Bill Smith is a DIY person. People told him he could not build a slide out for his current RV which drove Bill to prove them wrong. He planned, cut, and did what others said could not be done. www.BigDogMediaTV.org
get back to work as you are too young to retire cause my dad was still building cabinets in his public cabinet shop when he was 81, but he died at 85 cause of particle board dust, ha, that is why i always stuck with repairing antiques and older furniture....
@@ronvalley1973 lol I just got done doing my kitchen with 100% solid maple cabinets each cabinet was flawless custom made with a hand rubbed lacquer finish equal to my wife's piano finish. I spent 3 mouths in just building and finishing. Problem is now 3 of the 4 subcontractors (Elec, Plumbing. granite ) I used in the remodel want me to build a set for them.
@@MrStingray186 ah see, i did not think you were retired totally, yeah, i worked in my dads' cabinet for 26 years, 6 days a week, and he had two to three other guys helping him and all i do is still fix furniture, and just today, two customers came over and brought me wooden furniture to repair and refinish and i am on a farm out in the middle of nowhere 120 miles west of chicago, it never ends, i can't retire, i don't want to, i have seen about 3 dudes that hung out at dads' shop cause they were retired, and about 2 to 5 years later they were dead, hmmm, i thought, wow, i ain't never gonna retire, and you hear stories from people all the time, joe so and so retired and died only months or years later, i hear them all the time, those stories are all over the internet, so, i do know how to build cabinets and my dad and his helpers were all europeans, so they should me quite a few tricks on how to do and how to think wood and wood working and patience, and i have a million stories about that shop, and now that you are up there only a tad in age i know what my dad would tell you if someone asked him to build cabinets for them, cause friends want a lower price, he would say, just order pre made doors and make the boxes yourself, and what would i say, ha, i would say, go to lowes, they have a huge selection of already built cabinets.......
@@ronvalley1973 Great story Ronnie, thank you for sharing. I once towed vehicles for a living and towed a vehicle for a friend (I new the guy but not really closely). When the job was done and it came down to payment I gave him "mated rates". This gentleman gave me an extra $50 on top of my quoted price. When I refused to take his extra tip he said "fiends pay more not less, this is what friendships are all about"". This has stuck with me ever since. God bless you Ronnie.
When you have zero support and the world is dead set against you, that's your time to shine and prove to not urself but all of them that anything I possible. Very positive and uplifting. Beautiful job.
Excellent job, Bill. My late wife had a mobile home on the east side of the lake we now live on before we were married. She had a 12x20 screened in porch on the front exiting the living room entry door. At the time we were dating she wanted to enclose the porch, remove the living room wall, and encompass the porch into her living room. She asked a contractor to perform the job and he told her it was impossible. As she was telling me about it I explained that I had seen a similar job on HGTV and I could do it for her. I installed windows in the porch, insulated and wired it for outlets and lights, put wainscoting on the walls with sheet rock on ceiling and balance of walls. I then installed a beam to support both roof lines and tore the wall out between the living room and porch, moving her entry door to the opening where the porch screen door was. She helped me with all of it and was elated when it was finished and she had new carpet installed in the enlarged living room. I also built a false wall at one end that was removable and she could store valuables in the space. I think she loved that part most. After we married, she moved into our house on the other side of the lake and she was always right beside me on all our improvement projects on this house. Unfortunately, I lost her the day after Thanksgiving last year to lung cancer. I was as proud as she was of the project we completed on her house. We also added a 12X30 screened in porch across the balance of the front of her place.
@michel joannette I can't believe how many people give thumbs down period. The only good thing about is RU-vid has so many douchebags I never leave nasty comments because I don't want to be one of them
Impressive workmanship. I appreciate that you built it how YOU thought it should be, instead of following the established methods. The only drawback I see is that it is so well done, others will assume it came like that, and never strike up a conversation about it. Then again, most RVers don't modify. Guys like us are the exception, and you sir, did an exceptional job.
Excellent work! One of the best things to me about creating something yourself is that you can fix it if it breaks. Knowing each small part of the bigger picture is great thing. Thanks for sharing your work!
My hat is off to you for doing what you did! You would be a proud member of the "doers club"...and the "doers club" has few people in it. I built a custom street rod from scratch... it took 6 years to complete, from the frame to the body and won many awards at car shows. I built another one and same thing...many awards including a "Best of Show"...and all done in my shop at home taking 4 years. Why? The first one because I knew I could if I tried and had patience...I didn't even have enough tools at first and as time passed I got more at garage sales etc. I was poor. The second one I built because I wanted to improve the design and like you, I like to work with my hands. I'm a retired cabinet shop owner. I see so many people now who are unbelievably lazy and most guys these days don't even know how to swing a hammer...sad. I've noticed over the years that most men don't have patience and would rather start 10 projects because they are "excited" for a few minutes but they lose interest within a few days and never get any of them done. I call these guys idiots. Edit: A note to all you idiots out there...If you start a project, finish it before you start another one...what part of that don't you understand? Don't be in the Idiots Club! Be in the Bill Smiths Club!
Nicely done! I need someone to build a custom slide out of the back of a fifth wheel for me! I've been looking for something like a Grand Design Reflection 30BH which they only made for a few years so they're hard to find! I don't know why more RVs don't have a slide out of the back... seems like the best way to add more bedroom space while still being easy to tow!
Awesome job Bill !!!! Thank you for persevering with the project AND thank you for posting on RU-vid. You've got my brain working overtime. lol. Cheers
I've always taught my boys and friends that you never use the word "can't" , can not may be but never can't , why because you can do anything if you put your mind to it !! Anything is possible if you do not try, and people would be amazed just how much can be done and achieved but most importantly when you get stumped don't give in, take 2 steps back and think it out, talk it out, but never give up, I know from experience and some of things I've done and accomplished was said that I " can't do this or I can't do that !" Well I was a parapeligic was told I can't walk ever again that was 35 yrs ago I'm still walking, building houses, fixing vehicles, and more so never say can't but I can ! And do it ! Thank you for the video love it and beautiful job !
Just recently came across your old post on building a slide out on your trailer, and I must say you did an excellent job. I retired a couple years back and been thinking of starting a small trailer buildout with a slide myself. I was a trades person with a welding background and your project gave me new ideas. Thank you for posting
Hello from Australia. Mate,. perhaps next time you say that you're going to do something, your wife and others will give you the credit you deserve. You have done a great job. very inspiring. All the best to you...
Nice work! Had an old camper. I thought would have been awesome with a slide out. Never took on that challenge, though. Glad to see someone pull it off.
Great job, it took guts to cut that hole but I totally understand you. We have a 97 Holiday Rambler Motorhome (no slide) and even though we would like something bigger we just can't part with our RV. It;s been completely rebuilt and I mean completely and we trust it to bring us anywhere. Last year over 15K miles. At times I am just so tempted to that hole and do it but we are soon going to cave in a buy a used Newmar and re-start the re-building again just for a slide. Cudo's to you Sir.
A1 top job Bill I am considering a build of an entire Rd Van and seeing how you did this and the seamless finished product just makes me want to plan and build.. Bravo sir I salute you and your finished product …well done ✅
Awesome , I will build from scratch my motorhome in a sprinter or transit for the first time also, I have knowledge in carpentry but it will be a challenge, people like you are inspiring, Congratulations I'm from Sao Paulo - Brazil
I would have put the switch (or a second switch) for the slide-out inside the trailer. You never want to put controls like that on the outside, in case of malicious people or weather, you should always have control from the inside. I DO like the switch on the outside for making sure you won't hit anything, but I'd have a locking cover (which you may have for all I know) and a secondary switch inside. You have inspired me, however, to install a secondary slide switch on the outside of mine for just the advantage I mentioned, as we always camp in wooded areas. That's a nice touch, thanks for the idea (now go put another switch inside LOL). Hats off to you for this undertaking, you certainly have more guts than I would have had to do that, and your attention to detail was amazing, looks like it was there from day one. Nice job.
I’m working on doing something similar to my off road trailer , that’s how I stumbled upon your video, you gave me a lot of ideas , I will be using a manual slide out mechanism
Truly talented work Mr.Smith. My wife and I bought a 1980 rv and were looking for someone that did this without the super expensive manufacturers kit. Great job, if you can provide a list of materials that would also be a huge benefit...
I'm one of those ,, "I'll show ya I can if you say I can't" folks too. I'm about to embark on a homemade slide in camper. My wife says that's crazy,, just buy one. After pricing a few, she said, "if you need my help just say so". You did a beautiful job on this. Not sure I would have been brave enough to saw a hole like that in a camper.
Good job Bill. "it was a lot of work," was an understatement. If I could share a quick and simple way to make a good expansion space. Now I do appreciate what you said about a challenge. What would life be like without difficult challenges. My idea is to have a fold out deck (like you would see on the back of a toy hauler, only this one is on the side (not the back)). Picture a fold out deck with another flap that would fold up. The top fold up has a hinged light weight exterior wall and the fold out deck has the two side walls. peg and slot would latch the 5 boards in place. Cable supports he deck with outside poles that could be snapped in place. Flexible rubber material covers all seems with Velcro or snaps (probably some of both.) Plexiglas will be incorporated on the furthest outside wall and will be fixed with a long vent (louver) just below it. The extra space will be a staging space area to better help in keeping everything else well organized. including clothes hanging, exercise mat, craft table, just extra space to spread out. As you mentioned slide outs make a world of difference when space is at a premium. When everything is folded (stowed) away for travel that side of the trailer will be the better insulated side for nasty winter storms or the occasional noise/nuisance you don't want to deal with. Kind of a thick barrier protection bulkhead. The 5 sides will be latched from the inside with strong, yet relatively small and light safety bars that fold against the panels and pinned or locked in place, keeping the whole add-on super snug in/on the side of the trailer. Think of it as a well crafted, light weight "fold out" that works the same, maybe even more roomy, than a slide out. The other option would be a quick pop up shed that would have connecting hardware to a door hatch. The base of the shed would be the height of the trailer by use of an aluminum quick connect scaffold. Great job, hope the wife now "better believes in you and your abilities!" Be well! MarkMannM2
1:50 ABSOLUTELY THE BEST REASONING IN THE WORLD. Go Bill 💪. Edit. Twenty four years back I wanted the back cutting off a truck chassis to make a low level walk in garage for my step daughters mountain bikes. The guy in the garage said ' You can't do that! - so did it myself!
Careful folks! Bill is clearly one of these guys you rarely run across that has rare talents. A project like this is not for jusr anyone. Consider your skills before you cut a hole in yr rv!
Fine job Bill. Will be doing something similar converting a gutted 35' Gulfstream down to its frame with two slideout for a Tiny House conversion. Gives me insight on the finish. Thanks.
Well done, great job mate. We don't tend to have those slide-out things here in Australia because of the rough roads, extreme heat and fine dust that gets into everything. We call it Bulldust here, it's almost impossible to stop. Thank you for your video mate.
@@mrkrause3 wow!! A reply from a comment made a year ago!! There are two different roof profiles that lend themselves to the design. The first is a simple low angle pitch roof with the ridge running the length of the structure. The other is perpendicular to the length. Need to draw it. I am going to build a model out of cardboard, to scale, with wood as the metal square channel that will be the framing. Have not worked out all the details so far as the sliding mechanism and having a floor that doesn't have two different levels after it is open. These will present a solution better once the model is made. Concievedly, adding as much as three plus feet on either side will make a significant difference such that it will be so much nicer to live in and be attractive to many more people. Will let you know when I get to posting. Good luck!!
wow great job!!! I want to be handy like that some day; I only just realized my love of making things recently so I'm still a beginner builder/maker of things; but someday I would love love LOVE to build a slideout on my RV! thta's the goal :D
Next time when you make those radius boards. Make it easy on yourself. Rip the boards into 1/4” pieces and bend them into a jig and epoxy them together with West System. It’s about 2 hours work for them all. That oak does not like to bend that’s for sure. You could have made that trim piece in one continuous piece that way. Great job though!!!! Looks great!!!! ✌🏻🇺🇸
Bill just amazing craftmanship! Can you tell me what you used for your drive and where you sourced them. I am building a slide on my 2001 Van Hool and would like to do what you did. Thank you in advance.
