Hybrid Foamie in Southern Alberta

[Shar]

Big progress today! Several friends and family members came over to visit with the new grandbaby, and one of these friends was J., a cabinet maker who has given me good advice several times and helped assemble the trailer frame, back in April. I asked him about how to lift up the trailer in order to tuck the canvas edges underneath. I suggested that 2 people could lift one end of the trailer up with pry bars, while a third one slid a 2x4 across from one side to the other, then the trailer could be lowered down onto the 2x4. The other end could be lifted the same way.
J. said it would be easier than that. He crawled under the trailer and lifted up one end of it WITH HIS ARMS! My daughter and I slid the 2x4s in place. Then he lifted the other end, and we blocked it. I went on to glue all the canvas edges in place, then J. got under the trailer again and we removed the 2x4s while he held it up! Talk about your incredible Hulk!
He said it wasn't as heavy as he expected.
Here are some shots of the finished edges. I used a lot of push pins along the bottom and around the wheel well, and we put shims in some places where the canvas wasn't snug enough with the frame (just till the glue dries). J. complimented my work, saying that when he lifted it, the frame was rock solid with no flex at all. He says that he is now considering using canvas when he builds his tear next summer!
In one of these pics you can see the small folding counter I installed yesterday.

[Shar]

A minor course change. With the deadline almost upon me, I have decided to postpone adding the wind deflector on the front of the trailer. J. says that the trailer is close enough to the size of our tv that it will be easy to tow in any case. Mark agrees. If they are wrong, we will know soon enough on our first highway tow! In any case, there isn't time to build it for now.
The weather continues to harass. Today it was sunny, but I had to work. I was planning to paint tomorrow, but rain is forecast for Tue, Wed, and Thur. Friday is supposed to be sunny but I am back at work by then.
I realized that the only days this week I could paint were: today after work, and Friday after work(maybe). So I took my big bucket of paint and put a coat on the trailer after supper this evening. Pics to follow tomorrow.
The paint is another story. I got three gallons of good quality paint at Habitat for $5 each. They were all different colours. I mixed the beige and the brown together, because I didn't want 3 colours, nor did I want to mix all of them together. I ended up with a greenish colour and a brownish one; when the sun comes up tomorrow I will see what they look like, and take a pic.
I need to buy the hinges for the door. Does anyone have an opinion to share about piano hinges versus regular door hinges?

[bonnie]

The Nookery has a piano hinge. Works well. Really depends on your wishes, though.

[Shar]

Thanks, Bonnie. I guess I am wondering what the advantage of a piano hinge is, compared to ordinary ones. I should check to see if they come in a good size for my door, too. One of the rainy days this week will be good for door building, and hinge shopping.

[mezmo]

You're making nice progress. I don't know if you have any
decorative scheme going, but your pic showing the iris next to
the mottled wall would be a great decorative effect to use.
You'd always have a flower garden with you when you camp.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[Shar]

Thanks, Mezmo! At the moment the trailer is very neutral, but pizzazz may be coming later. I have one daughter who is good at painting murals, and has offered to decorate it for me. That will be later in the summer, after our big trip in July. Right now I just need to get it campable.

[tac422]

I need to buy the hinges for the door. Does anyone have an opinion to share about piano hinges versus regular door hinges?

I had to replace the piano hinge that was originally on The Big Pink with some non mortise low profile surface mount hinges like this (below) because I didn't have room for the piano hinge after I canvased the door and frame. I didn't allow for the thickness of the canvas and paint, it was a tight fit. I didn't want to put the piano hinge on the outside hinge where it would show, but they work well....

http://www.lowes.com/pd_40467-1277-8386 ... facetInfo=

[Shar]

Thanks, Tac! When installing piano hinges, do you need to mortise anywhere to make room for them? I might have enough room in the door frame, or I might not- I might end up bringing one home and test-fitting it.

We threw together another rain shelter today, so that I could paint the roof. 2x4s are set in the stake pockets of the trailer, braced to each other, and tied with rope at the top. Then my biggest tarp is spread over them and anchored to trees & fences in the yard. It worked fine and I got a coat of paint put on the roof despite "isolated showers".

[tac422]

Thanks, Tac! When installing piano hinges, do you need to mortise anywhere to make room for them? "

I used the surface mount hinges because I didn't want to cut the canvas.
It looks nice, I'll try to get a picture for you.
I could have mortised the piano hinge, ( or any other hinge) but the low profile hinges fit and work well.

[Shar]

Yes, Tac, I would love to see a picture of those hinges!

I had the morning to work on the trailer today, so I installed the roof vent and attached rope cleats to the four upper corners of the trailer. I want to have lots of place to attach lines when setting up tarps in a campsite. I also did some more work on building the door, which is almost done.

Some of these pictures are taken from under the rain shelter, so the colour is off. But it gives you an idea of why I felt so good when I went to work this afternoon!

[Shar]

Oh, I can't resist, I also must show the knock-down shelves I installed on Wed. When we are moving the trailer, I will take these shelves down, but when we are camped they will be easy to put up again. The bottom level is my fold-down counter.

[bonnie]

Oh, I can't resist, I also must show the knock-down shelves I installed on Wed. When we are moving the trailer, I will take these shelves down, but when we are camped they will be easy to put up again. The bottom level is my fold-down counter.

That's a great idea!

[Shar]

The basic shell of the trailer is complete now, with only the door and windows to install to make it weatherproof. Today we put the windows in, using machine screws to fasten the (outer) window to the (inner) clamp frame that came with it. I applied putty tape between the window and the outside of the trailer, then caulked around the edges as well. I figured it can't hurt to take every precaution against those sinister raindrops.

I also worked on the door some more, cutting out the spots where the hinges will go and putting some trim around the edges to keep water out. It looks like the door will fit properly: tomorrow maybe I will be able to install it (after work).

There is a short list of other details to take care of, but once the door is in the trailer will be almost campable- I can't believe it! Three weeks ago it looked IMPOSSIBLE but tomorrow is the deadline and we are almost done.

Here's a picture of one of the windows. Can you see my secret helper?

[inthewoods]

Looking good! You are almost there.

[Shar]

Working most of this week, but doing little things on the trailer before and after work.

Yesterday, got the door ready to install, then discovered that somehow, the top half of the door is 1/4 inch narrower than the bottom! Clearly some shims are in order! Being a newbie, it took me a while to figure out how big they should be and where they should be attached. In the end, it was too late for power tools by the time I knew what to do, so after work today I will give it another go.

Here's how the mostly-finished door is looking. The window (grizzly-detector) is just a sheet of plexi that I screwed/caulked to the frame. It can't open but it was cheap and easy to install.