The original exterior light fixtures on the Hiker Trailer were a flood type light that threw light everywhere and blinded me when I walked up to the door. They also had the switch located on the fixture and that required you to open the door to turn the light on if you wanted to look outside at night. The new upgraded light directs the light down and I installed the switches in the cabin ceiling so you can turn the lights on from the safety of the cabin and it also keeps someone from turning the lights on and running the battery down when I am not at the trailer.
I have a couple more upgrades that I want to make but I am ready to get out and camp.....
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During the month of June I took the Hiker Trailer to Ruidoso New Mexico for a few days. While there we stayed in Terri's brothers cabin. Our plan was to travel to Corpus Christi Texas and camp on the beach for a few days before returning home. The trailer was parked in the driveway with the trailer fridge plugged in and running full of food. On Sunday June 23rd I went out to the trailer to use the 12 volt plug to charge my laptop. I had no power. While checking the systems I found that sometime after we arrived the wiring had shorted and burned at the point where the wiring entered the electrical box. This required us to cut our trip short and return home without going to the beach. At home I started pulling the electrical components out of the box and upon removing the wires from the box discovered that the cause of the issue was that the entrance hole had been choked down to a point that the installer had forced the wires into the hole and they had used a small amount of electrical tape as the protection for the wires. A wire loom had also been installed around the wires but none of the loom could fit into the opening.
I removed all of the components along with the electrical box and cut a new hole in the trailer frame to allow me to install new wiring along with a new wire loom for protection. I also only reinstalled the trailer to vehicle wires in this hole. I drilled a new hole for the 110 volt and cabin 12 volt wiring to go through. I then reinstalled the components along with a shelf to hold the Solar Controller, new fuse block and disconnect switches so I could control the power going to the fridge and cabin. One of my main concerns was the lack of fuse protection that had been installed by the manufacturer. I read the literature provided by the component manufacturers and added the fuse block to allow me to put fuses on all the components as recommended by the product manufacturer. I have tested everything and have found no problems. I will be taking the trailer for a shakedown trip next week. Good news is that I now know enough about trailer electric and solar to write a book. I am defiantly disappointed in the quality control performed by Hiker where the electrical system is concerned. This is the second problem I have had and I guess I am lucky that this last problem didn't burn my trailer up...... I took time today to add a platform to the back of the GMC Canyon truck to store the hi-Lift Jack as well as the MAXTRAX Traction Mats.
This platform is contoured to fit the truck bed and is hinged for easy removal, installation and storage. Bolts with wingnuts hold the jack in place. Paint and padding to follow. I have been working on a few modifications and projects for the trailer and TV.
For the TV I have built an organization slide in cabinet to hold storage containers and other items so I no longer need to unpack things to reach things that are stored on the bottom. I have also rebuilt the pull out shelf and stove storage cubbyhole for the stove. I reversed these components to lower the pull out shelf for use by shorter people than me. It still has the cutting board storage underneath. This change also provided better lighting on the pullout. My latest Hiker Trailer project involves what to do with your clothes while you sleep.
My answer was to build a swing-a-way clothes rack. This rack is constructed from 1/2" steel pipe. I made two of these. One to hang on each side of the cabin. The hanging rod is a 30" pipe that I cut in half. It was the perfect size for installing the swivel section to where it will swing to the front and back and not interfere with the door or hit the rear cabinet. The drop section is a 2" nipple with a set nut and I drilled a thumb screw in to allow me to keep the rod from swinging, if needed. In the photos I have screwed a 1/2" plywood block to the base and used command strips to temporarily mount the hanger to the ceiling so I can adjust the location or modify the design without drilling holes in the paneling. Once I have finished the evaluation period, I will be screwing it to the ceiling. On my trailer there just happens to be a internal ceiling support running across the ceiling at the exact location where I will permanently install this. (I used a stud finder to see where the supports were). This should keep my clothes that I take off at night from getting wrinkled or lost in the bedding and will free up cabinet space in the cabin....... Took advantage of a cold windy day and added a stationary shelf for the Coleman Stove under the galley pull out prep table and also added cleats in the top drawer to store the cutting board. Progress continues...
I have been working on some custom changes to the Trailer. Photos below are of the curtains that Terri made. LED Lighting upgrade in all three levels of the galley and the table that will serve a lot of different purposes. I also added soft close drawer slides (Had to make smaller drawers). A slide-out tray is the next project to serve as additional prep area. (Complete 01/12/2019) I am working on a New adjustable LAGUN table. Can be used as prep area, cooking or in combination with the fender - a serving area. It can be locked down to any location with just the twist of the handles.
The one shown is made with a scrap piece of 1/2" plywood finished with butcher block oil. The LAGUN table mount lets you adjust the table height and swivel its location to allow for use in the galley area or on the outside wall of the passenger side of the trailer and if the height is adjusted to fender height it can use the fender as an extension... I will be making a 3/4" thick top with a laminate top. I am also working a weld up a piece to support the bottom of the mounting bracket and extend up to the back of the fender to keep it from being pulled off if I ever bottom out... I purchased a new 2019 GMC Canyon yesterday to be used as the tow vehicle for my New Hiker Trailer. Also I received an email telling me my trailer will be completed tomorrow. I will be traveling to Denver in the next few days to pick up the trailer... Merry Christmas...... "Let the Adventure Begin"....... UPDATE: Trailer pickup date - December 20, 2018 UPDATE: Trailer birth has been delayed due to key personnel being out sick at Hiker.. UPDATE: Trailer will be finished by the end of the day Friday December 28, 2018. UPDATE: Trailer will be picked up Monday December 31, 2018.... UPDATE: Trailer picked up... UPDATE: Feb 1, 2019 received new Camper Shell with carrier rack. My trailer order has been updated and confirmed.
Hiker contacted me this week and advised that I had an opportunity to move my build time up from August 2019 to an immediate build. I would need to finalize my order and make a couple of concessions to my original order. Of course I agreed and we worked together to come up with an order that worked for both of us. I should have my trailer before Christmas..... Looks like Alaska may happen next Summer....... For sometime now I have been looking at off-road camping trailers. This last week I made the trek to Denver Colorado to order a Hiker Extreme Trailer. I still have some decisions to make on modification to the trailer but since the trailer will not be built until next Spring, I will take my time making the final decisions. While I was in Colorado I took advantage of the cool weather and went to the Leadville area and camped out. I then worked my way south and had my plans interrupted by a large forest fire NE of Angle Fire. Ended up taking a gravel road up and over the mountain the fire was on since the highway I wanted to take was closed. Update: Photos below from fire area taken May 19, 2019.
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AuthorSteve Chapman (68 yoa) Welcome to my Retirement Journal. A little about myself: I was married to my high school sweetheart for almost 29 years. I have been a widower since 2008.
I worked for the City of Chickasha for over 38 years and held a variety of jobs for them during that time. I retired as the Parks and Recreation Director on January 6, 2017. Now that I have retired I will be working on the many projects that I have been putting off. I will also be deciding where I will live in retirement. I am not sure I want to stay in Chickasha. I do plan on traveling and doing a lot of hiking, kayaking, backpacking, camping, hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities as well as volunteer work during my retirement... ![]() New Hiking Buddy!
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