CT Conversion finally started

[lmajeff1]

Well cut my first interior panel today then it got to dark to see. I will nail it up tomorrow. Should have the windowless side done this weekend up to the door. I stood the panel up against the wall looked really sweet. More this weekend.

[aggie79]

Jeff,

Your CT conversion is coming along nicely. Thanks for posting the pictures. Your kids are precious. I know they can't wait to go camping. (BTW, I guess you can tell which side of the family divide I support. )

If you haven't already, check out the South Central section and sign up for some of the gatherings. We'd love to have y'all there.

Take care,
Tom

[lmajeff1]

Well got the paneling up on one walls this weekend. It is going well.

[lmajeff1]

Hello All,

FIrst camping trip completed Went to Lake Wakahatia, Arkansas West of Hot Springs, Arkansas on 270. It was a long haul from just South of Houston, TX. The trailer performed very well. I have some things still that I want to do to the CT I ran a temperature humidity logger for the entire time at the camp ground Hope to down load the data soon to see how well the trailer performed, never ran the AC over 'Low Cooling' setting. My oldest son gave me the ultimate complement on the trailer 'He said the trailer reminded him of Grandma's lake cabin. Please enjoy the photos and if you have any questions please let me know.

[bigbendhiker]

Good job on the trailer! Really nice camping spot in Arkansas.

Your sofa/bed looks like a futon that Ikea sells. Is that were you got it? How do you like it and does it sleep well?

Thanks for sharing your build.

[lmajeff1]

Hello Bigbendhiker,

Yes the Futon is from IKEA. I sleeps much better then I thought it would. The arched slats that give when you sit or sleep on it make all the difference. I went with the next to the top mattress though. Still have some things to add prior to saying it is finished until I get the urge to modify again (learnt a lot of things as I am an electronic person not a carpender.

Sincerely

Jeff

[notoriouskelly]

Pretty sweet - glad the trailer is a hit!

[roadinspector]

Hello All,

FIrst camping trip completed Went to Lake Wakahatia, Arkansas West of Hot Springs, Arkansas on 270. It was a long haul from just South of Houston, TX.

That is quite a trip but well worth it. By your pictures it looks like you were at Joplin Recreation Area by Mountain Harbour at Ouachita. My family has been going there for over 50 years from various locations all over West Texas. Dad discovered it in the back of an Outdoor Life Magazine. It is a little slice of heaven. Fall is exceptionally beautiful. We will be heading back there in late Sept.

Nice build!! Looks like you had a good trip!

Earnest

[lmajeff1]

Hello Earnest,

It was a nice trip; however, I do not know if I would do it again. I must say I was extremely surprised that there was hardly any flying insects except for bees. You are correct in the location that my family and I were staying at. Just that long 8 plus hour drive from just south of Houston. It was the first true vacation in over 3 years.

Sincerely,

Jeff

[roadinspector]

Hello Earnest,

It was a nice trip; however, I do not know if I would do it again. I must say I was extremely surprised that there was hardly any flying insects except for bees. You are correct in the location that my family and I were staying at. Just that long 8 plus hour drive from just south of Houston. It was the first true vacation in over 3 years.

Sincerely,

Jeff

Jeff,
Long time coming and well deserved. We are about 7 and 1/2 hours away. It's a good drive alright. Food for thought. Dangerfield State Park is about 4 hours away from Ouachita. It's a nice park and perfect for a night layover. I did that a couple of times when I got a late start. Pulled into Ouachita around noon the next day with no rush to set up camp before dark. We have looked at other Rec Areas around the lake off of 270 and we like Joplin the best. We have camped at Little Fir and Housley Point (Big Fir) off of 27 going north out of Mt. Ida years ago but Joplin has the ammenities the wife prefers. I prefer the semi-primitive camping at Housley but Joplin is pretty nice camping.

Try not to wait so long till your next vacation. You only live once.

Earnest

[lmajeff1]

Hello Earnest,

That is true about living only once. Now that the CT is up and operational I am planing more trips (depending on how the Cancer Treatment goes for my daugther). I bought the App for my IPHONE (Campwhere-$4.99) that list all the camping areas (state parks, corp of engineers sites, etc). This was a great app it shows 9 Corp of Engineers sites around Lake Oiachita. If you do alot of camping is something well worth the price. Hope that in the next month or so will add window fixture to the 4X5 foot door on the street side of my trailer so that I can have light without AC.

Sincerely

Jeff

[roadinspector]

Hey Jeff,

Glad you are up and running. I will be praying for your daughter. Thanks for the info on the apps. That will come in handy. I have used reserve America before and it is a good site that is better than most. That lake has more campgrounds around it than you can imagine. Most are nice but they also have some that have camp sites stacked in a little too close than I care for. That is the beauty of Joplin. You got some elbow room.

I will be starting my toy hauler build next week. 2004 16x7x7 CT, I got it for a song and a dance, $2000. I have an old 5th wheel that the roof has gone bad on and it will cost more to replace it than the trailer is worth. I am going to strip it and put what I want in the CT. AC, heat, windows, bed, sink, cabinets and what ever I can use within reason. I am sure it won't be completed by the end of September but it will be where we can us it comfortably. I have access to a welder for the window braces, I got just about all the FREE 3/4" insulation sheets that I want. It's not the pink or the blue stuff everybody is using. It's leftover insulation that the local high school had when they insulated one of the gyms. My inside contact has made the offer so I am taking him up on it. Can't beat the price any where!! All I gotta do is get to work after I get it home this weekend.

We went for about 6 years without a vacation years ago. Never again if we can keep from it. We are kidless now except for the critters that can be worse than the kids. You sure have some cute kids! They grow up too fast.

Peace,
Earnest

[lmajeff1]

Hello Ernest

Yes children grow up fast then the grandchildren arrive. At this time just the daughter and critters hang out with grandma and I. All reuseable material is the best sweat equity is always priced right. Hope your build goes quickly.

Jeff