My Path to (No)Madness!

[NoMadYesHappy]

Really the only time I use the 1500w is if I have to charge my battery bank because of no sun for 3-4 days. Then I start my van, hook the 1500w to that and use a 110v battery charger to pump amps into my bank. I can even charge my power tool batteries off the 500w, 500w doesn't seem like a lot, but it powers quite a bit for me.

Yah, I've been a hard nut to crack, but I think y'all have made a believer out of me.   I've cut WAY down on power, leaving room to move up if I need to later.  Nearly half the cost of the grandiose plans I had.  Thanks! 

 

[NoMadYesHappy]

"Heck, you can get a 32" flat screen with DVD player that runs off of 12 volts nowadays...."

Who has time to watch TV?  LOL! 
Thanks, MoTruk ... you've been a huge help!

 

[NoMadYesHappy]

Wow I’ve just read the whole thread getting all excited to see how this trailer build turned out with the side pods and all. Just read the last post and realized this is still in progress. Count me in for the rest of your build/ journey. You seem like a awesome dude, really cracks me up when I see you use the word bruh, lol first time I seen you use the word I had to recheck to see if it was your post I was reading. I can tell that your coming through this hard time of your life pretty well and seem exited about everything where the begging of this thread I was feeling for you quite a bit. Now I’m jealous that I can’t be doing the same myself. I’m still 25 years from ever being able to think of retiring but this makes it look so fun. Going to go subscribe to your YouTube channel right now. Can’t wait to see more. Oh I was very impressed with that Hyundai pulling the 6x12 trailer as well as you said it has. I’ve been on the market for a enclosed trailer for pulling my wife and my bikes to different places this summer. I was thinking the biggest I wanted to go was a 5x10 because of weight affecting my gas mileage. Reading this I’m thinking maybe a 6x12 may be better In the long run when I get to do this one day myself. I have a 1994 Ford econoline 150 5.8l with 19,800 original garage kept miles. She is beautiful and feels so powerful. I probably won’t even be able to tell the difference between pulling a 5x10 vs a 6x 12. How much does the average 6x12 weigh?? Anyone?? I know my bikes are about 380 to 400 lbs each so together they will be about 800lbs plus 200lbs in camping gear I should be pretty light right?? Or should I go 5x10 and would it save much weight?? Being behind a big van I don’t have to worry about drag I suppose.  Ain’t it so fun to dream about future adventures!!! Sorry to ramble on so long it’s just exciting to think about this in my future.

WOW!  Thanks Jake ... my [original] goal has been to just keep a record for myself and family, but through the process, a number of folks have expressed to me the impact watching me fight, win, fall on my face, scratch my head over seemingly easy challenges, yada, yada has had on them.  You just never know what your words [or images] will get translated to inside someone else's head.  I am pleased beyond words that you've found some value in what to me just appears to be idle bantering and much ado about nuthin'.  Thanks "Bruh!"  LOL!   Your words help me keep going ... truely! 

 

[highdesertranger]

we love build threads. I am enjoying yours. highdesertranger

 

[NoMadYesHappy]

I was just watching a video of yours and you said the trailer weight was around 900lbs?? If so that’s awesome I had been reading on trailer weights and seeing it stated that a 6x12 weighs twice that. I hope your weight is accurate being I’ve been wanting a smaller trailer thinking a 6x12 was just to heavy for pulling only 2 sportbikes. I would go with a cheap harbor freight trailer but I want it to be enclosed. Going to research this trailer weight some more now. I hope your right. Oh and a tip. I’ve been reading a few trailer builds and came across this one. It’s very important that your trailer you choose has a good tongue weight rating. I seen one build where his 6x12 has a max of like 2/300 lb tongue weight and his build ended up bending the tongue of the trailer. He was able to straighten it then weld reinforcements but that’s something to watch for. Seeing your trailer choice it’s axle is pretty far back so you definitely want to make sure that your within the max range which I’d say your fine being you did state the Hyundai has a 300lb max for the tongue weight which I’d say surely any 6x12 is going to be able to stand 300 I would hope. But I’m pretty sure the bent one I read about had a max of a 200lb tongue weight. That’s just crazy for  a 6x12 trailer.

Trailer "dry" or "curb" weight seemed to be a widely moving target from advertisement to reality and between manufacturers.  The weight on my trailer ended up being about 1400 pounds empty [dry/curb].  I saw some that were 980 pounds dry in the online ads, but I never saw one that was that light in real life ... 1200 to 1500 was more reality for a single axle 6 X 12, 3000 pounds total legal to pull, so about 1500 - 1700 pounds of cargo.
.
I packed my trailer to the top in my final push to vacate my house after the sale, and weighed in at the land fill scale at 3300 pounds total [minus the car].  Some of that weight was camping gear, but 1554 pounds of it was fodder for the fill.  $110 bucks to dump ... gurrrr!  Don't get me started!  LOL!  There are some MUCH more experienced folks here that could chime in on trailer weights, I'm really still a novice .... but, I think your van could probably pull a double axle trailer which weighs about 2000 pounds dry, and can usually haul about 5000 pounds of cargo.  Your van should have a plate in the door with weight capacities in it ... don't rely on my assumptions, check the plate.  I am happy to go on record as a complete idiot! 

Anyway, thanks for hanging with me, Jake ... best of luck as you work out your adventure plans!  Hope this helps! 

PS: I just want to go on record; my wife kicked me to the curb BEFORE I went nomad ... just sayin! 

 

[tx2sturgis]

We like to go to the Tennessee/Georgia area, find a spot to camp and ride the awesome roads. We always hit deals gap, AKA (the dragon) while we are there, 311 sweet corners in just over 11 miles.

ooops....thread detour:

I've never ridden that road...or the Blue Ridge Parkway..I would love to someday.

My two favorite roads to ride (so far) are the Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road in the Black Hills, and Spearfish Canyon Road is a close third. 

Vanocker Canyon and Nemo Road are also fun.

Detour Mode OFF. 

 

[NoMadYesHappy]

"... AKA (the dragon) while we are there, 311 sweet corners in just over 11 miles."

The Dragon! ... ruh, ruh, ruh! 

 

[NoMadYesHappy]

"...favorite roads to ride (so far) are the Needles Highway ..."

THAT is one beautiful ride!  Love the tunnel with Mount Rushmore in view as you exit ... AWESOME!

Okay, let's bring this back to center! LOL!

Yesterday's vid of me sitting on my hiney watching it rain all day ...

5 minutes and 40 seconds ...
There, now we're legit! 

 

[John61CT]

> enclosed trailer for pulling my wife

Best carried up on the roof rack


> weight affecting my gas mileage.
> difference between pulling a 5x10 vs a 6x 12
> Being behind a big van I don’t have to worry about drag

No, in flat regions to the extent your trailer is **high**, that has a big impact on mpg and even safety at speed in high winds.

Weight really makes the biggest difference in hilly country.

Best of course is light **and** low no matter how powerful the TV. And slow for safety, good brakes

 

[NoMadYesHappy]

Rained out again ...
But, my son came by! 

New list, based on all y'all's input ... 

• EPEVER MPPT 30A Solar Charge Controller 12V 390W to 24V 780W Input Tracer 3210A + Remote Meter MT-50 + Temp Sensor Solar Charger with LCD Display - $149.00

• BESTEK 400W Power Inverter DC 12V to AC 110V Car Adapter with 5A 4 USB Charging Ports - $39.95

• Renogy RNG-100Dx2 2 Piece 100W Monocrystalline Photovoltaic PV Solar Panel Module, 12V Battery Charging - $251.98

• 2 Universal UB121000-45978 12v 100AH Deep Cycle AGM Battery 12V 24V 48V(Black) - $164.49 each
  
• Alpicool C15 dc compressor car fridge freezer 12V 24V 110V -20C car and home use 15Litres - $199.00

Not the gold plated, top shelf quality, nor an impressive number of watts ... but, I think it's just right for where we are starting out.  Most of it  is cheap enough that if I smoke something, I haven't lost a ton of $$$ ... and I can always add/modify as/if needed when I've learned more.

Thanks for all of your input ... it helped me a lot!

 

[NoMadYesHappy]

Short video.  Got the lumber, paining and framing of Pod One done.  Didn't look like a lot of work, but was a nine to five investment.  Rain forecast for tomorrow and Wednesday, snow by Thursday and into the weekend.   



Less than 3 minutes. 
Ideas, warnings and even kudos are all appreciated!

L8R! 

 

[Almost There]

Have you tried building a cardboard box the size of the inside of that fridge unit...it's incredibly small.

Might not even hold your beer let alone anything else...

 

[NoMadYesHappy]

Have you tried building a cardboard box the size of the inside of that fridge unit...it's incredibly small.

Might not even hold your beer let alone anything else...

Hey Almost There ...
I drink beer concentrate ... it doesn't need refrigeration and comes with a cork in the top!  LOL! 
I'm opting not to get the Whynter dual zone and just get a small, cheep, single zone cooler (15qt) ... we didn't need a lot of cold storage when we camped in Quartzsite.  I'm opting to start small and work my way towards a better fit for "peripherals" as I figure out what we're doing ... how we're going to camp/live/yada ...
I like the idea though ... at least I'd know what a "Qt" looks like! 

 

[tx2sturgis]

Looking good...sorry to hear about incoming snow...meanwhile...nice weather here and I'm making progress on my build. 

After watching the recent upload, I'd recommend a metal plate (with matching holes) bolted in place on the interior pod frame to reinforce where the long removable bolts secure the frame to the trailer for travel. Also a matching reinforcing plate on the outside under the bolt heads. 

Appearance can be deceptive but it looks to me like there is only about 3/4 of an inch of wood between the inboard edge of the pod frame and the holes that were drilled to receive the bolts. 

Maybe something similar to these:



I sure would hate to see that possibly weak section of wood, fail.

 

[NoMadYesHappy]

Looking good...sorry to hear about incoming snow...meanwhile...nice weather here and I'm making progress on my build. 

After watching the recent upload, I'd recommend a metal plate (with matching holes) bolted in place on the interior pod frame to reinforce where the long removable bolts secure the frame to the trailer for travel. Also a matching reinforcing plate on the outside under the bolt heads. 

Appearance can be deceptive but it looks to me like there is only about 3/4 of an inch of wood between the inboard edge of the pod frame and the holes that were drilled to receive the bolts. 

Maybe something similar to these:



I sure would hate to see that possibly weak section of wood, fail.

Good point, t2s ...
I actually made a couple of turns in my sleep last night pondering that same concern.  I'm going to take your confirmation as a call to act.
I'm also going to reinforce the vertical 2X2 that secures to the trailer wall.
Thanks for your input, dude! 

 

[NoMadYesHappy]

Bump in the path .... arrrrgh!
Not sure how this is going to turn out, but it's frustrating at the moment.

So, I found and ordered all my solar stuff from Amazon ... ~$800 worth of goods.

Amazon says they won't ship because the billing information on my bank account doesn't match where I've asked for it to be shipped. Not an uncommon ask, in my humble opinion ... ??

So, I went to my Amazon account and tried to check what info I gave them ... cooda typo'd something, right? Can't check. Locked out.

Drilled into the online help docs and found nothing to match my situation, and after much digging, I found a link, "Contact Us" that I'd hoped would give me a phone number to call. So, I clicked. That sent me to a login page, but, of course I'm locked out "for security reasons."

I have an option to FAX them the information, but, I'm up in the mountains and would have to drive an hour to get to a FAX. Even then, the email I got from Amazon was not clear about what information they needed exactly.

So, in the hope that the email I got from Amazon actually goes back to a real person, I replied to that with something similar to the above and crossed my fingers ...

Now, I wait. DOH!

I LOVE that folks are secure with my limited $$$ ... I am. I want them to be secure ... tight fisted .... but, LEAVE ME A WAY TO FIX IT WHEN THEY CRASH AND BURN! A simple phone number! I gotta believe that a conversation in spoken words is FAR more efficient that texting via email.

There, I feel better ... a little.

*sigh*

Back on the path.

 

[VJG1977]

Bump in the path .... arrrrgh!
Not sure how this is going to turn out, but it's frustrating at the moment.

So, I found and ordered all my solar stuff from Amazon ... ~$800 worth of goods.

Amazon says they won't ship because the billing information on my bank account doesn't match where I've asked for it to be shipped.  Not an uncommon ask, in  my humble opinion ... ??

I had a problem once and googled "Amazon contact phone number"

 1 (888) 280-4331 have to go through the menu then you can talk to a human.

 

[NoMadYesHappy]

I had a problem once and googled "Amazon contact phone number"

 1 (888) 280-4331 have to go through the menu then you can talk to a human.

Perfect!  Thanks VJG! 

 

[tx2sturgis]

Ok....be very careful. 

A fake number close to that number is right up at top of the list of fake Amazon numbers:

http://www.thedailyscam.com/not-amazon-customer-support/

If you dial any Amazon number that was 'googled' you are likely to land on a fake number. 

There is an on-going scam with Amazon Customer Support.

And a LOT of criminals who want to convince you to give them your credentials and take your identity and your money. The 'support' person will either offer to send you an email with a link to a fake site, or direct you to a fake site, and the browser will get hijacked and then all of the passwords stored in your browser history will be stolen.

I have a good friend who was scammed and now the police are involved. His identity was stolen and thousands of dollars have been charged to his credit cards and PayPal, as the hackers bought 'gift cards' and sent PayPal money from his account.

Be very alert to this problem and save yourself some possible grief.

 

[NoMadYesHappy]

Ok....be very careful....

YIKES!  Noted!  Thx!