with the help of my 2 girls & my father, here's my results for today
went to homedepot & got our 1/4" cabinet grade birch, 2 - 1/4"x3/4" bolts & nuts, cherry stain & laquer
started off by taking the bottom window portion off, drilling out the 2 rivets that were holding it on
then we added our eye bolts which will be attachment points for our DIY awning
decided the awning should be over the back, but might also add ones for side mounting as well
with the help of my oldest daughter we got the piece cut to shape, & she proceeded to do the staining
noticed once I removed the factory rubber seal the groove here was deeper than I had thought
so I tried to fill it up with a layer of silicone (once hard I thought), though the tube said it was supposed to be clear it was white...20 miles too far to bring it back...
here is our piece all installed & looking pretty
started on the frame for our raised bed platform, & decided to also have a sort of secret hidden access panel at the top
used the old 3/4" plywood I have left over from my top I removed back in the spring
got both sections installed, after my dad crawled in there to do a test sleep we noticed that the 3/4' plywood was flexing so I added a short 6" piece of 2x6 in the center of the bottom section
two finger holes are drilled in the top section so you have grab points for lifting it out
also we cut back the door edge so it made life easier trying to add or remove stuff from under there
my back was killing & I was ready to call it quits & my dad came up with the idea for a side area to store fishing poles, tent poles etc that now wouldnt fit underneath anymore
its secured on the ends of the trailer & the inside lips
just as we finished this the thunder & lightning came rolling on in & we lost power