Well the news is out so here's the build: Expedition Portal So-Cal Teardrop

[Chris Cordes]

Thanks for the information! Were installing the brake controller today as we only got to wrap up the tongue box and battery last night when we realized the wiring colors didnt match.... I will check my truck wiring when we do the install.
On a side note the battery monitoring system went in last night!

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

sweet trailer.

 

[dvsjw]

On our tear we have a strip of white leds for the main light and just 2 single small yellow for a night light that is used to find glasses and shoes for a 3 am wander. Chris, will the monitor always be lit? It might be pretty bright inside the cabin, just a thought. That is a very cool trailer, get ready to be surrounded with gawkers when you stay in a populated camp.

 

[Chris Cordes]

Haha we saw plenty of gawkers on this trip to Texas. The battery monitor can be turned off at any time and you can set an alarm to beep when power is low. So far it works perfectly.

And for those who have been keeping up with the thread my girlfriends grandfather went under surgery with slim odds but did awesome and is feeling great! Haha he's certainly a tough one. We spent our holiday dinner eating pizza and listening to war tales when he flew dive bombers.

 

[nwoods]

And for those who have been keeping up with the thread my girlfriends grandfather went under surgery with slim odds but did awesome and is feeling great! Haha he's certainly a tough one. We spent our holiday dinner eating pizza and listening to war tales when he flew dive bombers.

Glad to hear it!

 

[ExpedH3T]

Chris I'm kinda changing my direction too.......we had a baby so I had to put the back seat back in the truck...lost the space for the National Luna battery setup and my ARB fridge........spec'ing a Turtleback trailer. Miss your T at all?

Setup looks great and glad to hear about your girlfriend's grandfather, I'm sure some of those stories are amazing!

 

[Chris Cordes]

I actually do miss the T quite often. Ya unfortunately the back seat is a bench so you cant leave one seat in :/. I would keep the T though! Instead of switching vehicles has a canvas top made to buckle to that rack and put the fridge and everything else in there. They're meant to handle that kind of environment and having your cargo in the back is really nice.

 

[skibum315]

And for those who have been keeping up with the thread my girlfriends grandfather went under surgery with slim odds but did awesome and is feeling great! Haha he's certainly a tough one.

Awesome news ... glad you guys were able to make it down and be there for him and the rest of the family. I'm also glad to hear everything went smoothly.

We spent our holiday dinner eating pizza and listening to war tales when he flew dive bombers.

That actually sounds like an amazing way to spend the holiday dinner ... can't think of many ways that could make it better. My grandfather also flew dive bombers (TBF/TBM Avengers), among other airframes ... I'd have to do a bit of digging to track down his units, though. One of my biggest regrets is not having taken more time to talk to him and hear more of his stories - he passed when I was still too young and dumb to have appreciated doing that (highschool-ish timeframe).

 

[Chris Cordes]

I was really glad to have made it as well. I drove through all night in new mexico in an ice storm to get there but it was worth it.




I know the feeling on missed chances :/. Lost my grandparents on my fathers side when I was in middle and highschool. Ill always regret not spending more time talking with them. Its a highschooler thing thinking we knew everything. I just make sure to spend as much time as I can with my family that is still here now.

 

[Chris Cordes]

Well after the last trip, it appears the suspension installed by sierra 4x4 was far too soft. I hoped this would not be the case and made the mistake of not upgrading to So-Cal teardrops suspension. In the middle of Texas the shocks and springs completely compressed until there was literally no suspension travel. Great.


I considered going with So-Cals way better leaf setup, however I ended up settling on something different. :wings: Ill be removing the whole TD body from the frame this week and updating as I go along. Check back in for progress

 

[dstock]

As they say, " Thatsa no good!" Looking forward to seeing your new solution, great looking trailer and half the fun is building them the way you want. I know mine will never be "finished" lol!

 

[Yulli]

How could it even compress all the way down like that. A TD isn't too heavy to begin with. Those are some soft springs and shocks.

 

[Titanpat57]

That setup AT is using on their flatbed trailer is pretty damn sweet.

They just did Paul Mays trailer over as well.

 

[Chris Cordes]

How could it even compress all the way down like that. A TD isn't too heavy to begin with. Those are some soft springs and shocks.

It's ridiculous to be honest. The trailer had a backpack, one duffel, a fridge, and two goal zero panels in it. THATS IT. Its so soft you can stand on the fender and sink it all the way down. I can only conclude that the previous owner had zero weight and had sierra 4x4 go with an insanely soft spring.

As they say, " Thatsa no good!" Looking forward to seeing your new solution, great looking trailer and half the fun is building them the way you want. I know mine will never be "finished" lol!

They never are haha. I still have a long list of changes

That setup AT is using on their flatbed trailer is pretty damn sweet.

They just did Paul Mays trailer over as well.

Yup I was here when they redid his unit. Awesome stuff... possibly leaning that direction :sombrero:

 

[Yulli]

It's ridiculous to be honest. The trailer had a backpack, one duffel, a fridge, and two goal zero panels in it. THATS IT. Its so soft you can stand on the fender and sink it all the way down. I can only conclude that the previous owner had zero weight and had sierra 4x4 go with an insanely soft spring.

How long have you had that suspension set up? Since you got the trailer? Did you not notice how soft it was before if you had it on the other trips?

Mine came with the ARB leafs and adjustable shocks. So I'm assuming mine is probably more tight feeling. Of course it still has some play but it felt stiff to me. I haven't gone out with it yet but I've stood up on the fenders and gotten inside the trailer.