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goransons · 03-15-2008, 10:09 PM

So just some before and after axle pictures on ride height. We started off having no idea that the axle was bad until looking into the articles and threads. Am amazed how much better the new bearings/hubs are, and the difference the new shocks and axles make on the ride of the trailer.

Lastly I can finally crawl under the trailer without having to have my head sideways. Installed 4 new Marathon C's today with good quality metal stems and repainted the rims and reinstalled. 2nd pic you can see I'm just getting about 2/3 the way back on the first pass of polishing. Skin above wheen wells is jus that pitted, does shine but takes a lot of polishing (like 4-5 applications) Axles before and after:

goransons · 03-26-2008, 06:48 PM

well in between nice weather days with the polisher going I'm trying to get other systems up. Last weekend finished the propane system, and happy to report minus two supply lines to the shower faucet the water system is up and functional with all new color-coded pex tubing. System is built with low point drains (with pipe pitched in the trailer to drain towards the front and back) and fittings to pump directly from a gallon of anti-freeze, and of course water heater bi-pass valves. Lastly did go ahead and do shutoff valves on all fixtures so that they can each be isolated from the system.

I did however decide to keep one small section of copper, the lines going to the shower valve, however I also discovered when going to do connections that the lower section of pipe had suffered a minor freeze at some point and was swollen just enough to not a farrel around it. I got in there with the torch and a fire extinguisher close by and removed the pipe all the way to the fixture, and going to replace all that with a short section of copper transitioning to a supply line to my shut off valve.

Also received the counter trim from Outwater Plastics and have that installed in all but the table top.

on the way, a new zip dee awning in Ocean Blue, a new front window rock cover, curtains through SilverThreads and my wife is making all new cushions for the dinette and goucho. If we warm back up hope to get the cyclo going on steps two and three next week, and have this all wrapped up before it gets hot out. Wow, feel poor just listing what we ordered.....

will post pictures soon.

goransons · 03-31-2008, 10:20 PM

Rock guard on today, polishing continues, and finally getting the last of the staining inside done. I need to be mechanically done inside (is there such a thing?) by Wednesday so my wife can start the cushions. Just a few shelves to cut and install, and trim around the table, a few cabinet doors to install, and a few screens to redo.... Then she has to roll a final coat of paint after I'm out of the way.

The interior photos are a couple weeks back, already have all the counter trim in, and have finished staining all the trim, but gives you an idea.

goransons · 04-01-2008, 08:32 PM

all new foam is here and wrapped ready for the covers my wife is working on. Finished making the last few doors for cabinets today and should have them all installed tomorrow after the paint dries. Here's what it looks like so far:

GreatPumpkin · 04-02-2008, 12:49 AM

Beautiful work - wanna come polish mine?

CJ of Okla · 04-02-2008, 05:35 AM

Goransons, you are doing a great job. The inside and outside looks wonderful. Super job.

UpNorthAir · 04-02-2008, 06:28 AM

Nice job on the trailer! Where did you get the pole and base for the table in your dinette?

Thanks

goransons · 04-02-2008, 09:12 AM

thanks!

GP - I dunno, I now understand the 3000-4000 price range for professionals to do it. I just got a cyclo yesterday, though the harbor freight polishers do a good job, their life span has been about 20-30 hours before either the disc fails or both sets of brushes are gone. I'm using the cheap polishers (the harbor freight bonnets are cheap enough to throw away after use) for step one and going to start with the cyclo for the last two steps.

The table post and base were in stock at our local RV place. I bought them before I built the dinette, and need to go back because they sell 3-4 different length tubes, and the one we have right now is a few inches too tall for the table to be comfortable.

goransons · 04-04-2008, 01:42 PM

Awning arrived yesterday while I was out of town. Of course yesterday was sunny, 60 degrees, today is 45, overcast and scattered showers. Was feelign intimidated a little, even looking at the instructions but went ahead and dove right in and had it all ready for my wife and a couple neighbors to come help attach the cylinder and make the final adjustments. It was nice having the 3rd and 4th set of hands, particularly when sliding the last segment in place.

Managed to take a few pictures before the wind started coming up.

utee94 · 04-04-2008, 02:28 PM

Wow, it's fantastic. That sleek new awning makes it resemble one of the current model years-- only much, MUCH shinier!

When are you taking her out?

goransons · 04-04-2008, 03:02 PM

launch date is the second week of june.... Still need to finish lots of little things, screens, last of polishing, sealing woodwork etc.

safari57 · 04-04-2008, 05:37 PM

Nice of the neighbor to remove those bushes right in front of your new awning. A great place to set up a fire pit so you can sit under your awning and appreciate it in advance of going camping.

Things are looking pretty good. From past experiences of others you'll want to make sure you have your awning out if the sun is really hot and you have a camping style carpet/mat under it. Others have realized that those mats are not fire proof. Particularly when the shine is a good as yours.

Now I really feel like an underachiever.

Barry

goransons · 04-04-2008, 07:10 PM

funny you mention the bushes, we've wanted to remove a section of fence behind our tradewind (you can see it in the 2nd picture) because we'd like to back the trailer up to the garage. We found out last week that their lot is 2 feet wider than it is on paper, and ours is a foot narrower than it should be, which actually goes through the middle of those bushes.... We've started the discussion of taking the fence down or moving it over to the property line and sharing the bushes, because at least if that happens we can back up far enough our door wouldn't be in front of those stupid bushes. I like the idea of making them a fire pit better.

biggest issue now is that the morning sun is bouncing off the trailer and blinding our neighbor in her home office which faces our trailer. That doesn't help the fact they didn't want a trailer living in our driveway.

goransons · 04-07-2008, 10:39 PM

My wife finished the major sewing of the dinette and goucho cushions, but still has to finish stitching the ends after putting the foam in. Curtains are on their way from SilverThreads. Still need to finish and stain the cleat for the table to fold down on, and get a shorter pole for it, but gives you a good idea of what the finish product will be.

Goucho was built from scratch with basic plans from a link shared by a forums member

The Project - Goucho Detail

We set it up to serve as a twin, full, or queen depending which or all 3 cushions are used, and its fully counterlevered on oak slides and easily held 300 lbs without issue.

Silver Threads · 04-08-2008, 07:30 AM

Beautiful job! That is one sharp Tradewind. Karma coming your way for all the hard work!

69Stream · 04-12-2008, 09:38 PM

You've done a lot of work! It looks great - really like the apholstery.

69Stream · 04-13-2008, 10:19 AM

Maybe I should say I'll like the upholstery better when I get it finished - I just had to drop in and see the thread on our airstream. Hi All!

Off to check out some tips to make finishing the upholstery go a little faster.

safari57 · 04-18-2008, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goransons

funny you mention the bushes, we've wanted to remove a section of fence behind our tradewind (you can see it in the 2nd picture) because we'd like to back the trailer up to the garage. We found out last week that their lot is 2 feet wider than it is on paper, and ours is a foot narrower than it should be, which actually goes through the middle of those bushes.... We've started the discussion of taking the fence down or moving it over to the property line and sharing the bushes, because at least if that happens we can back up far enough our door wouldn't be in front of those stupid bushes. I like the idea of making them a fire pit better.

biggest issue now is that the morning sun is bouncing off the trailer and blinding our neighbor in her home office which faces our trailer. That doesn't help the fact they didn't want a trailer living in our driveway.

Seems to me if the fence is moved over 2 feet to their side, you can park your trailer further back into the yard and then the reflection may not be so bad, or you can put something higher attached to the fence so it doesn't blind her. All good reasons for moving that fence.

Hope to see that rig out and about. Are you joining the Area 33 camp out the end of May?

Barry

goransons · 04-18-2008, 10:24 PM

we won't be able to be ready with all the little details, especially without the backup of full hookups. May's pretty tough for us anyway, both teachers so hard to get away towards the end of the year, but yes we do hope to get involved in regional outings like this either later this year or definately next season.

I think as far as the fence, we'll be getting a surveyer in this spring to mark it, then adjust to those points. So far our neighbor hasn't been offering goodwill towards a fence relocation, even with us offering the materials and labor....

goransons · 04-19-2008, 07:20 PM

My wife Megan finished the last cushion this morning. She's really put a lot of hours in, but they look and feel really good. We also almost finished hanging the curtains Silver Threads made for us. Both projects turned out great. We still need to finish doing the bottom tracks, but we ran out of hooks. Did get the sink covers and the backsplash on the kitchen counter.

Inside for this season is mostly tightening up fixtures, adjusting a few doors, some finish wiring and some final coats of paint and another coat of wax on the stained surfaces. Here's a few photos this evening.

Outside still have some belly pan repairs, some more polishing. Next season we'll take on the last mechanical system, replacing the old black tank and pan (it doesn't leak but very rusted and some repaired cracks in the pastic tank).