Final Touches

Like any kind of construction job, we didn't quite make our completion deadline. There were just too many little things that needed finished up before we set off on our "maiden voyage." So we opted to wait another two weeks and do it right.

Over the long weekend I worked on cleaning cupboards and drawers, putting up a new mirror (the other one webbed when Lindsey got the final staple in the frame), decoupaging quotes, sewing curtains, touching up paint, and caulking the outside.

The picture below is of the floor in one of the stow-away compartments. Dirty....Clean. That's what the original floor looked like before we tore it out and put down new subfloor and laminate wood. I'm happy to say that you can now eat spaghetti off of it.




I quickly caulked the outside, trying to beat the next South Dakota tsunami that hit. Lesson learned after the first one raged through and left water leaking through random invisible areas.

By gritting your teeth the caulk sticks better and you can work faster. It was super windy but the job got done.

This weekend is D-Day! We are escaping the 40 hour doldrums and taking Barbara to the middle of nowhere for the Wishard/Mangis branding. Should be interesting. Us girls will stay in the camper while the guys camp out in their new range tents. On Sunday, after the work is done, I will hit the trail to Nebraska to help the future in-laws with Rodeo Bible Camps.

A complete reveal will be coming late next week...

Hooptie Sleeper

From time to time I compare notes with a coworker who has been fixing up a camper as well. He shared an interesting term that he uses for his camper. I thought it was pretty fitting for our Barbara.


In his exact words...


HOOPTIE

"an urban, old school rap term for a low-budget ride that is done the cheap way. Back in the day, before we knew the term “pimp my ride” if you “accessorized” your car you either did it with style or class, or you went to WalMart’s auto care isle and got ya cheap bling like plastic chrome hubcaps and do it yourself tint. Doing it the latter way made your ride a hooptie. The main point though, is that it already started out as a piece of junk and ya tried to fix it up to make it look 'dope.'"


Yep, I think that sums up this project perfectly.

Camper People

When we started the Camper project, we planned to do all the work ourselves, just Annie and I. Even if doing it ourselves meant not having a clue WHAT we were doing or probably even doing things absolutely wrong. Here, Annie ponders our next move while checking the integrity of the ceiling.




Lindsey does some work to the newly rebuilt top bunk.









Although we have done the majority of the planning and work ourselves, we have found the help of Zach and Matt invaluable at times. Here Matt fixes the hole where the furnace used to be.

Zach contemplates the wiring.

The guys also modified the axle around so that the camper would have more height. Annie and I had no clue that was a possibility. The camper used to be low-rider, now it is all-terrain. They have also helped with the flooring and other technical stuff.

We would like to think that they are helping because they want to see us succeed, or simply because they love us. We know better. They want to take the camper elk hunting. Nonetheless, we are happy for their assistance.

Besides the guys, other people have helped out also. Thanks to Ky and Andy for researching things for the camper. Thanks to Renae for convincing her grandparents to sell us the camper. Thanks to Renae's grandma for hooking us up with extra sheets and dishes for the camper. Thanks to the Academy for nominating us. Thank you...

We are so close to being "mostly done." We will have some minor things to do later on, but it's time to get this show on the road. Look for the reveal next week!

All Work, No Play

We sincerely apologize for not having any updates or posts lately. This camper business has been all work and no play. We've been slaving away with repairs, painting, and preparations for its maiden voyage. It's a wonder we've been able to hold down our day jobs!


Here Lindsey prepares the bunk for installation. After she made some modifications to it, we installed it and she convinced me to climb aboard to see if it was stable. Kind of like the time she, our other sister, and our two cousins convinced me to get in a sled in the creek. They all reassured me it would float. Needless to say, it sank and left me soaking wet in my snowsuit. They begged me not to go to the house and change for the fear of mother finding out. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, we were all sitting inside, getting a lecture about the dangers of playing near the creek.

This time it turned out a little better. It didn't sink but it definitely needed some reinforcements.

As you cans see, we barely took the time for breaks...

Here Matt shows his suprise at finding yet another rotten wall.

Zach works on the gas line for the stove. I think it helps to stick out your tongue.

No, not quite a chain saw but it works just as good...or something.

Lindsey is all too excited about wearing her new "sitting-around-the-campfire" coat. Gag! I'm sure on those chilly nights, we'll all be fighting over it.

Doing a little Guitar Hero with the flooring. Can you guess what song I'm singing?

Like I said...this camper business is all work and no play. Lindsey had to catch a nap while Annie convinced Matt to finish the flooring.

Our goal is to take a test run this weekend. Our folks are branding their calves and we thought it would be a great time to see if it could make the 115 mile trip. If there are no posts on Monday, you will know that it didn't go so well...