The Final Countdown
We’re just 10 days away from our self-imposed deadline of August 1st. Initially, we aimed to wrap up the build by the end of July, but unforeseen challenges have thrown us off track. Here’s a rundown of what has slowed our progress in converting this cargo trailer:
First and foremost, Iowa weather has been a real beast this year! High winds and nearby tornadoes toppled a large tree onto our trailer, setting us back by a couple of weeks. Rain delays have been frequent since we need to set up outside to work on the cargo trailer. The high heat and humidity have also cost us several days.
We discovered rather unexpectedly that we’re no longer in our 30s and able to pull double shifts of serious labor like we used to! Plus when I bend over to pick up a tool the floor seems to have moved much further away than it used to be! Who knew? We’ve had to incorporate quite a few rest and recovery days into our schedule.
Since we’re using our son and daughter-in-law’s driveway for this build, space is at a premium. Note: We are incredibly grateful to them for letting us intrude on their summer and for giving us quality time with our grandkids! We have to load and unload the trailer daily to avoid encroaching on their space and protect everything from the elements.
Our stacks of 4×8 lumber and solar panels sit on the ground alongside the 34 feet needed for the trailer (including tongue and ramp). The lumber needs constant tarping for protection from weather conditions.
The only garage space we have is what fits in our long-bed truck with a topper, which has worked reasonably well.
The New Game Plan
Given that this project is taking much longer than expected—and considering we’re still full-time RVers—we need to start planning for winter: where we’ll go and how we’ll complete the build. Since retiring, we’ve rarely planned details far in advance because plans often change last minute. One thing’s certain: we won’t be heading anywhere that requires shoveling snow!
At this point, we’ll secure everything in the cargo trailer for travel, load up all materials needed for finishing it up, and head to Texas. We’re planning to set up our 5th wheel at a 55+ RV resort as a more permanent year-round base while using the cargo trailer during summer months… still chasing that perfect 70-degree weather!
Moving our 5th wheel into an RV resort has been something we’ve discussed before; however, given how long this build is taking, we’re accelerating those plans by about a year so we can have both workspace for finishing the cargo trailer and storage over winter—a win-win situation if you ask me.
Crunch Time & New Game Plan
To finish building the cargo trailer before next summer’s travel season begins, we needed an early start on lining things up—something we’re not exactly fond of doing since retirement! Deadlines are more suited for corporate environments or doing taxes on time than they are for retirees like us.
By moving into an RV resort earlier than planned, we’re positioning ourselves to finish the build in time for next summer travels while having a permanent spot for storing—and occasionally taking out—our 5th wheel.
We’re excite about entering this new phase of our retirement adventures!
