This was payoff time. Is it going to work? The hundreds of toppers I'd helped build more than 30 years ago were a much simpler shell, bolted onto the box of a pickup truck, and then driven away. They had survived rollovers, protecting the cab of the truck from being crushed. They had often survived tree branches falling upon them in storms. I've seen a few of these toppers on the road still today, transferred to their second or third truck. Well, no other way to find out than to just go ahead and do it.

I set up the sides on the trailer floor and clamped them in place. I clamped some temporary bracing to the sides to keep them stable and properly spaced. I discussed with Micky how I believed we were going to lift up the roof from each side and raise it up over our heads, how we were then going to scuttle crab-wise down the length of the trailer with the roof held up, and then how we would settle the roof down upon the top of the sides. I had clamps ready for each of us to then clamp the roof in place. After one false start, we got a better feel for how to handle this floppy, ten foot long kite, and we got it clamped in place atop the sides. Already it looked wonderful! A hug and a kiss and a little victory dance, and then we got to the serious business of positioning the roof just right, so the front edge would just meet with the bottom front corners of the sides. I got out more clamps and began fastening the roof into its final position. Satisfied that all was as it should be, I got out the screws and screw gun and fastened the roof permanently to the sides. I now had a shell that was sturdy, solid, and stable. I could do anything I wanted with it. I removed all my clamps, and then adjusted the position of the shell on the trailer floor until I was sure it was where it needed to be. I fastened the shell to the floor. At this point I had a trailer shell with perfectly fit paneling and flooring, with no fuss, no muss, and no extra molding to close up seams or gaps. I could proceed with wiring and insulation.

first page the frame the floor the sides the roof the flooring the shell wiring and insulation sheet metal molding the hatch lid doors fenders light fixtures cabin cabinets solar panel tanks other stuff

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