Tucson tortoise: Edit for photos

[noseoil]

Laminating the sides. Scuffed up the aluminum panels with a coarse grit 2" disc, contact cement & applied them in the box.


With the top edge setting up. I need to make a few more pieces, but the box is working out OK so far. Facing strips, angles & trim will be next time.


License plate light & bracket attached. Just wanted to see how it looks with everything in place. I'll use a green trim piece under the hatch to cover the bottom edge which is white now. Should help tie things together & look better.


Getting closer to bolting it down on the frame, then I can do the wiring and start hooking things up. Moving along slowly.....

[Atomic77]

I've gotten way behind on your build and I see you're really getting there! I really like your solar set up... That's something I wish I knew more about...

[noseoil]

I finally lowered the box onto the frame & bolted it down today! I'll add a few pictures to the thread tomorrow (didn't take any today, too busy I guess). Had to figure out how to make it drop after taking out the 2X4's I had been using for the skinning & the air conditioning box up front. I've been pushing it around on the frame all summer. For anyone doing a build with a tongue box, add the box last or it's a royal PITA to work around in general!

Basically, I made a cleat for the back & used 2 jack stands to support the rear end, then used the tongue screw jack to put the weight on the jack stands. Once the butt was lifted off the 2X4's, I used a hydraulic jack in the middle under the front headboard partition & lifted the body enough to slide out the 2X4's. Checked alignment & gradually lowered it down onto the frame. There are elevator bolts set in the deck & the frame was pre-drilled, so it was just a case of letting things drop in the right place & then tightening it up afterwards. I used 5/16" bolts with nylock nuts to keep them from loosening on the road. It pulled up really well & should be there to stay now. The white roof coat makes it easy to see under there when working on things.

I used some sill seal foam strip we had at work when I dropped it on the frame. It's the stuff used when you're framing walls & setting them on the concrete. Figured it would give a bit of cushion & some waterproofing at the bolts. The stuff I used was 1/4" x 3 1/2" wide & it comes in rolls. It squished down to almost nothing once the bolts were tightened up.

Did some of the diamond plate at the front corners & tongue box & made two pieces to protect the sides from rocks in the wheel wells. The fenders are open on the inside on the trailer I found. It should help protect the .040" skin from dings & pock marks on gravel roads. Still a long way to go to finish things up, but it's moving forward so that's what matters.

[Atomic77]

Sounds like lots of progress going on! That's great! Very anxious to see some photos.

[dales133]

Sounds good!
I was debating building the tounge box prior to final assembly and figured it might make life alot harder.
Looking forward to the pictures

[felixx]

I love seeing progress

[Sheddie]

Mile stone
All looking awesome Tim, you are really making a nice job and progressing well.

[noseoil]

OK guys, here are some pictures, thanks as always for the comments.

The sill seal foam used between the frame & cabin. It compresses to almost nothing.


Front with the box in place, notice the amount of "room" between the tongue box & front of the cabin, about an inch. There's just enough room for the lid of the box to open & not hit on the edge, barely.


Back corner


Diamond plate set to go


Fastened in place


That's it for the weekend, time for a nap!

[tony.latham]

That's it for the weekend, time for a nap!

You need to get the mattress in that little fella.

T

[Atomic77]

Wow that looks great! Looks done! I'm jealous.

[noseoil]

Michael, thanks but nowhere near finished yet, not even close. I still have a bunch of wiring to complete (little things like marker lights, brake lights & turn signals), the stereo to install, entertainment system, alarm hookup, PD4045, propane & stove, doors & drawer heads to make, etc. etc. etc.

While I can't say I'm not getting there, I can say I'm not "there" yet. At least I'll be able to go camping someday soon & Tony, you're right! I'll have to get a mattress inside now. Looking forward to taking my first nap in it some afternoon this fall. That should be a major milestone!

Extra bonus pictures! Here's a new knife from Michael Morris. It's a friction folder made from an old file (when Detroit saw better days). Has a nice bottle opener on one end & I really like seeing the file marks he left on the blade. They're made from W1 or W2 high carbon steel, at about a 58 in the Rockwell hardness department. The blade's cutting edge is only 2 1/4" long, so it's a nice size for pocket carry. I used it this weekend to slice the foam & do other odds & ends on the build. He's running about 9 months out on orders at this point & also does fixed blades. Motto is "Deez aint no sissy knives."

[Funluvin001]

OK guys, here are some pictures, thanks as always for the comments.

The sill seal foam used between the frame & cabin. It compresses to almost nothing.



Front with the box in place, notice the amount of "room" there is between the tongue box & the front of the cabin.



Back corner



Diamond plate set to go



Fastened in place



That's it for the weekend, time for a nap!

Love the use of the diamond plate as trim.. she's lookin' sharp!

[lfhoward]

Looking really nice, Tim!

[KCStudly]

Camper is turning out very nice. I like the way you did the rock guards behind the fenders.

That knife sure is a thing of beauty! I probably wouldn't have guessed that it started out as a file (although am aware that they are a common starting point for home made knives); it just looks so good that it seems intentional... and I suppose it is. Nice piece.

I picked up a nice camp knife from a craftsman in the Adirondacks a year ago or so; http://www.chaxknives.com/. I'll have to post a pic or two up sometime.

[noseoil]

Thanks KC, appreciate the feedback. Normally the fenders are closed on the inside in most cases, but as you can see here they aren't. I was a bit concerned with rocks, mud & other stuff bouncing around & screwing up the sides in that area. Here's another view of the same area, while it's being worked on & before the fasteners go in place.


You can see how big the area for damage is, so a plate inside will help things stay in good shape. Hopefully they're big enough to keep most of the bad stuff from chewing up the thin sheet metal and destroying the paint over time.

Would enjoy seeing a shot or two of your knife. I must be entering my second childhood, as I collected some hardware store knives when I was young & find I'm doing a bit of it now again. Ah well, I guess I could be doing worse things. I find putting a nice edge on good steel is soothing after work when it's stressful & it's too hot to work outside. As always, nice hearing from you.

P.S. Marker lights went in after work this afternoon. PITA but they work.