"The X-Cubed" C.T.T.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

FInished my repair 2 weeks ago. As good as new!



And traded Clementine in on a 2016 Crosstrek!

[KCStudly]

Looks like the color scheme still works well with the pinstripe tying things in.

Why the upgrade/trade in? Seems like the 2014 should have just been getting broken in.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Had the dealer put the orange stripe on it.

The orange one was just getting broken in, with 32k miles. My local dealer gave me a heck of an offer to trade in for a new one. And the 2016 has a few more bells and whistles compared to the 2014.

[Alan_H]

Hey Zach,

A lot of your images have lost their links. Where do you house them? I was wondering about your torsion axle on the NT trailer. How is it holding up, and would you have reinforced the frame if you do it again? Got pics?

Also, what kind of ground clearance do you have based on the axle/wheel/tire combo? I will be towing with a Forester (same G.C.) so I'm interested in your results.

Also, how about a pic of your tongue extension?

Thanks!
Alan

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Man I really need to get back on here more often!

Here's a link to my Facebook album with all the pictures. Sorry I havent had time to revise this thread and reload the pictures.

https://www.facebook.com/zkengle/media_ ... 768&type=3

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Hey Zach,

A lot of your images have lost their links. Where do you house them? I was wondering about your torsion axle on the NT trailer. How is it holding up, and would you have reinforced the frame if you do it again? Got pics?

Also, what kind of ground clearance do you have based on the axle/wheel/tire combo? I will be towing with a Forester (same G.C.) so I'm interested in your results.

Also, how about a pic of your tongue extension?

Thanks!
Alan

I'm well into the third season of camping with this trailer and the torsion axle is fantastic! There are NO issues with NOT reinforcing the frame. The brackets for the torsion axle are hearty enough that they distribute forces along the frame rails.

With the wheel/tire/torsion axle combo, I have 14-3/4" of clearance below the axle beam.

Tongue extension is here....







(frame is upside down in this next picture)

[absolutsnwbrdr]

The latest addition to the X-Cubed was a 5000btu A/C unit. The opening was already in the galley bulkhead, so it was just a matter of building a base. This unit is completely removable because I dont need to drag around an air conditioning unit in the spring, fall, and winter months. The condensation drain line is just a length of clear tubing that runs out the galley. Because of how its mounted I do have to leave the galley hatch cracked open for venting purposes.

I used the A/C a few weeks ago at the TearJerkers Liberty Bell Chapter Knoebels Gathering, and I'm sooooo glad I had it! It was sooo hot and humid.

[SCwood]

Nice! Does your drain tube hook up to a fitting on the A/C unit or do you have some sort of drip pan under there?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Nice! Does your drain tube hook up to a fitting on the A/C unit or do you have some sort of drip pan under there?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Since it was thrown together at the last minute, there's a drip pan under there. For next year I plan on getting a 1/4" fitting for the bottom of the A/C unit. I took the A/C out a few weeks ago... no need for it in the winter months

[absolutsnwbrdr]

I'm FINALLY getting around to finishing the inside of my galley hatch Since I rebuilt it a while ago, I still havent finished skinning the inside.....



Instead of just keeping things simple, I decided to add acrylic panels that will be backlit with RGB LEDs. And of course they couldn't just be simple rectangular panels.... they had to be all angular to match the rest of the design. I've never tried making router inlays before, and I didnt have template guide, so I made 1/2" wide "frames" that would attach to the inside of the hatch skin. Then I used the frames as templates, and used a 1/4" rabbeting bit to trim the acrylic panels and make the cutouts in the luan skins.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

I've also coated all of the black trim & fenders with Herculiner - a roll on bedliner, available at big box stores. I've never used anything of the sort before, so to me the stuff is pretty interesting. Its like a black paint with rubber particles suspended in it. I brushed it all on, being sure to spread out the particulate somewhat evenly. It took a few days to lose its tackiness, but it seems like it will hold up really well!

At $25 a quart, its not cheap.... but I like it.

[KCStudly]

Nice! Thanks for the update, and glad to hear from you!

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Nice! Thanks for the update, and glad to hear from you!

Thanks KC. Definitely been busy! BUT.....

I've also gone through my ENTIRE build album and replaced all the images with copies that I've uploaded directly to this forum. So no more losing images due to hotlinking from Facebook!

[absolutsnwbrdr]

More progress on my illuminated galley hatch panels! These will be on the inside of the hatch, and will provide overhead lighting when the hatch is open. Of course they can change color too

Primered...



LED strips installed and wired...



Testing them...





And making trim rings...

[aggie79]

Sweet!