The LT... Thomas' Luxury Tent

[satch]

Sweet!

[Anthony J Grant]

Bump!

[2bits]

Thanks for the nudge nudge there Tony, it has been frustrating with my door hinge issue and it has been hard to think out the problem when it is 110 in the garage. I've been umm partying alot too LOL I need it get after it dangit! I plan on getting out there tomorrow morning (not afternoon).

The other day I pulled the weatherstripping off the doors and decided to build an inner door frame like the Swiss Tear to mount the weatherstripping on .

I am not going to use the wood spacers at all now any one need them? I used the cut off from my plastic hatch hinge and cut some exact size spacers out of them since I needed real thin ones now. It will have a flush look which I like, not to mention I can add the inner frame a little later.

More to come!

[chorizon]

Thanks for the nudge nudge there Tony, it has been frustrating with my door hinge issue and it has been hard to think out the problem when it is 110 in the garage.

Yeah, this heat has been a real drag. I'm about to start the mandatory yardwork, and its already 97 outside, with about a million percent humidity. Have to psych myself up for it, afterward I know I won't have the drive to hang out in the garage the rest of the afternoon.

I was checking out the stage 10 pics on your website, and your build looks awesome! Not too much more to go by my reckoning. The radical curve on your hatch has a nice aesthetic.

Noticed too that the reg will be out on your plate at the end of next month. Maybe that could be a good deadline to set to have it campable by? Even if you slide into homeplate and camp in it on the 31st!

Ha-ha! Just noticed this on the piccie of your aluminum...

This is .063 prepainted black aluminum. The good stuff...

Is this a reference to the street peddler on Conan The Barbarian?

[Dan & Julie CO]

famous house builders saying: don't worry, the sheet rockers will cover it up.

Famous sheet rockers saying: don't worry, the mudders will cover it up.
I guess that's why my brother can't find a corner in his house square enough to hang his corner shelf...

and famous painters say don't worry the window covering installer will hide it with blinds and shades the customer asks? what's with the light strike being wider at the bottom than the top of the window? and the window covering installer say's the framer did it
why is that well they don't make a habit of make shades that way
usually they make them square.

[2bits]

Yeah, this heat has been a real drag. I'm about to start the mandatory yardwork, and its already 97 outside, with about a million percent humidity. Have to psych myself up for it, afterward I know I won't have the drive to hang out in the garage the rest of the afternoon.

I was checking out the stage 10 pics on your website, and your build looks awesome! Not too much more to go by my reckoning. The radical curve on your hatch has a nice aesthetic.

Noticed too that the reg will be out on your plate at the end of next month. Maybe that could be a good deadline to set to have it campable by? Even if you slide into homeplate and camp in it on the 31st!

Ha-ha! Just noticed this on the piccie of your aluminum...

This is .063 prepainted black aluminum. The good stuff...

Is this a reference to the street peddler on Conan The Barbarian?

Yeah, I am skipping the yardwork because I don't wanna get pooped and not do the fun work!

I am about 90% done I would say and 95% to campable. That was my exact thought to get it on the road at least ONCE before I have to renew my tags at the end of July! LOL At least I know that part of it is done and I don't have to worry about messing with it from scratch. Although I seriously doubt I will be camping when it is super hot, but I would like to take it out to some car shows.

Nope no reference to Conan, not sure if Ive ever even seen it! I need to check it out!

[2bits]

The heat isn't too bad out there as long as you expect it and take breaks on little successes. Beer helps too haha

I got the driver's side door ON, and it closes smoother than silk! It is perfect! My confidence is restored! HAHA. I did the passenger side first on purpose for just this reason.

The latch latches perfectly with just a little bit of play which is perfect for when the weatherstripping is installed on the inner door frame to pad it up. I feel sooo good about this door, the action is smooth and it doesn't feel wobbly. The only thing I did different was shim it up like I forgot to do like a DOPE on the other side.

I also just decided that I am not going to do the accent strips ALL the way across the sides, I think with all the door hardware it will make it look too busy. I am going to do the exact same cool design but constrained to the rear section where it needs to cover the screw heads, and with one small strip up front to cover the two screws there.



My plastic hatch hinge cut off used as a 1/8" spacer


It was nice to just pull the hinge pins to remove the door and install the window. I love the door flush against the wall MUCH better than the thick weather stripping there.



My day is done! Tomorrow I will tackle the hatch latch, then (hopefully) install the hatch hinge. My aluminum roof has expanded an 8th of an inch since it was cool outside so I might need to fight it.

I'm gonna forgo doing the hatch headliner for now, because it seems like the wood wants to split and I have a lot of work to do under there anyway, and I also just had an idea that I might want to put that black aluminum instead of the wood there, so I'm gonna go ahead and get the hatch installed and functional, then just twist a little to do the headliner later. I want that hatch WORKING.

[Dan & Julie CO]

The door looks great, your choice of hinge worked out great, your instincts were spot on they have plenty of clearance over the trim
it's becoming a work of art

[Miriam C.]

Now that is a beautiful door. You will for sure be done in time for fall camping

[bbarry]

I'm glad you are happy with your doors now! I was also dreading that part of the build, but the first one went on with relatively little problem. It's sure nice when you push it closed and it makes that nice Lexus-like "kerchunk" sound.

Brad

[aggie79]

Thomas,

That door looks so cool. I really like the way the t-molding and hinges stand out against the wood sides.

Never did make it to the garage myself on Saturday.
Tom

[2bits]

Thanks guys, I know it is hard getting out there Tom! It has been a while for me. I should come by some time since I am seeing a girl in Ft. Worth now.

Today I did get back out there and I was gonna put the hatch on, but I just HAD to revisit putting the hatch latch below the headliner and I worked out with a little notching to where it will work!

I used an old spare hatch rib as a template for the angle and I cut some mounts and then tweaked them for the rods to go through and I got the rods to clear the frame and it is gonna work and be covered by the headliner which is great! I need to have my friend come over sometime with his angle attachment for his drill to drill the 6 holes for the rods in the hatch frame, then I just mount the latch!

I think at this point I can do the rest of the work with the hatch installed so when I recover from this heat a little bit, we'll see if I can get the hinge installed.

[aggie79]

Thanks guys, I know it is hard getting out there Tom! It has been a while for me. I should come by some time since I am seeing a girl in Ft. Worth now.

Thomas,

I'm following your hatch lock install too! Thanks for posting. When you're over on the Fort Worth side of things give me a shout. (I did get out in the garage today for about 5 hours. Like you said it really wasn't that bad. Not much to show though)

Tom

[2bits]

Cool Tom! PM me your Ph# if you can!

I am halfway done screwing in the hatch hinge! ! !

[2bits]

Alrighty!

I feel very accomplished! I got the hatch hinge/hatch installed! ! ! 62 screws and PL Premium flashing sealant. (the TRUE black goo I to love to hate)... Yes! I took the first two pics before I finished hand screwing it completely flat as the sun was goin down. I had to fight it a little bit since the aluminum skin was expanded from the heat but all in all it was a breeze. I left 3/8" or so over hang on each side for rain, but I might trim it flush later on if I feel like I get a good seal with however that section ends up.