Adventure trailer build thread.

CDW6212R · July 25, 2018

Excellent, good thinking.

The solar panels I liked the best were thin and flexible, but sizes were not small enough to fit my sunroof glass(about 28"x12"). I think you might find a few of those in a size that could work. Those typically made about 15-20 watts per square foot of panel. I bet you've got near 10sqft there which could be covered, depending on how much you want to use. That could be150+ watts, which could trickle charge multiple batteries. I got one solar charge controller for just over $20, that can handle one battery with a 30w panel or so. It's small from Battery Tender, on Amazon too. I'd get a couple or more of those.

You're issue would be the panels and external use, maybe have to put them under a panel of Lexan etc, to protect them. My plan was to mount a panel under the sunroof glass, thus protected, mounted to the sun shade piece.

gmanpaint · July 25, 2018

I'm shooting for 200 watts with 2 panels. E trailer has all the electronics I want for it for decent pricing.

My hair brained plan is to make a set of sliders under the roof tent mount. Simply pull the panels outwards for use. One panel will be hinged, and swing down to mount on the t box lid. Those mounts will be pins, so it can raise with the lid for access. That's still in the brain storming phase tho. When driving the rigs engine will trickle charge the house batteries so having them hidden and protected under the tent won't matter. The good panels are extremely durable, and stronger than one would think.

gmanpaint · July 25, 2018

T-Box part 6:
Got the T box trimmed out. Aluminum angle on the lid to cover the metal angle, and more angle on the rear corners to cover the seams.

Used Gorilla brand 30# exterior mounting tape and aluminum rivets. This took me way longer than I thought it would. The angles of the lid corners made it fun to get the joints match up with the widths of the angle. I did the best I could with the miters, and I'm no watch maker, but it will work for me. Not sure if I mentioned it, but the tape is also to break main contact with aluminum and steel. Electrolysis corrosion can happen with bare to bare contact between the 2 metals. Paint helps, but not 100%

I can now get to work on the inside of it, and make the shelf.

This weekend I will attack the side box installs. I got my welding gas bottle exchanged, and need to drill the holes into the 1/4" mounting tabs I made for these boxes, and hot glue them to the inside frame rails. Drilling thru the painted walls is going to be fun, but not as much fun as figuring out the tab placement, with the boxes hanging from the rafters on web slings, attached to the rigs winch in the driveway. lol

I'm a damn one man wrecking crew, I'll get er done eventually.

gmanpaint · July 27, 2018

One man wrecking crew is on the job!

Ok, so I did a test run. Instead of the rigs winch, I remembered I had a 4 ton come along, Derp! This should work just fine. I used two 1/2" eyebolts into the rafters, and used both the stationary & pulley hooks on the come along. Using a big clevis ring, and the 2200 lb web straps, it is a pc of cake to move these up & down. I just have to position the trailer where it needs to be, for lining up the mount tabs for welding and bolting them up. Should be good to go tomorrow for the install. Woot!

Also got the marine grade weather strip on the T-box lid.

Need to get the liquid rubber on them bolt ends now. Always something!

gmanpaint · July 27, 2018

Well, ain't this a bi**h!

I just found another trailer build (teardrop) on another forum, that started his build about 3 months before this one. He named it Voyager

Looks like I need to rename this thing. Nothing is coming to mind right now. Ugh...

timtimtimajim · July 27, 2018

What about Explorer Jr.

gmanpaint · July 27, 2018

LOL, yeah, I'm not sure what I will change it to yet. I need to think about this for a while and search for a duplicate of whatever I cheese. I did do that with Voyager, and didn't find anything at the time. That other builder must have named it after I searched it out.

I can think of lots of funny names, but I wouldn't use any of them. This is some serious **** after all. lol

CDW6212R · July 27, 2018

How about Oasis, It's not catchy, but kind of applies to the trailer?

gmanpaint · July 27, 2018

That's not bad Don. If this thing was desert sand color, it would fit well. Thanks for the well laid thought.

I am kinda steering to the sinister vibe. This thing and the tow pig are solid black, and want something that fits along that dark side theme. More of a personal name, less manufacturer brand.

Please keep the ideas coming!

CDW6212R · July 27, 2018

You can play with the name of mine if you can. I call my black 98 Black Coal, so eventually it'll be red, and called Red Diamond. So maybe The Coal Wagon.

traveler · July 27, 2018

Black Mamba?

Black Widow?

Dark Shadow?

And be sure you get a cover for your spare that says "I go where I'm towed". Hehehe

gmanpaint · July 27, 2018

I didn't know what his name was, so........ we called him.....

CDW6212R · July 27, 2018

I like those a lot. One more comes to mind, the dirty mother-in-law. I know, that says something about me, read it and forget it.

gmanpaint · July 27, 2018

CDW6212R said:
I like those a lot. One more comes to mind, the dirty mother-in-law. I know, that says something about me, read it and forget it.

BKennedy · July 28, 2018

I have never named any vehicle I have ever owned. That's not to say I haven't called them a name or two, but it was nothing permanent.

gmanpaint · July 28, 2018

Guess it's how you perceive them. Either a lifeless hunk of materials, or an entity with character. Everything I have had, has some character and needed a name. Some good, some bad. It takes on its own life force once named. To me at least.

BKennedy · July 28, 2018

gmanpaint said:
Guess it's how you perceive them. Either a lifeless hunk of materials, or an entity with character. Everything I have had, has some character and needed a name. Some good, some bad. It takes on its own life force once named. To me at least.

Don't get me wrong, my Explorer seems like its alive, but I figure when I start naming them they might start talking to me. Really don't want it talking back when I am saying come on, you can do it, get over that rock, or whatever.

gmanpaint · July 28, 2018

BKennedy said:
Don't get me wrong, my Explorer seems like its alive, but I figure when I start naming them they might start talking to me. Really don't want it talking back when I am saying come on, you can do it, get over that rock, or whatever.

Nothing wrong with you talking to it, I do it all the time. If mine starts talking back to me, I'm flat out bailing out the door. I don't care whats going on at the time, I'm out of there! lol

Turdle · July 28, 2018

Call it the Vortex.

gmanpaint · July 28, 2018

Today has been one of them days, that I should have never touched this thing. 10 hours sleep since Thursday morning, and I have been a Zombie all day. I should have just waited until I rested up, but noooooo...

Welder fought me all day. Wire kept jamming at the feed roll after 2 seconds of pulling the trigger. Fought & fought that thing for hours, until I figured it out.

These strap tie down points was conveniently placed right where the side box mounts had to go. I had to cut 4 of the top ones off. That about put my back into traction crammed in there with the angle grinder in my face, cutting away.

These are the 1/4" angle brackets. They are made for Uni-strut applications, and zinc coated. I didn't feel like changing over to flux wire, so I ground off all the zinc on one end, all sides, because Mig welding with solid wire & gas can hurt you bad. Fumes will make you sick as snot, and could kill you, if enough of it was inhaled. I drank some milk after welding these up, just in case. Calcium in the Milk, helps to counteract the bad stuffs. I do not have a respirator that fits under the welding mask either. Need to get one some day.

side box angle brackets zinc removed.jpg

Got the top angle brackets welded in, the holes drilled, then the bolts in to hold the box in place. Time for the lower brackets. Take a back break, from my broken back. Climb back in, mark the placement, and burn the other two brackets on. I really went to town on them, as I wanted a strong ass mount for these boxes.

Take another back break, for my broken back.

Drill the 1/8" pilot hole on one lower bracket from the inside, thru the main box wall, and thru the side box wall. Climb out to check the hole placement, like I did the others. What do I see? Well, the hole is 1" higher then it should be, and above the inside mount track.

I forgot to add 1" when I marked the placement. These side boxes are 1" lower than the roof line, due to the aluminum trim on the tops. I threw **** around, kicked the tires, and turned off the lights. I'm done, put a fork in me.

So instead of nice progress update, you guys get a whining rant, from an old tired grumpy ass Gman. I will try to get some rest tonight, and cut them brackets off tomorrow, and start over. That task is likely to hurt me pretty good. I not only welded 3 sides, I plug filled the 1/2" center bolt hole it had on the weld side. If you don't hear back from me for a while, it's probably, because I am in the hospital, in a bed, or in a rubber room.

Time to make like a baby, and head out. G'nite!

Adventure trailer build thread.

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