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Post by vikx on Apr 15, 2015 22:00:17 GMT -8
We are here to help, Wayne! Believe it, we've all been there...
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Apr 28, 2015 14:39:48 GMT -8
Ok, this is to your guys who have restored several trailers. What is a basic sequence of events in restoring a trailer completely. I have the outside all done. Aluminum back on and all that. I had to, to get the trailer back from Colorado. I know I have to get the wiring in before I do the paneling and cabinets but what about the water system and plumbing, hot water? This would be easier, I think, if the aluminum wasn't back on and sealed up already. IT looks like some of this stuff(systems)has to be done after the cabinets go in. What really needs to be done first though. Some hints on order would be helpful at this point. I don't want to get ahead of myself and then , go s**t!how do I fix that now. Wayne
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Post by vikx on Apr 28, 2015 22:06:13 GMT -8
Well, it's a little more difficult with an intact trailer, but it can be done.
Plumbing is always external. Inlets go thru the skin but the lines are accessible inside for repairs. So, you might have a tank fill into the fresh water tank, lines to the sink and a drain. I go thru the floor and skip the trap for the drain, less hassle and vintage appropriate. I don't have hot water in mine; you might look at Hamlet's posts. Great example of a shower/on demand water heater and toilet.
Wiring is easy to do from the inside; be SURE to take pictures of locates/measurements. Keeps a person from driving a screw where it shouldn't be...
I would say do the wiring before cabinetry, except for J boxes, etc. Add cabinets, then do plumbing. If we had pictures of what you have, that would help.
Also, I try to keep "most" wiring inside cupboards and closets to facilitate repairs. Not written in stone, but easier.
Hope this helps.
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Apr 30, 2015 20:42:31 GMT -8
Can someone help me find Hamlet's post on water heater and toilet plumbing?
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Post by vikx on Apr 30, 2015 21:47:55 GMT -8
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on May 1, 2015 10:48:37 GMT -8
What is the toilet pictured in the Hamlet? IS that one of those portable types?
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Post by vikx on May 1, 2015 21:08:24 GMT -8
Yes, a Porta Potti, easy to dump and cleaner than all those nasty sewer hoses...
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on May 2, 2015 7:05:31 GMT -8
OK, next question. In a small space like that, and mine will be equally small, how convenient is it to get it apart. I'm leaning in that direction but was wondering about dealing with it in such a small confined space. Would one have to drag the whole thing out to take the dump pan out. (I haven't thought this through yet), but was wondering about a shower right in the entrance of the bath and putting the toilet on top of the wheel well, in stead of having to stand with one foot on the wheel well to shower. Even in a 16 foot trailer a bath is hard to fit in unless the whole trailer is designed around that concern. I mean why do the wheels have to be in the middle of my bathroom? If you get my drift. Still thinking this all through.I still have about 4 smallish projects on the house for total completion before I can really get serious about work on the trailer. So I'm ordering things and starting all the final plan. If I get all the ducks in a row now I can work quickly. thanks for all the help. Wayne
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on May 2, 2015 7:21:09 GMT -8
OK, its early in the morning, for me. Took another look at the picture of the Hamlet bath. Is their toilet on the wheel well? I thought that was a holding tank when I first saw it. That's exactly what I was thinking I could do if that layout seems to work pretty well. I wish Hamlet's owners could comment on the ease of operation. But if that worked out that would be a whole "large problem" worked out for me.I could move on the electrical planning. Wayne
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RinTin
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Post by RinTin on May 2, 2015 7:26:00 GMT -8
You can get a cassette type toilet, designed with an easy to remove/dump waste container.
I know a guy that does custom fiberglass shower pans/enclosures. Basically he builds a pan structure incorporating the drain, rounds off all the inside & outside corners, lays fiberglass matting and resin over everything, then rolls on gel coat to finish. If I ever do a bathroom in a trailer this is the way I'd do it.
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on May 2, 2015 8:04:43 GMT -8
I was thinking about doing the shower pan in that manner> I've done some glass work like that before. It's a mess, but not all that difficult. Anybody know where to get aluminum corner parts to use plastic laminate for the shower walls? I know stuff for that purpose was available but I can't find it anymore. Wayne
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Hamlet
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Post by Hamlet on May 2, 2015 9:06:34 GMT -8
Hi elewayne! This is Hamlet's lady person! I have been away from the computer this week, and my hubby rarely goes on.
Your trailer is a lot larger than Hamlet, so the layout is probably quite different. We put the "bathroom" in the large closet, so it (and the weight) is ahead of the wheel well. The shower pan is one that is available commercially and fits the footprint of the closet EXACTLY. We have a battery-operated flush porta potty. This has to be supported from underneath, since the shower pan is open under it. We reinforced the front on that side to support the water heater. It all works really well together.
From the pics you have in your blog, it looks as though you gutted the trailer completely and that most of the trailer is in front of the wheel wells. That gives you a lot more flexibility as far as the layout goes. Wheel wells can be a bit of a challenge to work around, but cabinets and closets are two things that work well around them. In looking at the profile of your trailer, you may want to consider putting the bathroom in front of the wheel well as that is where the most height is. The Compact was a little short for my hubby, so when we rebuilt him, we added a few inches to the height in front of the wheel well. Unless you really know Compacts and were looking for it, you can't really see the difference, but it makes the tiny inside feel a lot roomier.
We have been happy with Hamlet for almost six years and wish we had the space to do another one. It seems a shame to waste all that blood, sweat and tears um, learning by not using the knowledge again. Alas, life moves on, so we will just have to be satisfied with camping trips!
Good luck with yours!
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RinTin
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Post by RinTin on May 2, 2015 10:23:54 GMT -8
I was thinking about doing the shower pan in that manner> I've done some glass work like that before. It's a mess, but not all that difficult. Anybody know where to get aluminum corner parts to use plastic laminate for the shower walls? I know stuff for that purpose was available but I can't find it anymore. Wayne Glass the whole thing all the way up to the ceiling, it will be bombproof and you'll never have a leak. The type of corner you are describing will leak like a sieve. I have replaced enough of them in homes to know. Imagine how much worse it would be in a trailer with all that body movement. The nice thing about this method is you can build your bath any size and shape you want.
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on May 2, 2015 13:26:28 GMT -8
Rin Tin, you make a very good point. I'll have to look at that. Movement would cause trouble even with other corner methods. Hamlet's lady. I still have the same restraints because of the door location and only so much room, door to wheel well. Does your toilet sit on the wheel well, or did you just have to do a build up there?
My trailer came gutted, there was no choice. Window placement still dictates where things have to go though.I didn't get the freedom one might think by starting over. Partly because I used the original skins.Thanks a lot for all the help with this. I think I'm pretty close to a plan now. I'd love to start cutting up lumber. Wayne Evans
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Hamlet
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Post by Hamlet on May 2, 2015 16:47:29 GMT -8
We placed 2x4s underneath the upper part of the shower pan if I rmemeber correctly. And fiberglass walls? You could, I suppose, but we did three coats of marine spar varnish over the birch (heck, it works on boats!), cover the door with a shower curtain and just shower away. We used a flexible sealer between the shower pan and the walls and haven't had it separate at all, even after driving over rutted, pot-holed roads on the way into BLM land.
I'm looking at the floorplan of the original trailer. I can see why you're wondering about putting the bathroom over the wheel well. I'm thinking that the idea of turning it around is a good one. If it's on the street side, have the shower head and the water heater mounted over the wheel well and do the porta potty on the other side. You wouldn't be able to use the same shower pan, probably, but there are dozens of them out there. The length of the trailer would allow you to make a longer (although not much wider) bathroom, and still have room for a double bed on the curb side. Hmm, could work!
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