The 5x8 RollsRice begins...

[RollsRice]

Day 4
I have been out of town attending a security conference. I'm sitting there watching the powerpoints unfold as they discuss ways to search, find and beware of people...just like me. I was expecting to see my Match.com bio displayed at any moment. Thankfully I was able to leave the conference undetected so I could return to the build.

The question waiting for me as I returned was: How does the galley play out? I photoshopped several pics I had of various trailers and was able to "build" a pic that looked real good. However, that was followed by actually adding some measurements to the deal and that fantasy dissolved before my very eyes. Given my skill set, I had to don my "Dry Fit King" super hero outfit and figure it out.

I moved things around, thought about it, moved them some more. I talked myself out of perfectly sound decisions, such as weight distribution, in favor of maximized real estate. I came to the realization, again, that on the other side of the galley wall is the cabin wall. Who knew?

So then I focused my attention on the cabin wall. This is where I spend the time. This is where I shelter myself from the storm. This is where I hold my breath, click my heels and hope the cops move on to the next trailer. I was able to define the mainstays of my cabin.

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[RollsRice]

The crystal decanters appealed to me as they seemed to be at the opposite end of the spectrum from the teardrop concept. It turns out I like both ends of the spectrum. Having said that, they are round and do not fit nicely together, therefore wasting precious space that could be used for cigars. This epiphany, while startling and unsettling, led me to a decision I’m sure will bring rewards for years to come. I ordered crystal decanters with pump tops.

I know, I know. You are wondering how did this happen. Quite simple, actually. Even though I have bought three light fixtures for the cabin, with dimmers, it will still be a low light scenario. Have you ever considered how difficult it is to mix a proper drink in low lights environments? Now you could probably say, with some accuracy, that most drinks are mixed in a low light environment. And I would have to agree. But that is no excuse for an improperly mixed drink. Therefore, pump tops. It’s genius. It provides a perfectly mixed drink each and every time. How can you walk away from genius?

The decanters I ordered are square…no wasted space. This allows more room for cigars, very important, while providing an opportunity for maximized ice bucket, also very important. The pump tops give a measured delivery each time netting you a properly mixed drink, even in low light environments. Of course there are other considerations. The laptop provides music and movies, the perfect companion for a properly mixed drink.

I think now you can see my logic.

[Oldragbaggers]

You could be building a dog house, a bird house, or a toy box and it wouldn't matter to me. I would read you build journal for the pure entertainment value of it, no matter what the project. Keep it coming. I love it!!!

[RollsRice]

I believe it is important to include heritage in the build. The previous trailer I built with my daughter had a bamboo roof. Therefore I bought some bamboo and draped it over the top. My plan is to build the interior roof and then affix the bamboo after the fact to give that bohemian affect and to honor trailers gone before.

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[RollsRice]

Having gone as far as I could go with the cabin, for now, I moved my focus to the galley. The first order of business was to buy all the things that would go in the galley. That way I could don my Dry Fit King(DFK) costume one more time and determine how things could actually go.

I should take this opportunity to mention another rule that guides me through troubled waters. "If it doesn't exist...don't worry about it."

Yes, this needs more explanation. Being the DFK, I prototype everything first. If I come upon a space and say to myself, 'I'll put some shelfs here for storage' and I haven't identified what goes in that storage...it doesn't exist. I leave it open. I know that after my first trip on the road everything will become very clear. Why rip stuff out? Just leave it open and build it as needed.

Having said that, I broke all the rules by putting the ice chest, heavy, right next to the A/C, also heavy, in the very end of the trailer. I did this to maximize useable real estate. Thankfully, I have some experience with breaking rules. Once I go down the road and watch my baby wiggle and waggle from poor weight distribution, I can say to myself, "Yeah, I thought so..." and fix it. But hey, it might work. And it is the best usable real estate distribution.

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[rmef27]

really cool build,alot different than the normal build logs in a good way

[RollsRice]

Now there are some things I should point out. If you look closely, there is a double width table going in front of the microwave. The microwave is setting up higher so the door can open with the double table in the closed position, but it also conceals the fixture to hold the table in the open position doubling the table space. As it turns out, the stove with the gas canister attached takes up a lot of space so you need more space. The second table top slides right out and provides twice the work space with no hassle. Just slide it in.

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[Eric_kc0ahk]

Fun build to watch!
Keep up the good work!!!

[working on it]

RollsRice said:

I broke all the rules by putting the ice chest, heavy, right next to the A/C, also heavy, in the very end of the trailer. I did this to maximize useable real estate

I did the same thing... Possibly a major error, but I've moved weight around to compensate. Only problem then is getting too heavy overall. But, what's the point in building your own if not to create and solve your own mistakes. Besides, pack in what you want, or might need, and be satisfied that you did it yourself. Or so I say now, with an unfinished trailer....

[RollsRice]

Doors, doors...where are the doors?
No, not Jim Morrison. We know where he is.
I ordered my doors hoping they would get here by the weekend, but apparently the UPS guy couldn't get through the barbed wire, mine field, and doberman's.
But the weekend was not a total loss. I was able to upload my avatar, "Tools make the man."

[RollsRice]

So a very resourceful UPS man showed up yesterday wearing his ghillie suit with one of my Doberman’s hogged tied over his shoulder and delivered my doors!
I congratulated him on a job well done as we shared a wee bit of the old stuff before I sent him on his way. Don't worry...I gave him 200 yards before firing that first shot.

So this weekend will be a work weekend. Oh Mama!!
1) It’s place and measure the doors, prepare for the cut.
2) Order two dozen chickens for Voodoo sacrifice.
3) Make a final decision on the A/C placement.
4) Measure/prepare for A/C vent cuts in wall.
5) Pull floor, seal bottom with roof tar.
6) Chant ancient Voodoo incantation #2 four times (this was grandma’s favorite before she lost that eye…)
7) Pull walls, make cuts.
Go to hospital to have fingers sewn back on.
9) Share adult libation with pretty nurse at hospital.

I love it when a plan comes together.

[wlivesey]

The plan seems solid. I'm curious to see how it all worked out. Well - maybe not all of it...

[RollsRice]

Sorry about not posting. Been a little busy lately.

Itw as a learnign weekend. I now feel a kindred spirit with surgeons the world over. I pulled the walls and put them on the bench. Then I measured, re-measured, drew lines, erased lines. drew new lines. Then I measured the new lines, killed some chickens, thought about it some more. When I got to a palce where I could not put it off any longer, I picked up the saw, took a deep breath and took the plunge.

I tried not to think about the consequences of a mistake as I cut into that wall. Hence, the brotherhood with surgeons. In my case, I could just chunk that piece of wood, the one I had so much time invested in. Yes, it would hurt, but no one would die. That first door hole took about three hours. As luck would have it, it turned out really nice. The second door took about twenty minutes. It turned out good too.

So here's the question: Do surgeons line up patients, take their time on the first, gain confidence and whip through the rest?

After cutting the door holes, I rounded the back of the hatch as I had too much of an anlge in my wall. Then I moved on to cutting the vents for the A/C. I ended up moving the A/C back up over the axle. It probably wouldn't have made a difference, but it was bothering me. I figured it would bother me for the rest of time if I didn't move it...so moved it I did. The other reason was the vent would have been dangerously close to my toes. I saw no reason to give myself frostbite on purpose.

The other task was tarrign the floor with roof tar. NOw that was particularily nasty. ON the next trailer, if there is one, I will find another product to seal the floor. If I can't find something better than tar...I'll jus tlet it rot out from under me. Yep, it was that bad.

I also attached my four jacks to the frame. No more concrete bricks for me.

Next step:
I need to put the wall back in place and determine where the hatch will go...exactly. Then pull the wall down again and make the cut. I feel better about that now having had such success with the door holes.

The hatch cut should be the last for the walls. Now I can move on to treating the interior walls of the cabin and doing those things that are easier with movable walls. I might run the electrical in the galley. I think I will run a line along the bottom of the cabin/galley wall. One side feeds the cabin, the other the galley.

Delays:
So I have lost two weekends to lawn tractor issues and very tall grass. I will not bore you with the details, but suffice it to say a $3.99 part has cost me well over $2,000. I could have added a hot tub to the teardrop, but noooooooo. I will never do business with Sears again.

My baby is going to her senior prom this weekend so I doubt much work will get done on the teardrop. I have been spending time at the gun range preparing for when her date arrives. I have already dug a spot for him behind the barn. I'm sure he will make great furtilizer.

[RollsRice]

The galley re-arranged for weight

[RollsRice]

The cabin featuring the non-frostbite approach.