Mark's Weekender-XL build

[Gold5one]

Today I installed a 12" wide overhead rack- a place to store a jacket, hiking stick, binoculars, energy bars, ramen noodles, pringles chips. A piece of plumbers strap is supporting the center.
- I might put a 16" wide one somewhere in the back. I can store extra bedding ,clothes, towels, etc., on it. I just have to make sure it won't turn into a head knocker. You can only store lightweight items on the overhead racks in order to keep the center of gravity low.

[Gold5one]

I put in a 16" wide counter today-- now I need to figure out how to finish the center-- a small cabinet or some drawers or a combination of both.Probably finish it with clear polyurethane.
This interior work is slow going-
I just realized I need some access holes in that board, for cables and cords

[Gold5one]

I fixed my counter/hobby bench and gained another 3/4" in width. I used a couple pieces of 1x2 spruce screwed to the back of the counter and then to the wall to give me 3 slots for wires and cables. I supported the front center, too.
I checked the operator position of a ham radio and it will be just fine. Checked how a reloading press will work out, too- for when I go to the range to develop a load for best accuracy.

[flbikejunkie]

Looking good

[Gold5one]

Thanks--
My MMC, mobile man cave, will have many uses-- even when it's not on the road.

[Gold5one]

My LED replacement lamps arrived today-- $6.99 for 4 of them. I had three 1156 lamps inside- each one had a current draw of about 1.5 amps-- now I am drawing only 160ma per bulb! -- output is 400 lumens each. I have cut my energy use by 90%.
I had another idea a few days ago-- I'm redoing the bed.

[39Ratrod]

My LED replacement lamps arrived today-- $6.99 for 4 of them. I had three 1156 lamps inside- each one had a current draw of about 1.5 amps-- now I am drawing only 160ma per bulb! -- output is 400 lumens each. I have cut my energy use by 90%.
I had another idea a few days ago-- I'm redoing the bed.

NICE!!!! Did you get 1156 LEDS for that price?

[Gold5one]

yes- on ebay. I can even wait 3 or 4 weeks for delivery from China to get a better deal. I will PM you the auction link- USA seller.
(ebay search for 4x car rv trailer 1156 led white )
I almost got finished with my new idea today, a sliding bed - I checked it and it will work- I need one more modification to the support frame-
The way it works is like this, I can slide my bed 3 feet to the front of the trailer at night- that uncovers the porta potti in the back under the bed- and I have dressing area in the morning, too. Then I slide the bed to the rear and cover up the porta potti and recover the open space in the front of the camper.
the wall rail-

The the bed frame slide track on the wall - I will screw a small strip on the wall above the frame, so it doesn't bounce out of the track on the road.

[Gold5one]

Now, If I just had a 2'x2' section of 6" dropped floor in the back- maybe, I could put my pants on standing up--hmm.

[Gold5one]

I finished the sliding bed-- and it works! Its not hard to slide and once the poly-fiber outdoor carpet is put down, I expect it to slide even easier. I wonder if anyone else has thought of doing this? A google search of this website for- "sliding bed"-- says I am the first to build one.

- slide forward for the night-


slide back in the morning-


night time-- bed moves forward to reveal the porta potti.


easy access to the potti at night-


bed slides to cover up the potti in the daytime-


I am getting close to being finished- it was 83 here today.

[Gold5one]

It was pointed out to me that I have a potti with a view- - which I suppose is better than a potti in a dark closet. Today was 87 degrees, so I did a job that was on the list= install the rear A/C. I'm all done but for the final sealing and screwing the A/C down with strap. I'll say this, I'm all set for Arizona in the summertime. Low speed cool on #5 is plenty cool. I think I will bring along a quilt. My 15 yr old daughter gave me a nice colorful one to use that no longer fits her new bed.
I wanted to be done on my birthday tomorrow- looks like I am about a week away from being ready to go camping.




I am going to check the hitch ball weight next to determine where I should mount the battery. The 115 vac is down, the DC power is almost done.

[Gold5one]

I am the only one who can use a sewing machine in this house- and I don't have a sewing machine, so I may have to pay a friend of my wife to sew up my curtains. A trip to buy some fabric is now on the list.
Left to do-
A-finish the DC- wire in the 5 watt roof mounted solar panel (blocking diode and toggle switch) - install the 12v battery and DC outlets- mount and wire the inverter.-DONE
B-hang another overhead storage rack
C-The door needs an inside handle, a lock and some weather stripping.
D- the swinging hitch jack needs some steel angle welded to the channel frame to make it solid-I'm cutting the dolly wheel off- I no like rolling surprises on an incline. ( happened at the scale when I weighted it)
E- paint/stain inside-- waiting for awhile until I decide what I want
F-weld some outer sidewall brackets back to the frame-- especially under the door -- I think I need a little more strength.
G- build a a pantry cabinet over the curb side wheel well- nothing fancy- DONE- but I put a 115vac power cord for a microwave at some point. I need to get a microwave- a folding work shelf will be along the wall.
H- pull out the bed and lay down the carpet- last thing to do.

Well, I see more than a weeks worth of work, now that I have a list. A month of work tops, I'd say.
Mark

[Gold5one]

I pretty much completed the curb side storage cabinet this weekend. The battery and inverter goes in the bottom and the shelf above it is removable for access. A hinged counter covers the 6" deep storage compartment-- This curb side cabinet helps to balance the weight of the bed and A/C on the other side. I hope I can find some small plastic tubs that fit on the open shelf.

[Gold5one]

Got my 12 vdc hooked up and the wheel well pantry cabinet done. I ran into a snafu when I was running the A/C from the generator. The power cord slowly vibrated from the socket after an hour, causing the A/C to stutter a bit. I think I will wire in a Hubbell female plug with a short section of 14-3 rubber cord- that will isolate the vibration, so it doesn't happen again. The 5W solar panel does a good job of keeping the battery at full charge- I put in a switch to shut it off-- just in case.

[Wyo George]

Very nice build, I love all the thought going into it.