The 18 day build

[Gold5one]

You are making grand progress. I found that I really slowed down putting in the wiring for 12vdc and 115ac outlets ( not to mention the coax cables for my ham radio)
I have an inexpensive IR temperature gun to check wheel bearing temps-- you can easily monitor the new wheel bearings during their break in.

[Socal Tom]

Harper,

Glad things are coming together so well.

As far as driving and towing goes I think you are smart to plan less than 400
miles a day to start. When we drive to Ohio I like to take a day and a half with
the trailer. Yes we can drive it in a day but the last bit of driving can be a killer.

IMHO, I feel its best to stay awake, alert and alive.

Make sure you have a couple of hours built in to repack those bearings every
2000 to 2500 miles too.

I guess I must be a glutton for punishment. Ending each day at 400 miles on my trip would have meant stopping at 1pm each day. Most recommend repacking wheel bearings about once per year. If they are packed properly that shouldn't be a problem. Personally I use a bearing buddy cap, and push in a little after each trip. I haven't had any problems in the 3 years I've pulled it around.
Tom

[S. Heisley]

We're watching and cheering for you!

[hkeehn]

Thanks for the support! We're dropping into our second-to last day today, and it's going to be a big one!

I'll have pictures and videos as soon as I can.

With regard to road timing, I'm firmly in the less is more camp. I've got time to spare, and if I make two or three hundred miles per day I'll be pleased. Easy on me, on the truck, on the trailer, on Lola. More time for cooking and fooling with the ongoing trailer construction (because, please remember, this is only the skeleton that we're building.. construction continues for the next two months! I'm choosing my tool kit now).

I think I'll get those bearing buddy caps, too. They've worked well for me in the past. New radial tires yesterday to mount, too.



More soon, and thanks for watching!

Harper

[hkeehn]

last day! Going to make it

here's two more

https://youtu.be/TNrJvzifcn0

https://youtu.be/f8jSK6lz16g

more soon

Harper

[hkeehn]

Next two:

5/20: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu8gA0 ... MAWDs3uCWw

5/21: https://youtu.be/r4-wKajMO8s

Working on the door now!

more soon

Harper

[tony.latham]

Harps:

Great job!

I can't wait for the next newbie on this forum that asks, "how long does it take to build a teardrop?"

Tony

p.s. I tried to work that fast once. But I tripped. Hurt my nose.

[Adventure Time]

The time lapse makes it look like you ODed on Adderral.

[S. Heisley]

Have a good trip. Please take lots of pictures and report back here!

[hkeehn]

Hello everyone, I made it to Ohio safe and sound. Experimenting with working out of the truck now.

Thanks for the support!

Here's the final day of construction, including the completion of a 6 hr door, new tires, two coats of varnish, and putting on the plates: https://youtu.be/PPhyXOys93Y

more soon,


Harper

[tony.latham]

I'll bet a cold one at a campfire that unless you simplify your plans, at the end of your eighteen day window, the key word may have morphed to, "ludicrous."

Well... I think I upped the bet to three beers in the end.

You gonna be anywhere near the middl of Idaho on this journey? I guess ludicrous wasn't quite so ludicrous.

Great job,

T

[pchast]

Glad the trip went well.
How did she tow? Did you have to
modify your driving habits at all?

[Socal Tom]

I for one am impressed at the scope of the "upgrades" that were included vs the generic benroy that got included. This build will be a good benchmark for the time it takes to get one to a "camp-able" state.
I'm going to estimate ~450 hours? Working just weekends, and working alone would be less efficient of course.
Tom

[The Teardrop Nanny]

You made it, Harper. Congratulations on your build......and may it keep on improving as you do all the finishing touches.
Joanie
TDN

(P.S. I watched some of the YouTube footage and made comments there as well. Love the time lapse method! )

[hkeehn]

Hello from Colorado!

We sprinted out here, and I'm ready to slow down and get back to work. Glad to be west, though. Pchast, yes I notice the trailer and spend more time in the lower gears, especially in these mountains. And I've lost about 4 mpg. But on the whole it feels safe and stable. I can cruise on the interstate and climb steep hills. We weighed it at a truck stop and it came in at just 1080 pounds. I've got about 500 lbs of tools and materials (maybe more) in the truck now. So on it's work for my little truck, but comfortable.

Socal Tom, thanks! I'm excited to try out the pop-up front. Still need to put in screening... As for hours, I can't even guess. With all the help I had, it adds up quick. By the end we were working 14 hr days. And there are hidden hours too... I was planing for months ahead of time, scavenging materials, lining up my tools, etc etc. I could try to do the math but the easy answer is that it's a lot. Condensing it is dramatic, but I don't think it got done in any fewer work hours.

Joanie, thanks for the congratulations. I'd love to cook a meal with you and the Fog Crawler some day! I'm having fun with time lapse and will try to clean them all up when I get back home, whenver that is. I'll keep posting as I make additions.

Tony, I don't know if I'll get as far as Idaho this trip. But I'll get there eventually and happily take you up on our bet!

I'm running back to the mountains now, so a systematic accounting is beyond me, but here are a few more of my favorite photos from the last couple weeks:



The first is the bending jig you may have seen in the videos. I was surprised how easy it went. Having 8 people helped, haha!

I'm still figuring out the logisitics of the mobile shop, but this is definitely the way of the future, for me. My next project will be to take the bed off my truck, put on a flatbed and tool boxes, and really be ready to roll.

More soon

Harper