AZ Desert Rat 6X10 Prospecting Cargo Build

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Rear door pics are posted...

[RWH]

Hi RWH,
I have a son living in Savannah and hope to get down to see him this summer. If you are up to a trip to the outdoors while I am there, let me know ... I use the tools for the job, but prefer a detector.

My buddies are planning a trip late Feb to a place called Greaterville here in AZ ... none of us have been there before, so the trip should be interesting!

Absolutely, I work Saturdays but I am available Sundays-Tuesdays. I can take you up to our property in the North Georgia mountains and put you on the business end of my dredge, if you'd like. Just shoot me a PM when you head this way.

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi RWH,
Wow, that sounds great!! I have read about dredging, but have never had an opportunity to check it out ... Living in Arizona, the water is skimpy, but we have lots and lots of dry dirt!

That you for the invite and I will definitely let you know!!

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi all,
I finally got the preliminary (maybe perm) shelves in over the windows (both curb- and street-side). The shelves will really help get small and/or light items off the floor and up out of the way (I still may need to add an outer rail to help retain items, but will give the straps a try in an April trip to a mining claim south of Tucson, AZ.
As all TD & TT folks know, space is a premium in these small living spaces!
In remembering my goal -- to build a small cargo trailer for 1) camping and prospecting (where a second person may not always be the same) and 2) maybe an occasional (very occasional) cargo hauler, I needed to build strong, light, and accessories the least obtrusive as possible.
In doing so, I have dropped many of the nice RV appearances, but still wanted to maintain a very basic functionality with good looks and finished wood where possible (I hope I have done that).
I am still working on the lower galley shelves and need to find the right size baskets, install rubber mesh under the baskets to reduce chafing and movement. I hope to get the upper galley shelves in sometime in April, but in trying to get the Arizona house ready for sale and making the move to Minnesota, this may not happen to later this year!

Things left to do:
1- Install Battery Tender and Tongue Cover.
2- Install upper Galley Shelves.
3- Add french door locks to rear doors.
4- Install "C" rail for awning.
5- Make bunks hinged, side-folding, Murphy style.
6- Complete over counter back-splash and picture.
7- Install curtains.
8- Install window in door.
9- Finalize flooring ... probably carpet, but???
10- Hmmm, whatever I forgot to add here or comes to mind as the project grows...

In any case, the new photos of the back doors, shelves, and tongue have been added to my Gallery

[Rainier70]

I was looking through some of your pictures, and I had a question. Did you or the trailer company do the flashing between the walls and the ceiling? Do you have a picture of the rear area above the barn doors, and also of the flashing that is in the front above your galley area. That looks like it is a unique shape. Thanks!

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi Cindy,
The trailer manufacturer (LOOK) did the corner-flashing between the ceiling and walls on all 4 sides. I did the low flashing just above the galley counter and do not like how it turned out (the flashing was standard aluminum flashing and a bit thin for my taste). I plan on changing that when I replace the counter later this year.

I'll get some photos of the flashing for you probably tomorrow and post it to my gallery and a note here.

The company used a small channel and the flashing is bent at about 45 degrees and held by the channel --- I'll get a closeup for you.

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi Cindy,
The photos, you wanted, of the flashing are posted to my Gallery - I hope they help you

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi Cindy and all,
Here is the way that the inside wall to wall and wall to ceiling flashing is installed in my trailer (I also added this to my Gallery). It is fairly simple, leaves a finished look and if needed, a great place to hide wiring :

[Rainier70]

Nice detail drawing. Thanks for taking the time to post it.

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi Cindy,
I have to thank you for the post on paneling nails, in lieu of screws -- because of your post, I made the mfg put in writing that these fasteners were screws and even made him pull a couple to ensure they threaded in and were not driven!! Thank you and I will have to get in touch with you before I go north to check on a gold prospecting ...

Thanks again ...

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi Cindy,
I have to thank you for the post on paneling nails, in lieu of screws -- because of your post, I made the mfg put in writing that these fasteners were screws and even made him pull a couple to ensure they threaded in and were not driven!! Thank you and I will have to get in touch with you before I go north to check on a gold prospecting ...

Thanks again ...

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Whew I have been busy and just getting back on the site.

Well, move to Minnesota is finished, but the boxes are still stacked up to the rafters, so to speak!

I thought I would catch up on the gas mileage and changes to my TV. The gear change from 3:07's to 4:11's worked great. The gas mileage seems to take a downturn between 65 and 70, with or without the trailer and something a bit lower would have been better ... maybe 3:73's (the next jump for Chevy). In any case, I try to keep that speed needle between 60 and 65; 63-64 works pretty good.

I also added a wing because of the trailer height at somewhere near 30 inches over the truck. I went with a DIY roofrack and bracketed the wing to it ... it appears to be giving me about 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 mpg improvement. The first round trip from AZ to MN and back averaged about 7 mpg ... that was loaded from AZ and empty going back (against a heavy headwind most of the way). The last trip being very heavy loaded (I probably had the trailer overloaded and the TV was packed as well) from AZ to MN exhibited a considerable improvement to about 12 mpg ...

I will try to get some better numbers with the TV and trailer both set up for camping. Now, if I can get the stuff out of the garage, I will really be happy ... The only thing I like about moving is it forces one to toss/get rid of stuff not used too often.

Have a great outing ...

[lrrowe]

Hi John,
Glad you are back and are making your move successfully. And welcome to the Big Ten country( I went to college in MI).

In Cindy's thread, viewtopic.php?f=42&t=55219&p=1079154&hilit=Thule#p1076762, we traded comments about air foils and you posted one try at it. Are you using the same one, just modified?

If possible, can you post a shot of your latest try. I still believe in them, especially since I ordered a 6' 6" CT last week.
I am out shopping for truck caps for the back of my F150 and will have Thule racks added as an option. That will give me a base to use for a foil.

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi Irrowe,
Here are some pretty rough pics (I'll Try to get some better ones with the trailer hooked up) of the wing (picked up from Craigslist), roof rack, rack with wing - final adjustment is about half as high. The wing has a spring adjuster for 5th wheels and when I took the pics it was still on. I am making struts without the springs - I do not like them nor need them. I'll get some better shots when I find my camera ... where did I pack that thing

A wing install sight states that for a wing to work, the trailer must be within 6' of the trailing edge of the wing ... mine is about 4-1/2' and does work. The trailer stands close to 30" over the truck cab making the front of the trailer a huge dam ... the final adjustment took the bug line from about 14" to just traces at around 2". I realize this is no huge improvement, but an average of 2 mpg when towing is a savings over the year AND the wind surge when passing or being passed dropped considerably, as well as the headwind resistance was much better .

[lrrowe]

Very interesting. I will definitely keep your findings in mind when it becomes my turn. But first I have got to get the CT on the road and get some experience with it. I suspect I will be 18" above my truck cap. I ordered an extra 2" of ground clearance and 6" extra in the interior height.