The Plan ... so far

[madjack]

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/sta ... rpstr.html

G, the above is a lamp requirement listing for the Feds...essentially you will need in addition to your regular maker lights a 3 light cluster in the rear center and one in the front center and front and rear facing (red/amber) lights on the fenders or the portion of the trailer that protrudes the most...we made brackets for the gasless struts outta 3/4 Al channel
madjack

[GPW]

WOW!!!! That's a lotta ' lights !!!! For a TD ??? I'm gonna'look like a Mardi Gras float at night .....I guess I'll have to go all LED now as not to suck all the trons outta' my truck battery ...any suggestions ... those old streamlined lights would be cool , but would that work ???as I recall they were slightly curved...
I feel like I'm gonna' get a diploma after this ..... hahahahahahaha

still workin' on the pics MJ

[GPW]

MJ , here's some pics for your perusal... http://tnttt.com/album_ ... er_id=2349 Thanks for the info , going shopping for lights at the Wal Mart this AM ... Still have to mount the AC, wire the trailer (and all those lights ..), check/change the bearings , and some well deserved new tires and rims ... and perhaps some baby moons ...

13 days left ...

[madjack]

G, your "bug out bug" is looking good, I think you just might make the deadline...thanks for the new pics...............

[GPW]

Mad Jack .. many THANKS for all the help ... without you and the guys (er, and Ladies too ) I would have NEVER been able to do this .... Yes, looks like I'll be done by the Hurricane season ... 12 days away ... Hope I don't have to use it , but I'll be ready ....Plus we're going to take it on a shakedown cruise, around the state , just for FUN .
Talked with a nice officer at state Police troop B , here in the area .... He told me all they were worried about was that it had two taillights , and they were working ...He also said that during an evacuation , that 's the LAST thing they would be looking for , just make sure the taillights are working .... Taking that as a good sign , I'm going to do the taillights and side markers and hold off on those clearance lights .... for now(have to remove the ceiling again ...) .... there's always the Wal-mart ... and from what I hear they will let you camp in their parking lot .... sounds like the old midnight repair/ modification session....just in case .... hahahahaha

MJ, we have decided to follow your lead and PAINT our floors , that and any 6'X9' rug will fit PERFECTLY in it ... so we can have our choice of styles and it will be easy to "redecorate " every year ... Plus couldn't find any flooring we liked that would cost less then the whole project .... I wanted that old European pattern that looks like 3D blocks ... don't happen in sheet vinyl so .....Great idea, Paint !!!

[madjack]

G, we didn't paint the floor as such, we used MinWax ClearShield, a heavy bodied outdoor rated polyurethane, that was cut about 10% with mineral spirits and 6 coate sprayed on with apticular attention to edges...much like the poly bath you talked about...
madjack

[GPW]

MJ, Her worship wanted the floor , since it was being painted to be the same color as the walls ...Berry Frost ... so I just painted the floor with two coats of the same gloss latex as the walls ... The Department of Homeland Acquisition is out currently seeking a suitable rug ...
I did use the piano hinge on the hatch , which works well , except the leakage problem ... I need to do like the old timers and make my canvas flap for over the hinge ... a friend gave me a FIREHOSE to cut UP and make the flap ... I told him I only needed 74" , but I had to take the whole thing .... anybody need some firehose

[GPW]

Got the AC mounted and tested ...Nice !!! the door trim and handle/ lock
everything done now except the trailer wiring(today) , allthough I have the taillights (LED) mounted on hardware store angle brackets (galv...old school ).. Works !!!
Last on the list is some new wheels, bearings , tires , baby moons . and a license plate ... 8days left ??? Looks like we're going to make it .... Schmaybe'??? More pics (just more details ) soon ..... Overall build was FUN , simple and apparently" tank" solid(overbuilt ) ... I need to weigh this tubby ... hahahahaha

No rug yet ....???? Not my call ...

[GPW]

More pics http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/album_personal.php?user_id=2349

[GPW]

Trailer wiring done ... why is there never enough white wire ???
I found a three light bar for a clearance light(+80") ... now where do I mount it ??? just above the hatch /hinge would be perfect for me , but schmaybe too low for the law??? if I mount it on a high spot it will be in the center of the roof ??? I dunno ???
Got the fire hose ... wonderfull stuff ... outer layer of really tough material , inner tube of heavy canvas type material with a rubber inner layer ...just PERFECT for my piano hinge hatch cover... got the aluminum strip to attach the upper edge ... This will work great !!! Lots left over ... anybody needing some is more than welcome ...

[Ira]

Hey--it's great to see yours getting done so quickly! NICE!!!

And it's also great to see how you did this entire build with just one THREAD!!! Simply AMAZING!

By the way, I thought I saw a dolly (spelling?) in one of your photos. Does it actually work, or is it still a b**** moving the TD with it?

I'm scared to death about my backing up skills, and would like to get one to make it easier.

[GPW]

IRA... Thanks , I had to get this done for Hurricane season... this being a utility TD... Using the Lightweight thread for an example , I eliminated alot of the original niceties such as cabinets , dinettes,anything complicated .... I know it's silly to describe a 12'x6' TD as a Lightweight ...hahahaha but those principles saved weight and time during construction ... Wiring was reduced to a simple 110v install, plus a 12V Solar panel system for backup... all interior lighting will be Led lantern (batt or 12v) or convenient 110v lamp (s).

All this in my gravel driveway with one old tire always going flat .. Yep , the dolly was a big aid , and was actually free with the 50 dollar boat trailer that I bought for my second TD (The Airliner).. It takes two of us now to push the barge around in the gravel ... but mine is 150% size of a regular TD (Large Economy size)...reg, TD on pavement would be EASY !!!

We always do construction on a single thread in our airplane design groups(Yes , I'm like the Geek in the Flight of the Phoenix) ... much easier to keep track of than the old "million questions" .. Check it out at http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=18
I really feel really blessed to have found out about TD's ( all these years , I had no idea) and "youze' guys" .... Between the basic concept (a cool trailer ) and all the help I got here , I'm ready to do some serious evacuating ... a big Thanks to all , Now that I have a plan ...

Ps ,still have lotsa' firehose left ...???

[GPW]

MJ , Is that you ???? Gatortears??? ... Please excuse me for being so thick ...I didn't realize that you were a PROFESSIONAL TD Dude!!! ...Many Many Many Thanks for all the advice!!! COOL !!!
Got a little carried away installing the firehose flap and screwed the electric screw gun bit through my left index finger ... nasty !!! had to play tambourine at the gig all Sat night... the band didn't care much for losing their lead guitar player , a stretch for the rest ... hahahaha
Safety !!!! And by the way , the firehose flap works great over the piano hinge ... Old school , but works !!! Still have a great deal of firehose left ... in case anybody needs a piece ....

Down to wheel bearings and rims and tyres...installing the solar battery , and electrical wiring of the 110V... 3days left , still gotta' get the license too ...ARR ...Almost Ready to Roll !!!

I just can't wait to start on the second one ... smaller , easier , and I have enough large scraps from this one , all I need is the two sides ...This sure is FUN stuff !!!!!!!!!

[madjack]

G, we are just getting started with gatortears...professional??? gotta sell a few to put any claim to that title ....

[GPW]

MJ , I've had quite a few people express an interest in these ... especially when I call it a Hurricane Escape Pod .. Makes the most sense out of any plan I've heard so far ... I'll be sure to refer all inquiries to your direction ... and you might want to run a small ad in the Times Picayune for Escape pods .... these folks here will know exactly what that means and they have the money .... Hope you do well !!!!!!... you are a wonderful person to be so helpfull to strangers... especially people as strange as me .... hahahahaha
if you need some help (I use to do advertising art for Yamaha , Popeyes. etc... coffee's always on ...