AZ Desert Rat 6X10 Prospecting Cargo Build

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Hey what gives - lets not run down McAllen Texas - Brownsville is a lot cheaper
I hear they have RV parking for $300 per month & unlimited free 110 deg F heating

Just a little Cali humor in the morning

We have the same deal in Fresno for $800 per month & Fog in the winter.

[lrrowe]

No knock towards McAllen intended, but to really understand my feelings, one would have to cross the border everyday - back and forth each day. It was quite a trip many years ago, but today, I know there is no job worth my working on the other side. There was always a sense of relief that is very difficult to describe when you were returning to the US and crossed the border line in the middle of the bridge. I have no problem with Texas or any city in it.

[roadinspector]

No knock towards McAllen intended, but to really understand my feelings, one would have to cross the border everyday - back and forth each day. It was quite a trip many years ago, but today, I know there is no job worth my working on the other side. There was always a sense of relief that is very difficult to describe when you were returning to the US and crossed the border line in the middle of the bridge. I have no problem with Texas or any city in it.

There was a time many moons ago that a border crossing was nothing. Like you said I know there is no job worth my working on the other side. The border regions is a petty crazy battleground.

Earnest

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

They got really nice houses owned by some hard working Cocaleros in McAllen
They cross the border everyday for their JOB

Then there are some super large Makiladoras across the border also
Maybe both use the express lane at the border.
Those guys have big houses too.

Nothing wrong with a nice shack 3-5,000 sq ft for $2-300k

GOD BLESS TEXAS

[lrrowe]

Please let me clarify my preferences. I like Texas and would move there should the need ever arise....but only north of the southern part.
I live in Virginia and I like living here, but only south of the northern part around DC. I'll bet we all have similar feelings about many areas of many states.

[PKCSPT]

lrrowe you are right, we all have our preferences, anything in the southern United States is not for me. Too hot no snow. Gotta have my 4 seasons or I get kinda cranky and while every area of the United States definitely has its beauty and majesty Minnesota is my home.

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

I'm not sure you guys get my humor about TEXAS & Cali

I got places in both, each has good points @ each has bad points.
It's just really funny , that if your living in one state you only see the good side of your state
And the bad side of the other state.

One day we should do a comparison - it really comes out to 6 of one / half dozen in the other.
So I'll just keep on bashing both a little.


Jerry

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi all,
I'll try to catch up on everything!

Job--
I fell behind in my posts while trying to capture a new job, but finally decided that I could make it with a tight budget and a sharp pencil, so ... starting next week, I'll start the down the road of unemployed and retired! A bit earlier, but I am tired of the politics and BS!

Stove Grate Clips--
These look like they'll work! I think I'll order a few and see if they will fit ... thanks for the link!
I am still looking for a front burner grate and if anyone happens to trip across one for a 44-37 Vitreo Safari 3-burner (that is affordable), let me know ... Thank you in advance. If I do not find one, I may put the stove and matching sink up for sale and buy a new 2 burner Atwood and sink.

Mules--
The way Uncle Sam is changing the laws and closing public land, I may have to get a couple of mules just to get back in the woods, but I have not figured out how many it will take to pull my trailer! Seriously, I am what one might call a recreational prospector; I dig small holes with hand tools, do not use heavy equipment, fill ALL MY HOLES, and try to leave a small footprint. I stay on the roads an do not make my own; running off the beaten path and making new roads kills the grass and opens the land up to erosion and scrutiny by those that would rather the land was not used at all.

McAllen Texas--
Drove by there once, but never stopped. The company I am leaving has opened up manufacturing in two large towns in Mexico, putting hundreds of US worker out of a job! I am for American Made as much as possible and have watched the quality of products drop as companies send more goods offshore. I am not saying that the foreign workers are incapable of making quality goods, as the American companies send their American workers & Engineers to teach these foreign satelites how to do the work and set the standards. In reality, I believe that the the big companies are to blame for both quality and American jobs going overseas.

The old Prospector Logo--
Just decided to post my Blazer and Desert Rat CT while I work on cleaning up some old fuzzy artwork ont the old Prospector.

Anyway, I hope to catch up to you blokes sometime ... I would be nice to meet y'al

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi all,
I am sorry for not posting lately, but have been busy - busy . I had to make a trip to Minnesota and got back home to issues that needed attention (leaky faucet and a broken spray hose in the kitchen … no real damage done, just stuff to keep me from the trailer .

I finally got started on the interior … the 1st coat of varnish on all walls and ceiling is dry and waiting for sanding and the second coat .

I started the galley framing today and have the front frame screwed and glued together … hopefully tomorrow I can get the rest of the frame complete and installed .

I picked up the plywood for the cabinets (both the upper and lower galley) . While moving stuff around in the garage to get to the saw table, I found some old kitchen cabinet doors that look like they will give me a start on the lower doors ... none for the top, so those will need to be made; they won't match, but at least they will have doors until I can redue to lower doors or upper as the case may be.

I'll try to get some flics tomorrow ... if I can remember .

Later...

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Hey did you watch 60 minutes last week ? They showed how when your unemployment runs out
Folks applied for disability. Binder & Binder is the largest law firm in the US specalizing in those claims
In Cali we now pay felons out of jail on 3 strikes $1,000 month for rent.
If your poor - you gotta love Obama

Hurry post the pics - need ideas for my ceiling

[PcHistorian]

That is a sweet trailer. Thanks so much for that article on the leaf springs. I just had mine turned to axle underneath instead of on top. I needed the tire clearance and I need the height for getting in and out with my low profile awning. 6" change about. Not I can restore the wheel wells.

Mmmm, I'll have to line by line your forum here to to catch up on everything you're done.

Especially going to a trailer. I've done trunk, back pack, tail gate camping, but I wanted a nice soft bed, no acorns, sticks or stones, and a nice quiet interior good for rain, shine, or snow. Plus the 110v or 12v and a slew of other things. Like no set up or take down, small and light enough to tow with a 4 cyl engine... standardized tires so any break down could be fix where she lay, etc...

I've been going through a cubic inch by cubic inch agony over mine though. But then again we both bought the shell, but you had a direct say in the shell's build and I kind of got what God sent me. LOL It has been a great challenge though.

Great luck with yours and I'll be looking for more pictures. (outside looks extremely sweet though, of yours.

I had been considering a build like that, exactly. I would have put the side door further back though (side door you can have screens on for ventilation, but now they have those screens with magnets that you can use at the back. But you see, I had always figured to put the bunks against the front bulkhead. So as I say I am really looking forward to your interior design.

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi PcHistorian,
I have had about a million things going on, but finally got to work on the trailer again! After re-engineering the lower galley cabinets about a gazillion times, it is finally going together. I built it a bit stout ... I ripped my own 2x2's at 1-5/8" x 1-5/8" and then found some 3/4" multiple-ply, cabinet grade (Pine) plywood that is super light that I used to face the 1-5/8" x 1-5/8" frame. Glue and pocket-hole screws hold most of it together. Will finish the curb-side bracing tomorrow and see if I can find a piece of wood for the counter top.

Due to this being a 6' wide trailer (actually only about 69" inside), the bunks need to be on the wall for my height. I had the door narrowed and move forward to allow for a full 74" to the flat of the walls ... this will accomodate bunks that will not interfere with either the side or rear doors. I have the bed parts, but need to build the frames. I will start these after the galley (lower & upper) cabinets are completed.

The cabinet doors I thought I was going to use will not work as well as I had hoped and I scrounged enough to do all the cabinets, but they need to be cut down to fit ... I will see what happens when I do that!

I posted a few more photos in my gallery for those that are interested.

I guess I better get out of here for now and finsh cleaning up!

Later all...

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi all,
I apologize for long delay and no new photos ... my wife decided that we needed to use the trailer as a CARGO TRAILER and haul a bunch of stuff to Mn!!
Well, we are here for a few weeks and enjoying the cooold (at least for me), should be back in Az in Dec!
I hope all of you were safe in yesterday's storms throughout the Midwest!!
I finally got webmail and cable hooked up so I can visit the web ... take care and I'll drop-in soon!!
JC

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi all,
Phoenix, AZ from Minnesota return trip planned for the first week of December ... Brrr!

I had planned on returning to Phx via I-35 South to I-40 West to I-17 south into Phx. The weather is expected to be a high of 17F here (Near St. Cloud, Mn) next Saturday and I expect a very cold and nasty head-wind for most of the I-35 and I-40 stretches of the 1800 mi trip to Arizona (Hmmm, this Snowbird is taking flight a bit late).


I thought I would stop at a couple of KOA's for overnight stops; I never stayed at a KOA before and curious as to what you trail-weathered group thinks of my planned trail and stops (I am pulling about a 1600 lb. trailer at an overall length of 13 ft. by 9-1/2 ft. tall). I have made the trip before without a sleep-trailer and reluctantly slept a few hours in the front seat at truckstops (usually Love's due to auto parking availability), Wallyworld, and rest areas, but never felt comfortable/safe and sleep was never good ... even at a motel ($$$ ouch): thinking:

This will be my first trip where I plan to sleep in the trailer and appreciate any suggestions...
Thanks, JC

[Rainier70]

Some of those areas can be surprisingly cold this time of year. You may need to plan on somewhere with electricity so you can run a little electric heater. I have never camped in a KOA, but I think they have electric hook ups, so something like that is a good idea.