Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Tags Title & License

When it and paid for my legal stuff at the county courthouse.

Notice the tote board has changed.

Then I realized it had been one year exactly since I had originally gone in to ask the ladies at the counter about the process. I'm planning on  the rest of the build to be a bit quicker than this.

Thanksgiving dinner is in the oven and I'll pull it out in an hour and a half, the truck is half packed for the Ren Faire. The fire ban has been lifted at the Faire so I'm taking along my fire pit and have picked up some wood. The chances for rain continue to drop for the area &  the cat sitter is on stand by.

As I begin to sort out the items that I need to take with me, can opener, a pot and skillet, etc.,  and I think more and more about all the things that I wouldn't have to pack, tent, futon pad, lots and lots of plastic sheeting, and move if only I had gotten serious about this a little sooner, and that they would be in the Vardo ready to go.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Another trailer hitch fix

Well, I'm back from the Ford Dealership and $385 lighter in the pocket.

That's how much the correct trailer hitch plus electrical brake controller now installed in the cab cost.

(Ok, that total includes $35 dollars for the oil change for the truck. )

It took four hours and they had to check everything against the cruise control as well.  

I have to take the truck back to the dealership because there is a bracket piece that wasn't in stock that needs to be attached to make everything nice and tidy.

This morning as I was driving to pick up my trailer from Tri Tex, a woman in a white car just drove out in front of my truck.

I slammed on the brakes and swerved but it was a near thing.

It was like she didn't even see me.

It reinforced my decision to go with a brake on the trailer, because I think that if I had my trailer on the truck this morning, I don't think I would be making this post. 

I paid the $385 with out batting a eye.

Pics coming soon.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Two Steps Forward! Kinda

First, my friend that has a bit of land would be happy to let me park the vardo at her house.
Down side: no outside electrical outlet. But I'll work on it.

Next, the problem of the trailer plugs. Notice from the earlier posts, that they don't hook up? I've checked three stores, there is not a adapter that I can get for this problem. I have to go back to the Ford Dealership and get an RV hook-up package, with a brake switch. I have an appointment tomorrow at 10:30 am:, and they want me to bring the trailer along so that they can order the correct part, and make sure everything works properly. They also will not mind holding on to my trailer until the parts come in, assuming they don't have what I need in stock, so I don't have to park it out my landlords rent house.

So as long as I am there I'll get an oil change for the Ranger before I drive it to the Ren Faire, later in the week.

At which point, every time I tell someone that I have a Ford Ranger to pull this trailer, a sales being suggests that I get a bigger truck. Sigh. No I'm not getting a bigger truck until I get this done and find out the weight of the trailer, thanks.

And finally, and I'm really pleased about this! 
I have the paperwork in hand for registering the trailer. :)

Monday, November 14, 2011

Little things no one talks about:: Update

I'll be mentioning a lot of these little things that no one I have found talks about:
Today's small annoyance is the wiring on the trailer.

I ordered a trailer built with a brake:
The trailer hitch that the Ford dealership installed is a four flat lights connector.

Pictures of the two coming soon.

What I have:




What came on the trailer:


Going back to the Ford Dealership they quoted me a price of about 120 for labor plus parts to have the dealership now fix the electrical on the truck to meet the new requirements of the trailer.

There might be an adapter at Tri Tex for a lot less which might work in the short term: I.E. Getting the thing build to being usable and movable.

OK: Checked with Tri Tex. (They are still working on my paperwork, they forgot oops...)
They told me to go down to Herman's auto parts store, that's where they get their adapters from. They work great for either the short term or long term according to the guys at Tri Tex!

Pic of Adapter:





ONLY 8.95

Ok; Ten Bucks vs. 120+ that I need for building materials: NO BRAINER

LATER:

I got home and I started to notice a problem. Can you see it?

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Pre Construction

I'm rather hopeful that this really will be pre construction. Tri Tex will have the paperwork for the DMV ready by Monday. I will ask if they will let me leave it in their parking lot until Thursday when I can move it to the college's welding lab.

It is also a trip back to Ford. I need to fix the trailer electrical on my truck to accept the new lights and brake plug that goes with the new trailer. The plug does not match what is on the new trailer. I would rather fix it to meet the new trailer standard than get a adapter.  This falls under the do it right the first time motto. 

Mike, my welder assures me that all welding will be completed to my build plans by the end of December.

So I have until then to find a place to do the build. And a builder to help me get it done on time. This is a small west Texas town area. I don't have as many friends as I like that I could call upon to help me get it done on time. So a builder may be my best bet for getting it at at least a weather and road ready shape in time for Gulf War.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

NEW TRAILER IS HERE

The new trailer arrived at Tri Tex today!

I've paid the balance for it and have taken the pic above this afternoon.

It really stands out in the line of black trailers there. 

Still no where to park it so I can work on it, but they are happy to hold on to it until Monday.

Paperwork for tax tag and license will be ready to go on Monday.

So Monday it will be moving day.

As you can see they did not follow the PAD plans: I'll talk to the welders tonight. :)

I'm thinking of calling it Hummingbird!

Friday, November 4, 2011

BUZZARD GONE : EVEN BETTER NEWS

TRI TEX was happy to take the Buzzard off my hands.

Bad News: It was less than half of what I paid for it.  Oh Well: A learning experience:

GOOD NEWS: Tri Tex had just had a call from the trail manufacturer just before I dropped off the Buzzard!

My new Trailer has started construction today and should be delivered Tuesday or Wednesday Next Week:


HAPPY DANCE ENSUES


Thursday, November 3, 2011

Sunset for the Buzzard

Meet the Buzzard: It will be gone by tomorrow.

As long as my Landlord doesn't scream because it's parked out front at the moment.