HI! from new Vegan newbies

This is the place where you can introduce yourself, and include a photo if so desired.

Postby daveleb55 » Tue Jul 31, 2007 1:45 pm

Auntie M,
It's a Coleman "Laramie," around 1986 or 87. Just measured it (again, but this time I wrote them down!)
Inside wall to wall is 6'2" wide by 8'6" long. The two end panels (on the outside) are plastic, and the heat and sun are causing them to disintegrate. We will probably keep the metal side panels.

We were talking about using the existing "crank" mechanism to raise and lower the galley hatch, but I'm thinking it might be too heavy. It would be way cool, though. If we do keep it, I would like to motorize it, that way we pull in to campground, flip a switch, and the camp sets itself up! (dream on!!)

It's big enough to put a queen size mattress in with room to spare. The existing cabinetry is mostly steel with some particle board tops, and some sides are like 1/4" Luan or something. I'm thinking the steel is too heavy, rip it all out, salvage the cooktop and sink, relocate to the rear galley. A pass-thru window from the galley would allow things like breakfast in bed or making coffee before getting up.

We're also thinking about a roof hatch to allow standing up, without losing the aerodynamics of a low towing profile.

The wheels are very near the center, which means that the galley stuff needs to be light as possible, and the other heavy junk stowed near the front in a Tongue box. The battery, spare tire, and propane tank will go in front of the tongue box. The built in water tank is right above the left wheel well. It's not very big, it also sort of wraps around it so it wouldn't help to move it.

So, the tradeoffs are, rip out as much as possible to save weight, use as much existing stuff to save time. The DC to AC converter (if it works) can stay right where it is, opposite the door. The bed will butt up against the galley, the galley cooktop and sink will slide out from underneath the bed to the "cooking" position.

At least, that's where it stands today. Tomorrow we may change our minds...

Thanks for your interest!

Dave & Kathleen




Miriam C. wrote:Image
to the playground Kathleen and Dave. You are in great hands with Joanne. Her build blog is one of the favorites around here especially with the women.

How big is your pop-up. A couple of us have used them and kept them wide. They aren't as light as they could be though.

Enjoy the site and jump in anytime.
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Which came first

Postby mandy » Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:35 pm

Last time I checked Las Vegas New Mexico was Founded in 1835.
Las Vegas Nevada was Founded 1905. :shock:

Just thought you should know.

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Re: Which came first

Postby steve wolverton » Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:30 pm

mandy wrote:Last time I checked Las Vegas New Mexico was Founded in 1835.
Las Vegas Nevada was Founded 1905. :shock:


:question: Is this going to be on the final?
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Re: HI! from new Vegan newbies

Postby sushidog » Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:53 pm

angib wrote:Welcome, Dave The Vay-gun (not Dave The Vee-gun),

steve wolverton wrote:
daveleb55 wrote:assimilated! (resistance is futile!!)

+1 for your Star Trek dork points.

Pah! Star Trek indeed! Quote the original, not the copy. 'Resistance is useless' was one of the favourite phrases of The Daleks, usually just before: "Ex-ter-min-ate, ex-ter-min-ate".

Andrew


Welcome to Earth. :shake hands:
You did say you're from Vega (Alpha Lyrae) didn't you?
Ok, I won't harp on this...(if you've gotta explain it, it didn't work.)

Daleks? Who in the world could you be talking about???????????????

I love the toilet plunger! Tom Baker is my fav doctor, who's yours?
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Re: Which came first

Postby asianflava » Tue Jul 31, 2007 7:29 pm

mandy wrote:Last time I checked Las Vegas New Mexico was Founded in 1835.
Las Vegas Nevada was Founded 1905. :shock:

Just thought you should know.

Mandy


I been to both places. One by choice, and the other by necessity.
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Re: Which came first

Postby daveleb55 » Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:05 pm

Las Vegas is Spanish for "the meadows" - are there meadows in las Vegas NM? there sure aren't any here!!

thanks for the update.

Dave & Kathleen



mandy wrote:Last time I checked Las Vegas New Mexico was Founded in 1835.
Las Vegas Nevada was Founded 1905. :shock:

Just thought you should know.

Mandy
[/quote]
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Re: HI! from new Vegan newbies

Postby daveleb55 » Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:19 pm

If I could make the trailer look like a big Dalek or something, that would be cool. Probably not feasible. I'll just have to settle for mounting a couple of laser cannons on the roof.

Ok, so if I get one dork point for a trekker reference, what do I get for a Dr. Who reference? Or how about artificial intelligence?
"Hal, open the galley hatch,"
"I'm sorry Dave, but I can't do that,"

So, we're building the teardrop for our vacations on Earth, Vega is just too crowded during tourist season anymore, and all the $%^&^$ aliens everywhere, we just can't stand it.

I'll probably start a new thread for our "Popup Conversion".
Has anyone else attempted this? I haven't found much at all about using a popup as a base for a teardrop, this Coleman seems light and sturdy and well made (compared to some trailers I've seen). We're going to take some pics of the trailer before we completely strip it. I've already removed the canvas, some of it was pretty rotten. It's been hellishly hot and humid here, hard to get motivated to spend time outside doing actual work.

Dave & Kathleen





sushidog wrote:
angib wrote:Welcome, Dave The Vay-gun (not Dave The Vee-gun),

steve wolverton wrote:
daveleb55 wrote:assimilated! (resistance is futile!!)

+1 for your Star Trek dork points.

Pah! Star Trek indeed! Quote the original, not the copy. 'Resistance is useless' was one of the favourite phrases of The Daleks, usually just before: "Ex-ter-min-ate, ex-ter-min-ate".

Andrew


Welcome to Earth. :shake hands:
You did say you're from Vega (Alpha Lyrae) didn't you?
Ok, I won't harp on this...(if you've gotta explain it, it didn't work.)

Daleks? Who in the world could you be talking about???????????????

I love the toilet plunger! Tom Baker is my fav doctor, who's yours?
"Get off the #@$% computer and GO CAMPING!"
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Re: Which came first

Postby Joanne » Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:07 pm

mandy wrote:Last time I checked Las Vegas New Mexico was Founded in 1835.
Las Vegas Nevada was Founded 1905. :shock:

Just thought you should know.

Mandy


But Mandy, we are the New and Improved Las Vegas!

Joanne
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Postby Miriam C. » Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:42 pm

:twisted: Sounds like you have a plan and you get bonus points for all encounters of the "number kind."

My TD is a conversion but was 6' 4" wide and 8' long. I put the bed across the front so I could get an extra foot out of it. Now I wish I had put the be across the wheels. Don't really know why... :lol:

It will be finished soon and then I can start changing it. The hatch is way big and heavy. It might help to plan where you will have the struts for lifting it before you build the cabinets. Ask me how I know.. :oops:

My gallery has good pictures of the base if you start at page 1 then skip to the others or go to the thread. 8)
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here they are

Postby daveleb55 » Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:34 pm

Took some pics today in between thunder showers. Posted here on Photobucket:

http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/o115/daveleb55/

I'm drawing plans and building a 1/12 cardboard mockup as well. We plan to weigh each item as we remove it, to get an idea of how much weight we can put back in! We're trying to keep the weight down as much as possible.

Dave & Kathleen
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Postby daveleb55 » Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:41 pm

Cabinets? We don't need no stinking cabinets!!

We're going for light and simple, shelves with plastic bins, paint instead of metal skin, and so on. we're also recycling as much as we can from the rig, cooktop, sink, Keeping the 3/4" plywood floor and frame. The side walls are metal on the outside and around 2 1/2" thick. We're keeping those and incorporating them into the design (less work=less time and materials too!)

Dave & Kathleen



Miriam C. wrote: It might help to plan where you will have the struts for lifting it before you build the cabinets. Ask me how I know.. 8)
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Re: HI! from new Vegan newbies

Postby daveleb55 » Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:51 pm

We like the new Doctor Who as well as the (now) classic Tom Baker et al. Baker was the first one I saw many years ago. I still have the 13 foot scarf an old girlfriend made for me in the accurate TV series colors!

Dave & Kathleen



sushidog wrote:
angib wrote:Welcome, Dave The Vay-gun (not Dave The Vee-gun),

steve wolverton wrote:
daveleb55 wrote:assimilated! (resistance is futile!!)

+1 for your Star Trek dork points.

Pah! Star Trek indeed! Quote the original, not the copy. 'Resistance is useless' was one of the favourite phrases of The Daleks, usually just before: "Ex-ter-min-ate, ex-ter-min-ate".

Andrew


Welcome to Earth. :shake hands:
You did say you're from Vega (Alpha Lyrae) didn't you?
Ok, I won't harp on this...(if you've gotta explain it, it didn't work.)

Daleks? Who in the world could you be talking about???????????????

I love the toilet plunger! Tom Baker is my fav doctor, who's yours?
"Get off the #@$% computer and GO CAMPING!"
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Where to post my build?

Postby daveleb55 » Fri Aug 03, 2007 1:06 am

I see a topic for cargo conversions, but not popup conversions. Should I post it in the "Member Design" area? We are making this up as we go along. I spent hours removing the cooktop (there were a zillion screws!) Hopefully removing the cabinetry will go a llittle faster.

The inflatable mattress arrived today. We got it on overstock dot com on sale. Once I get the cabinets out we can test fit it!

It's been either raining or miserably hot and humid so I'm not gettng as much done as I would like.

Dave & Kathleen
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Postby SaGR » Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:28 am

I saw this and thought -

1. Panic
2. Pull out pocket knife and cut through sidewall

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Emergency Exit

Postby daveleb55 » Fri Aug 03, 2007 1:22 pm

I keep a battery powered dremel tool on hand for just such an emergency!




SaGR wrote:I saw this and thought -

1. Panic
2. Pull out pocket knife and cut through sidewall

Image
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