Homemade biscuits!

A lot has taken place in the last week or so....so let's catch up!

With spring break and a nearby nephew, and a granddaughter's birthday in another state, I found myself "bach-ing" this week.  There were some projects that needed attention so I got going on those right away.  In between allowing coats of paint to dry, I started figuring out the cabinetry to enclose the wheel wells and the forward portion of the gaucho.  Since I'm incorporating a full size mattress and with the original wood in this part of the trailer being badly warped and rotted, I'm having to rely on the photo-documentation from a year ago while trying to make improvements on the original design without adding complexity.  I could only get so far in this step until I have the sides in place in order to set the trailing edge of the bed.

Boxing in the gaucho

I have in mind where I'm going but it's still kind of a design-build

That looks pretty good for now

I had some more thoughts on the flooring and went out looking for something that would work both price-wise and achieving the look I want.  I think I lucked into this remnant - 6+ yards for only $20!

And, yes, it's a very heavyweight material

Well it's time to get those walls built up.  This required biscuiting the 5'x5' panels I picked up two weeks ago  which in turn required some nice, large, flat, dry, warm areas to do this.  Now, remember, there were things to be done while I am on my own this week and cleaning the carpets in the living room was one of those honey-do's.  This meant moving of the furniture to the dining room and kitchen.  This left a large, dry, heated, flat space available for a day or two before Mike from Big Green Steam Clean came to perform miracles.  My friend Rob brought over his tools to do the job.....and after a brief discussion, we loaded the panels into the empty living room.  Unless I should cause unnecessary worry, plastic was laid down to ensure no carpets were harmed in the making of the walls.

Surely it will be OK to use the living room with weather like this

"Quit taking photos - we'll get in so much trouble if anyone finds out!"

In 24 hours, no one will know.....

While the glue continued to set up the next day, I proceeded to finish making the rough cuts in the galley cabinet.  Since I need to use a CPAP at night, I have made a provision for it in my overall plan.  By the end of the afternoon, the cabinet had the necessary cuts made to it and the cubby for the CPAP was complete.  As soon as my 'new' sink arrives, the counter top will be cut to accommodate it as well as the stove.  I hope the man with the big brown truck will be visiting my doorstep shortly!

This way it's handy and out of the way

Looks like it will work out just right

A few cuts later and it's done - drawer fronts and doors come later

It almost looks like I knew what I was doing!

It was now time to move the wall panels from the living room to the garage.  Thanks to Cody and his sons Cameron and Nathan for some much needed muscle willingly and cheerfully provided.  With the panels resting on the $60,000 sawhorses, Lance and I drove over to retrieve the aluminum from storage.

Why is it these projects always seem to involve late nights?

It's a big day for this project; it's time that the walls go up.  All that has to happen is the aluminum to be laid out, traced, cut, and screwed into place.  That's all.  No big deal.....

All three pieces of the curbside aluminum assembled for tracing

I could use one of  those large French curves from high school shop class now

Traced, drilled, ready to cut..........I said, it's ready to cut.......

OK - I did it.  I hope I did it right

Now how will I lift this up into place?  (The door is only partially cut open)

Hey, that wasn't too hard......and it fit right up!

It might be good to mention the original trailer measured 118 inches across the widest section of the sidewall.  As I need the extra space for the larger full-size bed, and where the panels are 120" in length, I am "stretching" the trailer those two inches.  All profiles were referenced from the front of the trailer with the exception of the rear curve which was referenced from the trailing edge of the panel.  Overlaying the streetside aluminum over the curbside tracings matched within 1/16-inch overall.

No, I'm not copying the ragged opening for an aftermarket heater

Hal returned to help get this wall up and secured

Now the walls aren't secured permanently yet but will be after a few minor fitment issues are taken care of.  It's beginning to look like the finished product but there is still a long ways to go.  I'm excited for the next phase:  finishing out the interior in order to add a roof!  Here's a few additional photos in the driveway:

Wood?  What wood?  No wood around here....just clean carpet!