Tucson tortoise: Edit for photos

[Vedette]

Sorry! Just one more story!
I have only had to put a "spare tire" on a car twice in my driving life. Well over a 1,000,000 miles!
Both times were over 45 years ago when my cars had cheap bias tires!!!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[noseoil]

No worries about a thread hijacking, enjoying the cross-talk about spares & stories are always good.

The last flat I had at work was a couple of months ago, a slow leak (nail at the sidewall). Ended up costing $90 for the new tire for the truck. It was really annoying as I couldn't find it by looking (right at the inside edge). I'll be glad to get away from my job ASAP, the carpenters drive in on Thursday to drop off their hours & hit the speed bump at the gate. There are nails everywhere in the yard (16d, cut nails, 8d, etc.). Every time I walk the yard to get something, I take a different path to look for nails where I drive....

OK, back to the stories guys!

[Sheddie]

I won't have a spare on my trailer either. But the reason being, the spare in my tow vehicle will fit on the trailer as well. Purposely planned. But I am wondering, for those who say don't worry, just camp, what do you do the next day? How do you get it home without a spare? Count on someone taking you to buy a tire?

Hell i havnt had a spare on my crusier since someone stole it 5 years ago.
Should probably have one between both though

For Michael & Dale, they dont have a problem sharing the spare with the tow vehicle, we have 5 or 6 vehicles that we are likely to tow with. They have 4, 5 or 6 stud patern, 12", 13", 15" 16" or 18' wheels, non of which fit the TD.

No worries about a thread hijacking, enjoying the cross-talk about spares & stories are always good.

The last flat I had at work was a couple of months ago, a slow leak (nail at the sidewall). Ended up costing $90 for the new tire for the truck. It was really annoying as I couldn't find it by looking (right at the inside edge). I'll be glad to get away from my job ASAP, the carpenters drive in on Thursday to drop off their hours & hit the speed bump at the gate. There are nails everywhere in the yard (16d, cut nails, 8d, etc.). Every time I walk the yard to get something, I take a different path to look for nails where I drive....

OK, back to the stories guys!

I assume it is the same in your part of the world, side wall damage like that the tyre can not be repaired, it must be replaced.
A few years ago we were in the South Island with our previous caravan, driving from Cromwell to Dunedin. We had stopped for lunch on the side of the road just past Beaumonts Bridge (parked in the middle of an intersection for a small side road, it was the only place we could get off the main road). We continued on but hadn't gone many miles when I heard that dreaded flapping noise. Oh dear, where to stop, two lane road, no shoulder to speak of and deep ditches each side. With an 8' wide caravan, I managed to find a gateway to a farm paddock that I could park across mostly off the road. Non of the tyres were flat, but on closer inspection I found that the road side tyre on the caravan was delaminating. Boy was I glad I had a spare wheel in a rack under the van. Not a nice place to have to change it, but some friends came along to help direct traffic while I changed it. There was no place handy or safe that we could have left the van and it would have been a very long drive there and back, to get to some where for a replacement tyre, saturday afternoon, most places closed! Caravan was 13" 4 stud, car 15" 5 stud.

[Atomic77]

I'm lucky to have one to tow with.

[Sheddie]

I'm lucky to have one to tow with.

Some times I wish we were the same. Some people call it a diseases, l think of it more as a religion.

[noseoil]

Grinding away at it. Wiring is not the most fun thing about the build, but it's necessary. Setting up the PD4045 this weekend. I put the stereo in place to see how it looks, but it isn't hooked up yet. Still have some other more "pressing" things to do to make it road worthy.


Seen from the back, where the TV compartment provides access to the wiring. There's a door (mounted on the piano hinge at the bottom edge) covering this hole in the backing. Ground strip is in place & hooking up some of the stuff. The TV mounting bracket is the gray thing hanging down in the opening for the flat screen.


Just plugging away at it & taking small steps as I go.

[Atomic77]

Great progress! At this rate you'll have to find another project soon!

[dales133]

Ughhh i hear you on the wiring.
Keep chipping away mate

[noseoil]

TV opening & access panel for the back of the PD4045, need to shim the hinge a tad on the left, it's not gapping right yet, but it's an easy fix. Also, the adjustable shelves are in the adjacent openings now. The cable/antenna inlet is on the left & the inverter switch is the small box on the right under the bottom shelf. Has a 12v readout for battery state.


Made some mud flaps a while ago & installed them today for fun after work. Used up some of the scrap diamond plate for trim at the bottom edge. Nice to have some good weather to work in for a change. The marker lights are in this shot as well. I used the small round LED type, only 2 LED's per marker, but they're plenty bright at night. The details are what take up the most time at this point & there are lots of them left.

[Atomic77]

Nice flaps! Great eye for detail... Very clean.

[noseoil]

No pictures today, but a lot of progress. I decided to lift the back edge of the roof, solar panel & hinge, as I never could get the nuts attached on the bottom of the cable glands properly. The only way was to fasten them on from the bottom & drop the aluminum down again. My neighbor helped me with the lifting & it went very well. There's no way it can leak now, at least I hope not. Will take a picture tomorrow of the top in that area.

Once that was done, I wired up the hatch, snaked the wires through the springs (2 of the 3/8" tubing benders) & then checked everything. So far so good. I'm still using that dinky little 12 volt battery for testing as I go, but everything works now.

I installed the 100 AH battery & hooked up the solar panel. It works! The battery was down to about 12.5 volts & the solar has brought it back to 12.7 in a few hours. Tomorrow it should really be 100% by the end of the day. The battery has been sitting since September, so now it can start doing its job.

I powered up the PD4045 & turned on the breakers, it's working as well. With the 12 volt side powered up, it jumps up to 13.7 volts & starts charging the battery. Outlets all seem to be running also.

I plugged the hole in the air conditioning box temporarily with gorilla tape & the green aluminum from one of the door cut-outs. Again, pictures will be tomorrow of today's progress. It's just to keep the bugs & dust out for now.

The reason I'm working so hard to tie up loose ends this weekend is we're finally going on the road next weekend, to the gathering in Pahrump! On Monday one of the guys at the mechanic's shop will go over the bearings & pack them for me. I want to make sure things are in good shape before I take it for a spin.

Tomorrow I'll take it a bit easier, take a few pictures & go over some odds & ends, but it's mostly ready for the road now. It won't be finished, but the mattress is in place (thanks Tony) & at least we'll be able to sleep in comfort.

If anyone reading this is in Nevada next weekend, please stop in and say hello to the Tortoise.

[tony.latham]

we're finally going on the road next weekend, to the gathering in Pahrump!

Damn coooool! This is a big deal.

Tony

[dales133]

Congrads mate you must be excited to say the least

[noseoil]

Here are a couple of shots from early this morning, before sunrise. The galley with its one light, at least for now. We won't be able to cook yet, but it's a shake-down cruise so we'll have to see how it goes. Once the stove is in place & the drawers & doors are hung, it should look a bit better. I'm not going to run with the propane this time, no time to set it up properly so it can wait for another time.


Here's a side view with the porch light on. So nice to just flip a switch & have light where it's needed.


The footboard, with a bit of wiring still left to do. At least the dome lights are in place & working. Much easier to see to work now with all of the lighting powered up. I might even be able to get my first real nap in this afternoon, with the mattress in place. Today is forecast for a high of 79 (Brrrr, the chilly weather is back). With the fan running, insulation in the walls & roof & a window open, it shouldn't be too hot inside. I need to get a thermometer to see how things are working, great!


Will post a few more shots later today. Last night I realized there isn't much left to work on for the trip with yesterday going so well. My list is shrinking instead of getting longer all the time. Getting excited to put this thing on the road finally.

[Atomic77]

That's great! Looks awesome man... Isn't it great to have a shrinking list? I'm excited to have that one day. Good luck with the shakedown!