new used truck and new used 5th wheel

[oil pan 4]

If you want to use it for towing and lots of highway driving then I know what you need.
Bigger turbo.

[Hersbird]

Congrats! That is much nicer then the Hi-Los. Probably better to have something without all the potential structural issues as well. I like mine for what it is, but it's more of a hunting camper then a comfortable vacation away from home. Glad you made it around all of the bad weather this time of year as well. At least you know if or not it's water tight with all your rain!

Looking at the front, the worst seems to be that part under the 5th wheel. the air coming down the side of the truck slams into the trailer right there. I wonder if the 1/2 round fake radius like I have would work there. Or a flare of some kind of the truck itself.

[skyking]

holy moly did it rain this morning, and thunder and lightning and trees down and power out. It looks good and dry but It was barely missed by a big limb that would have certainly punctured the roof. I start a new job Monday with 4 tens, so Fridays will be a project day. I hope to get the remodel work done by camping season.

[vskid3]

Have you made any progress on the remodel?

[skyking]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

Congrats! That is much nicer then the Hi-Los. Probably better to have something without all the potential structural issues as well. I like mine for what it is, but it's more of a hunting camper then a comfortable vacation away from home. Glad you made it around all of the bad weather this time of year as well. At least you know if or not it's water tight with all your rain!

Looking at the front, the worst seems to be that part under the 5th wheel. the air coming down the side of the truck slams into the trailer right there. I wonder if the 1/2 round fake radius like I have would work there. Or a flare of some kind of the truck itself.

It has a radiused end cap, so not really low hanging fruit there. As the hitch is set now, I only have a few inches clearance in a hard turn. I might move the hitch back 2 inches and see if that adversely affects the handling and ride. If it is OK there, then I can do some headache rack and fairing work.
The real money is as usual, always at the back of things. I can make 3 identical aft fairings for the vents, and a big one for the air conditioner.
At the back I am contemplating a 12" long boat tail start that would would be permanently attached. it would then have the mount points for removable panels. I "see" two top panels with integrated edge radii, and 2 side panels on each side. the 6 panels need to be easily removable and storable on the trailer for maneuvers in tight parks. If I install clearance lights on the top, I can go as far as 7' long on the boat tail.

Have you made any progress on the remodel?

Yes, I installed the full king sized bed platform and mattress, and we took a maiden voyage with it this weekend.
The first picture is the RV queen bed. It was 60" x 75" long. I am 75" long. It was not happening
I removed the old platform and those little 1 drawer nightstands, and made a new platform with 15 MM BB plywood. I had some western white birch 4/4 and cut some edge reinforcements, laminating an edge and backer with nails and glue. Slap a little finish on it, and unfurl the new mattress. I did not know they shipped innercoil mattresses all rolled up, but that was sure handy for getting a king size mattress in an RV. Be sure to have it oriented the right way, and STAND back when opening it.

[Hersbird]

I was talking more the low part, behind the tailgate not the cab.

[skyking]

ahh, I get it now. Interesting, as it sits I can leave the gate open to clear the hitch, I could see what shape would not interfere with the gate down position and look at that. Thanks!

[skyking]

Originally Posted by vskid3

I'm typing this from the inside of my 2003 Cougar 278! My wife and I have been living in it full time since March. I don't think you can get much better for the age and size. The rear kitchen is huge compared to similar trailers of the time.



Here's a video of the inside of mine if anyone wants a better idea of the layout.

Your plan for the bathroom sounds interesting, can't wait to see how it turns out. Any chance you could post a couple pics of the belly pan? Mine doesn't have one and it would be nice to see how it was implemented from the factory. Is that an outside shower just ahead of the slide? Mine doesn't have one but there are signs that something could be put there.

I did not take pictures, but I can describe it. Firstly, it s not coroplast. It is heavy black, I think polyethlene. Very tough!.
They ran light angle steel across, and lapped the panels from rear to front, and attached with 1/4" self drilling 3/8" drive screws. They ran the belly plastic out to the edge of the frame channel, and lapped the side fairings over it. I can easily take down the panels to work above it, and I have.
The slide did not retract in January without some big fellow assistance outside. I got in there and did some testing. 3 volt drop at the switch when attempting to operate it! I found i had one weak battery as well.
The clever folks at the factory ran the #10 wires from the battery in the front, all the way to the back wall, up inside the ceiling back to the middle and down to the switch, and then back again to the back, and forward to the motor located under the doorway. They managed to make an 80' run on 22' of trailer
I cut it off and left all the wire in the lid and had plenty to make a more direct route. Works much better.
The floor in the back was noticeably springy. They had spanned 8' with little 2x stringers running fore and aft. I welded in one 1x2 steel tube brace and fixed that.
They ran the galley grey tank drain line almost flat and right above the axles. A good bump and they got knocked on by the axle. This happened enough that the tank was cracked around the adapter.
I repaired that using ABS cement and fiberglass cloth, and ran the line properly.

[skyking]

Update:
I torched the bumper mounts off the frame and removed the framework that had been added for a hitch, for double towing. Re-mounted the bumper 4" higher, now it is flush with the body. Welded on some perches for big casters. Re-plumbed the fresh water tank to get the drain out of harm's way. Welded on some slide sockets to make the rear jacks removable.
All of these things were to increase rear ground clearance.
Started adjusting the pin box and realized the previous owner had bent it. Lucked out and found one of these locally on CL for $100
https://www.etrailer.com/Fifth-Wheel.../LC328330.html

Started tearing out the entertainment center and bathroom walls.


Walls and tub gone, note the big hole in floor for tub plumbing.



Vent is gone, vinyl and a whole lot of staples pulled, hole has been cleaned up to one rectangle and backers installed. That patch is now in and ready for new vinyl. Toilet pulled.


Will start on wall and shower installation tomorrow.

[vskid3]

Looking good! Have you been under the carpet up there? It seems like the vinyl continues under the carpet. It would be nice to be able to remove the carpet from such a high traffic area and not have to replace it with anything.