lavender
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Post by lavender on Jun 18, 2014 12:53:35 GMT -8
I have a 1963 Air Flow trailer that someone gave and I have been trying to sell, but when people come to see it, they say it needs to much work done to it. It has paneling that has to be replaced behind the bed and the bunk bed. The back wall and the side walls next to beds are crumbling apart. Also the closet is all buckled up and ready to fall apart. There is a leak where the vent is and that ceiling panel has to be be replaced. The kitchen cabinets are pretty sturdy and the windows are all in good condition. I am wondering if I should do a complete tear down of the whole trailer or just deal with the back end of the trailer where most of the damage is including the closet? I have never done a trailer and with all the videos of mobiltec and blogs of women redoing trailers, I feel like I can do. Should I try it or pay someone else to do the job. Can you give me some advice on taking on this project or should I trash the trailer? Looking forward to your responses. Thank you. Pictures of my Air Flow Trailer
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Jun 18, 2014 13:16:33 GMT -8
Hi Lavender. Post some pics and the members here will give you their straight forward opinions. Rather than doing a complete tear down or just dealing with the back end, consider doing a small section at a time. As you take skins off, you will see where the damage is and what is rotted and needs replacing. Besides what you can see on the inside, you will be surprised at what else awaits you underneath. You want to make sure all the rotted framing and skirting boards are replaced along with any rotted panels. As far as tackling it yourself, well, gender has nothing to do with that. Do you have the tools and skills to use the necessary tools? A little muscle and a lot of determination? If so, you can do it. The last thing you want to do is tear it all apart and decide you can't finish it. So, small sections, baby steps, will get you there.
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Post by bigbill on Jun 18, 2014 13:22:24 GMT -8
Lavender I think you have to answer a few questions before you get the proper advice you are looking for. 1 Do you want the trailer completely restored for your personal use or to sell? 2 Do you have the place and time to completely rebuild this trailer? 3 Do you have the tools, talent, and desire to take on a project of this type? 4 Are you physically able do the work? 5 Do you have the money to spend (it can run into thousands of dollars) If you have answered yes to the above questions then you have to decide if you are willing to spend a year or so to do it. If you are doing this to attempt to make money you most likely will have more in it if done properly than you can sell it for, but if you are doing it for your personal use then you will experience a great satisfaction taking it camping and being able to say "Look what I did' I started with junk and turned it into a show piece". The rebuilding of a trailer is a long hard project that requires a lot of effort to stick with it to the finish, especially when things go wrong and you have to tear out a section that you have worked on for days, then go buy more materials and start over. But like I said above if you are doing it because you love the old trailer and you want to keep it and display it and your effort then it will be time and money well invested. This is just my opinion and it didn't cost you a cent, but give it some thought and try to answer the questions honestly then you will have your answer. WELCOME TO VTT
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lavender
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Post by lavender on Jun 18, 2014 13:33:30 GMT -8
Thank you SusieQ, your response is very encouraging. You have gotten me motivated. Thanks, again
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lavender
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Post by lavender on Jun 18, 2014 14:04:53 GMT -8
Thank you Bill, I love the floor plan in this trailer,especially where the benches and the table are. I will go out to my trailer and sit and have coffee or Iced tea in the early part of the day and enjoy the view of my garden. There are big windows in the eating area. I don't want to sell this trailer,really. And I don't want to make any money off the sell of it. My dream is to have a few trailers to go camping with my family. I like how you brought out the fact that I may have to tear apart work I may have done on the trailer. I don't give up easily. I am a seamstress and I know about tearing things apart and redoing the work. I know sewing is not a real physical job but it is a mental job. I am hoping that taking and putting a trailer back together may be like putting pieces of fabric together to make a garment. I have read many blogs stating that it would take a year to a year and a half. And if I don't succeed, at least I can say I tried. Thanks
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soup
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Post by soup on Jun 18, 2014 14:16:30 GMT -8
Only do small sections at a time and not the whole trailer at once. ie; back wall and while doing it do the two back corners. Then blast out the front wall and do the two front side walls while doing the front. Always use interior supports either cheater blacks at the bottom or ceiling supports while front or back walls are out. Don't want to end up with a house of cards. How bout some pictures?
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Post by vikx on Jun 18, 2014 21:31:57 GMT -8
Welcome Lavender.
You can do anything you want to do. Having a seamstress background will allow "thinking out of the box" and compromising. LOL.
We're here for you. Pictures are requested.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Jun 19, 2014 5:39:21 GMT -8
I don't give up easily. I am a seamstress and I know about tearing things apart and redoing the work. I know sewing is not a real physical job but it is a mental job. I am hoping that taking and putting a trailer back together may be like putting pieces of fabric together to make a garment. Yes, Lavender! You and I are kindred spirits! Most of it is less tedious than ripping out a zipper and refitting it, and a little more physical, but you have the correct mindset! The patience of Job helps.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2014 19:04:14 GMT -8
One of my teardrop buddies came to look at the trailer and felt it needed too much for them to tackle, they really didn't have a place to work on it. I called about the trailer but didn't get a reply. It is on CL for $1500, possibly it was listed too high with the work it needs, but I am no expert. I already bought another camper but I thought this one was very cute.
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lavender
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Post by lavender on Jun 29, 2014 9:37:49 GMT -8
Hi everyone. Today I officially started working on my trailer. Got an early start and took all the screws off the back skin below the window. I have one question. When I am working on one section in the back,do I still need to take off the whole piece of jrail that goes to back to front? My jrail is bent up especially at the bottom ends, do I bend it back and get it smoother overall the edges or can I take it somewhere to get it done?
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lavender
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Post by lavender on Jun 29, 2014 9:47:43 GMT -8
Hi,Soup, what are cheater blacks and what are ceiling supports and where do I put them at, when working in the back? Thanks you
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cheri
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Post by cheri on Jun 29, 2014 10:17:56 GMT -8
Hi Lavender, I am working on my first camper, so I don't have a lot of advice, but one thing I have learned is to keep some small projects going alongside the big ones. I have gotten stuck a bunch of times trying to figure out an issue. I work on stuff like cleaning and polishing windows and give it some time, and I either figure out the problem or find the answer in mobiltechs videos or ask it here. A nice shiny window can do wonders for your moral when you realize you have done something dumb like staple in a new panel with your hubby's trouble light cord sandwiched between the panel and the frame. (Not that I am admitting to doin something that dumb)
best of luck cheri
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Hamlet
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Post by Hamlet on Jun 29, 2014 10:36:36 GMT -8
Lavender, Congrats on deciding to fix up your wonderful little trailer. In some ways, doing this is a lot LESS frustrating than sewing. The pieces are bigger for one thing, and you don't have to pull 572 tiny stitches on that gathered bodice on your granddaughter's christening gown. On the other hand, few people have had to head to the Emergency Room to treat an injury incurred while doing a felled seam.
Cheri is right, keep a fun project on the side. When you have pieces and parts everywhere, it's late, you're tired, and you just mucked up another layer of polyurethane on the drawer fronts, it's nice to take some time to think about how you're going to do your curtains, or to pick out just the right dishes.
As far as the J-rail, you can certainly straighten it yourself, you could have someone else do it, but if you get it good and warm (hair dryer will work) to soften it up a little, it's really not that hard. Or yours could be like ours... in such bad shape, that the only thing to do was to dump it and start over with new stuff.
Good luck!
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lavender
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Post by lavender on Jun 30, 2014 6:22:57 GMT -8
Thanks Hamlet, can I buy J-rail at a regular Rv place or do I have to go to Vintage Trailer Supply. Oh,yes, do I need to take off the J-rail from front to back like Mobiltec says, even though I am working in small sections?
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soup
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Post by soup on Jun 30, 2014 7:29:19 GMT -8
Hi,Soup, what are cheater blacks and what are ceiling supports and where do I put them at, when working in the back? Thanks you Here ya go!
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