CLynn85 wrote:irish44j wrote: every time I see these threads, all I can think of is the Top Gear caravan test episode...I laughed so hard at that one I almost pissed myself, funniest episode of the new season by far IMO.
Ditto, my wife actually came downstairs and asked me what was so funny. And she never comes downstairs when I'm watching TopGear for fear that I'll make her watch it (but when she's in the room I can see her watching it while trying not to let me see her watching it, lol)
irish44j wrote:CLynn85 wrote:Ditto, my wife actually came downstairs and asked me what was so funny. And she never comes downstairs when I'm watching TopGear for fear that I'll make her watch it (but when she's in the room I can see her watching it while trying not to let me see her watching it, lol)irish44j wrote: every time I see these threads, all I can think of is the Top Gear caravan test episode...I laughed so hard at that one I almost pissed myself, funniest episode of the new season by far IMO.
I'm the opposite, my wife's addicted and demands to see the latest episode as soon as it airs in the UK.
/threadjack
Just a quick update...
The hitch arrived last night, so it went on this morning. The manual says it's a 20-minute install. Maybe if you install hitches all day - it took me an hour.
I think it looks neat with the Euro-style drawbar, though.
nice, looks like the shifter in a honda N600
Where did you get that drawbar/ball combo? On Amazon?
Brett_Murphy wrote: Where did you get that drawbar/ball combo? On Amazon?
I did, indeed. It's made by Curt Manufacturing. It comes in combination with the hitch, as a package deal.
Curt does sell the drawbars separately. Several rise/drop choices are available, along with a choice of 1 7/8" or 2" ball sizes.
See the choices here:
Another minor update today.
Installed the HF LED tail light kit today. The lights are decent enough, but the hardware is crap. Seriously, who would use wire nuts on trailer wiring?? As an electrician, I'm pretty OCD about this stuff.
Tail lights tested:
Here's the brake lights:
Top tip for trailer builders who use C-channel for the frame: Whoever built this trailer tack-welded 3/8" flat washers inside the "C" for carrying wires. Neat! I put some grommets inside the washers (there goes that OCD again!), ran the harness, and made the connections with heat-shrink butt splices - no wire nuts for me!
The vehicle-side wiring kit came in today, so that will go in over the weekend and I will have a legal, towable trailer - the first trip will be to Home Depot for more plywood!
Oh... also pictured in the photos above is the home-made license plate bracket. The one in the HF kit is crap, and for full-size plates. Nowadays in Nevada, if your trailer is under 1000lbs. empty, you have the option of a motorcycle-size plate. The bracket is made from an aluminum plate that was once part of the chassis of a Cyberlight - I love recycling!
Super cool hit up a window sales place for sample windows , they should be free . Awesome deal ! Hey if you get stuck on the framing find a job site of a builder. Bring beer sandwiches get build out skeleton quick
Thanks, Karl... I already got a window out of a Toyota mini-motorhome, and my door is a junkyard part off a full-height camper shell (the kind where you take the whole tailgate off, so it's a decent height.
Framing will be done with 2x2, that'd surely throw off a residential framer :)
Hey, I bet you thought this thread had died! Nope, I was just waiting for payday!
Maiden voyage of the rig today. Self-aware camper picks up its own lumber:
Now that the lumber is home, the real build can begin! I bolted the floor to the frame today (hopefully for the last time!) and cut and primed the first two (of six) wall sections. More pictures tomorrow as the wall sections go into place.
Real progress today. It's starting to look like something!
Up goes wall #1. The angle iron is for temporary support.
My hands were too busy to snap a pic until wall #2 and the rear top brace went in.
Test-fitting the rear wall. A few nibbles with the jigsaw and it tucks into the C-channel frame.
Up next... cut the opening for the door and prime and install the rear wall.
It's official. Now that I see it coming together, I hate my design. Redesign on the fly coming soon. Ugh.
EvanR wrote: It's official. Now that I see it coming together, I *hate* my design. Redesign on the fly coming soon. Ugh.
i lold ...why do you hate it? I think its coming along nicely!
It looks like something to sell hot dogs out of, not to sleep in. The proportions are all wrong, and all goofy.
Okay, redesign-on-the-fly is complete. Instead of being a sort of bullnose, it will be a tapered wedge. Overall height is reduced, and the proportions look a lot better.
Hacked off the side walls at an angle:
To see the overall shape and proportions, I mocked it up a bit with extra lumber. The height of the rear wall is about 40" off the frame, and the front end will be about 30"
Once I chopped down the back wall, I cut the hole for the door and primed and mounted it:
I'm much happier with the new design. Just 3 more walls and a roof to go!
Here is my "home built" camper / car tralier. Its just big enough to sleep in. I'm 6'2". I post it because I wish it had more head room. Keep that in mind when you design yours. (But I'm old and tall.)
Thanks. At 40" at the rear, I'll have enough room to sit up comfortably on a 4" mattress. That's all I can ask for. Building a camper tall enough to stand in was out of the question for weight and aero reasons.
In reply to spin_out: Ummmmm is that half a car?
Brief diversion update. Since I need to replace my circular saw (ugh), I decided to do some work on the door. This door came off a camper shell at the junkyard. It was of the sort where you remove the tailgate, so it's a decent size - 27" x 36" or so.
I forgot to take a "before" pic of the inside, but it was ugly paneling, with crappy paint and water damage. I sanded off the paint and took off the hardware.
Couple coats of Kilz2:
Home Depot will mix up an 8 oz. "sample" of any color of the rainbow. Turns out that is plenty to paint a door 
This is 2 coats of "Unmellow Yellow":
I gotta buy a new saw. But at least I did something today.
Just a suggestion. Since you have access to a table saw, buy a LVL beam and rip it down to size for your dimensional lumber. Its way stronger and doesn't bow and warp.
Hey! It's time for an update! Not a lot of pictures, only about 3000 words' worth :)
The last 3 wall sections - cut, primed, and mounted. Now it's starting to take shape!
Beginning the framing for the roof:
Framing for the 14" x 14" roof vent. You can also see where I finished framing the door jamb.
Next up is finishing the framing for the roof.
After that is prep for paint. The seams in the plywood reflect my poor carpentry skills. Thank Jebus for Bondo!
Another weekend, another update...
Framing in the roof was a big pain. Again with the damn angles.
Some details on the roof gussets:
Here's the roof framing, completed and primed/sealed. I may have over-designed it, but it's effing strong. Any attempts to rack the box simply rocks the tires and springs.
The first (of three) finish coats is on! It looks like something!
If anyone is still paying attention...
DOOR! We have door!
And we have sub-roof, in 3/16" Masonite.
Sweet. I am looking forward to seeing the final product.
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