ONE LAST ADDITION

My build journal. Going for super-lite weight and minimum expense. Sharing my ideas. Got any input? Let me know. Also on Facebook as Liteweight Teardrop Trailer. REMEMBER....To follow in order sequence.... scroll to last post and read backwards!

FINAL TALLY

LAST THING TO DO.........A GOOD 4" FOAM 

MATTRESS...PROBABLY $50.00

450#'S EMPTY

550#'S WITH ALL GALLEY STUFF ,MATTRESS,12 VOLT DEEP CYCLE BATTERY, JACK , TOOLS AND SPARE TIRE.

ADD GROCERIES, ICE AND CLOTHES= 600#'S ??

LAST MINUTE IDEA

HARBOR FREIGHT FREEBIE AGAIN. HAD A FREE SMALL TARP. GOT OUT THE SNAPS AND RIVETS

A GALLEY COVER

 

MAYBE A BIGGER TARP AND MORE SNAPS LATER

SAFETY FIRST

A VISIT TO THE SIGN MAINTENANCE SHOP OF THE COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT GOT A BUNCH OF REFLECTIVE TAPE SCRAPS.

LIGHTS UP LIKE THE READ END LIKE A SCHOOL BUS AT NIGHT.

BRITE YELLOW SIDE DOTS

SUN/RAIN SHADE

ADDED A DIAGONAL "L" PIECE. USED THE DOUBLE SIDED TAPE.

FIRST TRY.................ALL MY LEFT OVER ALUMINUM SHEET. COVERED IT WITH A GOOD MESS OF ROOFING PASTE. MESSY, UGLY, WRINKLED, DARK.

STRIPPED IT OFF. STARTED OVER. USED THE REMAINDER OF THE 1/16" WHITE SHEET USED ON DOORS. TIGHT, LIGHT AND TRANSLUCENT. 

HAD A STRING OF FREE SOLAR LED (HARBOR FREIGHT) ROPE LIGHTS. SEALED THE FACEPLATE AND SWITCH TO WATERPROOF AND TIE WRAPPED SO THEY RIDE SOLAR UP DRIVING, LIGHT GALLEY DEPLOYED.

GRAPHIX

A STOP BY A VINYL SIGN SHOP THAT SPECIALIZES IN CAR/TRUCK WRAPS

GOT ME SOME SCRAPS. WERE BADLY WRINKLED BUT AN HOUR UNDER A HEAT LAMP SMOOTHED PIECES RIGHT OUT.

MASKING TAPE FOR GUIDES

EL SNAZZOLA!

FLUFF AND BUFF

WHEN POLISHING, USE POLISH SPARINGLY. MOTHERS ALUMINUM IS GOOD BUT I USED MEQUIARS LIGHTEST. 9 INCH LOW PRESSURE ORBITAL WAXER. DIDN'T WANT SUPER HIGH GLOSS: TOO MUCH UPKEEP AND BAD HEADLIGHT REFLECTION GLARE FOR OTHER MOTORISTS.

A GREAT PRODUCT FOR CLEANING AND APPLYING A NICE MATTE-TYPE FINISH IS NEVER DULL. IT'S TREATED COTTON POLISHING WADS IN A CAN. USED BY LOTS OF AIRSTREAMERS AND ALUMINUM POLISH PLANE BUFFS. JUST ABOUT RIGHT SHINE. EASY TO STORE. WALMART

ELECTRICAL

LAID IN ALL WIRING DURING THE FRAME STAGE

SO IT WAS EASY TO HOOK UP EVERYTHING LATER

USED THAT SNAP CHANNEL TO COVER WIRES (HOME DEPOT)...EASIER THAN RIGGING WIRES THRU WALLS AND CAN CHANGE LATER IF NEEDED

DISTRIBUTION BOX. HINGED...CAN OPEN FOR SERVICE. 2 SWITCHES FOR OUTSIDE LIGHTS. 2 EXTRA SWITCHES. 1 12VOLT CIGARETTE SOCKET AND DOUBLE USB ADAPTER. ALL FUSED ON INSIDE BOX

PARTS AND LAYOUT FOR WATERPROOF THRU-WALL 110 VOLT

THRU WALL IS THREADED METAL TUBE USED IN LAMP CONSTRUCTION

MOUNTED LOW BEHIND FENDER FOR PROTECTION

LIGHTS

ALL LIGHTS LEDS FROM EBAY

SOME I/8" RUBBER SHEET (CRAFT STORE) TO MAKE BETTER WATERPROOF GASKETS.

PLENTY BRITE

TWO FOR GALLEY. NEEDED A MOUNT PLATE

VERY BRITE

GALLEY

SAME SHELVING GRIDS AS IN-CABIN SHELVES.

FLOOR WILL BE COVERED IN CHILDREN'S PLAY MAT RUBBER PADS.

YETI HOLDS ICE 7+ DAYS.

ORANGE IS 2# PROPANE. CARGO NET FOR LOOSE STUFF. WIRED DOOR FOR THIRD STOP LIGHT BEFORE INSTALLING INSULATION. TOP SHELVE FOR DRY GOODS IN BASKETS AND TUPPERWARE. WHITE CONTAINER SECOND SHELF IS A DOG FOOD HOLDER. WATER WILL BE ONE OF THOSE 2 GALLON SQUARE JUGS WITH A SPIGOT. BUT I'LL CARRY IT IN THE DOG FOOD HOLDER IN CASE IT LEAKS OR BREAKS WHILE DRIVING.

GREEN CHEST= DRY GOODS. STOVE SHELF IS SAME GRID PIECES AS UNDER BATTERY.  THERE'S A REMOVABLE BRACKET IN UPPER CORNER TO HOLD DOOR OPEN IN THIS POSITION.

MORE DOORS

MORDOR???? NOT A GOOD PACE FOR HOBBITS????

I CRACK MYSELF UP.

READ WHERE DOORS ARE HARD. I THINK THE SECRET IS TO GET THEM AND THE INSERT FRAME REALLY PRECISE AND SQUARE. HAD WELDED DOOR VERY CLOSE TOLERANCES HERE. PREDRILLED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WHILE FLAT.

1/8TH SOFT RUBBER SHEET. MADE A HINGE GASKET.

ORDERED HANDLES AND HARDWARE ON LINE

USED WINDOWS $50  FROM RV REPAIR PLACE. TOOK A LOT OF WIRE BRUSH CLEANING AND LUBE CHANNELS.

PREPOSITIONING

DID A DOUBLE LAYER OF SHEET METAL.

2 PIECES CUT TO COVER OUTSIDE SURFACE. OVERLAP IS FACING REAR TO AVOID WIND AND WATER.

1/8 ALUMINUM RIVETS

PLASTIC HAMMER SMOOTHS EDGES

NOTE SCRAPS. VERY HANDY. DON'T DISCARD.

TO LOCATE THE THE HOLES FOR THE DOOR HARDWARE, TAP WITH A BALL PEEN. SHAPE WILL BECOME VISIBLE, METAL WILL BECOME THIN AND EASY TO TRIM.

RV  SUPPLY STORE

WITH DRIP RAIL AND LIGHTS. INSIDE LINING LATER.

INSIDE SKIN

THE INSIDE VOIDS GET PIECES OF 1" FOAM USED IN WALLS

HOME DEPOT 1/16TH " WHITE PLATIC SHEETING.

WILL USE LATER. WATCH FOR IT

ALSO NEEDS CURTAINS. ALSO NEED A PLACE TO DRY BATH TOWELS

VOILA.... I'LL GET BLACK TOWELS

1 EXTRA NET WILL ALLOW THE PUP TO BE OFF LEASH INSIDE

WITH DOOR OPEN.