De-Lurking from Northern Nevada

[Dusty82]

Hello!

First of all, let me say that I love this website! I registered in January and have been lurking ever since, reading about the various builds, and just generally educating myself on all things T&TTT. The amount of information here is kind of overwhelming at first, but when you break things down piece by piece, it’s a bit easier to handle. Major kudos to everyone who takes the time to help poor schlubs like me who have more questions than a 5 year old on his first trip to the zoo.

I know this post is a bit long for an intro, but I have a lot to introduce…

It’s just the wife, myself, and 2 dogs here – all of our kids have grown and gone (YAY!) We live in the desert here in Northern Nevada, in a little town nobody’s ever heard of that’s about 50 miles SE of Reno. I tell people that it’s not the end of the earth, but you can see it from here…

We were given a 1978 Coleman Saratoga pop-up trailer over the summer, and I had planned on refurbishing it, but when we tallied up all that we’d need to get to make it even basically campable, we decided that we could get a decent quality camper for a lot less. We have since decided to strip it and make a TTT out of the frame. As a result, you can bet I’ll have LOTS of questions along the way, but rest assured that I DO know how to use the search feature on this board, so I’ll try to keep the repeat questions down to a minimum.

The Saratoga has an 11’ box on it now, so that’ll give you some idea of the size of this trailer. According to the 1978 sales brochure, the floor area is 10’6â€

[bobhenry]

Hello!

While I’ve never been a carpenter, I do have the basic skills needed for a project like this. I was once a custom cabinetmakerDusty

I thought a cabinet maker was 2 or 3 steps up from a carpenter.

You will have absolutely no problem with the skills and the nice toys you have at hand.

A pop up frame makes a great donor frame you will be able to sleep side to side and this gives you a lot more free floor space. Get to drawing and let us all look.

Welcome to the insanity ! Bob

[mandy]

Welcome Dusty There are several members from the Nevada, Kathleen and Dave, Shaun and Joanne(Desert Dog).
Have fun with your build and take lots of pictures for all of us.

[nevadatear]

And Debbie and Randy, plus the renoites! Dayton? Fallon? Silver Springs? Wabuska? Fernley? Hazen? Lovelock here, we know all kind a small. Are we in the same conference (our kids are grown too, but small towns still know their HS teams). Bettcha I have heard of it. Welcome. We have a Nevada group over on tearjerkers now too.

[High Desert]

Welcome Dusty. Sounds like you have good skills and a running start!

Several members in the N NV area these days. At least one completed build and a few in progress. I'm sure many will check in when they see your post title. I have two frames and a pile of pieces accumulated but life keeps heading me off at the pass for getting started lol.

I'm about 20 mi on the north side of Reno. Might see ya around sometime. Good luck on the build.

EDIT; there's Debbie now!

[Dusty82]

Thanks for the warm welcome, folks!

As far as a cabinetmaker being a step above a carpenter, don't bet on it. I mean I can build cabinets for a kitchen, but I don't know all the ins and outs of building the kitchen they go in. I've seen guys who can free-hand rip a sheet of plywood nice and straight with a Skillsaw, while I spend another 5 minutes making sure my table saw fence is set to the right measurement...

Maybe some have heard of this little town after all. We're in Stagecoach - like I said, it's not the end of the earth, but you can see it from here...

I've gotten pretty good with Google SketchUp, and plan on getting down to some serious sketching pretty soon. I think we have the basic interior layout figured out, but the overall outside shape is still up in the air. Of course I haven't even begun to strip the old pop-up yet, so final measurements will have to wait until I get that done. Also keep in mind that since my garage is crammed with tools, wood, upholstery, and garden stuff, I'll have to work on this outside in our driveway. Yep - I know winter is fast approaching (what's with all the rain this month?) so that in and of itself will be an adventure. I'll most likely get a portable garage to put up over everything to keep it dry.

I should also say that we have another pop-up trailer that we're currently refurbishing, so I'll have to divide my time between the two. A lot of the parts I remove from the Saratoga will be used to fix it up some, and some other parts will be used in the TTT. The Saratoga model featured 2 dinettes, with tables, so why not use one of them in the TTT?

I think that over the winter I'll focus on finalizing the design, getting the trailer stripped, modifying and strengthening the frame, and getting that all ship-shape in preparation to start the build come springtime. That also gives me time to make seat cushions, curtains, and the like.

Thanks again for the warm welcome, and know that I'm browsing YOUR build threads to see what kind of design ideas I can swipe...

[High Desert]

...and know that I'm browsing YOUR build threads to see what kind of design ideas I can swipe...

You're gonna fit in around here just fine

BTW, there is another member in the Stagecoach area that is doing a cargo conversion. I'll try and remember his name.

[nevadatear]

Actually I can see sagecoach from here. We are currently passing through on our way to markleeville for the weekend. Wave right now we r the rav4. There is actually another member in stagecoach although I haven't ssen a post in a while

[Cliffmeister2000]

Major kudos to everyone who takes the time to help poor schlubs like me who have more questions than a 5 year old on his first trip to the zoo.

Dusty

While I don't know what a schlub is, I'm sure we all were one when we found this site, except the few who were pioneers (Mike, Carter, and many many more).

Welcome from Sunny Arizona. 91º today. I'm loving it!

[Dusty82]

A schlub is basically an uneducated, untalented, oafish, or boorish person.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/schlub

Have a great trip to the mountains, NevadaTear! I love that area. Silver Lake, Caples Lake, and the surrounding areas are fantastic country!

And thank you for even more warm welcomes, folks. I'll keep my eye out for someone local doing a cargo trailer conversion.

[Cliffmeister2000]

A schlub is basically an uneducated, untalented, oafish, or boorish person.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/schlub

Nope. No shlubs on this forum!

[down under tech]

Hi Dusty: Welcome aboard. I am building my first TD. There is Pam M that is building her TD also here in Reno. I help her out when I can. There is atahoekid that building a TD this coming spring. Is Stagecoach anywhere near the back side of a west bound mule? All kidding aside, I know where it is.
Have fun on your build of the TTT "Standy" and the refurbishing of your pop-up.

[halfdome, Danny]

Thanks for the warm welcome, folks!

As far as a cabinetmaker being a step above a carpenter, don't bet on it.

Dusty, welcome to the forum.

I think what others are trying to convey is a Cabinetmaker does woodworking with more finesse than a Carpenter/Framer.
There are some very fine Carpenters and Cabinetmakers out there and some not so fine.
It was emphasized during my apprenticeship that Cabinetmakers were a cut above (Carpenters) and to keep up that tradition in the way you build things. Danny

[Dusty82]

Dusty, welcome to the forum.

I think what others are trying to convey is a Cabinetmaker does woodworking with more finesse than a Carpenter/Framer.
There are some very fine Carpenters and Cabinetmakers out there and some not so fine.
It was emphasized during my apprenticeship that Cabinetmakers were a cut above (Carpenters) and to keep up that tradition in the way you build things. Danny

Well, I'll not argue the "finesse" part of that statement - I've just never thought of myself as a step above a carpenter. We just have different jobs, that's all. Still, your point is well taken.

I started showing DW around some of the TD's you fine folks have built/are building this evening and she shocked the bejeezus out of me by telling me that not only did her and her ex have a TD years ago, but that she loved it. When I got my lower jaw off the floor and regained enough of my senses to form words, I told her that I was surprised that she actually liked something that small. She further shocked me by saying that they had a lot of fun in theirs and that she wouldn't mind another one.

So, I've now officially started looking at some of the larger TD designs here on the forum. We'll see what happens...

I tell ya - you're married to someone for 22 years and you think you know them...

[Juneaudave]

Welcome Dusty!!! You and DW have some fun with the design and build...and be sure to take lots of...