7x14 ChiefBuild

[chiefb711]

I think I got pretty lucky now though, my new neighbors that moved in this transfer season a both pilots and I'm a 60 mech so we all get a long pretty dang good. I did the pre-emptive nice neighbor thing and cut their front grass while he was on deployment

Well that was nice of you...I did that for one of my neighbors while they were gone on leave. They aren't all bad!

[chiefb711]

Got my rubber flooring, laid it out while the trailer is parked in its new spot at my friends house. He is the same guy that is going to help me weld my bed frame together. It's really for the best that I had to move it, because it gave me a valid reason to bug him about a parking spot at his house.

I rolled out the rubber mat, and got a good pic of it in front of my beer hauler and beer fridge.



I figure I might as well show what's going in the toy hauler once it's all completed...Not all at once of course

[chiefb711]

I went and got my aluminum for the Bed frame today. Getting some welding done later this week. I hope to have some living space late next week. We will see...here's a pic of the aluminum.

[chiefb711]

I got to thinking last night about a headboard for my bed lift. I think I figured it out. I will construct my bed frame as originally planned, and take a simple bench cushion, some hitch pins, and a piece of conduit. I am using unistrut, so I will use the holes I'm drilling that make the bed adjustable and I can put the headboard on either side. With this design, It is fully adjustable, and I will use the hitch pins I had already intended on using for the bed frame. Here is a mock-up:



I am going with a bench cushion like this:
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Pi ... archidx=23

and these hitch pins, 6-each:
http://www.amazon.com/Koch-4011213-Hitc ... =hitch+pin

[chiefb711]

Getting some work done on the trailer tomorrow. I picked it back up from my friend's house after I got my 72 hour pass. I also got some inside info that housing never makes rounds on the weekends...so I get free weekends (no pass). If the neighbor makes a complaint, and they drive out and there is no trailer, the complaint is unfounded and nothing happens. So it was a good day today.

I have an appointment with the Toyota Dealer on Thursday to get my Leaf Spring TSB done, and I just ordered my air springs. By the end of the day tomorrow, I should have 30amp service, wiring for the lights and A/C complete and completed walls. I might even get a coat of paint on the walls. My goal for Thursday is to get the floor installed and turn the back ramp into a patio. I don't have any plans for Friday, but that's probably going to be my make-up day. Saturday weather should be decent, so I'll install the awning then.

I only have a few days of leave left, so this weekend is it for a while...at least until the following weekend. We have a trip to the Dunes in Oregon planned for mid-October. I'll post pics tomorrow after I throw in the towel.

Stay tuned!

[chiefb711]

So I didn't get everything done today that I wanted to, but I still got a lot accomplished. I forgot we had sign language class with my son, so that cut my day short.

I got all my insulation and vapor barrier installed in all walls, and everything is prepped for finished walls (I still have to run to the box store to pick those up, along with the paint). Wiring is all in, and I test ran all the lights. I still have to drill into the side to get my shore power plug installed, but the reinforcement is already there for it. I ran out of red tape, so I'll also finish that tomorrow.

I should still be able to get the flooring installed tomorrow, assuming the Toyota dealer doesn't take all day with my TSB.an out of red tape, so I'll also finish that tomorrow also.

Since it rained all day yesterday, especially when I was driving, and again today, I got to find all the flaws in the trailer design. The top, sides, and rear door are water-tight, but the front end leaves a lot to be desired. I think I tracked down all the leaks from the floor gaps, and poor designed front end, and I'll be sealing those up tomorrow after a thorough dry. That being said, I have a lot of work ahead of me, but nothing I can't do before the weekend.

Here are some pictures from yesterday and today:

Had the trailer parked at my friend's house


Very tight squeeze to get this thing in there, but I made it happen


How it looks tonight

[Dave1234]

looks like its coming along nicely.

[rebapuck]

That is an incredible job backing the trailer. I can't back worth a dang.

[chiefb711]

That is an incredible job backing the trailer. I can't back worth a dang.

Thanks rebapuck, one of the many things my dad (truck driver) taught me when I was learning to drive was how to back in a trailer. It has really helped out a lot in my military career since I spend my entire day in a motor pool.

[chiefb711]

I've been away from my CTC for about three weeks now. My son had to have an emergency surgery, and we've been tending to him and helping him recover. He's still stuck in the hospital, and I've been sneaking away at all hours of the night to escape the monotony of hospital life. It has gotten me a little work done on the trailer. At long last, my awning is installed, and I'm not really happy with how I did it. I'm probably going to re-visit it when the weather turns warm again (June/July). It will work for now, however. I got my shore power in, and everything prepped for my flooring, but I've yet to begin designing the cabinets. I think I'm just going to buy some wood and wing it. I have all the electrical goodies I need, minus the stereo, but that will come later. Not sure how I'm going to finish the ceiling, but that dang A/C unit is ready to go in...maybe I'll wait til the rain quits for that also.

I am ready to put in the bed, but I'm waiting for my buddy to assist with the welding...that may take til the rain quits too. I can at least take this thing out now, which is what I plan to do as soon as my son is out of the hospital. In the meantime, I'll tinker around in the garage. I've gotten some new tools to make working with aluminum a little easier (mostly air tools )

Here are the pics from the last few weeks:











The door looks a little close to the awning in the pictures, and I guarantee it is entirely too close. I picked up the wheel and screen slider today, but that is one of the main reasons I'm not happy with the awning install. That and the awning rail got shipped in 2' sections...what a PITA! Regardless, I'm still making progress, so I'm happy and more importantly, the wife is happy. More to come, stay tuned!

Ryan

[Spotman]

Looking real good Ryan, hope your son comes thru alright.




Bob

[chiefb711]

:thumbsup: Looking real good Ryan, hope your son comes thru alright.




Bob

I appreciate it Bob. My son is recovering well! We have a lot of people praying.

[chiefb711]

After all this time, I've made very little progress. I did, however buy some supplies to do a little work on the trailer. The first thing I had to do was get the bed frame welded together...check. Next I wanted to make sure that the back door was weatherproofed, so I installed the rubber flooring. I got some new air tools (cutoff wheel and 90 degree die grinder woot!) I glued the floor in place with LockTite spray adhesive, and then pinned it in place with some wood screws and finishing washers.

I got a new awning rail, one that is a single piece, and not 5 different 4' and 2' pieces. My plan is to wait until the summer to install it so I know it is sealed off from the weather. For now, the awning is good, and will work, but I'm going to put all the reinforcement in place to move it all up 6 inches (to allow for more door clearance). To fix all the holes created by the current awning, I will use a 7" single sheet of aluminum flashing that is glued, caulked and screwed into the side. This will give me a little more rigidity for the new placement, and give it a more finished look (not as crappy). I haaaaate doing a job twice, but I think it'll be worth it in the long run.

I also bought some lumber to start building the cabinets and changing room. It will come together over the winter, and I'll make sure to log my progress as I go. Here's the fruits of my labor:





Stopped at HF for some tools and a quick photo op.

[professorkx]

Working on my plans for a conversion, and interested to see your progress, so subscribed. I am trying to decide between 7x16 and 7x14, as weight is an issue. Build out is more limited with a 14 foot, so curious if you have a layout you can post?

Thanks

Rick

[CGRotorhead]

God how I wis I had a harbor freight close by I can't wait to transfer this summer