It’s Really Coming Together!
Man, things have progressed quickly! I finished the bed platform with storage bins on each side.
I installed some swing away curtain rods and just hung curtains for the closet until I come up with something better. It covers the closet contents and will swing out to provide privacy at each end of the hall.
I was able to get the cabinets painted and handles installed. I'm not thrilled with the color. It's lighter in photos than it is in person, but I really wanted a darker green overall. (EDIT: 11/2024 - I actually love the color now!)
Since it's a residential fridge, I needed a way to secure the door during travel. I searched Thingiverse and found a latch made for an RV fridge that looked a whole lot like my Hotpoint. It fits and works like a champ!
I got the shower all trimmed in, and finished up the bathroom cabinet. The opening on the right is a static shelf, with an open path to reach the plumbing fixtures being the TP roll. The whole panel the TP is mounted to will come out with three screws. Still need to paint the cabinet.
I finally created a new front panel, rearranged my batteries, and mounted my inverter/charger properly. I got the Bluetooth module for the inverter/charger so I can see real time stats. With the A/C idle, a small fan to circulate the air, Starlink, 32" TV, and Apple TV going I'm only drawing 180 watts.
I found this great little couch on FB marketplace. I was afraid to commit to an expensive couch, then find out it wouldn't fit through the door so this was a test. I kinda like it though. It's completely modular, so each arm comes off, and the chaise and sofa pieces are separate as well. You can swap sides with the chaise. The chaise lifts up for storage underneath, and the sofa flips out to make a queen size bed. I wouldn't want to sleep on it every night, but for visitors or a night of lounging in front of the TV it's great!
For those of you curious how well the mini split works in the airstream, the hallway does restrict the airflow, but the duct fan alleviates that. 63* inside on a humid Florida morning in May results in condensation like a Coke can!
My new wheels arrived!
With all of that done, it was time to go weigh it and see how bad I screwed it all up. Truck, Airstream, and 50 gallons of bleach water in the fresh tank.
After subtracting the weight of the water (425 lbs) we come to a total of 5755 lbs dry weight. I thought it was going to be 6000 or slightly over. Owner's manual says it weighed 4850 dry when it was new. With the beefed up frame, 3/4" marine ply floor, 2x4 framing, actual tile floor in the shower, and everything else, I've added 900 lbs to the original dry weight. I think the new axles were heavier as well. Anyway, I opted for uprated axles. Original gross weight was 7100 lbs with the 3200 lb axles, and with the 3500 lb axles the new gross weight would be 7700 lbs. So really, I only lost 300 lbs of capacity. Still, I have 1945 lbs of cargo and water capacity. I can live with that!
Would I do this again? Not no, but HELL NO! The only things I haven't replaced on this thing are 70% of the frame, the skins and ribs, and the windows. It's brand new. All of it.
(11,200 weight is truck + trailer, 5020 weight is just the truck)
