Turning into a Caviar Camper......

I originally said I was building this camper with Caviar tastes on a Tuna Budget!! My original idea for the camper was bare bones minimum. Then as my project progressed, I pondered power? Then I pondered AC or DC or both?? Got a deal on Ebay for an electric distribution panel with a charging unit built in! Went for both AC/DC power! Going to be nice if I go camping at a National Wilderness Park, will still be able to have my coffee and limited lights or if I go to a private campground(with AC hookups) will have full power capability. Maybe down the road will look at going the next level with a solar panel?

Then the question came, easy hookup with a cord that comes outside to plug into an outlet at the campground or get a real hookup attached to the outside of the camper and step it up a level. Stepped it up a level!!

Started thinking about sound, lookout Ebay!! Found an RV- AM/FM CD unit. Put a bid on it, increased the max bid once, twice and resisted a third time. WOW, won the unit at a reasonable delivered price! I am a little over what I wanted to spend on the whole project but, have added a few features that will not only add value to this camper but enjoyment as well!!

Took last weekend off from doing anything to the camper but found it was driving me crazy! I have to get out to the garage and get back at it. I hope to have the power all wired this weekend and maybe start on securing the roof. Have everything I need, just have to get at it. Was kinda waiting for Dad to get home to help? But then thought, what is the worst that could happen? I screw it up and have to start over. Oh well, I know I can do it!!

Galley is in!

For the last 2 weeks I have been busy painting the interior and the galley components! The galley is now in and not lookin too bad if I say so myself. Also got the electrical panel in and the electric outlets put in place. They are not wired yet though! Still waiting for the Shore power inlet I ordered through ebay to get here. (little tip: if you find the pic's too small, click on them and you will get a much larger pic and can see details much better)


My neighbor has built me a nice battery tray for the front of the trailer to sit on the tongue, he is going to weld the corners and drill some holes in it for me! He has also given me a piano hinge for the door and made some suggestions of how to weather proof it. He wants to build one himself but his wife is not too keen on the idea! That's OK, he can live vicariously through me on this project. He has really given me some great suggestions!

I also got the exterior porch light installed and



the 2 interior(DC) lights installed as well as 2 AC outlets in the sleeping area. The wires you see hanging on the left side of the top picture are the wires from the porch light. I am getting some 16 guage wire to connect them back to the electical panel. I have lots of room left in the electrical panel but I am sure as time goes on, I will be adding to the camper. The window on the floor is the one that will be going in the door.


I also got the door prepared with the window opening cut out and the first coat of paint in the interior side of it. Finished prepping the other side of the camper where the other window is going to be installed and place the window in that spot. My helper was inspecting my work!


I will be at a standstill for the next few weeks. Going house sitting for Mom and Dad. Besides that, I also am going to need some help from Dad so I have to wait for him to get back. The next steps will be to do the wiring and then work on getting the door finished, install the roof, get the galley hatch cut out, install the hatch and handle hardware, finish installing the window and door, epoxy the exterior, trim it all out(interior/exterior), paint the exterior and last but I am sure not least, build some cupboards in the galley. There are a few steps in there that have been missed I am sure!

Anyway, stay tuned for more to come.....:)

Big Visable Milestones are almost finished

In the next few weeks, the large milestones will almost be done. Getting down some of the nitty gritty, where you will not be able to SEE major progress but it will happen!

On Thursday morning did a quick check on kijiji. WOW, listed a New RV mattress, 48" X 72"! $50.00 no tax!! I was as a bit worried it may be too wide as the cabin is only 46.5" but figured I could squeeze it in there. Left work early with my car pool folks to get it. DOUBLE WOW. It is perfect, not only does it fit just snug, but it is 6" thick and is a true mattress, not a foam mattress. It may be more comfortable then my home bed? Will have to wait and see??
On Friday, got the first coat of Varathane on interior walls. Did not get too much of anything else done because we had to get ready for Hurricane Earl! Fun, NOT!!!!!!!

Saturday morning and Hurricane Earl is just starting to kick up. Decided it might be a good idea to sand down the interior so I could put a second coat on. Good idea accept, I did not realize how slippery the back steps are when they are wet! Slipped off the fourth step from the bottom!! Thank god I have lots of cushion on the posterior end, but if does not negate the fact that it still hurts!! Tjis said she thought she heard a thud outside??? Needless to say between the Hurricane and falling, did not get anything done on Saturday!

Well, it is Sunday morning and am stiff as hell from the fall. Decided I have to get out there and start doing something!!!! Spent a whole day(Saturday) doing nothing, time to make up for it! First on the list is to sand down the interior from the first coat. Did not get enough Varathane so ran up to Home Hardware to get some more. While there, decided to get a gallon instead of a pint. Also saw some Cherry Wood Stain and thought it might be good for the Galley? Not sure yet if I will do that or not? After I had all the sanding done, decided to start working on the Galley. Roughed it all in and I think it will work out great!


Mom and Dad stopped in tonight by Surprise. Oh so glad they did! Got a chance to show Dad what I was doing and pick he brain!! He gave me a great suggestion about how to get the mattress in and out after everything is built. I am really going to need Dad now to help me with the fine issues on this project. His timing is perfect...

This is why the title of this blog is "Big Visible Milestone are almost finished". Short of finishing the Galley and the hatch, Large visible milestones are almost finished. Please stay tuned though, there will be lots more to fill you in on until I take her for her first trip? Starting to think of a name???? ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!! Either on this blog or on my Face Book Page.

Floor is down

Got the flooring installed. Unfortunately, we thought the flooring was 4' wide but it was considerably smaller so I had to piece it together. Lets just put it this way, I will never make a living laying cushion floor. Looks OK but the pattern does not match in the sleeping cabin but that will be covered with a mattress anyway. Could only work a few hours today cause we have to head for oma and opa's for the Family Pics. :) That's OK too because the flooring cement needs time to set.

Made some progress

Got the walls permanently up and secured. Was a little worried about the front panel when it came time to put the roof on. Sanded the front down to the perfect angle to match the roof and got most of the spars up. Sanded the inside and outside of the walls before I put them up. Started working on the Separation between sleeping area and galley. Made an error with the divider wall, not sure why one end is 16 3/8 and the other end is as it should be 16 1/2. Squared it up and had a guide down but some how the guide must have slipped. Will take it to Dad's tomorrow and rip it on the table saw. That should work. Will also get the flooring laid tomorrow because once I have it down, I can not do anything for 24 hours. There is a perfect spot for the cooler.

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Walls are up.....

Did not get back at it til almost 3:00 this afternoon so did not get too much done. Got the door and window cut out. Had to set a guide for the circular saw to make sure the cut was straight. (dad's suggestion and it was a good one) Worked very well!!








The pieces that I spliced in yesterday have set perfectly.











Got the front panel cut and could not wait to see what it all looks like together. I put the sides and the front up but nothing is squared up yet and it is all held together with 4 screws. I am digging the shape though, it is starting to look like something. Not a true teardrop because the front is square. It works for me though. I may add a tongue box later for more storage in the sleeping cabin but I will wait for one season of camping first. Thinking about it though.

Nothing photo worthy today..

Nothing photo worthy today but it did get stuff done. For some reason I veered off my original plan and cut the sides separately instead of on top of each other at the same time. This was a mistake because it took a few hours of sanding to make sure the roof line is the same on each side. Change the door plan as well to a square door. Spliced the 6" X 13" piece on the end of each side. Hopefully tomorrow I will have the sides and front up. There will be pics tomorrow.