It's Electric!

This weekend, I finished completely removing and replacing the AC electric system with armored cable.  I rerouted a bunch of DC wires, and added a couple new runs.  I also installed the new 30A power inlet on the outside of the trailer.

I installed Reflectix insulation to the top half of the trailer, the part that will get the most sun.  This is the same radiant heat barrier that I installed below the subfloor, so it works best if it's facing an air gap.  Lots of people use strips of foam insulation to make shims, but I'm not counting on this for my only insulation, so I don't need it to be perfect.  I used 1/16" thick double-sided foam tape to mount the Reflectix, but I'm mostly counting on gravity to give me an air space above the shiny stuff.  Worst case scenario, in areas where the Rockwool pushes it against the outer skin, I'm still getting an R-1.1 out of the 5/16" layer, which is about the same R-value as 5/16" of Rockwool.   I used the same foam tape to insulate the ribs from the interior skin, which should help with heat conducting straight through the ribs.  Thanks to blogger Reinergirl and Capn Tom from Airforums for the idea. It took 5 rolls to do all the ribs and hang the Reflectix.

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AC ceiling assembly is installed temporarily to provide some heat while I work in 20 degree weather.  I have the new 30A inlet wired directly to the air conditioning power supply so I can plug it into the house.

I've read lots of people complaining about how little the heat strip on the Mach 8 cub produces, but it was enough to keep a 27' Airstream with very little insulation and a bunch of holes in the walls comfortable enough to work in jeans and a sweatshirt.  When it warmed up to 35 or so outside, I was working in a t-shirt just fine.

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Some switches, outlets, odds and ends wired up.

Scare light installed.  Boo.

Deadbolt installed.  This is mostly to ensure the door doesn't accidentally fly open while we're moving.

Radio antenna.  I could make it straight up and down, but I like the jaunty look.

New 7-way trailer plug installed and wired up.  Added an extra set of running lights on the sides for visibility.  I was hoping I'd be able to wire the DC system to the accessory wire from the truck, but it didn't work.  I'll have to either resurrect the Univolt, or find some other way to temporarily power the DC system to test everything before I get the walls closed up.

Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet...

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Dan and I carried the AC unit out today.  It was particularly challenging to navigate the snow mazes with the hundred-pound AC unit, but we got it up there with the help of the ladder and a blanket.  

Snowstream 2016

We got about 3 feet of snow dumped on us here this past weekend.  It's been about 6 years since we got this much snow all at once, so I guess we were due! It's hard to tell just how much snow this is in the photo, but some things have disappeared:

And the dog can't see over the snow.  

Dan dug a path down to the airstream, and of course Luna had to photo bomb the picture.  

He dug all the way around the airstream so the dog could have a track to run on (and also so he can do work).  She's a big fan of having somewhere to run again.  Poor dog's been a good sport for all the cold wet mazes we've put her in recently. 

The snow is making for fun hide and seek with her:  

It's Riveting! Get it?

Russell was kind enough to stop by and lend us his riveting skills.  Buck riveting takes two people, so it was a huge help to have a skilled helper.  Russ is A&P mechanic (Airframe and Power Plant), and learned how to rivet on airplanes.  Work went much faster this weekend thanks to his help.

But first, some practice on the old bellypan material that we aren't reusing. 

And now, for the real thing.  We reattached the awning bracket, plugged a bunch of screw holes left from removing the old air conditioner, riveted the sides of the shell to the f-channel attached to the subfloor on the sides of the coach, added a patch over the holes from the old antenna, and replaced a few leaky rivets.  With the exception of the plumbing vents, refrigerator vent, and few other odds and ends, the Airstream is mostly sealed up.

Here's Russ holding the bucking bar.  I'm on top with the rivet gun, hammering away on a rivet.  Russ is giving the rivet something to hit on the other side, which causes the shaft to flatten and widen, to create a water-tight seal.

Riveting the front hold-down plate.  The black pegs are called cleco fasteners.  They fit in a newly drilled hole to temporarily hold multiple sheets together while you're riveting nearby.  Very helpful.

Moral support dog. 

Leanne the Riveter. 

A Moving Sale and A Singing Dog

Getting the Airstream ready is only part of the prep work happening around here.  Dan and I both want to live with less stuff and have the freedom to take our home with us, should we choose to travel or move again.  Read more about that story here.  This involves sorting through everything we own, selling or giving away 95% of it, and keeping what we love and use most.  It's been anything but easy. 

I still had some furniture and things in my house for staging while my house was on the market.  With the sale of my house (hooray!), it all needed to go.  Our wonderful Baltimore friends helped us sell/give away a lot of my remaining "stuff"  before I closed on the sale this week.   It was a bittersweet goodbye. 

We filled two trucks and a car with donations to the thrift store.  It's a win-win for me :) I even got a collection of coupons for future thrifting!  These will be put to good use for my thrifted capsule wardrobe.  

Also, I got a harmonica at Christmas (thanks Dan!).  Not only is this a super fun, pocket sized instrument, it will be perfect for  our nights around the campfire.  Luna's helping me practice.