M109 camper conversion

[OPCOM]

A thought about the rears there. I see the center sections are removed, but if you left one in, you could belt it to an automotive alternator and keep a couple of 12V batteries charged. That and a solar panel if you like, but the idea is that whever you got where you wanted , the batts would be full and you'd have 12V for lights etc immediately. I guess the center sectiosn were removed to get rid of friction and weight though.

 

[mdmorganwife]

I would bet you guys are the first people (outside the military) to ever completely re-skin an M109.

That is an amazing amount of work.

I know why...... LOL . Thank you everyone for all your positive reinforcement, hopefully we will have it done by the rally!

 

[neilhendrix]

I know why...... LOL . Thank you everyone for all your positive reinforcement, hopefully we will have it done by the rally!

That trailer will put mine to shame . I`m looking forward to seeing it and you guys showing it off. SO somebody needs to get busy . Blue camo I hope.

 

[phil2968]

A thought about the rears there. I see the center sections are removed, but if you left one in, you could belt it to an automotive alternator and keep a couple of 12V batteries charged. That and a solar panel if you like, but the idea is that whever you got where you wanted , the batts would be full and you'd have 12V for lights etc immediately. I guess the center sectiosn were removed to get rid of friction and weight though.

That idea may be hard to do since the chunks are sitting at my brothers house in Florida awaiting installation in his deuce!

 

[papabear]

Sure Phil2968...just crush a man's ideas/ambitions!!! That's kinda rude IMO....LOL LOL!!

 

[jarhead1086]

What gauge of sheet did you use? It gets heavy fast when you add up that many sheets. Don't want flimsy, but you don't want a gunsafe either.

 

[zout]

I know what its like to re-skin trailers when I worked for Fruehauf years ago - sometimes the framework would be standing just like yours. A lot of difference between sheet aluminum and sheet steel when hanging that stuff.

Take all your conditions into factor and it is work - not even talking about the humidity added in.

Great looking work to both of you on the progress of the trailer - you will have a prize unit when it is done.

 

[mdmorgan]

What gauge of sheet did you use? It gets heavy fast when you add up that many sheets. Don't want flimsy, but you don't want a gunsafe either.

original skins were 18 ga. we are putting 20 ga. so just a hair lighter, and we are not putting the original panels back on the inside, i figure i'm saving at least a couple hundred pounds at least. I plan on weighing it when i'm done.

 

[mdmorgan]

I know what its like to re-skin trailers when I worked for Fruehauf years ago - sometimes the framework would be standing just like yours. A lot of difference between sheet aluminum and sheet steel when hanging that stuff.

Take all your conditions into factor and it is work - not even talking about the humidity added in.

Great looking work to both of you on the progress of the trailer - you will have a prize unit when it is done.

We had actually thought about putting aluminum on but then we saw how much it was going to cost, these sheets are heavy but thats what the tractor is for.

Oh, i agree it is work, no doubt about it, i just meant that compared to drilling aircraft skins its easy.

I'm sure the outside will look great when i'm done, but i can only hope the inside looks half as good as yours when i get to that.

 

[army70deuce]

Great work on the trailer, and while I don't know what the paint would look like I recommend a giant C-130 on the side. Been riding in those a bunch lately, glad to know we have such hard workers keeping them flying and in good shape. Appreciate the hard work.

 

[Recovry4x4]

That idea may be hard to do since the chunks are sitting at my brothers house in Florida awaiting installation in his deuce!

What's wrong with the chunks in Rick's truck?

 

[mdmorgan]

Ok, got the skins drilled for the left and front, and all cleaned up, primed and ready to be shot on. we will start shooting tonight after it cools down if its not raining.

Also started stripping paint off the frame and suspension with a needle gun, neat little tool, by far the fastest way to remove carc that i have found yet. It is a Harbor freight unit, its listed as a mini needle scaler, on sale $19.99 and if you can find a 20% off coupon in a mag, even better!
what was done in the pics took only a couple hours.

 

[mdmorganwife]

That tool is neat!!!!

 

[zout]

I have a battery operated one to stir my Crown and Cokes W/ice - makes a very nice Crown slush.


Those are very cool tools and gobbles up old paint. How is it going on the skin mounting.

 

[dc3coyote]

GAHHH needle guns, keep that thing away from me, they are pure evil, used by Satan himself on pour sailors who drink a little too much the night before....
That said I am quite familiar with the workings of those things. They do remove paint and a little surface rust like no other tool.

 

[mdmorgan]

GAHHH needle guns, keep that thing away from me, they are pure evil, used by Satan himself on pour sailors who drink a little too much the night before....
That said I am quite familiar with the workings of those things. They do remove paint and a little surface rust like no other tool.

while this is my first time using one, i have had some experiance with what they sound like. I always worked nights when we went out to sea and for about a week one deployment right about the time i would fall asleep someone would start chipping paint on what sounded like the wall right next to my head, it was so bad i could hardly fall asleep with earplugs in. It made for a very long and exhausting week.

 

[mdmorgan]

How is it going on the skin mounting.

heading out to get started now.

 

[Ferroequinologist]

Needle guns work great. One time we were out to sea, and I was so tired... I ductaped the handle done, so it would constantly run, put on a pair of dirty googles, so no one could see my eyes. I sat down in the bildge wedged between the seawater service pump base and the fire pump base, and had the needle gun over my shoulder. Then I would fall asleep. By the end of the week, it had depressed about a half dollar sided section of the 3/4 steel mounting plate!

 

[mdmorgan]

well that didn't take as long as i thought it would, now to start drilling more.

 

[SCSG-G4]

Looking Great! Try to get good pictures of the top when you are putting it on.