Our Next Mega-Mini

[Shadow Catcher]

Look at the complete write up. The hoses have a plastic reducer that is warped in a closed cell neoprene that gives an air tight fit inside the RV duct fitting on the inside. The ID on the RV vent is just a bit smaller than that of the deck plate. You can see just a bit of the RV vent cover in the 7th picture down.

[Shadow Catcher]

We are kind of in the final (OK is it ever final) stages of construction/modification of Compass Rose.
Compass Rose is now legal, I was using the license from our little utility trailer as the Certificate of Origin had not come with the trailer and Eric did not want to spend the 200+$ to buy a package of them. Ryan of Lefty Original's gave me one which I sent to him and he completed and returned. Nancy has been nervous every time we went out with the wrong plate even though I kept a record of my exchanges with Eric and could prove ownership.
There are still a number of projects yet to complete, addition of two Perko latches in the galley hatch (the galley would not stay shut while traveling, the addition of the shower, a gas point for the grill, the completion of the air shocks/suspension install and addition of a plug for 12V to feed the refrigerator (Anderson Power Pole) which will arrive today.

[aggie79]

Tom,

It is good to hear that things are winding to a completion for you. I know that must be a good feeling to get dedicated plates for the Compass Rose. (I'm still swapping tags with my utility trailer.)

Take care,
Tom

[Shadow Catcher]

It has been a long time since I updated this and while I have made comments elsewhere I felt an update might be of interest.
There was and still are a number of problems most of which have been corrected.
The wiring with the common leg of the AC and negative of the DC "grounded" to the frame did indeed toast the battery and reduced it to less than half of its rated capacity it also killed the Progressive Dynamics converter which they replace no question with in 14 hours.
I just replaced the Chinese made AGM battery with a 150AH Lifeline battery weighing 100#.
This week I received the Morningstar Sursine 300W inverter and transfer switch and I need to order a meter to monitor battery state of charge.
Gas line will be replaced, it is the lowest point under the trailer and just asking to be taken out by a rock, I will install the Bullfinch gas point and shower point when I do that.
Solar panel mounts were installed using 3M VHB tape (no holes). I acquired a 144W Unisolar flexible solar panel for $67 which was a tear off from some ones house and spent four days getting the glue off, it is about 8' long and I will use it to set out in the sun on an extension when needed. it is 44 OCV (open circuit volts) and I found a simple STECA PMW controller capable of 47V.
Sirius receiver was wired in, I used a marine antenna through the roof.
The air shock suspension addition is being re-engineered to accommodate brakes.
One of the BIG problems we had is that the galley hatch would not stay closed and this is the fault of the handle/latch used. It is a slam latch and the plunger even when locked will gradually work its way up and release. I found a couple of Perko hatch locks that have been installed however and will take care of the problem!
The Galley hatch will have to be removed and the hings secured properly, the seals don't work because hinge is sagging on one side and the hatch is at an angle.
Using the Kedar/awning rail worked very well and give a lot of flexibility, we do however need to add a couple of grommets to the Pahaqua rear tarp at the bight of the galley hatch as water during a storm cause it to sag and collect instead of going over the Kedar and flowing off the front of the trailer.
Becoming paranoid about the Goodyear Marathon tires (ALL trailer tires are now made in China) I will be replacing them with Michelin Harmony tires (not made in China). I will also have a swing arm spare tire carrier made for the rear of the trailer.

[Sarge]

Tom,

I realize that this thread has long been dormant, but I was wondering how the tarp under your trailer has been holding up. I recently got a 'new to me' Three Feathers Tumbleweed TD and it has a tarp under it and it appears fine, but it is a 2011 and still fairly new.

Thanks in advance,

-Sarge

[Shadow Catcher]

The tarp under the trailer has held up well. It was ripped during the accident, and repaired.
I check it periodically i.e. I do a leak test of the gas lines each year (found two leaks this year) and had to change out the trailer to TV wiring.

[Sarge]

Thanks for the update. Seems like an easy enough item to monitor and repair. Sometimes the simplest solutions work well.