XBOW (Xtreme Bed On Wheels) Build

[Dirtclod]

You know you are getting close when you start installing the trim. We chose a red vinyl insert for the black trim to match the red sides. Installed the lower sections last night. Breaks up all the black at the bottom and makes the trim look like a black pinstripe. Also have black caps to cover the ends of the trim that we didn't get installed last night

Untitled by MIke Burkeen, on Flickr

Untitled by MIke Burkeen, on Flickr

Also got the hatch skinned and trimmed and ready to be put back on the tear for good. I painted the trim on the hatch red to match the sides too. I really like the way the Steve Fredericks hatches are built but not a big fan of seeing the hatch seam on the side. Hopefully this will "hide" the seam a bit. Stay tuned on that one. Hope to reinstall the hatch tonight

Untitled by MIke Burkeen, on Flickr

I gotta get this done by Sept 8 so we can take it to the TN tearjerkers rally near Chattanooga.

Making Progress

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[KCStudly]

That is going to be one great looking TD!

[Wildfire]

The build looks great.

I may have missed it... But are you doing any sort of rear stabilizing jacks?

[Dirtclod]

Thanks KC. Means a lot coming from a ole Pro like you.

Wildfire, I haven't added any stabilizers as some here say you really don't need them. I have some jack stands that I will take along just in case. Put them in the back and use the tongue as the third leg of the triangle. I looked at these and may buy one to try and it I like it on the tear I can use it on the big camper to stabilize the steps.

Stabilzers by MIke Burkeen, on Flickr

They seem sturdy enough for a teardrop. We will see.

[Wildfire]

I've been looking at the same. There's enough leftover tube in the rack to fab up a set of those.

I don't have a galley, so the kids get in the tear and sit on the backside of the axle. Worried they'll dump it over....

If I get it find good weekend, I'll post some pics in the build journal.

[Dirtclod]

Wildfire. I went ahead and ordered the stabilizers that I posted the picture of. They should be in tomorrow. I will give you my opinion after I try them out.

Over the long weekend I made some good progress, although the hatch no longer fit after I put the trim on. . I had to trim the galley rib a bit to make things fit again. I will have to now go back and re-epoxy that after this weekend.

I finished up the interior cabinets, galley cabinets and drawers.

Untitled by MIke Burkeen, on Flickr

Untitled by MIke Burkeen, on Flickr

Installed the newly skinned hatch then added the 3rd brake light, license plate light and license plate. I don't have time to do the math and figure out the gas charged rod locations before the weekend so I made some good ole 2X4 props for now.

Untitled by MIke Burkeen, on Flickr

THEN TOOK IT OUT FOR A QUICK SPIN AROUND THE BLOCK (It towed GREAT)



Untitled by MIke Burkeen, on Flickr

I have a few loose ends to tie up but looks like the XBOW will be at the Tearjerker gathering this weekend after all !!

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[aggie79]

Wonderful build! Enjoy your first outing.

[Dirtclod]

Thanks Tom for the kind words and thanks for all the help to all of us "first timers" here.

Pulled the plastic coating off last night and cleaned the aluminum up some but still have some fingerprints that just don't want to come off. We tried Windex, Acetone, Stainless cleaner, Vinegar and water and nothing seems to take them off. If anyone has any suggestions I am all ears.

Untitled by MIke Burkeen, on Flickr

Untitled by MIke Burkeen, on Flickr

Stay tuned, Next pics will be a teardrop in its natural environment. A campground by a lake

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[kokomoto]

That's a good lookin teardrop.

We hope to drop by Harrison Bay on Friday. Hope to see you there.

We took ours to Indiana for the first outing last weekend. Like you, I still have a few odds and ends to finish, but it is a camper now.

[KCStudly]

If anyone has any suggestions I am all ears.

My suggestion is this...

Next pics will be a teardrop in its natural environment. A campground by a lake.

After that, you won't mind a few smudges.

You have done a really nice job! Now enjoy it.

[Dirtclod]

Thanks for the suggestion KC. We plan on taking the XBOW all over the Smokies at the end of the month. We are going to the Overland Expo in Asheville NC, the last weekend of the month and then spend the next week camping in the XBOW all over NC / TN. I'm sure it will have a few scratches and smudges for sure by the end of the week.

We hope to drop by Harrison Bay on Friday. Hope to see you there.

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We are coming down after work today. Probably wont be there until 6 or 7. Hope to see you there as well. We are in site A8.

[Wildfire]

Looks great. Mine has smudges too. They bother me less and less with each passing day...

Let me know how those stabilizers work. Using a bucket and wood block at the moment - super classy!

[Dirtclod]

Well the maiden voyage was a total success. We drove to Harrison Bay state park near Chattanooga TN for the TN Voluntears fall rally. There were 20 or so teardrops there and a REALLY good group of folks. They made us "newbies" feel right at home. Pout luck on Sat evening was AWESOME.

The trailer towed like a dream and everything worked when we got there. Used the AC for a few minutes each night to cool it down then just ran the fan overnight and slept like a baby. No chance of rain so we kept the awning off to the side for a nice shady place to relax.

Untitled by MIke Burkeen, on Flickr

Wildfire

The stabilizers worked GREAT. I put one across the back under the "bumper" and one towards the front on the diagonal part that makes up the "V" shape of the tongue. The thought there was the back one would stabilize side to side and the front one, would stabilize front to back. It worked great. I tend to toss and turn a lot in my sleep and the wife said she never felt me move around. I am going to try them this weekend on the big camper to see if they will stabilize it from bouncing when going down the steps.

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[Dirtclod]

After the first trip the wife wanted a place to put the Luggable Loo and to be able to "stand" and change clothes. I had seen these "side tents" that WalMart had sold in the past that attach to a EZ Up tent and thought that this may be a good option for a side tent. I found a new one on Ebay for $40 so I decided to take a chance and buy it. Spent a little time last night in the driveway to see how it would work. Since my EZ Up is the kind that has the crossbars and the middle pole we had to put it towards the front and off to a side for the vent and hatch to open. It fit pretty well and will allow us to go out the drivers door right into the tent. Has a window and an awning for ventilation as well.

Its not staked or strapped down properly since we are on concrete, but here are a few pics

Untitled by MIke Burkeen, on Flickr

Untitled by MIke Burkeen, on Flickr

Taking the XBOW for a week long camp trip in the mountains of NC so we will have a good idea of how useful it really is after that.

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[me&z]

And the red matches (at least in the picture)!