Update/More Camping: Weekender-for-5

[Alfred]

Hey Alfred,
We just got thru with the community supper at the Shenadora gathering, not as big as the Racoon Hollier gathering supper, but great anyway. I'm STUFFED!!! Wally and I was kinda of thinking that you guys(ya'll) would might make the trip up but I know you probably saving to finish your teardrop. Wally says you missed a GOOD TIME. Talk to you later, chuck box was a good find!!
Til later by the fire--John T.

Hey John and Wally and gang,

Sorry to have missed this one! Still sort-of wiped out from the trip to Florida (got home late last night) and our oldest Daughter is going to special Spina Bifida camp for a week, we have to drop her off tomorrow. Too many things in too short a time to make it all work.

My definite hope and goal is to have mine campable in time for the big TD gig in NC in September:
END OF SUMMER FUN AT THA LAKE *2009*
September 18-20, 2009
High Rock Lake Marina and Campground in Lexington, NC

Go to this link, in the Southeast Gathering section of the forum:
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=27167

I really hope to see all of you there. Hope you all are having a good time and the weather holds. Thanks for thinking of us here in Asheville!

AL

[Alfred]

Adding another picture, this is where the galley will be.

The 2x2 represents where the slide will be for the bunk bed. The 1x2 in the frame, below the 2x2, is where the galley counter-top will be.

The small black box in the bulkhead is the converter/inverter box.

The bunk bed will slide up over the countertop at night for the kids to sleep on. Then in the morning the bunk will move forward so that the galley counter-top can be used.



AL in Asheville

[S. Heisley]

Alfred wrote:

The bunk bed will slide up over the countertop at night for the kids to sleep on. Then in the morning the bunk will move forward so that the galley counter-top can be used.

Al: I think this moving bunk idea is a great one! How wide is this moving platform? Is it like a full-sized bed where the kids will sleep side-by-side?

[Alfred]

I think this moving bunk idea is a great one! How wide is this moving platform? Is it like a full-sized bed where the kids will sleep side-by-side?

Hey Sharon,

It was Mike's answer to my dilemma posed to the forum of how to fit 5 people into a more or less standard TD/TTT size, while still retaining use of a galley in the rear.

Yes, the kids' bunk will be overhead, just as wide as our bed, more or less queen-sized, and they will sleep side by side. By sliding it forward to use the galley and sliding it back for sleep, we can keep the length at just about queen sized, allowing them ample room!

The only thing lost was a lot of the cabinet space. But I think it was a good compromise that is going to work out great!

Al in Asheville

[Alfred]

Hey Gang,

Having missed the gathering this weekend in Virginia, I called and made reservations today for the END OF SUMMER FUN AT THA LAKE *2009*
September 18-20, 2009 at High Rock Lake Marina and Campground in Lexington, NC (www.highrocklakecampground.com) 1-800-382-3239.

However, when I told the customer service person that my plan was to either use the camper, if it was completed, or otherwise sleep in the tent, she said: "No tents allowed. We're a park for RV/Campers only".

So, I threw caution to the wind and made the reservation, but now I have to have the camper at least minimally campable by Mid-September!

Uh-Oh the pressure is on!

Al in Asheville

[Miriam C.]

You can do it. You can always get a tarp in case it rains. Some of these RV parks are funny about tents for sure.

[tinytrailer]

The Colman store in St. Augustine is now closed, Guess you found that out, if you stopped in there. Since Camping World is so close, the competition was to much for them. I miss them being there. Hope to meet you in November at Anastasia.

[Alfred]

The Colman store in St. Augustine is now closed, Guess you found that out, if you stopped in there. Since Camping World is so close, the competition was to much for them. I miss them being there. Hope to meet you in November at Anastasia.

Yes, I discovered the Coleman Outlet in St. Augustine was shuttered. I stopped at the Sportsman's Warehouse in Columbia, SC and that was interesting. Also at Skycraft Surplus, in Orlando.

Fortunately, I am relatively close to 3 Coleman Outlets up here in Asheville, there is one in Commerce, GA (Near Atlanta), one in Pigeon Forge, TN and also one in Gatlinburg, TN.

I gotta get the camper done! I've got reservations for Lexington, NC in September and at Anastasia State Park in November. Looking forward to meeting you there, too!

Al in Asheville

[Alfred]

Hey gang,

My friend David came back today and helped me get some spars up and on the camper. The walls are a lot more stable now. Took longer than we thought it would to get these spars on, as we had to cut some of them to fit the angles of the profile. It is really starting to look like a camper now, don't you think? I think its personality is starting to show, too. Two of my helpers came out to inspect the camper, when we finished for the day!









Al in Asheville

[Wolffarmer]

Looking good there Al.

Going to put a cover over that front window when under tow?

[Alfred]

Going to put a cover over that front window when under tow?

Hey, Wolffarmer!

Thanks for the affirmation!

There was a recent debate in a thread about whether the front window cover was really necessary, but I've lost two car windshields over the years to road debris being flung into them. A dump-truck threw a rock into my old '73 VW Beetle windshield, when I was a teenager. Then I lost another vehicle windshield (at first it was just a crack, then is spread) to some unidentified object a few years ago.

So, I am thinking it would be prudent to design some sort of shutters or awning/cover to protect it when we're on the move. I haven't decided exactly what, yet.

I am thinking perhaps an awning, hung on a hinge above the window, that would fold down over it, then lift up for use as an awning when parked.

Or...

Maybe actual shutters, which would look nice opened when we're parked.

Any ideas?

AL in Asheville

[MrMatt]

I am thinking about a cover for the front windows on mine.

My brother does custom Fiberglass work so we talked about making a fiberglass unit using draped fleece to get a natural bubble shape for strength. Then it will pop up and act as a sun shade when not on the road.

The build looks great by the way.

[Wolffarmer]

My vote would probably be for an awning. Pop it up when camping and keep most of the direct sun out for those times it is not warm enough for your AC and you want some air flow.

Enjoy. Those kids are going to have some great adventures. Building, Camping. giving pops gray hairs.

[Alfred]

Hi Gang,

This is my 500th post since joining this forum on June 03, 2007. I want to thank everyone who has been a part of it so far, and for your continued support as the build continues and we start moving toward post # 1000!



Al in Asheville

[Alfred]

Hey Gang,

My friend David from the T&TTT list came over again today and we spent the day working on the camper. All of the spars are finished now, the framing is in place for the front window, the galley area spars are in place and we've started on framing for the hatch. Progress is being made and it is really coming together!

See pictures below!

The view from the front



Looking in from the passenger side door!



A closer look at that fan!



The view from the rear - Future Galley area!



Another view from the rear - Hinge will go on the top cross spar, which is made of Oak.



Hatch frame spars made from 1/2" ply, cut out to look like hockey sticks!



What a great day!

Al in Asheville