The Moonshine Motel - Enclosed Gooseneck "Crawler Hauler" Build

[GLTHFJ60]

Window installed in the entrance door, roof mostly insulated, battery relocation started. Good afternoon.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Fridge installed on a platform, battery relocation finished, working on installing the inverter. The electrical cabinet is starting to look a little crowded and messy, but everything is protected. 20# of shit in a 10# bag.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Inverter in and working. Pretty stoked, but it was a challenge to get it all to fit. Lots of wires in a very small cabinet.

Installed an outlet for the fridge/cooktop.

While playing around with switching things with the inverter, I turned on the rooftop Ac and ended up popping the temporary 50a ANL fuse protecting the battery. The permanent 130a fuse is en route, but it was exciting to see everything 120v running off the batteries for a bit :D

 

[GLTHFJ60]

New 130a ANL fuse and everything is working as expected.

Thanks again to Java230 for selling me his old color control. It works perfectly!

 

[ridered3]

Everything is looking awesome!

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Took it camping a couple of weeks ago, woke up to snow:

Waited three days for the snow to melt (it didn't) and it was a dumpster fire getting out, lol.

Just got back last night from a trip to Winter Park + Daytona Beach FL to visit a buddy and see the rolex 24.

Camped at my buddy's shop:

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Discovered an issue with the diesel genset. Turned it on and ran it for a few hours, but it was not producing voltage, or at least my inverter was not detecting it. Not sure why, so I'll need to do some investigating on that front.

Hopefully it's a wiring problem I caused, and not that the generator doesn't generate, lol.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

After being at the rolex this weekend, it was decided that the motel needs a rooftop observation deck. This style is what I like, with the formed sheet supporting the entire length of the deck structure. Should be pretty easy to knock together the main deck, then a ladder that comes off and slides under the trailer, and pop-up railings for the deck. Shade of some sort would be nice as well.

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[aczlan]

If you want to make it easy, a 8x8 popup canopy would fit on top of that.

If not, a pole at each corner set into a socket on the railing and another pair of poles front and back in the center, use poles or cables to connect them and stretch a tarp over it.

Then you could also wall off 1-3 sides as needed to block the sun or wind.

Aaron Z

 

[ridered3]

Took it camping a couple of weeks ago, woke up to snow:

Waited three days for the snow to melt (it didn't) and it was a dumpster fire getting out, lol.

Just got back last night from a trip to Winter Park + Daytona Beach FL to visit a buddy and see the rolex 24.

Camped at my buddy's shop:

Glad you are getting some use out of it even when it’s a dumpster fire. How was the inside with snowy temps?

What kinda of fuel mileage are you getting lugging it around?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Glad you are getting some use out of it even when it’s a dumpster fire. How was the inside with snowy temps?

What kinda of fuel mileage are you getting lugging it around?

With the insulation in the roof, a propane heater kept the whole trailer warm enough to sleep in a t-shirt and underwear under a comforter, when it was in the teens outside. Very, very satisified.

In the past, I've gotten 8-10 towing with moonshine inside. I'll calc the mileage empty coming back from daytona last night, more or less no traffic, cruise set at 72mph. I'll edit this post in a bit with that number.

 

[ridered3]

With the insulation in the roof, a propane heater kept the whole trailer warm enough to sleep in a t-shirt and underwear under a comforter, when it was in the teens outside. Very, very satisified.

In the past, I've gotten 8-10 towing with moonshine inside. I'll calc the mileage empty coming back from daytona last night, more or less no traffic, cruise set at 72mph. I'll edit this post in a bit with that number.

That’s great on insulation and not bad for mileage considering weights.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

8.7mpg calculated from Daytona to Durham at 72ish mph, cruise control, at 19,350# gross.

Not awful.

 

[Snowy]

8.7mpg calculated from Daytona to Durham at 72ish mph, cruise control, at 19,350# gross.

Not awful.

Jealous of going to watch the 24, I was in town Wednesday and stopped by but work obligations made me have to come back home.

I get the damn near the same mileage whether the trailer is loaded with the Tacoma or empty. It’s just such and aerodynamic load on the highway. Typically 9-10 for me towing 70-75. Been as low as 6.5 into a headwind though

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Discovered an issue with the diesel genset. Turned it on and ran it for a few hours, but it was not producing voltage, or at least my inverter was not detecting it. Not sure why, so I'll need to do some investigating on that front.

Hopefully it's a wiring problem I caused, and not that the generator doesn't generate, lol.

Finally dug into this.

As it turns out, I had L1 (black) and L2 (red) switched on the inverter. This was not a problem with the 50a plug to 120v adapter because that adapter bridges the 50a L1 and L2, and the inverter ignores L2 input if it's the same phase as what's on L1. It shouldn't (I don't think anyway) be a problem with 240v across L1+L2, but I wasnt seeing that, so I fixed it as a troubleshooting step. It probably depends on the phase config your provider (or genset) supplies, either 180* or 120* off.

Anyway, this is how it should be. Those 6ga wires are hard to move.

After fixing that, turned the generator on and it was only producing 120v from L1 to neutral, but I celebrated it producing something

Snooped around the manual and found that the generator can be wired to produce 120v (only), 240v (only) or 120/240v, kinda like how a polyphase electric motor can be rewired.

So, I pulled the genset control apart to get to the generator wiring. This is a Cummins Onan HDKAS genset for reference.

Rewired the generator to the rightmost diagram 120/240v, hooked everything back up and now the genset provides my inverter with 245v. Success!!

One of the reasons why I chose this inverter is because it has an AC pass through port terminal block, meaning I can wire in a 50a 240v outlet that gets power directly from the input terminal block (not inverted or modified at all). That will allow me to run welders and other 240v shop equipment off the motel

We'll see what I dig into next. I should service the genset (new oil, filters, new coolant), then move onto the interior finishings.

 

[ridered3]

Finally dug into this.

As it turns out, I had L1 (black) and L2 (red) switched on the inverter. This was not a problem with the 50a plug to 120v adapter because that adapter bridges the 50a L1 and L2, and the inverter ignores L2 input if it's the same phase as what's on L1. It shouldn't (I don't think anyway) be a problem with 240v across L1+L2, but I wasnt seeing that, so I fixed it as a troubleshooting step. It probably depends on the phase config your provider (or genset) supplies, either 180* or 120* off.

Anyway, this is how it should be. Those 6ga wires are hard to move.

After fixing that, turned the generator on and it was only producing 120v from L1 to neutral, but I celebrated it producing something

Snooped around the manual and found that the generator can be wired to produce 120v (only), 240v (only) or 120/240v, kinda like how a polyphase electric motor can be rewired.

So, I pulled the genset control apart to get to the generator wiring. This is a Cummins Onan HDKAS genset for reference.

Rewired the generator to the rightmost diagram 120/240v, hooked everything back up and now the genset provides my inverter with 245v. Success!!

One of the reasons why I chose this inverter is because it has an AC pass through port terminal block, meaning I can wire in a 50a 240v outlet that gets power directly from the input terminal block (not inverted or modified at all). That will allow me to run welders and other 240v shop equipment off the motel

We'll see what I dig into next. I should service the genset (new oil, filters, new coolant), then move onto the interior finishings.

Pretty cool deep dive into the wiring issue and great idea on the inverter having a dedicated source for big power outputs like welderin.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Chopped a 45* into the front of the wheel wells to try a different style of ramp.

Bought a BlackfishFab outlaw shower, which means my entire layout is getting much, much better. Tore the kitchenette apart today, moved the inverter, and began planning/making the new kitchenette. Three sections; left is sink/water works, center is fridge, right is electronics.

I will also make the dividing wall cubby about 6" shallower to get more room in the bedroom. Doesn't need to be so deep now that the fridge is down below.

I'm stoked! This will be a much better layout.

 

[ridered3]

Cool to see you adding a neat product to the Motel. By water works and sink, will the shower be up front to the left?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Cool to see you adding a neat product to the Motel. By water works and sink, will the shower be up front to the left?

The shower will be hung on the street side wall, at the front of the wheel well. This will give me a ~24" alley to work at the sink when the shower is deployed, and be on the same wall as the rest of the water services.

So yeah, up front to the left :)

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Yasss

 

[1Sinner]

Looking good!

 

[ridered3]

The shower will be hung on the street side wall, at the front of the wheel well. This will give me a ~24" alley to work at the sink when the shower is deployed, and be on the same wall as the rest of the water services.

So yeah, up front to the left :)

That’s an awesome use of space and glad you are getting to go that route for the space you have available.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Details, details.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Counter came out tits. Plumbing is coming together nicely as well.

 

[89yjon]

Really looking good man!

 

[ridered3]

Looks awesome! Remind me, how much room did you end up with between the front bumper of Moonshine and the kitchenette?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Looks awesome! Remind me, how much room did you end up with between the front bumper of Moonshine and the kitchenette?

About two feet ish? This is the truck a little farther forward than normal, and rev 1.0 of the kitchenette, but it gives you an idea. Enough to walk between relatively comfortably.

 

[ridered3]

About two feet ish? This is the truck a little farther forward than normal, and rev 1.0 of the kitchenette, but it gives you an idea. Enough to walk between relatively comfortably.

I was thinking that was the case but couldn’t remember 100%.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Plumbing done (except for the shower), wiring functional, fridge stocked with beer and working as expected. Counter fully screwed in and down.

The collapsible shower came in the mail today, so I've got to figure a mount for that. Excited.

 

[ridered3]

Looking good!