|
|
Post by judyjudyjudy on Aug 3, 2015 17:46:45 GMT -8
Hi all! I'm another newbie, with a newbie'ish question. Grabbed a '68 Lo Liner ST a few weeks ago. Pulled it home the 700'ish miles from WA with no problems. I know there's rot, of which I've read and watched and researched about repairing, and hope to tackle over the fall/winter. The main area is the right front where it has slumped down. There is some rot along the bottom edges under windows and the back is the worst. The floor is solid and the interior is in unbelievably good original condition. Sooooo, in the meantime... The hubs and I want to take it out for our vacation next week. We're planning to go from Sacramento, up the 101 into OR, then back. What do I need to do to make sure it all comes back in one piece? My first thought was to create a brace to prop up between floor and roof when we're on the road. The only thing I hope to not hear is "don't take it!" Thanks for any advice peoples!    |
|
Dave K
Active Member
Posts: 159 
Likes: 54
1958 Franklin Travel Trailer
Currently Offline
|
Post by Dave K on Aug 3, 2015 17:57:36 GMT -8
Welcome and congrats on your new purchase! I am new also and don't have the experience to offer any good advice but I do know the feeling of eagerly wanting to take it out and use it! You've come to the right place to learn from the best and most helpful people! Good luck with it!
|
|
nccamper
Administrator 
Posts: 7,744
Likes: 2,871
1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
Currently Offline
|
Post by nccamper on Aug 3, 2015 19:33:49 GMT -8
Welcome! When you say "slumped down" do you mean the corner is coming apart or the entire corner of the camper has slipped down a few inches? The wall is actually sitting on an edge board that often rots. If the wall is slipping down or swinging in the breeze at the corner I wouldn't take it on the road until you opened it up to take a look. You can open up the corner by removing the jrail up a few feet, unscrew the front skin along the bottom and pull a few staples that you'll find where the front skin wraps around the side. Then pull the nails (possible screws) where the skin wraps around under the side. If the edge board is just rotted in a small area you can repair it. If the wall is rotted then you're not going anywhere. Sorry. This is our Compact. Notice the board along the bottom. Your camper has something like it that must be rotted.  This is not our camper but the photo shows you how most are framed. The board along the bottom of the wall is critical. The wall rests on it.  You'll find a few excellent videos on taking off (or just opening up) the skin at cannedhamtrailers.com. The videos were done by one of our members. |
|
|
|
Post by bigbill on Aug 3, 2015 19:47:00 GMT -8
This is a tough question to answer without seeing it in person. If you are going to take it then I would prop it up inside to take some of the load off of the rotted frame work. If you are lucky you won't have any problems, if not it might suffer a total collapse right in the middle of the highway and at 50 mph that could be very exciting possibly even fatal. Not trying to scare you just telling it like it is. I have seen people get away with it and others didn't. Good luck and let us know what you do.
|
|
|
|
Post by danrhodes on Aug 4, 2015 9:13:30 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by bigbill on Aug 4, 2015 9:37:02 GMT -8
Yep this proves it can happen to the best of us. It also proves what can happen if you hire someone else to tow it. Luckily they had the previous experience to salvage what they were left with, it could have been much worse. |
|
SusieQ
Global Moderator 
Posts: 4,781 
Likes: 1,197
'62 Shasta Compact
Currently Offline
|
Post by SusieQ on Aug 4, 2015 9:52:28 GMT -8
I would not take it on a road trip in that condition. I too towed one home in that shape or maybe worse, but I parked it once I got it home. You really don't want take a chance on it falling apart and you certainly don't want to ruin an enjoyable vacation.
|
|
|
|
Post by judyjudyjudy on Aug 4, 2015 13:25:14 GMT -8
YIKES!! Yikesyikesyikesyikesyikes…
He's (somehow all our things with wheels have become male) currently at a repair shop, getting the tail lights fixed, propane checked, bearings packed, etc. At my initial check, the walls on the side seem solid only the front corner problem. When I get him back home I'll definitely take a MUCH closer look and make sure that the brace along the bottom is sound!
We're scheduled to leave Sunday - fingers crossed! Thanks for the link danrhodes! I kept reading about collapse, but couldn't find pictures so I could understand what they were talking about. Visual learner here, needed images.
|
|
SusieQ
Global Moderator
Posts: 4,781
Likes: 1,197
'62 Shasta Compact
Currently Offline
|
Post by SusieQ on Aug 4, 2015 17:54:24 GMT -8
|
|
Dave K
Active Member
Posts: 159
Likes: 54
1958 Franklin Travel Trailer
Currently Offline
|
Post by Dave K on Aug 16, 2015 19:14:40 GMT -8
Judy, how'd you make out?
|
|
|
|
Post by gertietheglamper on Oct 28, 2015 20:06:14 GMT -8
This is what mine looked like. I slept in this one on the way home in a huge rain storm and not one drop of water in the trailer.    I'm extremely new to campers, trying to learn. We just bought a 54 Kenskill that doesn't leak inside. But pure saying it can be dry inside but still be rotting from leaks between the skin and interior? |
|
SusieQ
Global Moderator
Posts: 4,781
Likes: 1,197
'62 Shasta Compact
Currently Offline
|
Post by SusieQ on Oct 28, 2015 21:38:27 GMT -8
gertietheglamper, yes. But there are signs. The seller of mine said there was no rot but I knew better. Look the skins are bulging and the skin is torn at the bottom. When the boards rot and swell, they push the tin out.
|
|
|
|
Post by gertietheglamper on Oct 29, 2015 10:56:53 GMT -8
Thanks, SuzyQ. I guess most of us newbies buy a trailer not expecting bad things and then they pile up. The plus side to that is that you can repair it right yourself and know for sure it was done correctly.
|
|
SusieQ
Global Moderator
Posts: 4,781
Likes: 1,197
'62 Shasta Compact
Currently Offline
|
Post by SusieQ on Oct 29, 2015 11:31:49 GMT -8
I agree, gertie. Even though I I had to remove all the skins from my '62 and replace the ceiling and front and back panels, plus rotten framing, I know it is solid now and it proved itself on my recent trip. And I know EVERYTHING about it, including the way I wired it and all my mistakes, too. I would rather buy a rotten one and restore it than take a chance on someone's repairs that I did not actually see.
|
|
