The Pod

[Brenticon]

So, most of you have seen it, but some may not of, so I figured since I'm sitting down at a pc, I'd try to post some pics.

I was out with Tony one day, and I spotted this Mork from Ork egg looking thing in a guys yard. I wandered over to have a look and took some pics.
Dammed if it didnt take me two or three days to figure out just what it was.






Turns out its an 1989 American Teardrop Trailer, one year only, made from polyuerthane. Thing weighs like 225 lbs. I had to have it.
I had slept in the upper bunk of the Riv and felt it to be a lil closterfobic, and a bit smaller on the sides. When I saw this, I imagined a nice big comfy bed.
I went and knocked on the door, and talked with the owner. He didnt want to sell, but after a couple months of badgering him, and coming to a fair price ...

[Brenticon]

The thing had been sitting for close to a decade and needed a good cleaning, and I decided I wanted to paint it to match what I wanted the bus to look like 







and of curse, it needed matching curtains







it was now ready to camp in ...

[Brenticon]

I tried to take it to CamperJam, but the bus broke down and I had to tow it up with 




but we made it up there and it made for some dam fine comfy sleeping 

[Brenticon]

Now for some mods to the pod 
I wanted to make it "off-road" looking, so I searched around for rims and rubber. 
There's not a huge selection when you limit you search to trailer tires. 
What I did find is, they are now modifying golf carts, and giving them lift kits and big fat tires
I pulled my spare off and headed to a golf cart store, and sure enough, the same bolt pattern




they are approx 2' shorter than original size, but they gotta be almost 3x wider, and look way cooler.
Only problem now is, they aren't quite the same as my bus wheels.
Well, a lil tape ......



some paper ....




and then some paint, and wala, budda bing, we have some cool lookin wheels

[Brenticon]

Ill have to wait a bit to put them on, and assess how much of a lift the pod will need, but man, its gonna look cool

[tony]

VOILA..........he's back

[Brenticon]

SO, I finished playing with the rims and tires.
I really didnt like my BRM centre caps, and I was rummaging thru my stuff and stumbled across some old stickers I have made up years ago.

 

They definately add a different aspect to the wheels, lol
Well, there was 6 left over stickers, and while I was cleaning and painting the Pod wheels, Rob asked what I was gonna do with their center caps
I got three painted and ready, (basically all I need)



then applied the remaining stickers 




can hardly wait to install them on the Pod. 

[PICTUP]

Right on Jack! Or is that Mr.Daniels? I hope they don't turn out to be wobbly

[Brenticon]

You spotted it, wtg.
I just saw I’ve been posting wrong size pics.
I read the link, thanks Russ, so hopefully I’ll remember in future.

[Brenticon]

Went out to help a friend with a flat tire, who also stores my pod
Thought I'd get a pic and check how the new tires look. No, i didnt get a pic of them on.
I did put them up beside the original ones, and I'm sitting a few inches shorter
Guess we'll need to put a lift kit in the pod
The wheels do look pretty matchy though

[Brenticon]

So, put some work into the pod. Decided I'd match it up with current color, and get those tries on.
(i'll divulge more of the process later)

[Volktales]

Are you going to change the "Turtle Power Pod" stickers now that you are off the "green" theme for awhile??? "Goldberg"s Gelandewagen" sounds good to me... 

[Brenticon]

Nope. I figure once everything gets loaded for an adventure, the other drivers around me will think my bus is powered by turtles.

So, I tried to match as close as I could, using Rona’s wall of swatches. Meh, close enough. Still needs some touch ups and I think I’may paint inside fender wells, now that they’re visible.
Had some difficulty getting the tires on. Seems golf cart hubs are different than Trailer ones. The Center of the rims wouldn’t go over bearing housing. I couldn’t get hubs for a week or two, and as I was talking with sales rep, mentioned making spacers and getting longer studs. He disappears and came back with Trailer 1” spacers.
“SCORRRRRRRRRE”
Since the tires were 2” shorter than typical trailer tires, I needed to lift the pod. Custom made some u bolts from the spring shop next to Bavarian, a couple 2” metal blocks from the metal warehouse and bingo, up she goes.
Took it fir a test ride in the rain, took a couple pics, and put her back into storage. Another few good sunny days and she should be ready for camping.

[PICTUP]

That looks awesome Brent! Good job!

[PICTUP]

I meant "awesome" in the best possible way BTW, not the co-opted one!