Doubltap's DoubleSnuggleBox

[Doubltap]

Well sports fans, it has indeed been a productive week! Here it is early Sunday morning, and I finally have time to post an update of last weeks activities and progress! Here are a few pictures of the progress on the 110v AC power circuits:

In the first picture, you can see tools laid out on the galley counter as I begin to run 110v AC circuits. The galley duplex outlet is seen in the second picture, and the third and fourth pictures depict the roof line run of the 14ga wiring to the front duplex outlets, and the port side outlet complete with multiple outlet / USB charge port capability. [The starboard side will have a similar arrangement.] Now, for more pix:

At the far left, one can view the Atwood center with 110v AC power strip to the left, and 200w battery powered inverter directly below the Atwood panel. The Power strip will run the small 5k BTU air conditioner, and the inverter is there to provide power to laptop computers and similar small electronics when the trailer is not connected to 110v AC current. [Either "shore power" or generator]. The second photo shows wiring in progress in the front wall as concerns the 110v AC outlets. The third photo shows the back wall installed behind the spot for the Coleman thermoelectric cooler, and the installation of a 12v DC outlet directly below the 110v AC duplex. The 12v DC will be for the powering of the Coleman cooler. The fourth photo, on the far right, shows the additional framing placed below the edge of the galley counter on both the battery/sink and the AC vent side. This was done due to what I felt was excessive flex in the 3/8 ply counter top at the rear edges. Now for some photos detailing the front wall duplex outlet install for the 110v AC circuits as well as the 12v DC outlets:

The first photo on the left shows the two duplex outlets installed, with their companion 12v DC accessory ports right above them. The next two photos show a closeup of the port outlets, with the third photo highlighting the addition of a multiple outlet accessory that also transforms the 110v AC into 5v DC available through a pair of USB style charging ports, even including a little shelf below the outlets onto which one can ostensibly place one's cellphone during a charge! The far right pix is of the front wall of the trailer with both duplex outlets installed, but with the 12v DC plugins awaiting the run of their cable.

Far left on the top row of the next eight pictures included above is a shot of the "control area" with two new additions to the right of the Atwood, namely a keyed battery cutoff switch [lower] and a 25a DC circuit breaker for the inverter. [Since a 200w inverter has the potential of drawing close to 20a of 12v DC when operating, I did not want to place this unique load on the Atwood panel, but rather fused it [circuit breakered it? ] separately via a leg directly off of the load side of the battery cutoff switch. Picture #2 shows the battery installation of a Group 31 Deep cycle - a real BFB ! [Biggest Finest Battery !] The next three shots document the completion of the front wall 110v AC and 12v DC power outfitting. Pictures 6 and 7 show the addition of a voltmeter to check battery status, and a push/pull on off switch for the voltmeter located directly below it. Picture 8 takes a look at the install of an 8" ceiling light in the cabin [12v DC light]. Now for a final set of nine photos in this post:

The first shot shows the voltmeter activated, and reading out a good 13v DC! Next we have two shots of the switch for the cabin ceiling light. The switch is located right above the entry door on the port side. In the second photo, you can see the red indicator light, showing that - in the next pix - the ceiling light is activated and shining away! Pix five and six show the galley light; a two bulb affair with an integral SPST switch. Photos seven, eight and nine show the installation of two adjustable reading lamps at the front of the trailer [12v DC, of course!]. Right above the lamps in the 7th pix is the start of the framing that will support the cabinetry for the Jensen stereo system [far port side], and [possibly] some speakers. Oh, and there will be another light located amidships on the bottom of the cabinet. This light will have two bulbs and two switches, independently selectable for the use of either party.

Well that's all for now. Tomorrow, Sunday May 12 [Mom's Day!] should be clear and fairly warm. Hopefully, after having attentively performed the requisite protocols of matriarchal veneration, I will be able to once again get back on the project, hopefully getting the front cabinet framing finished. Whatever, the coming week is supposed to be super, so I'm hopeful that I will again have a bunch to post by the end of the week!

[Doubltap]

The next four days look very promising. Hope to get the stereo and a good portion of the cabinetry installed. Will post pix each evening if I have time

[Doubltap]

Well, that week went by fast! Been real busy, but have some more progress. Now the AC and DC wiring is complete, and the front cover has been placed on the Atwood power distribution center panel: The interior stereo speakers were mounted directly above the Atwood power panel: And the stereo itself was "dry run" mounted in it's spot high on the port side of the cabin: The shelf on which it is pictorially situated will be trimmed out prior to permanent mounting of the stereo receiver. Well, back to getting the roof on, and hopefully will have some more pix posted tonight or tomorrow for sure!

[Doubltap]

Well, here it is noon on Saturday, May 25th, and a lot has been accomplished since my last post of Thursday the 23rd. Here you can see the front plywood affixed to the trailer: The joints are all sealed with silicone, and the edges covered with roofing tape. [Thanks to Bob Henry for the recommendation concerning "ice dam tape"!] In another picture, here is a long shot of the camper with the front board on: Next are pictures of the roof covered with plywood, and coated with a double shot of Sta Kool elastometric roof coating. Note the beige tint: I had tinted the coating for another project [boat], but figured it would work just fine for an underlayment coating. The aperture has been cut for the roof vent, and all edges will be treated with roofing tape [great stuff]. One caution about the tape though, DO NOT take the paper backing off until you are TRULY ready to tack it down, as it sticks INSTANTLY to anything it touches!

Here is the galley just about totally trimmed out with tile on horizontal surfaces and a dark wood trim on all raw edges and corner joints, and awaiting the installation of the back panel / hatch configuration. The tiles will probably be given a coat or two of polyurethane to ensure that no moisture permeates to the wood underneath via the seams between the tiles. The appliances were temporarily installed to determine the propriety of their placement, and to ensure their functioning: The sink and faucet are installed, but not yet plumed. The sink retained on the tile surface with clear silicone, and also by fasteners associated with the faucet: The extra silicone around the periphery of the sink will be cut and removed when it is cured. A view underneath the counter top reveals the close proximity of the sink to the battery box: Careful plumbing will be necessary to avoid conflict.

The A/C was installed to get a function test on the camper's internal circuits. The back [condenser] end of the A/C under the kitchen counter: The wood under the A/C has been triple coated with polyurethane to prevent rot, but there will also be a water tray of sorts placed under the unit to prevent seepage of condenser water into the trailer floor, and ensure its proper drainage out the rear of the camper.

A note of good news in regard to the battery & the sufficiency of its size for this particular application: Last night about 2200 hours I closed up the garage for the night, camper inside, with the Coleman cooler running and the trailer unplugged from the 110V AC. This morning @ 1000 hours, [12 hours later] the battery STILL was showing 12v on the Voltmeter, and the cooler was running briskly along! Trial drinks were COLD!

Well got to get going today, as I'm going to attempt the placement of the rubberized roofing I purchased. More later on!

[Junkboy999]

Great to see you back at it. Are you gonna be able to get in any camping this year?
Maybe even some Yard camping. Keep it up

[Doubltap]

Terry, I'm actually shooting for a local camp out gathering near Maple Hill over the 2nd week of June! If the weather holds, I should be pretty much done in the next 10 days or so. I may not have all the cabinets I want in the cabin, but it should be campable, even without the "extra storage" in the cabin! Thanks for your interest, and hope you are doing well.

[Doubltap]

Well, it's Sunday night, and a lot was accomplished today. For starters, the water tank and pump were mounted, and the front fascia was placed on the trailer: The water tank and pump, actually a new Harbor Freight 14 gallon sprayer w/12v DC pump, will only run on demand. If there is no water demand the system will stay pressurized, and the pump will not run. There is a switch that controls the pump in the galley inside roof just to the left of the overhead light. This way, the system can be shut off when sleeping to prevent an inadvertent leak from draining the system. Next, the plywood panel for the rear of the galley was cut and test fitted: Rear plywood, to which the two hatches will be mounted, is cut and test fitted to the trailer body. The doors are off center to the starboard side for good reasons: The large hatch must have an opening far to the starboard side to 1]allow for ease in opening the Coleman cooler door, and 2]allow for the cooler to be removed from the galley w/o having to remove the hatch and/or rear panel. The small hatch was given similar asymmetrical treatment to maximize the amount of breathing room for the A/C unit. I also hooked up the electric and water line to the front tank: The water supply line and the 12v DC power supply are hooked up, and the tank is filled and ready to go! And .....Voila! Well, 1/2 of the water system is now operational: the on board 14 gallon supply. Click on the picture to zoom it up, and you will see water flowing from the faucet! The connections under the counter were made with a combination of galvanized [very little, actually], CPVC, and reinforced plastic hose. The on board connections are complete, even for the exterior shower [temporarily mounted to facilitate accurate plumbing measurements, and to test the patency of the supply lines to the shower]. The sink drain hose [re-purposed salvaged vacuum cleaner hose] can be seen running out the back to a 5 gallon "grey water" bucket placed under the trailer for that purpose. Here is the waste [grey water] bucket: In actual practice, I will probably use a 5 gallon paint pail, and put the hose in through the screw on cap aperture.

Oh well, tomorrow [weather permitting]I'll get the rear panel skinned, the hatches mounted, and the panel mounted to the trailer. Good night for now!

[Doubltap]

Well, did not get much done today. Rain all morning and part of the afternoon! Did manage to get the other half of the water system plumed ["city" water side], and to get the FRP for the rear hatch panel cut out for the hatch accesses. Hopefully, I can get some dry days this week, as I'd like to get this thing done.

[Doubltap]

Well, more rain yesterday[Tuesday] Had a meeting to attend in the afternoon, so that broke the day up as well. Did manage to get out to a surplus shop and pick up a good used bathroom scale for $4.00. I will be using the scale to monitor tongue weight as I round out the trailer. I'm shooting for about 800-900 overall, with a 100 to 125 tongue weight. The way things appear to be working out, I will be able to control the tongue weight very effectively through the amount of water stored in the tongue mounted water tank. Since I can not imagine needing the whole capacity of 14 gallons at any one time, filling the tank to 8 or 9 gallons should get me the desired weight. [Additional water can always be added at a campground facility immediately before camping. One does NOT need to carry a full complement of water down the road whilst traveling to the campground. Hopefully a clearer and drier day tomorrow.

[Junkboy999]

Did I miss it somewhere? What are you going to use for cover the chipboard inside? Len used that automotive carpet and it looked really nice. I did buy a sheet of FRP for a test for the inside of my Lil Wood. Still have not got to cut it out yet.

[Doubltap]

Actually, Terry, I'm going to Polyurethane the hell out of the OSB, set it off with some nice trim to cover the edges, and I'm there! Strangely enough, I find the abstract patterns of the OSB attractive in an "art nouveau" sort of way! Note the galley shot, here with the trim added: and perhaps you'll see what I mean. The floor in the cabin will be tiled in the same material used in the galley, and also given 2 or 3 coats of poly to ensure that moisture does not find an easy path between the tiles to the flooring beneath. Here are some more pix of what I got done today [before the rain started this afternoon]:

Got the rear hatch board installed: Then installed the rear FRP skin and lower hatch: Next is a shot of all the tools [not including the electric drill!] used to prep the upper hatch for installation: After the upper hatch was installed, I used a 2x4 as a temporary prop rod to display the open hatch for this shot: I then took a close up of the galley interior through the hatch opening: [Note the "cutting board in progress" over the sink bowl!] Lastly, here is a pic of the rear of the camper with both hatches closed:

Tomorrow, weather permitting, I'm going to shoot for getting the FRP on either the port or starboard side, and also getting the associated door, window, vent, etc. installed on that side.

[Doubltap]

Well, got the port side skin cut out and mounted with temporary tape Thursday afternoon, but did not have time to get the door, window, and rear quarter utilities [exterior water, 110v AC electric, and outside shower box] mounted: Hopefully, I can get those things done today [Friday] and maybe even get the starboard side w/ window and rear vent mounted as well!

[Doubltap]

Well, Friday was a VERY productive day! The cabin door and window were sealed with silicone and mounted on the port side: Also, the external shower, water hookup, and 110v AC inlet were given permanent attachment at the rear of the port side: Most of the starboard side was also finished, as the 48" window and A/C intake, battery vent was installed with a silicone seal around all edges: The porch lights remain to be installed on both sides, but will not be put on until the roofing and roof edge molding / side corner edge molding is installed. Hopefully, I can get most of the roof done tomorrow!

[Junkboy999]

ok Looks like you read to go.


Hope to check it out at some gathering. Not sure if the ITG, on june 29 in Minden NE is still going on. what I read the ITG this year is a 3 day driving loop ending at Minden NE. on the 29th.

[wagondude]

Wow! I go on vacation and you just about have it all buttoned up. Looks like you made good progress despite the weather.