Trailer set up: first trip

With my side rails and cargo box on the truck I was able to get good gas mileage. Local driving gets me about 18.2 MPG. Adding the rails and box gave me 15.7 MPG. Not bad for such a tall trailer.

Everything worked very well. Did not even need to set up my awning. No bugs during the day so the kids came and went with the door open. At night we took advantage of shore power and ran the AC.

The Home Depot fridge worked well. I used my kayak straps to secure it while towing. The microwave was helpful too.

I added a board to the front of the steps. I was worried about them being open and one of the kids catching their foot if they missed a step.

The back doors open gave us such a cool breeze that nothing else was needed. Made it feel open. The kids and stuffed animals loved the upper level too!!!!!!!!

First Trip a lot of Fun!

Working on awning set up

I still have not got the correct diagonal pole configuration yet. I'm close but it continues to then droop downward.

Because I have an awning rail on both sides I tried a regular set up in the back yard. It works fine. I will just add a roller to the rv door so it does not tear the awning on the passenger side.

If i add an awning to both sides then all the openings and side tables are protected in the rain.

Extra storage pockets on rear door

Second drip rail in place.

Cargo tongue box and roof vents installed

A vent was cut behind the box for the battery storage.

How did I ever camp without a storage box up front?????

I added smoke colored vents to the roof. It's nice to have them open evn in the rain!

Rear cargo door makes access easy

Steps make it safer for all the kids going in and out of the trailer.

There will be lots of comings and goings from the camper door. The black stool or drop down step are not enough for everyone to enter and exit safely.

Thank goodness I have plenty of open space in the bed of the pick up truck to bring these steps along!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Interior 110 ceiling lights installed

I asked the factory to not install the traditional 4' lights. I thought that would be too much for this smaller space. Instead they ran the wires from the wall switch and pulled them through the ceiling for me.

I picked closet lights with pull chains. This gave me a chance to test the whole electrical system. Everything is a go!

Rear half wall

Just need to add corner pieces around the cargo door but the FRP panels look nice in the back.

The next section of screening is ready to go up. A rainstorm chased me inside before completing!

Time and Temp?

When I sold the Scotty I let it go with a nice matching clock and thermometer. It fit perfect covering speaker holes.

Just used velcro to mount this matching pair up front.

Rear door screens

The screen was installed on the upper section. I'm using a track system I found at both Home Depot and Lowes. The cap is already in place on the upper section. The middle track has two slots so I can add the lower section screening and then cap that off too.

Easy to do. Track and cap are about $3.70 each and come in 8' lengths. Used pet screening as it will be stronger and it worked real well in Kate's convertible teardrop that we built several years ago.

Mattress cut up into cushions

The 6" Walmart memory foam mattress is nice. I gave it a few days to air out and removed the zippered cover. Just like the Scotty foam I used clamps and boards as a guide for cutting the queen bed into several sized cushions for the dinette area. Dinette by day, queen bed by night!

Paddy gives the set up two paws up.

Space for Fridge, tv, dvd player and radio

The fridge will be placed in front of the white partition. The tv, dvd player and radio will be mounted on the opposite side that was stained a nd spar urethaned.

Extra space next to bed area

One side has a longer upper bunk so there is an extra space for lower storage.

Bed arrived.

The bed will air out for a few days and then I'll cut it for the dinette/bed area.

I'm in the pink.....