK (but is still a pain in the ass to use)
4) works well (but is still a bit of a pain)
5) works well,
6) works beautifully, does exactly what it is supposed to easily, and does not waste your time.

And I think the last "does not waste your time" is my key to suitability of design.

[mechmagcn]

And I think the last "does not waste your time" is my key to suitability of design.

But due to monetary concerns, not everyone can follow that path. I respect folks who can build something out of nothing because that is all they have to work with, been there and done that myself

[Shadow Catcher]

Jeff
I absolutely agree and suitability of design is not entirely about
As an example the adjustable tarp poles I am using started life as paint roller extension poles with a 1/4" SS bolt (head cut off) threaded into the end to fit through the grommets. Got the idea at one of the Tearjerker gatherings.
I was looking for an aluminum housing for the Eberspacher heater and found a surplus case used for holding night vision goggles, I have removed all of the olive drab paint and am polishing up the case, $10 on ebay.

[mechmagcn]

Jeff
I absolutely agree and suitability of design is not entirely about

I have to agree, some of the materials that I used in my build would have been better left as they were, one example is the P/U frame, after modifying it to fit and buying a new axle, I really wasn't money or time ahead.
Now the cherry lumber that I made all of my trim from, since the tree was cut from my property and I did all of the milling, I guess it was worth it.

[Weirdnerd]

Sometimes one needs to step back and watch, once you get the new perspective, it's easier to continue whatever you are doing....I finally figured it out after spending 28 days grinding 7 plies of carbon fiber on an area of 36x48, each ply is .003 of an inch, if you go through half of it, you need to extend the grinding area one inch all around the damaged spot, I had a " lightbulb" moment and now I take my time to see before doing.

Same is with the camper.....you imagine, look, see what you have and adapt it to your needs...no two teardrops are the same.