The Sentimental Journey Build

[wesrmartin]

Sorry to start documenting in middle of build, but that is the way it had to be this time... I'll get this stuff figured out eventually...

[Shadow Catcher]

Better late than never, is it a stripper?

[wesrmartin]

it is

[KCStudly]

Wow! That's a slot of slats! (I said to myself in my best Sylvester the cat impersonation).

[wesrmartin]

you ainta kiddin....!

[wesrmartin]

hope this works...found a couple pics wife had taken when the stripping started....ahem. the teardrop's stripping.



used steve Frederick's idea about hatches....think it is brilliant, and hope I did it okay!

[wesrmartin]

front angle view....stripping almost done here....this was about three weeks ago I believe

[RAYVILLIAN]

Wow Wes that's going to be one beautiful TD. How big is it?

Gary

[wesrmartin]

Thanks Gary! I just hope its a pretty as I've been dreaming about since I found tnttt! its an old pop-up frame, so 75" wide outside, and I extended it two feet over the frame (lengthwise) to bring it to 12'. (6 need to fit! ) the hatch circles out another foot, bringing the actual SJ to 13'.

[wesrmartin]

a look at how the inside is shaping up...
the "couch" back hinges down for sitting, and up for second half of bunk


cabinet layout, the slot is for the table top (hinged for storage), bench seats also hinged. old pop frame, had to deal with the wheel wells, figured why not make a bench seat for a table? storage under bench seats just enough for coloring books, paper (remember: 4 munchkins need rainy weather crafts!)


table in slot, legs not attached yet, but just above table slot is a hinged door for crayons and markers, and also conveniently hides electrical shtuff.

[wesrmartin]

and a look at our skylight and fart fan. I mean, fantastic fan.

[AlgoDan]

Looking good, also like the skylight...well done.

[wesrmartin]

thanks, dan! the skylight is a necessity for us! the kids still get geeked out that they will be able to look at the stars even on the coldest of nights now...or, at least, when its done they will...

[wesrmartin]

hmmmm.....the tongue is coming in at 240 lbs....have NO idea what the trailer is coming in at, but perhaps need to rethink even having a battery....it was going to be up front with converter....i'm not sure about being restricted to electric campsites only. anyone have any creative suggestions? I am definitely open to them! either battery placement, portable batter only for off-grid. All lights and fan are 12 volt. perhaps a genny? guess i'll have plenty of time....winter going to slow this build down, BIG TIME.

[Junkboy999]

You said Hatch? So it is going to be a rear kitchen right. Keeping a battery and an AC in the back would help the tongue weight. You will have about 60 - 80 pounds of camping stuff, Food, water, pots, stove in back as well. Without seeing picture of the back and maybe a side drawing it hard to suggest where to place things.

Is that space behind the wheel arch / bench spoken for?

An AC unit can be an item taken out and only used seasonally. My new camper will have a built in AC, but I leaning to having it easily removable. A simple box will replace the hole where the AC went and act asr more storage.

The battery is not an item you would want to take and remove alot. It would be better to leave in so It can charge off tow vehicle while traveling and use when needed. I have seen ( on youtube ) where people made a portable battery box and a solar setup to take when they are camping with out park shore power.