Breakin' Bolts Build

Helped a buddy pull out some shrubs, stumps, etc.

Before

After


Backyard prepped for pool/filling old koi fish pond, ripped up a bunch of overgrowth by the fence line

 

Finished up the in-laws quick chores (mostly pulling up stumps and unwanted sapling, shrubs and moving rotted wood further into the woods and swamp sections).

Here's the aftermath of a cluster of crepe myrtles along with a dead redbud tree stump, and some other random saplings growing in between the crepe myrtles I pulled up Saturday morning. I also got to use the ground protection mats on this one and it definitely helped mitigate more damage to the surrounding area...and are much more flexible and portable than plywood sheets.



So after finishing up my FiL and I went ahead and started running some diagnostics on the fuel sending unit and the fuel gauge for continuity and resistance (sending unit was reading 88 ohms, so hopefully the dealer technician can check the resistance reading on a full tank in one of their rental units, then we can at least gage the fuel capacity that way in the meantime!).


Of course now I see they've got the optional switches already prewired in the harness (for enclosed cab heat, door window wiper, construction roof beacon) and I'm wondering if I can use one of them to tie into the backup alarm vs. pulling the fuse, since there are times I should have it engaged (off and on loading onto trailer on public streets, etc.), but man is it screaming loud! I'm also thinking about tapping the existing exterior lighting wiring to mount side light pods!

FiL is going to hook the fuel gauge up to an test set (or make one!) at work today and see if it is functional...worse case I'll put it back together and just keep a test meter near by to test the fuel that way...sure seems like it would beat guessing and adding a gallon or three every so many hours.

UPDATE:
Skid fuel sending unit update-
Problem found

Problem solved

 

Newest addition to the growing group of trailers!!

Now we've broken into camper territory.

Now to test the accessibility at a few of our regular campsites!

 

So...initial test run of the camper was less than positive.

I didn't have the awning at a steep enough angle and we got an unexpected rain (was not in weather forecast checked before going to the camper)...so of course it pooled and bent the low side horizontal pole/arm.

And it's 2022 = they're sold out across the web/globe without any consistent expected in stock date. On a good note, I straightened it out enough to be able to use it in the extended mode. Just will have to carry the two sections in the camper or bed of the truck. Oh yeah by the way...it's always icing on the cake when the wife informs you of the bent pole around 215am...more on that below !

Got the 2yr old down (on her own toddler mattress, since it fit on the pass-thru floor space btw the doors) as is normal, she was out by 830pm.

We were able to get in the camper close to 11pm, then the little one woke at 145am demanding milk...in go the ladies to the in-laws for 2am milk. Katelyn came back with a seemingly content kiddo and then told me about the pooled water, bent pole...oh and the kid fell asleep for maybe 30mins, woke up and screamed and cried until 345 when the two of them exited and drove home.
The wife told me before deciding to leave that she had not been able to fall asleep/get comfy all night, and wanted to get to her bed. FYI she's a stomach sleeper.

So we have a new 6" trifold replacement mattress arriving next Thursday (2 layer multi density memory foam).

Found the defective butt splice connection that was causing the passenger fender marker light to not work unless wet. Fixing that and adding heat shrink on all the inner fender well sections of wiring on both sides.

The BAL C stabilizer/leveler jacks and foot pads arrived earlier this week.

Memorial Day, I was able to walk through where and how we are going to cut off the existing 2" ball V coupler and tie in the 8ft. 2" sq x 1/4" walled tube to the first two frame cross members with my FiL.


You can see that the scissor jacks are no longer staying in the "up" position. These BAL C jacks extend to 31", compared to the 24" of the scissor jacks.

Ordered the lock n roll parts:

• 2" weld on trailer tongue coupler
• 2" receiver w/ 4 position hitch setup

Asked the neighbor for an 8ft 2" sq x 1/4" tube...haven't gotten the price. Also haven't accounted for boxing in the new tongue tube with existing angled tube at the 2nd cross member.

Also realized we got the wrong maintenance kit for the RT-25, got the RT-120 kit, the correct kit is being shipped out tomorrow, so I can do the annual oil change on it.

They got the RT-25 filter kit to me the next day, now to see about changing the oil this weekend!​

 

What a beautiful Saturday! Sent the day with the ~2.5yr old at Busch Gardens with the wife and my Dad! My child is 1000% no fear/no hesitation to try things (like we can't be around any body of water without at least 2 adults...if it's an actual pool then the 3rd is in the pool!)...anyways she tried every ride we came across, including the adult catapult ride, shouting Ouuuuuuoooohhhhhh at each rotation!!!
She enjoyed all but maybe the last minute or 90 seconds, as she was over it.


Came home and the Mrs' built a sandbox we picked up Friday for the little one, while I set the burn pile ablaze and once it started roaring, added some stumps from the pile of maybe 10.

So far we've burn half the pile!

Update -

 

This Week in Greg Breaks History --
Well I've nearly busted open the skid steer engine oil filter, which is tucked up night and tight from both top side access, as well as from below.


Looking more and more like the screwdriver threw the filter technique might be used. It was but the damn filter quarters are really tight, so I ended up borrowing the neighbors standard filter wrench (I had the claw style one...even tried to use a strap wrench) and got it done!


Twisted on the new Perkins filter, hand tight plus a smidge more, added the 6.3qts of Mobile Delvac 10w-30, fired it up for a few minutes to ensure filter and drain plug were not leaking. Then bolted up the skid plate and parked it back out back. I'll go ahead and recheck the oil level tomorrow.

✓ it off in the RT-25 log, got the first annual oil change done (service interval is 500hrs or annually)

 

The camper trailer mod parts have all gathered at my father in laws garage and are happy to be there!

• Lock n Roll truck hitch coupler and trailer coupler
• Fan-tastic ultra breeze vent cover
• ProFlex RV sealant for above bracket screws that are replacing existing screws on the fan-tastic vent
• Magnetic insulated cover for fan-tastic vent
• Tongue T level
• BAL C jacks
• 8ft 2" sq 1/4" wall tube (not pictured)

^the old scissor style are only a few inches shorter footprint compared to the BAL C jacks, but the new ones extend 7 inches further!!

Using 3/8" pvc as the wheel well conduit, should be interesting to see how it holds up.

Took the angle grinder with cut off wheel to the A couplers welds, except there were a few little spot welds on the inner tube and coupler interface...those were just snapped off wiggling and prying the couple!

Scored the cuts on the existing two tubes by placing the 8ft piece in place and centered it. Had to cut off the chain loop both due to the angle of the cut, but also since I'll reattach it, or do two separate chain attachment pointsv

Then used a band saw to make the initial cuts and finished it up with the angle grinder and cut off wheel. Didn't get a shot of the new tube layed in, but not too shabby of a job, I knew the angle of cut off would be skewed once I went to the cut off wheel.


Progress, yes...but just the start of a busy few weekends up at the in-laws.

Mods TBD List:​

• Continue pex runs of exposed wiring under the trailer
  • Considering -
    • 1) Adding reverse flood pods on rear;
    • 2) Wiring in a new 7pin plug since I'll already be extending the current wiring up the 18-24" extension tube.
• Prep metal
  • Clean up grinding edges, etc.
  • Sand/wire brush rusted surfaces, nuts, washers, bolts
  • Clean and apply primer 8ft tube for paint
  • Paint 8ft tube
• Weld 8ft tube as new trailer tongue
• Weld (and bolt?) lock n roll tongue coupler
• Weld/bolt new jack stabilizers/levelers
• Eze Breeze fan cover bracket install

 

New tongue tube initial welds put on...

Then we backed up the taco and cut it down to size. It definitely needs some good stuff sprayed back into those open angle tubes, then finish it off with black rvt, to keep rain, salt, etc. out of them.

Took off the side brake/tail/turn lights and cut off the brackets, ground it down a bit and primed it. Then I got the rear leveler/stabilizer jacks mounted up and screwed on




Got the lock n roll coupler, just gotta grind and prime.


Items in possession -

• 5ft cable channel with elbows (for vertically mounting new tail lights on rear body of trailer)
• 100% clear silicone caulk
• 3/4 inch #6 sheet metal screws

Update
OrderingAwaiting Arrival -

• 7pin plug with either an 8ft or 11ft harness for entire rewiring and routing it through the new tongue tube

• New Break/Tail/Turn lights to surface mount on the rear cross member/frame

• End Caps for the back end of new tongue with a hole for the wire harness
• White LED license plate light (surface mountable)

To source after wire harness arrives

• Grommet or something to that end for the hole the new wiring harness passes into the new tongue

 

Drilled the tongue wire harness hole in the side of the tongue just behind the new coupler. Followed by a rotary tool using a carbide bit and a sanding but to elongate and round off the edges.


Accidentally ordered the 7 pin connector with the 8ft vs. 11ft wire harness, we're soldering and heat shrinking an additional 14-16" to get out the end of the new tongue.

Measured and decided on where to mount the new vertical tail lights, drilled 3/8 hole through the rear frame, have some semi-ridgid tubing to run the 4 wires through to the undercarriage side.

Finished welding the bottom edge of the coupler to the tongue using some rebar to bridge the gap.

Gonna have to pull the wheels and heat gun and flatten the pvc along the tire sidewall due to rubbing.

 

Final push to road worthiness/DOT legal​

Got the lights, license plate, ez breeze brackets all siliconed up and mounted. Cut the light to channel elbow cut down for both sides.


Fished the finished extended 7 pin wire harness in and back.


Reconsidering the 3/8 pvc for some smaller diameter semi-flexible/semi-ridgid tubing to run between the wheel/tire and wall of the camper. Also using that as a conduit in the rear frame wiring pass through holes I drilled yesterday afternoon.


Drive it out and around the bumpy yard... So that's a positive!!

 

Crunch time trying to get this street legal for the holiday weekend



Gotta pull the driverside tire, route the new wire, solder up all the wiring in the box, rerun the 12v and battery into the tongue tool box

 

Got the camper trailer street safe/DOT Legal Saturday, just in time to head out on its first real trip to 3pooches compound!!!





Just have the solar trickle charging wiring left finish up, contemplating using the dedicated 12v line off the plug harness for charging the battery while driving.

Everything works, the trailer tracks great behind the Taco, and I'm really digging the lock n roll system!!

In my rush to get down the road Saturday I failed to check the AC cover (had been slipped on after the first test run at my in-laws memorial day weekend and had been there since)...didn't realize it flew off until I was on I-95/64.
Ended up retracing the long path I took leaving the in-laws and found it nearly 24hrs later (on Sunday) on the side of Rt 5, only 3 miles from my in-laws place!!

 

Well the Taco is up on the lift pending the correct spacers for the coilover lower mount bearing replacement...at least it was broken on purpose!!!


Given the @WarFab Armor tie rod sleeves are schedule to arrive tomorrow, I'll tackle both of these along with getting these coilover misalignment spacers squared away.












Both sides o-rings were bulging out from behind the misalignment spacers. I'm going to give Elka a call and see if this is normal, as well as if they have the appropriate misalignment spacers for my 2020 version.



So I ended up pinching the tie rod boot and squished out some grease...which was kinda cloudy. Of course now I have made a mental note.


Cleaned up the original battery, while I had it out for cleaning, I checked that its still holding a decent charge. Smeared the terminals/connections with some anti-corrosion battery goop...

 

Wow what a difference between passenger (right) and driver coilover lower spherical bearings and spacers. The passenger side spacers just came out without any fuss. The new bearings and spacers went in easily enough via the hydraulic press. I'll do the upper and the rear lowers in another 10k or so... Got my @WarFab Armor tie rod beef of a sleeves on

Then I decided to just go ahead and put on the Gear Tech Fend-X front liners

 

I know folks crap on Firestone's lifetime alignment, but honestly its paid for itself with just camber and toe alignments after trails or more likely from suspension maintenance, so these days I'm content just to get the before and after specs print out.

So they called me yesterday to tell me the tech can't adjust driverside tie b/c the aftermarket part (tie rod sleeve) won't allow for any more toe adjustment. So I figured those specs would've stayed the same...but not so, I guess they just unscrewed the tie end some to further push it out of spec another 0.84"...still scratching my head on this one...



Thinking a little bit of mod'ing to the inner sleeve to slide up on the flange section of the inner rod next to the boot clamp. Needle nose vice grips hopefully will allow me to screw in the sleeve another few thread rotations.


Update -
Ended up cutting off about an eighth of an inch off the sleeve end. Now to get it in for a bit of alignment adjustment.

 

So I got in for my lifetime alignment...got with the Tech and told him he should only have to adjust driver, maybe passenger toe...and sure enough both were out of spec. That said, I guess since I didn't say, "Don't adjust Caster" and got tied up with work on the laptop in the lobby, they pulled it around and sure enough he pushed back my caster into the "green"

So far on my limited flexing spots at home, I'm clearing the cab mount, and these Fend-X liners are also in the clear...but I barely stuff a tire.

 

Got the camper and truck all loaded up Took the family to the CAT scale grabbed up total weight with the trailer and just the truck

Guessing we're good to go!?!?

 

Do to health issues and surgeries the last few years, the log splitter sat with a little fuel in the tank, carb was run dry with the fuel line shut off. So I drained the old fuel and the tank had corroded.
Changed out the tank and inline fuel filter and it fired right up and off to splitting a bunch of seasoned logs.

I have about 60% more that I have to cut up and split tomorrow, but my nearly 3yr old has been very interested in the wood stove, it helps she got the whole fire is hot and can hurt with camp fires, bonfires at the in-laws.
Now I gotta tackle about 45 oak rounds that my dad had taken down (was dead and leaning in a not so good direction).



Update: Got about 1/3 of this home and stacked during the holidays.

 

December 28th -
Did some more 2023/2024 firewood processing from a friend's place. He had these trees taken down almost 2 years and also needed some downed trees cleared from some wooded paths.

First round came home with me, the second load went to my in-laws Since it got into the 70s this week, I'm hoping to split and stack these when it cools back down next week.