![Chad Robinson](/img/default-banner.jpg)
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Chad Robinson
Приєднався 26 жов 2013
Casa Blanca: Colorado Off-Grid House Build, Ep.8
Just a quick catch-up video between tasks. I've been hard at work rolling joists for the second floor and planning out the stairway, and just wanted to do a quick brain dump on the thought process there.
Переглядів: 29
Відео
Casa Blanca: Colorado Off-Grid House Build, Ep.7
Переглядів 8816 годин тому
After 10 days straight of miserable weather (it's monsoon season) I managed to squeak in a bit of work here and there and got the last interior wall up. This is a huge deal because after a bit more detail work on top plates and headers, it's time to start the second floor! Our second floor will be just a loft, mostly for storage for now. But I did design it with future use in mind - it will hav...
Casa Blanca: Colorado Off-Grid House Build, Ep.6
Переглядів 1,3 тис.21 день тому
We've hit a huge milestone! I still have some detail work to do on the first-floor exterior walls (mostly sheathing, where wall segments require overlaps), but I've been able to start working on the interior walls as well. So far I have the master bathroom and closet framed in, and in my next video I should have the rest of the first floor interior framing done as well. Stay tuned - progress sh...
Casa Blanca: Colorado Off-Grid House Build, Ep.5
Переглядів 104Місяць тому
Just a quick status update. We have a list of projects running in parallel because a) 80% completion on some tasks (shed build) is "good enough for now," b) some projects are active, but long-running priorities (the house), and c) some tasks are NOT priorities but take so long to prove out (plantings) that some steps need to be made now, to see how they do over time. Right now this project is s...
Safely using wall jacks to lift walls in high winds in Colorado, solo
Переглядів 69Місяць тому
I put this short video together as part of my off-grid homestead-build series because I've started raising my walls and realized immediately that the standard wall jacks most folks use for this (available from several vendors on Amazon for less than $100 - sorry I don't have an affiliate link) work best in moderate- to low-wind conditions. This is probably not a problem for most, but if you're ...
Jumping Jack for sale, walk-through and review
Переглядів 1062 місяці тому
Update: This camper was sold! I'm leaving this video up because the review may be helpful to others. We've kept our Jumping Jack in very good condition despite many back-country trips! For more information please see our RVTrader listing. Note: When I said "doesn't have an axle bar" I meant at standard wheel axle height. It does have a support bar of course, but the point of torsion axles is to...
ATN X-Scope Review and Final Decision
Переглядів 162 місяці тому
In which I love and hate the ATN X-Scope rifle scope. Sorry for the terrible audio. This was a throw-away video I made on a whim for some friends interested in the same product, and I didn't realize the mic was picking up every tap on the table. Since this wasn't really meant to be the next million-view music video I never bothered to re-record it...
Casa Blanca: Colorado Off-Grid House Build, Ep.4
Переглядів 362 місяці тому
Another quick overview: the shed is basically done, except for one door and some trim/paint work. It's weathertight enough now that we can store things in it again, so the next weekend I come down I'll set up some shelving and move our tools and materials from the old shed into the new one. Not shown in the video, our SUPER helpful neighbor came by with his tractor and box-blade and cleared one...
Casa Blanca: Colorado Off-Grid House Build, Ep.3
Переглядів 463 місяці тому
Just a quick walkthrough, again a windy day so I did a voiceover. The shed is just about done - I need to patch two more small areas in the roof (if it looks a little crooked, I'm piecing together bits from leftover OSB to save money - those areas aren't structural and you'll never know once the shingles are on). I did screw up the wall sheathing alignment in one spot, but again, once the batte...
Casa Blanca: Colorado Off-Grid House Build, Ep.2
Переглядів 973 місяці тому
Improved the audio enough to not need a voice-over but obviously still not perfect. Bear with me as I get that dialed in. This is just a quick walkthrough of what I accomplished over the weekend. I had two setbacks - on Saturday, we had 50mph gusting 75mph(!) winds with some snow, so it wasn't safe to work on the structure - I've dealt with 35-40 before and even that's enough to lift you off yo...
Casa Blanca: Colorado Off-Grid House Build, Ep.1
Переглядів 1543 місяці тому
This video should probably have been Ep 7, but when we started the project last year we were perpetually short on time, always racing the clock to return expensive heavy equipment as fast as possible to keep costs down. This is our second build year (of probably 3-4) and we'll be focusing on framing and "drying in" the house, so we'll hopefully have more time to share our progress with y'all. T...
Installing Solar on a Heartland Milestone 386BH Fifth Wheel RV
Переглядів 8882 роки тому
Watch how I added 1200W of solar and 300Ah of Smart Lithium batteries to my fifth wheel camper. This is an easy (though $$$) project for most DIYers and a great way to add off-grid capability or just cut your power bill if you have a metered site! NOTE: I am not a professional and this is not advice, just my method. Short summary of the process: I selected my panels, batteries, and charge contr...
Repairing a Kitchen Drawer in a Heartland Milestone 386BH
Переглядів 552 роки тому
This is how I repaired and reinforced the drawer under the range in our Heartland Milestone 386BH. This drawer came loose from the factory and wouldn't hold any weight. As you can see, it's not a "real" cabinet frame: only the face frame is part of the cabinet itself. This is a common trick for lightening RVs: there is no "back" of the cabinet. Instead this rectangular frame is there to support...
Replacing a Microwave Vent Cover on a Heartland Milestone 386BH
Переглядів 712 роки тому
Brief overview of replacing a damaged vent cover on our new Heartland Milestone 386BH. Ours didn't even make it home from the dealer before ripping off. This cover is from Heng's, model J116BK, which is not the standard part most easily found on Amazon - make sure you measure yours, because the other, more common brands may not fit. This was a quick job that only took about 10 minutes: remove t...
Heartland Milestone 386BH Owners Review
Переглядів 1,9 тис.2 роки тому
Thinking about buying a Milestone 386BH? We fell in love with the floor plan, price point, and features, but it definitely has some rough edges not shown in glowing dealer review videos. Come on a tour of ours and see what we've found so far. Hopefully this helps you make your own decision on whether to jump into this camper for your family! 0:00 Introduction 1:14 Trailer King RST Tires 2:24 Fr...
Schwintek Slide-Out Motor Replacement
Переглядів 11 тис.4 роки тому
Schwintek Slide-Out Motor Replacement
Travel Trailer 300W Solar Installation: Planning
Переглядів 724 роки тому
Travel Trailer 300W Solar Installation: Planning
UPDATED: Tahoe Gear Bighorn XL 12-person Tipi Review and Walkthrough
Переглядів 2,3 тис.4 роки тому
UPDATED: Tahoe Gear Bighorn XL 12-person Tipi Review and Walkthrough
Tahoe Gear Bighorn XL 12-person Tipi Review and Walkthrough
Переглядів 4,9 тис.4 роки тому
Tahoe Gear Bighorn XL 12-person Tipi Review and Walkthrough
UPDATED: Alps Pathfinder Review and Bag Dump
Переглядів 3,2 тис.5 років тому
UPDATED: Alps Pathfinder Review and Bag Dump
Alps Pathfinder Review, Bag Dump, Bino Harness
Переглядів 5555 років тому
Alps Pathfinder Review, Bag Dump, Bino Harness
Updated: Wilderness Day Trip Pack and Survival Kit
Переглядів 617 років тому
Updated: Wilderness Day Trip Pack and Survival Kit
Cabela's Fury Hunting Pack Review, plus a generic fanny pack
Переглядів 1,4 тис.7 років тому
Cabela's Fury Hunting Pack Review, plus a generic fanny pack
EDC: Safety and Support Equipment for Day-Hiking in Colorado
Переглядів 4187 років тому
EDC: Safety and Support Equipment for Day-Hiking in Colorado
How to remove MINI Countryman R60 Rear Seats, Change Fuel Pump, and Fix Seat Latch
Переглядів 32 тис.8 років тому
How to remove MINI Countryman R60 Rear Seats, Change Fuel Pump, and Fix Seat Latch
Hi. Look into digital switches. You basically configure switches that are wifi and then you define what they control. Then connect actual lights etc into in-wall wifi switches. Then you can easily create "all off" switches by the entrance door.
We just bought a 2022, used unit. Water is draining out of a little plastic 90° that comes through the side of the frame. About where the steps are fit the main entrance door. There is also another one on the "driver" side of the rv that comes through the frame the same way. I can not find anything online that states what these are for. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Those are your fresh-water tank overflow drains. You have your tank filled too full. This is very common even if you are "nearly full" and parked not totally level. Note that tank level meters are notoriously inaccurate. While filling at a constant rate, ours will show empty for 5 mins, skip 1/3, show 2/3 for a minute and then show full for a long while until it really is. You can't assume that just because it's not showing full that it isn't, and vice versa.
Awesome, beautiful country.
So this comment has to do with one of your videos from roughly 9 yrs ago. You video about glassing foam. Do you know if you can PMF or fiberglass neoprene sponge mat foam?
@@derekschwab7129 I mean, you can fiberglass over sand if you don't disturb it too much. But the whole purpose of foam is a. to be shapeable, and b. to add crush resistance if there's a pressure point on the skin of the fiberglass. I don't think a soft foam like neoprene provides either of these. So you probably COULD but why would you want to?
No one invented a tiny cheap crane? Or maybe rent one of these fork lifts? If you find yourself saying "this may kill you" - time for Plan B, no? 🤣
It's an interesting question but in the end, lots of things on a job site can kill you if you handle them wrong. Don't forget your physics - a crane that can "lift" an 800lb wall from the ground would have to be quite large and well braced because you'd be talking about a 20-30ft lever. The proper answer to do the same task from that direction is called a "telehandler" and they're used quite often for this. But they also cost $450 per DAY to rent. Compared to $200 to buy a pair of wall-jacks outright, the wall jacks definitely have a lot going for them. Cheap lifting options like chain hosts or winches are out because they need to be attached to something, and that "something" doesn't exist yet - that's what building these walls is doing in the first place. But they're great for other tasks. Stay tuned and in an upcoming episode you'll see me raise the ridge beam using one!
Why don’t manufacturers drill a hole thru outer flange where motor screw is?? It could be covered with plastic snap in cap. Nope that would make this job too easy.
Keep these coming!
All going great but you didn't name the material at 16:20
Looking good. You'll learn from those mistakes by being observant and understanding the cause. I think your house layout and more simple roof is a good choice. I would love to have a spot like yours but the details of what I can build where and permitting leave me a little befuddled. I'm not worried about the building aspect so much. Seems like you figured all those things out.
Thanks! I expect to make plenty more mistakes but the learning is half the reason I'm doing this in the first place - it's always been my dream to know how to do this, so this is my excuse. We're lucky to be building an area with minimal requirements. They're not zero - our septic was professionally installed and is permitted, for example, and we need inspections for electrical and plumbing. But it's definitely more relaxed than in other areas...
Dang thanks for this!! I may remove my seats for my upcoming car camping trip. Did you have to disable air bags??
Thanks so much for this video! My 2023 Countryman just had the same piece break and am skeptical that warranty will cover it. Fingers crossed.
Great. This video helps me locating my R60 fuel pump. Thanks
The only video that worked for me , I would like to give thanks to you and my sawz all.
I’m interested if you still have your Milestone and still like it? It would be nice to see a new video with all the upgrades you did to it to make it work even better for your family. Thanks for your videos.
We do! Despite its (many) flaws it still fit our family's needs and budget better than anything else. I have a number of repairs to do - the bathroom sink just fell out - but we'll post a follow up once I sort all that out.
Thank you for this video. No others show how to remove the type of rear seat mine has
Best mini how to video ever “flip the bastard over and get the fucker out”😂 I need to do this to get the previous owners mc Donald’s bin cleaned out
Do you happen to know the motor part # from Amazon?
Thank you for the review. We are first timers and I've done a lot of homework and shortlisted 5 with this one being the most desired, thank you for ensuring that we won't buy this unit. It was quite funny when you got to the fridge and spoke positively for like 60 seconds. If you wrote a review in text and not recorded a video, I would have thought that you made up everything you said. I can't believe the rusted chassis. I'm from South Africa and we don't have this kind of rubbish workmanship, everything works and if it's in a condition like the above, we are allowed to return it for a full refund, within a 6 month period. I've done so with a travel trailer that leaked within 2 days.
We have the same rule here, but this floor plan is somewhat rare (especially when we bought it). We had to drive 2,000 miles to pick it up so there was no way to go back once we had it. Actually, a lot more has gone wrong since that video - the rear bunk room sliding door fell off, the back bathroom sink bowl detached from its mount, etc. I agree that the quality of this particular product is very low but we're still glad we have it because the layout is a perfect fit for us. YMMV!
@@chadrobinson3504 Thank you for the feedback. So we have 2 left on our shortlist and they both have very nice layouts. We have 3 children, 5, 4 & 3 years old, so the bunks and play area space in their room is critical for us. We literally looked at every single brand/model/layout fifth wheels in the USA and although there were 9 options that could work, the top 2 that are left are: Forest River Salem Hemisphere/Wildwood Heritage 356QB and the Coachmen Chaparral 367BH We will be living in this permanently, so the double room and double full bathroom was critical.
FYI, the storage bay that you show as "generator prepped" is a normal setup for the placement of the generator it does not make this "generator prepped". When the manufacturer adds the transfer switch and other appropriate wiring including a start button in the panel inside the RV, WITHOUT installing the actual generator, then it is generator prepped. Thanks for the video. Will you be attending the National Rally in June?
Thank you. This helped me decide not to purchase a milestone fifth wheel
Chad...Great video, good explanation of the foam densities. I want to build a custom one-off rear spoiler for my car and I was thinking that I might build skeleton type frame kind of like a spine across the trunk, which has a shallow curve side to side. Was thinking the triangular spine segments could be MDF, wood, or maybe one of your foam types? Once I had a multi-segment frame, I thought I'd "skin" it in a thin foam and then fiberglass it, almost like a surfboard. Which of the foam samples you show here would be good for curves and maybe even a compound curve? Thanks in advance for the advice.-Mike
What resin you youse in stero foam. Nise video.
I bet kids love these.
How long will this tent last with continuous use? Also wanted to ask if it can be used for winter camping?
I put a stove jack in it a few years ago and that worked great for cold weather but you need a big stove because it's a very large air space. For durability I'd say it should be good at least 5 years of typical use but can't confirm. I moved on last year when my needs changed.
Thank you! These are a lot of fun.
I loved the "ah-ha" moment where it was discovered that seat removal was not necessary. I think I figured it out about 10 seconds before you verbalized it (but you already knew). What year is your car? Mine is a 2017. Hope it works out for me.
Did you ever try the stove jack?
Yes! It worked "ok" with a small stove. I hung some fiberglass cloth behind the stove as a heat insulator to prevent the tent from melting. It helps if you have a stove with an angled chimney or a very long one. This Tipi is very tall and I was worried about sparks getting onto the top of it, even with a spark arrestor on the stove. An angled chimney would help a lot.
awesome ,i am making a waterbike and intend making foam shaped floats /tubes what is best foam to use ,,and is best to use epoxy or polyester resin, ,any advice on sealing please ,thank you for video
The resin type is a personal choice but they are not compatible so once you pick a system, stay with it. I prefer epoxy because there are many options available with different price points and features, and they are (mostly) all compatible with one another. (Also I have a lot left over from previous projects.) I would suggest blue styrofoam as is used for dock floats. It's closed-cell so it won't get waterlogged if there's a pinhole leak and is designed for buoyancy. It's often available cheap if you live near a lake and watch Craigslist or talk to your boat launch operators because it often gets thrown out/replaced as docks are maintained. It's also easy to cut with a hot wire.
@@chadrobinson3504 Thank you for the info, what foam do you recommend ,was thinking of XPS? then sheathing it with boat cloth and Epoxy, then painting with a flexible painted epoxy system that reflects the sun ,what do you think?
Hey! This was super informative! We just bought ours, and I was curious if you had any ideas for better airflow? We have our windows open, it's a breezy day, and it's feeling like a hotbox. 🥵 Compared to other cone style tents, we do enjoy the ventilation in the bottom of the tent, I can't even imagine up at the top! Thanks Chad!
It's a fair point. We mainly used ours during cooler weather so heating was a bigger deal than cooling. Other than opening every vent I'm not sure what you can do, but shade is key. Even partial shade from a thin tree can make a big difference.
Hey Chad, Appreciated this video, Thanks Can you give a update on how the fix worked out? My daughter has the same issue with her Mini. We are gathering info for a fix now.
It worked out fairly well. My one regret is I should have gotten some black strapping to use as the new pull. You can get it from Amazon, local fabric stores, or salvage it from an old backpack or similar. I think it would have looked a bit nicer in the end. But it worked fine.
What do you use to prevent the fiberglass resin heat, and etc. From dissolving and destroying the foam, I'm not an expert but curious why it's not mentioned, since every piece you have in this video would be destroyed without some sort of barrier protection like latex paint, or etc.!!!
it takes a lot more heat than that to melt foam. So typically it's not a problem. You never want your epoxy "cooking off" (overheating) and once it's spread out it never builds up enough heat to be an issue. Latex paint would not protect from this anyway, and would drastically reduce the adhesion.
👍🏾
hello
Hi Chad. I know this is a very late comment on one of your older videos, but I hope you can still answer it. I really appreciate your thorough review! Do you still use your Cabelas Fury pack and how has it held up? Also, I'm wondering what the dimensions of the inside of the main compartment are? I'm trying to determine if a Foxpro X1 e-call will fit in it. Thanks!!
I still have the pack but haven't used it much lately because I've been focused on big game rather than turkey. It's held up well but I do have a new complaint, I've discovered that the soft felt lining you see in several spots on the pack picks up burrs and other "field debris" and really holds onto that stuff, it can be hard to clean. The inside compartment is about 12x20x5 depending on how you measure it - it's flexible. I don't know the dimensions on the Foxpro but the compartment is pretty big... Overall it's still a very flexible pack and I still like the removeable rear pouch that becomes a mini-pack on its own.
Thanks much!
Great video and well explained too!, thanks for posting!, I subscribe to your channel too.
Can you use epoxy resin directly on every foam you've shown here?
yes only epoxy resin, not polyester it will melt them
Hi, is Polyurethane Foam Board good for building a truck camper?
I would probably be using that for at least a part of it, especially compound curves. You'll probably find that some type of rigid styrofoam is better for large structural pieces like the sides and roof. You can absolutely combine foam types, using contact adhesive, epoxy, or any other similar glue between different types. Just be careful to remember that most urethanes should not be cut with heat. With styrofoam it's common to use hot wires to cut a long templates to make shapes. But you would never want to do that with a urethane, because most release toxic gases when cut that way. Urethane's need to be sanded, cut with a knife, or other means to shape them.
I am doing this job today on my fifth wheel. Moral of my story: always replace the motors in pairs.
Hey chad! Do you have any updates with any of the modifications you wanted to do? Like lowering the dinning room table or adding the trashcan and Shoe storage?
I've been distracted this winter restoring an old Ford pickup. The camper is in storage right now, and it's a little tricky to work on because they don't always clear the snow very well. But I'll definitely get back to it as the weather warms up. Stay tuned!
Thank you for making this video! We actually purchased the same camper sight unseen. Only online pictures. It’s about an 8 hour drive to pick it up. I know Exactly what to look for now when we do the final walk through. thank you!
We just looked at this unit. Seems to be a lot of issues. We are first timers.
In the past few years RV's have become especially "full of issues" because RV sales increased >33% in the pandemic. I think you'll find most brands have problems. If you're first-timers you might want to consider a used coach where the "bugs" have already been worked out. If you really want to buy new, RIDE YOUR DEALER. Do NOT take delivery until you've been over every inch of the unit and gotten the dealer to agree to fixing any issues. Hopefully my video will give you some things to look for. If there's a button, valve, or system, press it, turn it, or use it to make sure it works!
@@chadrobinson3504 ty so much. We truly appreciate your feedback and advice
How do you like the rv so far
We we love it! Despite some flaws it has a really unique layout that fits our needs perfectly, and a great price point.
It depends on the resin your using because polyester will melt that styrofoam
A few years ago, I worked with a man that made cabinets for his work trailer using a green or blue sheet of foam. It was probably 2”x24”x8’ and in order to make thicker projects, he would use tent stakes pushed through 2 or 3 sheets. This foam was light and hand contourable … he would curve the corners with his hand and stiffen areas by making a channel with his fingers, then would apply a indoor primer, let dry than add a green releasing agent. Fiberglass the whole thing with several layers of fiberglass. Using a Zip Tool he would cut the doors out, then reach in and remove the foam in pieces by hand. Do you know the name of this type of foam?
Most polyurethane foams are sandable. When we built aircraft parts we would typically use Last-A-Foam although that's not the only option. One thing to watch out for, the more sandable/shapeable a foam is, the weaker the fiberglass adherence to it. You typically need to make a thick "micro" slurry to apply to the foam before glassing it to get any kind of bond, and even that is weak. Don't use this for structural components that need to carry any bending or torsion forces because the glass can delaminate and the strength is lost.
I just re-read your post. The color is a giveaway. Last-A-Foam is yellow so it's probably not that. It was almost certainly Divinycell (PVC). That's usually blue or green when sold.
@@chadrobinson3504 What I need is a foam to break away from the fiberglass. The foam is not part of the final structure. As if you’re making a fiberglass box to put something in once fully encapsulated by the fiberglass, I use a ZipSaw to cut an access into the unit and the foam is removed. This foam breaks easy, yet very very contour-able without the use of any tools/knifes/hot wires.
@@DrShout I'm actually going to be doing that very thing in a video in the next week so stay tuned. Meanwhile you have a few options. An easy option in many cases is to cover the foam plug with duct tape. The fiberglass will pull right off once it's cured.
@@chadrobinson3504 This foam was so workable, for the indentation above the tent stake, he would take some scrap piece, get his pocketknife and cut a shallow plug size circle in the scalp piece and then just push and twist it on top of the tent staked area… it would hold and then just rub his hand across it to smooth it flat. Almost visually seamless.
Thanks for the review. Looking at getting a 5th wheel myself!
This is awesome Chad!! You saved me a TON of time trying to figure this out myself. Hope your trip went well!!
It's remarkable how hard it is to find information about the R60s, even in 2021. Thanks for doing the hard work of figuring this out. I think my standards are lower than yours. I'd definitely be proud of your solution.
I just trimmed off the molding, because it's almost never visible. You can only see it from that side of the bedroom, but unless you crawl across the bed you can't "get to" that spot unless the slide is out (covering the molding) in the first place.
I have the same issue but the slide is stuck in and also the motor won’t come up
Find your slide room control module, find the small gray over ride button next to the dip switches, with a small pointed tool carefully press the button six time and hold on the 7th until the let's flash ( red/green), your room will now be in override and now you'll be able to extend your room for better access. BTW, I am a rv tech so I wouldn't tell you to do this if I wasn't. To take the board out of override, press and hold the grey button for a couple of seconds and release. The lights should go out. Hope this helped
Is there a way to manually (mechanically) retract the slide if you lost battery power?@@Mike-tn3wc
If you knew where the screw was located you could drill a hole thru the slide room flange in the right location…
you are so obsessive bro you obviously need to be packing up your belongings so you can move to the new house, the mother of your 4 kids is probably pissed you are making a video for youtube rn........good fiberglass tips tho