7'*18' V-Nose Cargo Trailer Toy Hauler Conversion

[flboy]

Ok, since I am finally finishing the interior, decided to personalize and add some old retro signs to the walls. I like just about anything to do with old motorcycles.


Some truth to this one!




This old Texaco Restroom sign brings back memories driving across country with my parents as a kid in the old station wagon. Gas station restrooms! Certified Clean! Not! A time before they had all these rest stops.



Nothing special about these... just like them.







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[hankaye]

flboy, Howdy;

Great signage, love them old one's They spoke to ya instead of at ya.

hank

[flboy]

Working on some improvements to the CTC again this weekend. Daytona Bike Week is next weekend! Can't wait! I will finish interior painting tomorrow.

Aside from paint prep, I changed out the gas struts to 20lb struts from 40lb. So much better. It still deploys well, but it is so much easier to push back in place now. I also added a pin so we get no accidental deployment if I hit a hard bump or something. I cut a sink drain knob that was laying around and then used some chain from an old toilet stopper. Sometimes keeping the junk pays off!



Deployed and pin hanging.




I also installed some netting to the right in the last open area under the bed. Will be handy to toss a few things like motorcycle jackets or spare blankets.
So with the drawer I built last weekend and the portable solar panel on the left, I guess the bed is done unless I get ambitious and paint the plywood.

!

On a side note, I bought a Predator 3500 on sale for my hurricane stash today. My old Tecumseh 5000W is tired and it really is noisy (can hear it a block away almost). I will get a few hundred for it on Craigslist as hurricane season approaches. I tried the Predator out today and I cannot believe it is as quiet as the Honda 2000, but it really is, maybe even quieter. It handles a full 3000 watt continuous load as advertised. I had 2 hair dryers on it today. It even has electric start all for $679. I did buy the bumper to bumper take back warranty because the longevity jury is out, but my first impression is very good. Build quality appears excellent. It has good reviews now too. In any case, I may leave the Honda 2000 home this summer and put some use on this to see how it holds up since I have warranty. It would run a rooftop AC no problem I am confident. For sure it will run my lights, fridge, freezer and window AC in MB at home in hurricane aftermath. It is not a Honda, but it is as quiet as one and I didn't pay $2,100 either.



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[McDave]

That is on my wish list. If you like the quality and quiet and price, that's good enough for me. I have show you the muffler I rigged to the Coleman. It helped but those Briggs OHV engines are just not precision insturments, just lots of mechanical noise and the generator has no idle down mode. It worked ok but too much noise to run for longer than 15 20min.

McDave

[flboy]

That is on my wish list. If you like the quality and quiet and price, that's good enough for me. I have show you the muffler I rigged to the Coleman. It helped but those Briggs OHV engines are just not precision instruments, just lots of mechanical noise and the generator has no idle down mode. It worked ok but too much noise to run for longer than 15 20min.

McDave

I'll let you know how it holds up. That is always the question with an "off brand" and I am sure I'll get the Honda crowd telling me it is not a Honda when I know that. I still have the Honda EU2000i and love it! Would not replace that.

Your Coleman is a lot like the 5000W Hurricane Generator I have with the 10HP Tecumseh. It is loud and you are right.. it is mostly mechanical noise as a muffler does not do much for it. This Predator is advertised as 57db and I believe it. It is every bit as quiet as the EU2000I and a larger generator.

I need to build some confidence with it, so I will use it some for camping this year, since it won't get used much for hurricanes (I hope). The reviews are really positive on this and the few that weren't.. sounded more like they did not drain the gas bowl and use gas stabilizer so the carburetor gummed up or did not maintain the spark arrestor screen in exhaust which will clog and cause plug fouling. It has a bowl drain screw just like the Honda. I am just not sure yet if the "off" dial also turns off the gas flow like the Honda does. Otherwise that screw is not very useful.

I will run a full synthetic in it and keep after the oil. Going to swap out the chinese spark plug for a Champion and I think it will be fine. I put an hour on it today.... just to run through the paces.. It sounds strong. It even has a built in hour meter and power meter. The Eco mode is sweet... it just idles until a load is put on... then it just ramps up to where it needs to be for the load.

[Padilen]

I have 2 older an 8 and a 10. Both are loud ! When we had the storms and high winds, I worried about needing one. I did what I could for prep. But didn't think I'd be able to start them. Maybe I could have my little Champion. I bought some ring gears, for electrical start. But need a machine shop to get one mounted correctly.

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[flboy]

Padilen. A loud generator is better than no generator when you need one. I hope you can get it fixed.

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[flboy]

Nothing fancy, but a place to throw a few things or put the helmets when not using them. Maybe even put the Icemaker on that shelf when I have it with me. Will keep the kitchen counter clear then.

In any case, there is limited counter space inside and I end up throwing everything on dinette and then have to move it. This give me an out of the way spot unused as it was. Folds down and not in the way of the eTrac for loading bikes.



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[Padilen]

Don, it was me not the generator's. Kind of hard to pull a starter rope, when your split half up the middle..
I'm going out in a minute or so and I'm going to try to start my wood splitter. Just because I need to know if it's going to hurt me or not. Splitter pull rope it a little higher so I thought I'd start with an easy one.
My right shoulder is also an issue so that's why I want electric start on them.

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[flboy]

Don, it was me not the generator's. Kind of hard to pull a starter rope, when your split half up the middle..
I'm going out in a minute or so and I'm going to try to start my wood splitter. Just because I need to know if it's going to hurt me or not. Splitter pull rope it a little higher so I thought I'd start with an easy one.
My right shoulder is also an issue so that's why I want electric start on them.

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I see... well be careful! That Predator has an electric start and it pulls easy as well. It is a 6HP (212cc) engine.


I put the Predator 3500 on Youtube.. You can hear it. Very quiet. Can take video and talk right next to it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG8TBB3dBNo


BTW.. here is a short 2min video I made a few years ago of a Dual sport Ride. Will get you warmed up for Spring riding when you break out that 2 smoke from hibernation. .


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H_mViuRYt8

[Padilen]

Thanks.

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[flboy]

Well, I am done inside for now. Getting the dinette seat cushions reupholstered with a black canvas early next week, but this weekend, I finally got all the staple and screw holes filled and trim painted along with the walls and ceiling. The bed is done underneath and I added the last shelf today. Next job will be exterior when I treat the frame for surface rust and then undercoat. Then we are done for real!

Not sure what the next project will be.

The bathroom looks finished now with no staple and screw holes in trim and ceiling.




View from sitting chair. The shelf turned out nice.







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[Iconfabul8]

Man, that's got to feel good. I still have a small list of things to do. But I have a house half built and pretty sure there won't be any ctc building until it's done.

[hankaye]

Icon, Howdy;

Man, that's got to feel good. I still have a small list of things to do. But I have a house half built and pretty sure there won't be any ctc building until it's done.

Having seen pix of what you can do with a small (CTC), space ... can only ruminate about
how a full sized dwelling might turnout. ...

hank

[flboy]

Did a sound test with the Predator 3500 Inverter Generator at 20ft exhaust facing. I will do the same with the Honda EU2000i next time I have it out.



Ambient noise with generator off.







20 ft at full throttle







20ft Eco








Just an app on the phone, but better than my ear at quantification. Definitely campground friendly!

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