Getting to crunch time on the interior, because I agreed to show the trailer as part of an art exhibit in Portland, OR, before it was actually finished (because I'm nuts). This weekend, september 13th, the off grid airstream will join 9 other unique trailers on Hawthorne Blvd. for the first ever Little art in the Trailer, trailer based art show. I'll be bringing the trailer and kayaks (still working on a tow vehicle, um, anyone want to loan me a truck?) If you're in the area stop by and say hi!
So yeah, lots to do in very little time. Today was lights. I started working on lights a few weeks ago by ordering five switchable LED dome lights from Vintage Trailer Supply, these guys are good folks, and to be honest, there really aren't a lot of options in this type of lighting. Everything else I found was either too cool in the spectrum or looked like it belonged in a hospital or a spaceship. These stainless and glass fixtures are the closest thing to elegant I could find. I borrowed wires from previous fans, lights, and air conditioners to space them roughly evenly down the center of the ceiling. One hot wire is all that's needed as the negative is perfectly happy to ground to the interior metal.
So yeah, lots to do in very little time. Today was lights. I started working on lights a few weeks ago by ordering five switchable LED dome lights from Vintage Trailer Supply, these guys are good folks, and to be honest, there really aren't a lot of options in this type of lighting. Everything else I found was either too cool in the spectrum or looked like it belonged in a hospital or a spaceship. These stainless and glass fixtures are the closest thing to elegant I could find. I borrowed wires from previous fans, lights, and air conditioners to space them roughly evenly down the center of the ceiling. One hot wire is all that's needed as the negative is perfectly happy to ground to the interior metal.
After getting all the dome lights up I realized I still didn't have quite enough light and the whole trailer just looked kinda green. Searching warmer into the spectrum opportunities for LED lighting decrease even more. I was able to find these very warm small single bulb LED spot lights at Sunlan Lighting in Portland. This little story on Mississippi avenue is packed with more weird lightbulbs than you are ever likely to see in one place, and the owner Kay is a fixture in Portland and greets people in a way that is a bit startling until you get to know her. So much more fun than shopping online. These particular spots have been discontinued but she has others, and there is always places like Elemental LED online, where I had to order connectors from. The fixture I built with a piece of 2x2 aluminum angle both for aesthetics, and to dissipate the heat.
Over the bed I built this tiny little reading light with knob switch as a convenient last-light-out light. Wiring situation to be dealt with soon.
In the front of the trailer behind the curved windows and above what will be the couch, these original swiveling spotlight fixtures look great so I kept them, and was able to find a bayonet base directional LED spotlight with nearly the same spectrum and intensity of the original incandescent bulbs. I'm embarrassed that I can't find the link to that right now. It's not the 5500K model or the warm white that has all the little bulbs on the front!
Finally, with the dome lights turned off the spotlights make killer mood lighting inside the trailer. I'm going to rebuild the light bar to get the spots exactly where I want them on the counter, but for the most part I'm pretty stoked at how all this came together. LED's ain't cheap, but the last forever and use very little electricity, perfect for an off-grid trailer.
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