whitestarm
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Post by whitestarm on Jul 1, 2014 15:25:46 GMT -8
Hi everyone,
I'm new to this board so bear with me if I placed this in the wrong sub-forum, please feel free to relocate it, if I did. Here is my situation in a nutshell, I am purchasing a property with a Mobile that is on a foundation. The tongue was cut off and at some point in it's recent past, it was completely gutted and "re-insulated" and none of the original fabric of the interior remains. The result of this, is I am unable to identify what Make/Model/Year or anything about this Mobile. The work is incomplete inside and I determined that there is no point in completing the totally bodged up repair work done.... (new wood on top of rotting, flat roof still leaking) not to mention the creative electrics ! Fortunately I have a fair bit of construction and engineering experience so nothing terribly scary.
I hope that someone on this board will be able to help me identify this particular beast so that I may learn more about the history of the model, how it was originally built and to find the weak spots (frame etc and what to watch out for).
Here is a link to some Photo's... yes, they are a little scary...
Imgurl to "The Mystery Trailer" photo album
Thanks in advance for any and all help. WhiteStar (Steve)
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Post by bigbill on Jul 1, 2014 17:00:57 GMT -8
That looks a lot like an old Vindale and if it is the tongue may be laying under it as many of them unbolted to provide a better look while sitting in a mobile home park. My guess would be late 50s to early mid 60s. How wide is it, 10'x50' maybe?
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whitestarm
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Post by whitestarm on Jul 1, 2014 20:07:16 GMT -8
Hi bigbill
The tongue was cut off the frame after by torch after it was moved to that location in 1986 and set on the concrete block crawlspace. The size is 14x50 ish. I'm hoping the steel framework and the core is solid, as it certainly had a few leaks over the years and some dubious repairs (to be extremely polite).
Thanks
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whitestarm
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Post by whitestarm on Jul 6, 2014 15:10:17 GMT -8
Sorry about the time delay getting back to you on it... I just got back from being away for a few much needed days. The Mobile is 10' Wide by 47' long (without tongue). I located an Ontario Canada Mobile Certification tag (rather pointless & meaningless) on the body but nothing at all on the steel frame.
I took a good look underneath and the frame looks is amazingly good & clean condition ! There is even still some paint on it. As the Trailer is sitting on solid granite with poured concrete footing & concrete block walls (insulted inside) it certainly kept the underside in good repair. Oddly there is no insulation underneath the trailer floor itself, maybe that is because of the production timeframe.
The current repairs were done quite poorly as I suspected... The original 2x2 framing was "enhanced" with 2x3's on the wide side, effectively making the walls 3" think ! Insulation directly against the aluminium, no vapour barriers or anything at all
The original Windows which most are still in fairly good condition and still are on the trailer along with a few odd's & ends which appear quite unique. Would there be any use in recovering these windows and fittings for recycling / resale ? There are some really unusual small windows which I have not seen before.
WS
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Post by bigbill on Jul 6, 2014 17:35:13 GMT -8
Not a bad guess when you add in the tongue it is 10 x 50 are the walls of the foundation insulated? On a mobile home the vapor barrier should be on the winter heated side or not at all.
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whitestarm
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Post by whitestarm on Jul 7, 2014 8:34:07 GMT -8
Hi again Bill,
At present there is 1" thick Styro-SM (Blue foam) on the inside of the crawlspace, nothing on the outside which I will correct when I replace 2 blocks which delaminated. I intend to parge it and then cover with insulation & skirting. There is some plastic on the ground covered by light sand which I will of course have to completely clean out and correct as well. Radon should not be an issue because the granite is right there. No indications at all of water issues under there but I'll incorporate a slight swale to guarantee water going away from it.
I've been doing a lot of reading on various "crawl space" configurations, sealed or un-sealed versus vented or not and of course our applicable building codes... Quite a quagmire of information. In either case I will have to do what it takes to make it a "healthy home" and there is no point in shortcutting on the base that it sits on. (I personally hate crawlspaces, too many bad times dealing with them).
One thing I am pretty much set on, is to keep all the water lines internal (not underneath or above) but I am somewhat at odd's with heating. The current heating system is a zero clearance Oil Furnace which is set on a raised Steel Pad against the side of the mobile. with the electric water heater next to it. There is no return ducts (as expected) and there are only 2 "genuinely" functional heat vents on opposite ends of the trailer. The ducting appears to be 2"deep x 10"wide box duct which are a tad "manky" inside (black mould in one I opened up).
I think this thread is going pear shaped into a reno Q&A thing... I guess I'll start blogging it and taking photo's when I get going... seems like there won't be any shortage of material to document but it will be a bit random as Building Season is only so long and there is heaps to do before Winter decides to hit.
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zionadams
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Post by zionadams on Jul 11, 2014 19:55:18 GMT -8
Two comments, in answer to your questions and comments:
- Yes, those windows are worth money! Everything in that trailer, originally, would be worth something to someone. You can sell them on tin can tourist classifieds, or if they have classifieds on here go that route! I would imagine that they are a stock size and look pretty basic.
- Based on the shape and size of the trailer, I'm gonna support the idea that is mid-1950's to early 1960's, probably leaning toward the earlier. - Please, please, consider getting 1 or 2 of the C02 (or multipurpose) smoke alarms, they will run you about $20 each. Every layer of barrier can also hold toxic fumes,the trailer was not designed to be as airtight as it is now and whatever design compensations were made for preventing gas build-ups have undoubtedly been removed.
When I first saw it, my initial thought was that 'on a foundation' there would have to be a nod toward local building codes. My guess is that was never explored when the past repairs were done. People will do a lot of bandaid repairs when they are cold, scared and out of options. Whoever lived there obviously saw it as a permanent home. Sad that they had to live that way!
Good Luck with the identification. My guess would be either a Revere or a Landola. Google them.
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whitestarm
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Post by whitestarm on Jul 12, 2014 10:43:07 GMT -8
I can strip it off the foundation and rebuild directly on top of it. In fact I am now looking at using SIPs as they are affordable, fast, meet building codes & best of all, can be Self-Built without a massive effort. Yes I have construction experience. The old trailer itself is bad... very very bad... Most of the 2x2 & 2x3 that was originally installed is rotting and the "renovator" just lopped stuff on top. They never got any permits, inspections or anything and that is quite evident... I'm fortunate that the Township did not TAG the property, they won't knowing what I intend.. Sadly all that insulation the guy put is mostly all scrap now All the original factory windows are on it from the really off little ones to the bigger ones. I believe only 2 smaller ones have broken glass. Odd light fittings and stuff too but they are in horrid shape (pot metal does not stand up). I've decided to do a "nice dismantle" to salvage what can be (I hate waste)and scrap the rest appropriately... The trailer frame which is in amazingly good nick, I will keep for another project I have in mind, real nice frame on that nit, I must say. I was thinking that I may recycle those windows for side panels on a small Green House I am going to setup, as they all open and would be great for crass drafting purposes but not sure... Time will tell. I started whipping up assorted designs and plans with Home Designer Pro (Home Designing CAD) which gives me the elevations, framing, materials lists and even Drafting Layouts... this makes it much easier and that is accepted by the Building Department in the township... as a Owner Builder Self-Build. Here is a link for anyone interested: Home Designer Pro weblink
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