Explain how this project is a learning stretch for you?

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Before going into this project, I had no prior construction skills other than store bought shelves. I had no idea what a circuit was and had a vague idea of what a electrical system would be. Although my project is not done, the research I have done for the next step has taught me the many basics of electricity. Also in this project I have learned new ways in being more eco friendly to the environment. For example, many people when they go out to buy materials for a project often buy new supplies, in actuality there is almost a surplus of material just waiting to be used. By purchasing more, not only are people wasting money, it is adding more waste to landfills each and every year. Sure there is not much of a quality control on places like Craigslist, and maybe people are not giving away the piece that is the one they need, but it is a way to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

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Discuss three problems that you encountered with your project. How did you solve these problems?

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A problem that I encountered while in progress of my project was that in order to own the camper, I had to pay a pre-existing title fee amounting to about six hundred and thirty dollars. Recently I had also received the renewal registration fee totaling to about eighty dollars. Another cost that has been setting me back in construction is the cost of all the electrical components. For example, a one hundred watt solar panel kit costs around one hundred and seventy dollars, money in which I had to save up for along with other personal expenses. I wanted the majority of my project to be from recycled material as it is the purpose for this project, but as stated above, the items I was looking for did not come up often or at all on websites such as craigslist. This made it difficult to move forward in my project and complete it within the given time frame. In order to gain traction in my project again I did decide to purchase the most important aspects of the reconstruction such as a high grade waterproof sealer, started to apply insulation on the parts of wall in which no electricity will run through, and start designing the interior structures.

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Another problem I encountered was that while the camper appeared to be in good condition, there was more work than anticipated. For example, I had already been told that there were leakages in the roof but I did not know that they had been left for so long that it caused the roof to rot over. This has made simply standing in the camper very difficult as parts of the floor gave out when applied pressure. To combat this issue, I had to pay very close attention to the parts in the floor where it was weak and made sure not to overstress the support structure underneath. Because I do not have the ability to tear down the floor in order to fix it just yet, this is something that I will have to cope with until the ceiling and walls are done.

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The most recent problem I have encountered is more about the future of my camper. In order to get it road ready, I must have my camper weighed to make sure its weight is distributed evenly across the camper so there is no chance of tire failure. While most campers will pass these tests naturally, it is important for me to keep these in mind when I go to install the interior structures so I can ensure that my camper will be ready to live in before it hits the road. I also have to make sure all of the lights work properly in correlation with a vehicle lights which my camper cannot do currently as it needs a battery I have yet to pay for and sun damage that does not allow turn signals to be seen. The next and probably most important issue would be where to park my camper when I have decide to rest someplace. Many rv parks are very expensive and include services that I believe to either be of no value or use to me. For example, because I have purchased a solar panel to generate electricity for my camper, I would have no need to pay for electricity at a camp site. Also many rv parks, I believe to miss the point of living in a camper as there are many places I could go and take my whole house with me rather than spending it on a lot with fifty other campers. I am still unsure of what I will do but I am thinking for the time i will be in college/university I will end up buying a lot. After that I hope I will be traveling to many different places.

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If you could redo your project, what would you do differently?

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Honestly, what I would have done differently would be to live in a pop up camper instead of the camper I got because they are much smaller in size and weight, making it easier to not only finish, but to tow with. I know many people including my parents do not believe my ability in living in a camper much less a pop up, but this way the third issue I explained earlier would not be as much as a problem because pop ups are not as much as an eyesore in a backyard that it is a camper. Therefore I could park it on a friends property with decreasing the value of her house. 

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In at least fifty words, discuss the grade you should receive for your project. Describe what you did in order to ensure that your project was the best it could be. Include at least three specific examples or reasons to defend you position.

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I would like to say that because my project is more of a construction project which involved hard labor, will be involved in my life for longer, and was very challenging, that I should deserve an A. However, to be completely honest, it is nowhere near done, I have yet to install the electricity, apply the walls, and build the interior structure. This project was definitely more complex than I had imagined. Therefore I believe I deserve around a B. Though others may be finished with their project after the turn in date, I am is sure that I will be continuing my work on my camper until it is done so it is ready to accompany me when I start college/unversity and from then on.