See Our Progress!

Here, you can see pics of our progress from start to current, on our build of our microhome, get to know a little bit about us and see pics of the vehicle we hope to buy ASAP- a used 2012-2016 Ford Expedition 4WD, with tow package and under 100,000 miles. Nothing fancy, just a sturdy workhorse to get us point A to B and back again, without too much trouble or maintenance over the next 3-5 years! We started the microhome project during early months of pandemic lockdown (thank you COVID....NOT!) thinking it would keep us busy and distracted from the scary mess the world was being consumed by. Like much of the world, we had to cancel plans like job training I had been looking forward to participating in, we missed "normal" and we missed our friends. The starting goal was just going to be a simple way to "camp out" in our own yard, but as I was scraping off the vinyl wrap from when I used the trailer for my Landscape Contracting business (for hours and hours and HOUR...

The roof has been by far the most challenging part to date for me. It required days and days of standing for an hour or more at a time, which is my biggest physical weakness and challenge! I took the trailer wheels off and lowered the trailer to rest on bricks, but that still left the roof edge a good 7 feet above ground, and the center reach even further. I found ways to kneel on the ladder and tied myself to the vent hatch a few times for safety. For all the physical pain and exhaustion the roof work created, the challenge did give me an opportunity to build some strength back into my legs, for that I am grateful! The roof was a mess! The fiberglass coating had rusted on the aluminum sheeting, the caulking at the seams had dried up and caused some leaks which rotted some of the ceiling panels in places and created rust where the aluminum sides are screwed to the inside metal supports. The whole thing had to be sanded- using a grinder with metal brush on the hardest rust. All of the...

First we had to clean out everything from when the trailer was used in my Landscape Contracting business, before I fell off the planet. We put some of it at the curb for others to use what we could not. The rest we put aside to re-purpose with the build. There was A LOT of cleaning needed! We also took the paneling off so we could clean behind it and install insulation. We were going to do the wiring at that level, too, but changed our minds to put the wires on the finished wall under some wire hiding strips, so if there is ever trouble in the wiring, I don't have to take the build apart again just to fix it. Nonetheless, my helper decided a mock up of the wiring was in order

I don't know the official term for this component- its the front part of the trailer that is impacted with the most wind when towing on open road, and also where we will install our bunk beds. We took it off to paint it and treat it for exterior strength and interior comfort. My helper helped with locating wires and if you look close in one photo you'll see a peeper mcpeeperson peeping in!

The design process with one of these microhome builds from re-purposed materials never seems to end! That's mostly a good thing, but can be frustrating and time consuming as well. We have both created many sketches, talked ourselves blue and even mocked it up with buckets, boxes and painters tape. The most fun and helpful design method for me was when we literally built the microhome out of clay! Friends said it reminded them of The Flintstones RV! In the design, we have to plan for our animals as well. In one drawing you can see a caged rabbit drawn near ceiling. We had to find a safe place for our rabbit, up and away from our dogs! The dogs will need a fenced area lightweight and mobile, to give them a safe palce to relax outside. The rabbit who is litter trained and roams freely in our stick built home, will need a safe outdoor enclosure as well. Working on that one, still! My helpers design from last year includes a large back porch! I am tasking him with figuring THAT one out...

Our wheels, tires and bearings were pretty shot after years of sitting. We had to take it all apart, grind the rust and treat it, then use the POR-15 (yes, I wore gloves this time!) to coat it against future rust. We also installed brakes this time around, since I am towing with precious cargo on board! It was a great learning experience to replace the backing plate and hubs! Not so sure either of us liked packing the new bearing with grease, though....YUCK!