My Epiphany - Sanding - Sanding - Sanding

[parnold]

I feel good about what I accomplished this weekend!

Not only did I get some much needed yardwork done, but it was a productive weekend on the trailer too.

This is what I am using for spars. 23/32 cabinet grade plywood, cut to 1 1/8" thick, then glued and nailed together. I was a little concerned with the strength of this, until I started to think about those cheap hollow core doors. With the luan on top, and the FRP underneath, I am confident that these will be perfect. I do not plan on standing on top of my trailer.



I purchased another sheet of birch paneling, and put up the wall behind the bed platform. I'll probably need to buy at least one more sheet, if not two. At forty bucks a sheet, I'm buying as I need. I still have to do the wall by the table, the closet, the cabinet that houses the furnace, and the exposed part of the bed frame.



Here is a pic of all the spars I installed today, as well as some more spars that I cut, glued, and nailed today. I will let the glue dry 100% before I use them. There is some weight on top of them, just to make sure they stay relatively straight. You can see those spars in the center of the trailer on top of a piece of plywood.



Lastly I started laying out some of the wiring. I will have a grounding block in the rear of the trailer, as well as one in the front to minimize the wiring needed. In this picture, you can see some wires poking out of the wall to either side of the big window. This is where two of the sconces will be. There will also be two lights over the bed that are adjustable for reading, and there will be light switches just inside the door to turn on the sconces by the big window.



I was all cleaned up by six o'clock, and had time to enjoy a couple beers and a cigar with my son!

[parnold]

Started the day off by cutting the door opening finally. As KC noticed, the door opening in the wall framework was smaller than my sketchup drawing, and was actually very narrow at about 18 inches. I widened the door opening to 22 inches, which is comfortable for me to get in and out without having to twist sideways.



I continued installation of the spars. I have four more to install, one on the bottom front, and three on the back. It's a good thing I got the door cut open.. it would be hard to get inside otherwise.



I did some more bracing to the bed framing, and finished isolating the area for the slide out kitchen. There will be some storage under the edge of the bed. Tomorrow, hopefully I'll get the plywood for the bed, and hinges for access to storage, finish the last of the spars, and get the wiring in place. Who knows, maybe I'll get to start on the insulation too?

Here's another view of todays progress.

[S. Heisley]

Paul, your slouch looks like it will be quite nice....but BIG!
How much do you think it will weigh when you are done?

[myoung]

Great progress, Paul. You build neatly, which probably makes the jobs go more quickly. Kudos.

[parnold]

Paul, your slouch looks like it will be quite nice....but BIG!
How much do you think it will weigh when you are done?

Sharon, I'm hoping around 1200 lbs. I can still quite easily roll it around, and lift the tongue, and theres probably only a few hundred pounds more junk going in it. 1200 lbs should be quite easy to tow with my Subaru. If it weighs much more than that, I'll probably use it only on shorter trips, and use the "little one" for longer trips. I expect I'll be bringing the "little one" for the Wyoming trip.

Great progress, Paul. You build neatly, which probably makes the jobs go more quickly. Kudos.

I cleaned up a little for the pictures Mike. I am trying to work neater, because as you say, it makes things go quicker and better, but sometimes I still slip into the dark side.

[KCStudly]

Great progress Paul. Looking good!

Tidy work area is good, but I see plenty of sawdust there on the ground and tongue so we know there is plenty of work being done.

There's an old saying, something like; when the customer saw the neat and tidy work area that was all spruced up for the visit, he asked, "yeah, but where does the work get done?".

I agree, it is important to clean up after yourself, but "if you want to enjoy some wine, you will break a few corks along the way".

[parnold]

Only one picture to post today, a composite of four pictures actually. I spent most of the day wiring, so not too exciting in the visual field. From top left, clockwise, the picture depicts the wires for the reading lamps for the bed, one on each side of the window. Pic two is the main lights on either side of the "picture window". These will be operated by a switch just inside the door. Pic three is my ground fault outlet. This will be the only readily accessible outlet inside the trailer. I don't camp with 120 volt much, and when I do, I only use it inside to charge laptop. Maybe I'll get a little Mr. Coffee to use on those rare occasions that I have power. The last pic is obviously the fantastic fan hole.



The fuse panel will be under the edge of the bed. I have a six position fuse block, but only have 5 circuits. 1. Bed lights 2. Main lights 3. Porch light 4. Fantastic fan 5. Cigarette lighter. There will be another 120 volt outlet in the air conditioner bay. This will have the a/c unit plugged into it, and a 12v charger to keep the battery topped off. I'll still be using the 12v lighting even if I have power.

[Woodbutcher]

Your moving along real good Paul. You seem to at the point where it really starts to be fun. Each day you see progress and the finish line is in site!!!

[parnold]

Your moving along real good Paul. You seem to at the point where it really starts to be fun. Each day you see progress and the finish line is in site!!!

Thanks Steve!

I was just saying to my son tonight over a couple and a cigar, that I'm getting discouraged because there is sooo much more to do. My first build was so simple, I really got spoiled. I'm thinking seriously about taking next weekend off and heading to my local state park for some solitude. I think today I spent as much time today "thinking" as I did building. This trailer has so much more to it, and I need to take the time to think everything through because it can be a little overwhelming, and I don't have every detail mapped out ahead of time.

My first trailer took me 5 weeks from sawdust to campable. This trailer, I started on the frame back in January, sawdust was 5 weeks ago already, and I don't think I'm halfway there yet.

On a brighter note. I did some research last night and found out my car is rated to tow 2600 lbs (in Europe and Australia) with brakes, and 1600 lbs without brakes. I've pretty much decided if it weighs in anything over 1200 lbs, I'm going to add brakes though. The limit in NJ if I remember correctly is 1500 lbs and brakes are mandatory after that. I'm not trying to start a debate on the legality of towing, but was interested more that I wasn't overtaxing my engine and transmission.

[crpngdth2001]

Paul,

Nice build, coming along great!

I have one question - how did you attach the walls to the floor, I had trouble telling from the pictures? Was it pocket screws from the outside of the wall into the flooring?

Jim

[Oldragbaggers]

Five whole weeks, huh?!?!?

I've been at it for that many months. I think you're doing great! And it looks so nice too. As someone just recently told me, you can't rush quality work, and you are definitely doing quality work. I think your spars should be plenty strong. Love the beadboard ply you're using on the inside and I have been thinking I might use a little of that in mine just to make a "headboard" for the bed.

Having all that room will be great for you. You're lucky in the fact that you still have your other trailer so you can stop building and camp any time you want. That will make it more bearable if the job takes longer than expected.

Enjoying your build journal, Paul!!

[parnold]

Paul,

Nice build, coming along great!

I have one question - how did you attach the walls to the floor, I had trouble telling from the pictures? Was it pocket screws from the outside of the wall into the flooring?

Jim

Jim: Exactly! Each wall has about 20 screws, plus glue holding them to the floor. Of course everything else that's screwed to the walls is also attached to the floor, so I'm not worried about it.

[crpngdth2001]

I think I am planning to do the same thing, for the same reason. I will have a 5' tall profile and a 'pop-up camper' like set of benches on each end of the sleeping cabin with a table that drops down to make the bed (Queen) - along with a drop floor. I got the idea from Woodbutcher's Club Car, but am using this idea instead of folding van bench seat frames.

The framing for the benches on each end will have plenty of screws into the side walls, along with the floor - and plenty of epoxy or glue. I agree that it is plenty as well.

[aggie79]

My first build was so simple, I really got spoiled. I'm thinking seriously about taking next weekend off and heading to my local state park for some solitude. I think today I spent as much time today "thinking" as I did building. This trailer has so much more to it, and I need to take the time to think everything through because it can be a little overwhelming, and I don't have every detail mapped out ahead of time.

My first trailer took me 5 weeks from sawdust to campable. This trailer, I started on the frame back in January, sawdust was 5 weeks ago already, and I don't think I'm halfway there yet.

Paul,

Your "My Epiphany" looks fantastic. Above you mentioned a little discouragement about pace. I think you're moving along quite nicely. If it makes you feel any better, if you add up the time you took to build #1, the time between builds, and the time you've spent on #2, that is less than the time it took me to build #1.

Take care,
Tom

[parnold]

Good progress today. Tidied up the wiring some, and started on the insulation. I went with foil covered 1/2" foam. I used some white masking paper to make the templates. I taped the paper over the voids, and by running my fingers around the edges made a usable pattern.



By laying these patterns over the foam insulation board, I was able to trace the pattern using a fingernail.




Once the insulation was in, I was able to put on the outer skin.



I did actually route the edges and the window, door, and hatch opening, I just forgot to take a picture


Tomorrow I hope to do the other wall, but due to complexities with getting the furnace apart, I will have to mount the furnace at the same time as building the wall.

Unfortunately, cutting the insulation, and some of the wood on the trailer, I managed to hurt my lower back. I think it was because the bed of the trailer was so low. I usually work on a table at about 30" so no bending over.