Stampie's Grosh Mahal

Shadeux said:

 Since you're 20V get one of these. It really works.

When a man is wrong he should admit it. I was wrong.  I went to make my first cut this morning and the circular saw wouldn't spin up. I'm hoping it's because I drained the battery a lot yesterday evening. Anyway ran to Home Depot and the DeWalt 7.25 was $250 no battery.  Milwaukee had a sale with a 7.25 and an impact drill plus 2 batteries for $299. I'm already split between DeWalt and Milwaukee so I grabbed it.

Didn't get much done before the heat. I leveled the trailer, took the middle panel off and added supports so that the sheets lined up vertically better.

After that I gather up trash took a shower and headed to the dump. I need a towel. Air dry is getting old. 

I got home yesterday feeling a lot better. Decided to check everything and the inverter cables didn't look right. I reached down and pulled this right out. 

Yes they were crimped. Going to have to redo them but I had some smaller spare cables so I used them. 

After that I got the hotspot up. It's almost as good as last time but it was enough that I was able to do some research. Seems there's a tower a little under three miles to my NNW. I think a directional antenna with a booster is the answer. The app that found the tower also gives me good info on signal levels so I think I could dial it in. Last thing I did before dark was put a level on bed and reposition the Suburban. I slept well last night and this morning was ready to go. 

I cut up the wood and got three first wall up. Then I cut the wood for the second wall. Started to put it together but by then it was 11:30 and I was sweaty.

Decided best not to push it so took my shower and used the towel I picked up yesterday too dry off. Took a picture of my toothbrush holder for Grandma Stampie because things like that amuse her. 

I've been noting my water usage. I'm drinking 3/4 to a full gallon a day. The warmer noon showers have me using twice that. I think if I don't get my proper rain water collection going this week I'll at least do a temp one for shower water. 

I'm getting a routine down. Get up start working, take a break or two in the morning then shower before lunch. After lunch go to the library for a couple of hours then run errands before heading back out. After the library today I could already feel much better than yesterday. 

I headed to Lowe's because I miscounted a lot of 2x4s. In all fairness I changed my build plans but I thought I'd have enough for the main room but I was short 10 just for it. Also got wood to frame in the wheel wells and the window plus hinges for the door. 

Next a trip to Rural King because I'm going out for beers with diyintorace and Mrs. diyintorace.  My clothes were getting pretty funky so I bought some going to town shirts. 

Hit up Publix and headed back to home. Unloaded the wood because it was on top of the bed. Never a good thing to be tired and then have to unload stuff to go to bed. I put the second wall together and put it up. Still need to frame in the door and the window but this seemed like a good place to stop. 

I also experimented with rotating the hotspot phone and it does make a difference but it's very touchy.   Phones are supposed to be omnidirectional but at least today showed me that a directional antenna should work. 

Suggestion...

Consider putting something more substantial under the tongue than that scissor jack.  If it slides off while you are shaking the trailer around building on it, it might be bad.

In unrelated news on Tuesday I went to Harbour Freight, Rural King, and Tractor Supply Company looking for a trailer tongue jacks but the only ones I could find in the height I needed were weld on. I'll probably get something online for the two trailers. 

This morning was productive but first I got frustrated with the hotspot last night. It was very spotty so I threw on the other 10 feet of conduit and bam it worked the best it has. Now I'm thinking I don't need directional I just need height. Anyway that gave me ability to watch YouTube videos of people making tall diy antenna towers. I have a plan. 

This morning has been overcast and very cool so I got a lot done. This was my goal to get before lunch and I hit it 30 minutes early. 

You need to bolt or weld these 4 adjustable jacks on the four corners of your trailer.   I just removed them from a camper that a customer upgraded to screw models.

Free if you pay shipping or come get them.

In reply to Purple Frog (Forum Supporter) :

I appreciate it. Let me see what I come up with. 

Loving this thread!

Are you going to install a holding tank under the floor that needs dumping?

We need to cut some vinyl for the suburban that says "StampieLand Public Works"

In reply to Tom Suddard :

I mean I'd buy one. 

This afternoon was good. I finished up the top framing. From my measurements at the top it's out of square by 1/2 inch. Close enough for me. Really glad I brought my combo ladder. I was considering just rednecking getting up there. It was worth the pain of putting it in the Suburban. 

After that a shower was in order then I hit up the library. I had found an refurb cell booster last night on eBay. I used the faster Internet there to confirm it was a good deal and ordered it. That'll be a project for next time. I had to hit Publix because I'd forgotten to put on deodorant then Lowe's mainly to look at stuff for a diy antenna pole.

Then I met up with Mr. Joshua, dyintorace and Mrs. dyintorace for beers and dinner. I wasn't that hungry so I had banana pudding for dinner because I'm an adult. Good beer and great conversation.

Hopefully tomorrow will be as productive. 

That beer looks tasty!

You're doin it man.  You're doin it.  Congrats!

We had a blast! I'm happy to have you here in town (at least part time). 

dyintorace said:

We had a blast! I'm happy to have you here in town (at least part time). 

Agreed-look forward to seeing the property sometime.

In reply to MrJoshua :

You're welcome anytime you want. 

Will you be here Sat / Sun?

I have some items that might help... some materials to donate, and some infrastructure to loan if interested.

In reply to a_florida_man :

I'll be back in Jax by then but I can let you know next time I'm coming down. 

In reply to Stampie :

Yeah, that works.

Give me a call sometime and lets discuss....

The morning started off like yesterday. Nice cool and overcast but around 10 the sun came out and that slowed me down.   I did stop to watch this busy body. You can hear the buzzing while they're digging inside. 

There's lots of cool insects. Beautiful dragonflies, some left over love bugs, and most importantly I've seen multiple honey bees. I need to set up some swarm traps. 

Didn't get as much done this morning. I was hoping to get it in the "dry" today but I think I'll have to settle for dryish. 

I can't wait until I have an easy Friday. After lunch I did the last side panel and then the top. I've found that I cuss a lot more when I'm tired. At one point my bit fell out of my driver and to the ground. I was on the roof. Think the neighbors heard me. After calming down I thought well I can measure this last panel so I can bring it back up with me. Reached into my right pocket. No tape measure. Looked down at the cutting station. There's the tape measure. More cussing happened. I stored a lot of stuff that I've been hauling back and forth in the room. I also took the solar system apart other than panels, controller, and battery. Hopefully that'll give me a full battery to start with next time. Last 30 minutes I built a temp rain water collection system to use as shower water. Everything I had laying around other than the mosquito screen that I picked up at Lowe's yesterday.

Here's the top. I used screws to kinda fold it into place. There's one spot that I think will get standing water but shouldn't be bad. 

Hard to see in that picture but I pulled the middle back underneath to help funnel the water. One more screw holds that back. 

I'm back in Jax now resting up. I feel good about the progress this week. We're getting there. 

Great progress, hope to see it soon

Is there anything else going on the top? Looks to be pretty flat for a roof and drainage of water.

In reply to brad131a4 (Forum Supporter) :

Oh yes there is.  I shouldn't have referred to that as the roof.  That's the ceiling.  The roof is to come.

In reply to Stampie :

Cool.  That's called a Rusty Spider Wasp.  https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1247  They sting big spiders, drag them into their burrows.  My sense is they won't bother you unless you mess with them. A lot of wasps are like that.