Where or When Jr. --Paint & New Tow Vehicle--update 5/17/15

[starleen2]

The terracotta roof and down spout gutter system really are gonna look good on the camper- also love the split level effect it makes. OOPPS , it just an optical illusion. Still looking good.

[myoung]

The terracotta roof and down spout gutter system really are gonna look good on the camper- also love the split level effect it makes.

Terrific. I was waiting for someone to remark on the Southwestern look!!

[myoung]

Simple but time-consuming. We installed much of the wiring today. Ran the tail light and brake wiring underneath in 3/4-inch flexible conduit. Ran most of the A/C and D/C to outlets. And, ran D/C to the lights that are shown here.


In order to hold the wiring in place, we fastened some small clips.



Tomorrow all the wiring is supposed to attach to the control panel and the converter distribution panel. The circuitry isn't obvious yet, so we'll have to do some homework on-line and in the manual that was certainly translated from some language other than English.

[myoung]

Lots of little things today including the daily visit to HD.

The two plastic vents for the Dometic fridge arrived yesterday, so today we cut the holes for the vents.


The Ariston 2.5 gallon electric water heater is now installed on the front wall under the galley sink.


Here is Dad working on the junction box in the rear for the tail/side marker lights, the brake lights, the brakes, and the license plate light.


The first job of the day was insulating the pop-up top and installing the inside skin. Tomorrow I'll paint this.


This was a little tricky because I had very close tolerances around the pantry drawer. This now is attached alongside the fridge with 18-inch full-extension drawer guides.

[S. Heisley]

[aggie79]

:awesome:

+1 on what Sharon said!

[myoung]

On Wednesday, we started placing the insulation on the sidewalls and on the inside of some interior spaces on the floor. This was quick, easy, and fun. What was not quick, easy, and fun involved that little junction box you can see on the tongue in this photo. Into that little space, Dad had to cram the seven strands of heavy wire from the 7-pin connector that will link to the Dodge tow vehicle and the mostly heavy wire that exited to the electrical panel and other locations on the interior.

That was too much to fit into such a small space, but somehow he did it. Then we added the insulation and attached the first of the outside skin sections of 5mm Luan with glue (that dripped of course) and ribbed brads. I thought I might have to use a nail or staple gun, but drilling and nailing brads went quite well (if you don't count breaking the tiny 1/16 inch drills).

[Cliffmeister2000]

You are up early today!

Mike that trailer is practically camp-able! You are working amazingly quickly! I've got to get over there and check it out. Friday, maybe?

[myoung]

You are up early today!

Mike that trailer is practically camp-able! You are working amazingly quickly! I've got to get over there and check it out. Friday, maybe?

Early. Yes, I have to teach over at ASU this morning.

We're going to take a break on Friday, Cliff. Going up to Sedona, Oak Creek, and Cottonwood/Dead Horse. We'll be gone all day.

See you soon.

[Woodbutcher]

Your doing a great job. Keep posting, it's fun to follow the progress you are making. Nice to have Dad's help as well!

[Cliffmeister2000]

Early. Yes, I have to teach over at ASU this morning.

I should read your posts better!

[myoung]

No pictures today. But, what an amazing amount of work was accomplished by my Father and my neighbor, Gerald. They worked from 8 am to 7 pm and now all the electrical save a few hookups to equipment yet to be installed has been completed. Without their help I can see that it would have taken me a month or more to do as much, but I doubt that I could have done it as well.

I worked on odds and ends like building the cargo doors, adding more insulation, installing the LEDs in the galley, some wiring, shopping, and gophering.

We had a rare rainfall today, so all the work was done inside the garage. If it is dry tomorrow, I hope to fit the pop-up top and insulate and perhaps skin the roof and some of the sides.

Oh, I almost forgot. One of the electric brake solenoids seems to be frozen or otherwise inoperable. Will have to pull the wheel off later to see what is wrong. Bummer.

[myoung]

Over the past two days, we have worked on a variety of tasks. Here are some of them.

There are two cargo doors that need to be built.


The rear skinning is now complete. Creating the oval holes for the tail lights was the most time-consuming task. The lights fit into rubber grommets. You'd think that a simple paper template or at least some dimensions for the mounting hole would be included. No. Lots of fussing to get this right.


One of the major side panels is installed now.


Here's Dad holding up his handiwork. All the magic happens here. It's a converter, a distribution panel, and a place for a few switches. We'll add a voltmeter later.


The sink has been positioned and the counters roughed in.


The sideboard will have drawers and shelves and also a place to attach the VW Westfalia Camper swiveling table support shown here.


I'm pleased to report that the idea of eliminating all overhead storage cabinets/closets has really paid off in a feeling of spaciousness.


Here's another photo of that nasty little junction box that accepts and distributes the 7-pin connector wire from the tow vehicle. We should have opted for at least a 4-inch square box.

[Steve_Cox]

Mike,

It has been a real pleasure watching your build come together. I bet it has been fun working with your Dad and Gerald too. You can bet a lot of your innovative ideas are being harvested for future use. Nice job.

[myoung]

You can bet a lot of your innovative ideas are being harvested for future use. Nice job.

I love seeing what others have done and picking and choosing from the tricks, techniques, and features that have been used before. Great fun.

Thanks, Steve.