ROAD TEST FINALLY AFTER TWO MONTHS BUILDING EVERY WEEKEND. THAT SUCKED BUT I CAN SAFELY SAY 90% IS DONE. STILL NEED TO FIBERGLASS POP-UP HARDSIDE BACK PANEL. INSTALL BATTERY FOR KITCHEN AREA. FINISH KITCHEN AREA. IT FUNCTIONS HAVE SOLID MOUNTED TWO BURNER PROPANE STOVE ATTACHED TO 2 LB TANK THAT I FABED MOUNTING BRACKETS TO SPARE TIRE IN FRONT. HAVE ROLL OUT FOR COOLER. JUST NEED TO INSTALL STAINLESS STOVE SURROUND AND LAMINATE FORMICA TO COUNTERTOP( LEFTOVER FOR REMODEL JOB, ITS GOOD BEING GENERAL CONTRACTOR)

DROVE UP TO CENTRAL COAST FOR TWO WEEKS AND HAD NO PROBLEMS. SOLVED SOME STORAGE ISSUES. BUT DID GREAT. WENT OVER SOME TERRAIN, BUT WILL SEE HOW IT REALLY DOES OFFROAD ONCE THE DESERT STARTS THE COOL DOWN.

DECIDED TO PAINT AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE FOR NOW TO FJ. USED WHITE FOR THE POP-UP. GREY FOR THE BODY AND USED UNDERCOATER THE BOTTOM EDGES

NEXT WAS SEALING THE OUTSIDE WOOD. I KNEW LUAN EVEN PAINTED WOULDN'T HOLDUP TO LONG SO DECIDED TO FIBERGLASS OUTSIDE. FIRST SEALER/BONDING COAT. USED POLYESTER RESIN AND ACETONE MIXTURE TO SATURATE WOOD. ONCE TACKY. LAID 6 OZ FIBERGLASS. LAID ANOTHER COAT OF RESIN. APPLIED FINAL COAT RESIN. WASNT TO BAD. LIVED AND WORKED ON MY CRUISING SAILBOATS IN THE PAST. BEING A SURFER DOESN'T HURT EITHER. THAT IS WHY I FINALLY WENT WITH POLYESTER RESIN INSTEAD OF EPOXY.

AFTER BUILDING WALLS STARTED WIRING NEW RECESSED LIGHTS IN LIFT TAILGATE (KITCHEN AREA) AND DECIDED ON PAINT SCHEME. DECIDED TO USE ADJUSTABLE TENT POLES HAD LAYING AROUND INSTEAD OF TAILGATE GAS SHOCKS.

USED 4 18 X30" WINDOWS FROM ANOTHER PROJECT THAT NEVER HAPPENED

SKINNING THE INSIDE WAS EASY BECAUSE I DECIDED TO USE LOW CUT LOOP CARPET ON WALLS. THE INSIDE CURVES I JUST ANGLED INSTEAD OF FAIRING TO MATCH OUTSIDE. REASON FOR CARPET WAS TWO FOLD. FIRST IT ADDS R VALUE/ SOUNDPROOFING AND SECOND I DECIDED NOT TO RUN ELECTRICAL WIRING BECAUSE COULDN'T DECIDE LIGHT LOCATION. SO INSTEAD I USED LED TAP LIGHTS USING VELCRO. IT WORKED OUT PERFECT. WE CAN MOVE AROUND ANYWHERE BECAUSE INTERIOR IS ALL CARPET. ALSO WE CAN ATTACH VELCRO TO OTHER STUFF LIKE DVD PLAYER FOR THE KIDS.

SKINNING THE OUTSIDE WAS A DIFFERENT STORY BECAUSE OF ALL THE ANGLES. DID KERF CUT ON BACK SIDES OF SKIN IN THOSE AREAS. USED BONDO THE FAIR EVERYTHING OUT. TURNED OUT GOOD.

STARTED WALL BUILDOUT. USED 1X3 FOR FRAME KREG SCREWED AND GORILLA GLUED. DID FRAMES . ATTACHED TOGETHER MADE ADJUSTMENTS. WHEN IT LOOKED GOOD. TOOK APART AND SKINNED WITH 1/4 LUAN PLY AND SANDWICHED WITH 3/4 RIDGID INSULATION WITH FOIL BACKING FOR BETTER R VALUE

AFTER PUTTING ON TEMP LIGHTS FOR DMV I PUT ON BECK. USED 3/4 INCH EXTERIOR GRADE PLY OVERLAPED IN MIDDLE. I ENDED UP USING TINTED ELASTOMERIC PAINT ON UNDERSIDE

PICKED UP THREE JEEP CHEROKEE RIMS AND TIRES(31'S) FROM CRAIGSLIST FOR $200.00. ORIGINALLY WANTED BOLT PATTERN TO MATCH FJ BUT FJ RIMS WERE TOO MUCH MONEY. HAD TO STICK TO BUDGET OF UNDER $1500.00. FINAL RIDE HEIGHT WAS SAME AS FJ IN THE END.

AFTER FRAME WAS BUILT SPRAYED WITH UNDERCOATER(RUBBERIZED)

LOOKED ON LINE AND LOOKED A PREMADE FRAMES BUT NOTHING SUITED MY NEEDS FOR BEEFINESS. DECIDED TO BUILD MY OWN. STARTED OUT WITH A JIG MADE OUT OF TWO SHEETS OF 1/2 OSB ATTACHED TOGETHER. DID FRAME LAYOUT AND USED IT TO MOCK UP CUT METAL. I USED 2X2" .120 SQUARE TUBING I GOT FROM LOCAL METAL SUPPLIER FOR $.50 A POUND. NEXT I ORDERED MY AXLE. AFTER REVIEWING POST ON SEVERAL WEB SITES AND TALKING TO SOME PEOPLE I WENT WITH A 3500# LB AXLE AND LEAFS

OFFROAD TRAILER BUILD PICS

AFTER CAMPING IN TENTS AND TENT TRAILERS DECIDED TO BUILD MY OWN OFFROAD TRAILER. WINDY IN DESERT AND WHEN IN OFFICAL CAMP GROUND CANT STAND HEARING EVERYTHING. SO A HARD SIDED TRAILER THAT CAN FIT IN MY GARAGE AND CAN SLEEP MY WHOLE FAMILY. IT HAS A FULL SIZE PILLOW TOP MATTRESS FOR US (ADULTS) AND DESIGNED POP UP FOR TWO BOYS. BUT, AFTER MAIDEN 1200 MILE VOYAGE UP TO CENTRAL COAST ADDED A MID BUNK FOR SMALLEST BOY 6 YEAR OLD.