TSO-G Day 5: Recreational Vehicles Reveal Desirable Amenities

At the start of the third build day, Tinkerers had the base of their RVs framed with plywood flooring and wheels attached. The number of wheels varied from two to six. At least one RV team endeavored to incorporate steering. Others simplified their RVs into trailers that will require a hitch. Some furniture had been started but hadn’t been completely built. However, by shop closing time, one might have thought they walked into a RV camp with vehicles equipped with many desirable conveniences.

“Teamwork! That’s what it’s called,” junior Tinkerer, Charlie, said matter-of-factly as he helped his teammate, Isaac, move a nearly complete bunk bed onto their RV platform.

Junior Tinkerers, Isaac and Charlie, move a bunk bed onto their RV platform.

Charlie and Isaac’s team continued mapping out furniture placement by using partially made furniture, Isaacs bunk bed masterpiece, and Thandi’s couch-like bench. Each member offered input on what should go where and tested the bottom bunk for comfort.

Bessie the Cow, or rather, Bessie the Blue Cow underwent a name change, was wrapped in two large blue tarps with windows cut out to allow for a view. Steering was thrown out the window. Now it’s a six-wheel trailer.

“We got rid of the steering because it was taking too much time to work. So, our RV is becoming more of a trailer,” senior Tinkerer, Leo, said.

Senior Tinkerer, Kate, peeks through a window she is cutting out of Bessie the Blue Cow’s tarp covering.

Next on the build list are hammock beds, a counter and stools for eating, and a penguin container that will hold Leo’s pet stuffed penguin. He calls this last item the Penguin Kidnapping Container (PKC).

The smallest but possibly the most advanced RV to date was built by the senior team that built a 4 foot by 8 foot trailer. Bogdan, a senior Tinkerer, listed all they had accomplished and what would come next.

“We put on the [canopy], and we hung it up; then we installed that table; we installed our sink and faucet system; we put down this carpet; we reinforced our ladder; and I’m planning to start on our beds,” Bogdan said. “Oh, yeah, and Akin put in a trash can.”

So much was accomplished that Bogdan and his teammates then added that Akin was working on a towel rack and that they had a made a “bunch” of chairs.

Senior Tinkerers, Jasper, Akin, A.J. and Joey discuss attaching their collapsible table.

The two remaining junior teams were able to raise their overhead framing. One of the junior teams improvised with the sparse materials lying around and created a double decker RV trailer that has a covered cantilevered platform made of veneer plywood and PVC pipes. The other junior team covered their trailer with tarp and began moving furniture into their RV. Working under the hot sun all day, they all took a seat to enjoy the shade the tarp provided and the couch, bed and chair they had built.

Check out the photo slideshow and videos of Tinkerers during their third build day.