1986 GMC S-15

[joshuag23]

I'm not sure what you are thinking for a moisture barrier or an interior skin, but the Northern Lite build used tyvek tape on all of the exposed interior aluminum before skinning with riveted ply

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers • View topic - Northern Lite Traveler

www.tnttt.com

Is the 3" EPDM rubber you used for the bed rail the same rubber you used for the hatch hinges?

 

[Darkrider]

Finally got all caught up with this thread. Quite the transformation seeing it with the pop up camper!

 

[Andrew_S]

Sas wont be long off now!

I've really got to get my rear in gear and get this going. I've been jumping back and fourth between a radius arm vs leaf spring set up. I also need to go grab an 8.8. Figure out steering, shocks, wheels/tires, etc etc etc lol. It's coming but it might be a little bit yet. Need to get everything stock piled and take a week off work and just knock it out.

I'm so glad I found your amazing build log! Thanks for posting it and about your adventures. Both are very inspiring.

Would it be possible to build a similar frame but with rivets instead of welding?

Right on, glad you enjoyed it. Anything is possible, that's for sure. It might be better to rivet for flexing and long term durability?

I'm not sure what you are thinking for a moisture barrier or an interior skin, but the Northern Lite build used tyvek tape on all of the exposed interior aluminum before skinning with riveted ply

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers • View topic - Northern Lite Traveler

www.tnttt.com

Is the 3" EPDM rubber you used for the bed rail the same rubber you used for the hatch hinges?

Those trailers are awesome builds. I haven't quite decided what I'm going to do for the interior yet. That'll get sorted out here soon.
For the bed rails I used an epdm with a single sided tape that was nice and soft. For the tail gate I used a fiber reinforced neoprene sheet.

Finally got all caught up with this thread. Quite the transformation seeing it with the pop up camper!

Hopefully the next big transformation is sitting on 35's with lockers. I've been slacking hard.


Here's a bit of a mega update of adventures and almost nothing for the truck haha,


Been doing a ton of ice fishing and exploring.

Brookie days

That bright orange flesh is unreal on these fish

Goat cheese and kapers

Our annual perch derby,

Seafood Chowder, stacked with Rainbows

Finishing up my moose mount

Bleaching,

Cut up a nice little crest to mount it on the wall after this.

We got to experience this on Christmas eve,


More fishing,

We've been chipping away at the freezers for over 3 months now and both of them look like we've barely even started...

 

[Andrew_S]

The '86 has a couple of new clunks and rattles I've got to figure out but aside from that she's been doing regular bush road duty.
Lots of snow up in the hills.

This was last weekend. We've been having almost a false spring in January and the temps have been so warm lately.

Only update is I bought two sets of proper cam lock tire chains. Sold off the old double duty tire chains (to heavy) and gave away the light duty cable chains to a buddy. Haven't had to use these yet, but certainly will sooner then later. Got these for a deal $175 for all 4. After cutting them down slightly and repositioning one cross link on all 4 they are a perfect fit.

Been to busy with activities and work to mess with the camper or the truck much. I've got a laundry list of slight changes to make to the camper shortly and a longggg list of parts to start collecting for the '86 sas. I'm torn on when to do it though as we have a couple of fairly large trips planned for this year. Will try and get back to regular updates in here shortly.


Edit*

Bonus pic, one of the guys at work makes a habit of parking next to me, nice square body on 40's(?) sure makes the truck look small lol

 

[Canlib]

Glad there is no danger of you going hungry! Those are nice Brook trout. They ALMOST make me want to go ice fishing again.

How did the bear hide turn out?

 

[Darkrider]

Should look good on a solid axle. When I picked up my current jeep I ended up buying back my old S10 Blazer from the same friend I bought the Jeep from. I am kicking around the idea of doing a SAS on the S10 possibly with a YJ front axle. Ironically enough if I do go that route I will more then likely use the Dana out of the rear of the Jeep if I go 8.8 ford in that rig. Its all up in the air currently though.

 

[Todd780]

Great update. Looks like you two are having a great time!

 

[Andrew_S]

Glad there is no danger of you going hungry! Those are nice Brook trout. They ALMOST make me want to go ice fishing again.

How did the bear hide turn out?

Yes definitely not going hungry haha. Brookies are some of the best table fair, even better in the winter imo.
The bear hide has been a lot of lessons learned for her. I'll just leave it at that.

Should look good on a solid axle. When I picked up my current jeep I ended up buying back my old S10 Blazer from the same friend I bought the Jeep from. I am kicking around the idea of doing a SAS on the S10 possibly with a YJ front axle. Ironically enough if I do go that route I will more then likely use the Dana out of the rear of the Jeep if I go 8.8 ford in that rig. Its all up in the air currently though.

Sounds like you've got your hands full of projects. 8.8 is a great choice!

Great update. Looks like you two are having a great time!

Thanks, a lot of folks dislike winter but honestly it's by far my favourite season.

Some pics from a recent outing

Tested out the new chains as well. So glad I upgraded to the cam lock style. A lot easier to tighten up and only need a bungee for the tag end.

Shortly after I got a little to carried away and buried the truck hard. It doesn't look like much but it's laying on the rear diff and skid plates hard.

The #1 recovery tool in the snow imo.

more pics to come soon

 

[Andrew_S]

I've been to busy with work to get much done lately.
Managed to get away early yesterday.

Something about having the whole place to yourself.

3 hours later, no fish... Still better than spending the rest of the day at work!

I'm likely one of the few that looks at this forecast and gets absolutely stoked.
Here's hoping a couple of the lower elevation lakes freeze up next week.

bonus* new tools!

March should bring some more camper updates.

 

[Todd780]

I'm likely one of the few that looks at this forecast and gets absolutely stoked.
Here's hoping a couple of the lower elevation lakes freeze up next week.

I'd be stoked to see that forecast too. Little chillier here....

 

[Buddha.]

Those headlights look a bit yellow, like maybe they’re under voltage do to bad grounds on the headlights wiring harness. I think that might have been a common issue with those s10s.
Or maybe I’ve just become accustomed to the light color that LEDs produce and you don’t have an issue. Hard to say.

 

[Andrew_S]

I'd be stoked to see that forecast too. Little chillier here....
View attachment 641005
View attachment 641006

Yup that's cold haha. I truly do miss the winters we would get back east. -40* was not uncommon.

Those headlights look a bit yellow, like maybe they’re under voltage do to bad grounds on the headlights wiring harness. I think that might have been a common issue with those s10s.
Or maybe I’ve just become accustomed to the light color that LEDs produce and you don’t have an issue. Hard to say.

These old H4's definitely have an amber colour to them. It's been on my list to upgrade the headlight harness with relays here in the near future.


A few pics from the last couple of days,

click for video
Untitled

Have to drink your beer fast in these temps

 

[ITTOG]

Nothing worst than freezing beer. When I go four wheeling with the ATV I have had to melt the beer with my exhaust.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

 

[ZWilson07]

Checking in and hoping all is well. Any changes over the last month?

If you ever sell, I am interested. Finding a clean one around anymore is dang near impossible.

 

[Andrew_S]

Nothing worst than freezing beer. When I go four wheeling with the ATV I have had to melt the beer with my exhaust.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

Defintely, frozen beer is just a waste.

Checking in and hoping all is well. Any changes over the last month?

If you ever sell, I am interested. Finding a clean one around anymore is dang near impossible.

All good on this end. I've been really busy with work. Now that spring is here I'm ramping up to complete some of these unfinished projects.
Thanks for the offer but I doubt this old truck will be leaving us anytime soon.


Here is a random compilation of photos from the recent past,

The wife has been fascinated with building shelters since recently watching Alone.

Still lots of snow in the mountains

Getting towards the end of the hardwater season

Buddy showing me the boil water in a plastic bottle trick for the first time.