Whatcha do on your build today?

[KCStudly]

(Does) that mean I am (half) way done?

Yeah, sure... but but the last 20/ct takes 80/ct of the build time!!!

[working on it]

...the last 20/ct takes 80/ct of the build time!!!

In my case, the last 50% of the build was done in 30% of the time. And then there were the makeovers, taking 13% more time (from start to first camp outing). Even now, I'm starting more makeovers : removed the toolbox and battery to make a spacer/platform for a much larger, aluminum tonguebox (haven't ordered it yet). But, I'm making the platform based on the dimensions shown on its ebay listing. I used some treated lumber that I used on the original trailer. I put it on it 18 years ago (removed it before starting this build, and it sat in the woodpile for two years), and its still good. The older treated lumber is better than the new stuff.

[Glenn Butcher]

Weellll..... nothing per se today, but I spent the weekend putting the hitch receiver on the car (etrailer.com - good source!) and plugging in the wiring harness. The hitch was one of those, "looks easy enough" things that was rather tough for one person, even with access to a car lift and tall jack stands. While holding the hitch in place to set the first bolt, I dropped the washer and it rolled into the floor drain, never to be seen again. Most fortunately, the place at which I was working had a parts bucket, and I was able to find a rough equivalent. Wrangling muffler hangars was the most challenging operation (WD-40 is your friend, maybe), followed by threading the mounting bolts to the weld nuts in the middle of mufflers and all that other car-stuff. Took 2 hours to accomplish.

Don't see a lot about car hitches on the board, so here was my 'engineering': Local installers (U-haul, etc.) only had 1 /14" receivers for my Subaru Outback, and I wanted a 2", and etrailer came through with the appropriate Hidden Hitch for the best price and free shipping. They also had beaucoup resources for installation, including link to a video and plenty of pictures. 2" was important to me in the event I decided to get one of those receiver-mounted bike racks; 1 1/4" doesn't look like it would take the torque.

That behind me, I also received the Northern Tool 40x48 trailer kit last week, will probably assemble it tomorrow and/or Friday. It's immediate use will be as a bike trailer to take the grandkids and bikes to the park (we live on a hill, makes learning to bike ride challenging if not amusing...), but starting on the tear will have to wait until I can clear space in the garage to work. Then, I'll start the build thread...

[123jay]

What a great ideal Ron put a ribbon on it and wait till Christmas that I won't fell so lazy

[Kody]

I fitted and glued in the last two pieces of the wall framing into the side wall yesterday. Today I started to sand the framing level, some pieces are about .015" to .020" high and needed to be adjusted with the sander. I can now fill in all the spaces with the urethane foam and then cut them down to be flush with the frame pieces. The frame is 3'4" thick and the foam inserts are 1" thick. When this is finished, I will be laying and gluing the remaining side sheets onto the frame. I will be using the vacuum method I was shown in the thread. This looks to be the best and most accurate method to use.

Kody

[Jdhiker]

Hopefully will work in the barn on the teardrop tonight since no World Series game on .....I should be working on the galley upper cabinets tonight....this is where I am at now

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1382719868.326836.jpg (63.98 KiB) Viewed 833 times

[Jdhiker]

Also hoping my hatch hurricane hing gets delivered today or tomorrow. So I can get started on the hatch !!!

[Kody]

Wife said to me "What are you doing today?"
I replied, "Nothing".
She said "You were doing that yesterday!"
I replied, "I still haven't finished doing that yet"

Kody

[Juneaudave]

I've been repairing water damage, sanding, and varnishing for a while now...today I finished putting hardware back on the tongue box. It was in pretty rought shape as water got in under the glass along the edges and turned the ash pieces black in places. I cut off the delaminated glass, sanded back most (not all) of the black, sealed it up with new epoxy and used marine spar for the finish this time. The trailer is definately getting a patina that trailers get over time...but I think it looks well loved...

[nevadatear]

Still my favorite build of all time. Just gorgeous.

[michaelrsydney]

I had a really satisfying two days as my TD approaches the stage of being ready to camp. But are they ever really finished?

Electrics, fabricated a rear bumper, and did a temporary galley until experience tells me what I need. Four speaker stereo sounds great either in the cabin or from the galley.

The trailer lights are now all LED so I plan to fit a 20 watt solar panel and charge controller next week. Then there are a few small shake down trips planned

[Micro469]

I've been repairing water damage, sanding, and varnishing for a while now...today I finished putting hardware back on the tongue box. It was in pretty rought shape as water got in under the glass along the edges and turned the ash pieces black in places. I cut off the delaminated glass, sanded back most (not all) of the black, sealed it up with new epoxy and used marine spar for the finish this time. The trailer is definately getting a patina that trailers get over time...but I think it looks well loved...

Sorry to hear about the water damage. I lost my tongue box last year and it wasn't built nearly as good as yours.
On a side note, no malice intended, sure glad I'm not the only one that has water damage.... was beginning to doubt my building skills............

[Juneaudave]

Hey...Where you been John? Welcome back!

[pchast]

I cleaned off a workbench and restarted things by cutting foam and inserting
some pine hard points for hinges and door handle. It feels good to get back to it.

[Roly Nelson]

I'm having to cut compound angles on all of my wooden structural members and make carboard templates of all of the odd-ball plywood sides, in order to not make mistakes cutting the plywood. I've decided to have non-openable windows, no curved plywood or square corners, no flat roof or vertical sides and no doors on either side. The hidden galley works fine with the flip-up cabinets and the dogs will love the inside sleeping compartments above both of the fenders. On this one, I think I have the aerodynamic slip-stream problem solved. I'm still gluing and screwing, next step...fiberglass on the joints then comes the flat-black paint job. See ya at Shasta.
Roly, the li'l ol' So Calif woody guy