I Did It Again...A Compact Jr. Options

[Larry & Carrie]

Larry - I've just jumped into my FIRST adventure with a Compact Jr. (Our first trailer of any sort!) I'm having some issues with finding "plumbing" (for lack of a better term) to hook up the water tank.

The filler neck of the tank is smooth and 1 1/2" (O.D.), while the fitting on the trailer wall is a pressure fit 1 1/8".
How do you tie the tank down to the floor?

gray water drain, but it appears to be for a 1 1/2" outlet. Mine measures a clear 1 3/4". What do you use out there?

Jen
nOOb in California

JEN----Hmmmm I am going to have to take a drive to my shop (couple of miles) and measure everything... I just took everything apart and it is scattered aaallll over. The tank was held down with a strap- screwed into the sidewall (seat brace) and the floor with a couple of pieces of wood fore and aft screwed to the floor, to keep it from sliding. Sort of primitive, but the Compact had already had one "hurry-up" rebuild about 10 or so years ago. I'll post the measurements later for the pipes. Larry

It is now later---- Let's see if I can answer your questions in order....
#1 yup-filler neck of tank is smooth and about 1 1/2" and inlet filler (which I am going to replace) is about1 1/8 -see added tape? - here is what I have:

#2- I think I already answered

#3 Yes- the fitting you are looking at is for 1 1/2" pipe--- That is I.D.-- outer measurement will be approx 1 3/4". Attached is photo of what I have.

Make sense? Hope this has helped. LARRY

This post has been edited by Larry & Carrie: Jun 24 2008, 11:09 AM

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[Larry & Carrie]

Weeelllll---- After a little procrastination (was gonna join the Society of Procrastinators once, but never have gotten around to it ), and a little sidetrack or two (refurbing and putting a new floor in a 30 foot office trailer), I am back on it...... Slipped the body on the frame this morning (six new crossmembers to ensure no sagging, and treated w/POR 15, trussed, etc). Oh, did I mention that I installed a new straight axle that I built to raise the trailer 4 inches? Then, cut the plywood for a new floor, treated it w/asphalt sealer. After that, I ran out of things to do, so I started to rip the plywood out of the pop-up so I can re arch it. Felt like an early Native American building a canoe, except I was using water instead of fire to get the wood out. That's all for today--- more to follow. Larry (and yes, Steve, I did scarf that ugly bumper off...)

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[Steve Hilby]

Weeelllll---- After a little procrastination (was gonna join the Society of Procrastinators once, but never have gotten around to it ), and a little sidetrack or two (refurbing and putting a new floor in a 30 foot office trailer), I am back on it...... Slipped the body on the frame this morning (six new crossmembers to ensure no sagging, and treated w/POR 15, trussed, etc). Oh, did I mention that I installed a new straight axle that I built to raise the trailer 4 inches? Then, cut the plywood for a new floor, treated it w/asphalt sealer. After that, I ran out of things to do, so I started to rip the plywood out of the pop-up so I can re arch it. Felt like an early Native American building a canoe, except I was using water instead of fire to get the wood out. That's all for today--- more to follow. Larry (and yes, Steve, I did scarf that ugly bumper off...)

Man, it looks hot in Ephrata.

[Larry & Carrie]

Man, it looks hot in Ephrata.

Not bad----- high 80', low 90's...... I spent a year in a much hotter place, so this is bearable. And, it is not as oppressive as on your side of the Mountain. Larry (sent ya a PM)

This post has been edited by Larry & Carrie: Jul 28 2008, 08:18 AM

[Steve Hilby]

One thing occurs to me. Sis had her Compact weighed at the Oregon Gathering, and she's seriously light on the tongue (60/1600). I did a back-of-the-envelope calculation and figured that she could get 10% on the tongue by moving the axle six or seven inches aft. It's impractical for her trailer, but since you're doing a frame-off and seem to know what you're doing with metal fabrication and fiberglass, you might think about doing something of the sort...

[Larry & Carrie]

One thing occurs to me. Sis had her Compact weighed at the Oregon Gathering, and she's seriously light on the tongue (60/1600). I did a back-of-the-envelope calculation and figured that she could get 10% on the tongue by moving the axle six or seven inches aft. It's impractical for her trailer, but since you're doing a frame-off and seem to know what you're doing with metal fabrication and fiberglass, you might think about doing something of the sort...

Steve--- I thought about that the first time you mentioned it----- In my mind almost impossible. It would involve major structure changes (and a lot of time) Moving wheel wells, which would put them right under the stove and in the closet under the ice box/fridge, rebuilding cabinents, etc. Quicker solution would be to put battery, spare, propane, etc on reinforced tongue.
Then, do what we did on race cars to add weight where we wanted it. Gather up all the wheel weights in the world, melt them into a vlave cover (off an engine), make a big lead ingot, drill a couple hole in it and bolt somewhere it can't be seen. I betcha if you didn't tell Cory, it would take her a while to discover them......... (of course, I've let the cat out of the bag now) at 1600# her trailer is still not very heavy, and that might be the solution.. Larry

This post has been edited by Larry & Carrie: Aug 1 2008, 08:26 AM

[Loren G. Hedahl]

For some reason that 1600 lb seems a bit high.

I had a Compact Jr. in the '70s and it weighed 850 lb dry and around 1150 loaded.

It was pretty bare-bones, though, with only a 2 burner cook top, a small ice box and a porta-potty as the appliance load.

I never had any problems with sway towing with an old Peugeot 404. Was pretty underpowered, though.

[Larry & Carrie]

For some reason that 1600 lb seems a bit high.

I had a Compact Jr. in the '70s and it weighed 850 lb dry and around 1150 loaded.

It was pretty bare-bones, though, with only a 2 burner cook top, a small ice box and a porta-potty as the appliance load.

I never had any problems with sway towing with an old Peugeot 404. Was pretty underpowered, though.

Dunno---- when I brought the project home, I ran it across a WSP scale, 1350# on the axle, and about 35# tongue weight. It had a fridge, normal galley, empty water tank, battery and a couple spares inside. It'll prob weigh more when I'm done. Larry

[JenPB]

Make sense? Hope this has helped. LARRY

Sounds like your project is coming along great. We took off for our trip Monday (7/28), so I didn't catch this latest update 'til we regained internet tonight upon arrival in Washington (hot shower, too...woo hoo!).

Ended up cutting off the original tank filler neck, using a hole saw to cut the hole for a really cool compression fitting with a standard neck, connecting standard flexible RV water hose, discovering the old filler inlet wasn't modern standard either so replacing that, then moving the filler inlet up about 4" so there's a fall to the tank. Works great.

Now I'll a fiberglass refresher course so I can fill the old hole. For now, there's a cleanout cover (black to match the black paint) to fill the hole.

Lots of stuff to do with this pup, but it works for now! We've been happy to have it on the road this first of 9 weeks on the road!

Jen in Washington (this week)

[Larry & Carrie]

Weellll It's sitting on the frame again--sorta bolted on--- took it home to TSP the inside walls so I could paint the inside Friday... Just got back from putting down the vinyl floor covering. Doesn't look too bad. sure glad my friend Mike knows what he is doing..... Larry

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[JenPB]

Wow...that looks really nice. I like how you built the wood floor all the way out to the sidewalls (I don't really care for that odd drop to the fiberglass floor on mine, and the idea of the thinner floor area). The linoleum/vinyl to the edges'll be nice, too!

[Larry & Carrie]

And the SAGA continues....... Rebuilt the galley cabinent yesterday (didn't remove it- just rebuilt, reinforced, and replaced dry-rotted supports), new bed/couch wood, and new closet/cupboard frame. (will skin it Monday). Carrie is happy as she will gain a cutting board and one more cupboard for pots and pans... Pressure is mounting to be finished, as it is already scheduled to be "rented out" for my good friend's Elk trip....... (I'll use the Scamp for mine) Also, Carrie & my goal is to take it to the Grayland campout in the end of SEP. Larry

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[Steve Hilby]

And the SAGA continues....... Rebuilt the galley cabinent yesterday (didn't remove it- just rebuilt, reinforced, and replaced dry-rotted supports), new bed/couch wood, and new closet/cupboard frame. (will skin it Monday). Carrie is happy as she will gain a cutting board and one more cupboard for pots and pans... Pressure is mounting to be finished, as it is already scheduled to be "rented out" for my good friend's Elk trip....... (I'll use the Scamp for mine) Also, Carrie & my goal is to take it to the Grayland campout in the end of SEP. Larry

Where's the cutting board going to be?

So there's going to be a fridge in the upper forward spot on the passenger side? Sis has an icebox there.

On Sis' Compact, we hinged the two doors for the lower passenger-side cabinet at their bottom edges, so they drop flat on the floor when opened, and I put a false floor in the cabinet. That way she can pack two laundry baskets full o' stuff, then cart them out to the trailer and just slide them into place.

[Larry & Carrie]

Where's the cutting board going to be?

So there's going to be a fridge in the upper forward spot on the passenger side? Sis has an icebox there. Steve

Steve- No, no icebox or fridge.... If you look back at the picture, we added a 7 inch opening below (was wasted space before) that will have a drop down door and be for pots & pans. above that is the original 5 inch drawer. Then above that will be the cutting board (had to put it there to be waist high for the wench. Then above that where the ice box/fridge was, will be a pantry (for want of a better name) that will be vented to the outside via the side vent and the stack vent for the fridge. I'll insulate it a bit with that pink rigid styro. This will (I hope ) provide a cool place to store bread, etc that needs to stay cool. Yeah, I know it won't do this in hot weather, but we don't go to hot spots to camp.... And in the fall, early winter in hunting camps, should work.... Larry (besides, we like ice chests--more efficent storage space-- just throw it out the door when we park)

[Steve Hilby]

Steve- No, no icebox or fridge.... If you look back at the picture, we added a 7 inch opening below (was wasted space before) that will have a drop down door and be for pots & pans. above that is the original 5 inch drawer. Then above that will be the cutting board (had to put it there to be waist high for the wench. Then above that where the ice box/fridge was, will be a pantry (for want of a better name) that will be vented to the outside via the side vent and the stack vent for the fridge. I'll insulate it a bit with that pink rigid styro. This will (I hope ) provide a cool place to store bread, etc that needs to stay cool. Yeah, I know it won't do this in hot weather, but we don't go to hot spots to camp.... And in the fall, early winter in hunting camps, should work.... Larry (besides, we like ice chests--more efficent storage space-- just throw it out the door when we park)

Okay, I see; I saw the vent holes and thought there'd be a fridge there. The pantry-and-ice chest scheme sounds interesting--load the ice chest inside the house, tote it out to the trailer. No unpacking and repacking. Hmmm.

On Sis' trailer, we eliminated the drawer under the icebox and put in a microwave. Of course, that presupposes you're going to camp where there's electricity...