Cindy and I have come to really appreciate the space and comfort Sierra (yes, I named the new home Sierra) has afforded us. It is very comfy and seeing as to how we are going to be stationary for the next 367 days (as of the writing of this blog, but who's counting), I decided that we needed to do something to make the outside more useful, and a bit more safe for old farts like me. The contour of our site basically made my outdoor kitchen and grill useless because the ground just falls away at that corner of our home. The solution was to build an 8x20 deck out front. That would give us a lot more usable space and allow me to utilize my outdoor kitchen and grill. This was the end result:
While this did accomplish the original task, allowing me to use the kitchen and grill, it had a couple of issues. The number one issue was that I just would not be comfortable with the grand kids playing on this. The drop off at the rear was about 6 feet. I also did not feel this was going to be conducive to the well being of old, cripple guys (namely me). Matter of fact, I was positive that the construction was not going to be friendly to old cripple guys, let's just say I have first hand knowledge of what could be. Faced with the dilemma of having a useful deck, which meant spending more money, or just taking the chance was now upon me. I came up with a logical solution. (imagine that)
We had done some remodeling in the store and I was told to get rid of the doors from the old cooler. These doors are aluminum framed with dual pane safety glass. I thought that these would make a very good, very sturdy and very CHEAP addition to my deck. There may have been a challenge involved, something along the lines of someone telling me that this could not be done. Challenge accepted! Here is a picture of my deck Memorial day, 2019.
I'm happy to say that this addition did just what it was needed to do, it allowed us to entertain safely, it kept the furniture, the grand kids and the clumsy old man from falling into the trees below. I don't know about the intoxicated yet, I'm sure we'll have an opportunity to test that someday though.
Having finished the deck, I needed something else to do, after all, it's not like I work 50 or 60 hours a week....yea. Enter project number two, LIGHTS!
You might remember that on the maiden voyage of Brutus and Sierra, we arrived at our campsite in the pitch of darkness and I backed in using a flashlight out the window. Well, we can't be having a nice rig like this backing up by flashlight so, I made a few modifications (oh how I love the old Tim Taylor of Tool Time Fame). I got on ebay and found a few lights to mount under Sierra, 10 LED flood lights with 6 very bright bulbs per flood light for a total of 60 LED lights, 30 per side. Now you all know I couldn't just wire these to a switch and call it done, I had to do Tim Taylor honor and go all out with the installation. I bought a 6 gang weather proof, illuminated switch panel (to allow for expansion of the light phenomenon). I have this set of lights as well as all the other lights, switched from this gang and controlled by relay to avoid heating the switches. The reverse lights, or ground lights, depending on what I want to use them for, are switched from the gang panel, a second switch is under the overhang to allow me to turn them on without opening the compartment and they are connected to the reverse light terminal of the trailer harness so that when Sierra is connected to Brutus and I put Brutus in reverse, I can see without having to get out of the truck and turning on any switches. Here's a picture of the finished reverse lights. You think I can see to back up now?
Okay, functionality accomplished, now for the good ole chicken light effect! I decided to add, simply for mood (and because I like blue) 16 blue led lights, each with 6 bulbs each to amplify the effect of the factory blue LED strip lights on the front of Sierra. These are also operated by the gang switch with relay. I think I achieved just what I wanted, a nice shadowing effect. Check it out.
Those light look really cool reflecting off the front of the mustang, don't you think? By the way, Cindy named the mustang Crystal, as in Crystal Blue Persuasion.
Now you all know I am not one to go overboard with lights (and water is not wet) so I am in the process of adding 24 smoke yellow marker lights, 24 smoke red marker lights, controlled by the gang switch as well as activated when connected to Brutus and the lights are on. I think that may be enough....NOT. I have some really nice LED markers that I am adding to the front and rear as well as some real sharp tail/brake lights. I'll have to post pictures after the installation is complete.
That about wraps it up for this time. Just another day in Fixitfrank's world of lights and function. I'll post another blog when I'm done of Brutus and Sierra all lit up and no place to go...
