msgoehring
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Just call me Margaret the shellac, buff, sand an shine queen.
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1957 Westerner Deluxe
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Post by msgoehring on May 11, 2016 20:49:33 GMT -8
Hi, My husband and I were talking tonight about moving our Westerner to the location where we will be doing the majority of the work on it,, and I was wondering if it would be safe to remove the lower kitchen cabinets, appliances and the dinette benches before we move it or if it would be to unsteady with them out. We will be taking it over 30 miles to the new location and there is a pretty steep hill going into the town. We are going to be doing the stripping and refinishing of the wood at our house, along with refurbishing the appliances because there isn't enough room at my uncle's to do everything, not to mention the drive really cuts down on how much time and how many days we have to work on her. Also, I've been wondering if it wouldn't be better to just rebuild the kitchen cabinet and reskin the dinette benches. Here is what they look like now.   I have to take better pictures of the dinette and kitchen, but hopefully you get the idea of what we are dealing with. TIA, Margaret |
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Post by vikx on May 11, 2016 20:56:32 GMT -8
I would leave it intact to tow. The cabinets lend a lot of structural integrity. If there is rot (we all know there is), they will help keep everything together for the trip...
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nccamper
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1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
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Post by nccamper on May 12, 2016 11:31:53 GMT -8
I agree, the more support the better.
I'd save the kitchen cabinets and maybe rebuild the benches.
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mckaylife
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66 Shasta Super 18
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Post by mckaylife on May 12, 2016 21:23:41 GMT -8
I just finished stripping out all the interior from my Shasta to replace the floor and repair the subfloor. I was shocked out how wobbly the walls are without the interior. I was afraid an animal on the roof would collapse the whole thing. It was not until I got the floor to ceiling cabinets out until I really felt it.
If it's unrealistic to wait be prepared to build in some wood supports before transport.
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Lola53
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1953 Westfield Westerner
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Post by Lola53 on May 12, 2016 21:37:00 GMT -8
I just pulled out Lola's kitchen and front bench to repair the bowed out street side framing. It was not an easy removal and just about destroyed both the kitchen sink cabinet and the front bench. The kitchen cabinet had been cut up and botched by a previous owner when they installed a propane / electric fridge and replacement oven. What the installers left, was pretty well eaten up with rot from water coming in from the jack leg exterior louvers (bottom of kitchen frame was rotten to the point where it was not connected to floor and hanging on wall). Still, they both fought like the dickens to come out - a vast assortment of non-original screws, nails, and adhesives. For structural integrity, I would leave cabinetry intact if at all possible until the framing is complete.
Mark
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Lola53
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1953 Westfield Westerner
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Post by Lola53 on May 12, 2016 21:50:36 GMT -8
... ... FYI - besides the obvious, there are a couple of strange things in this picture. 1. Lola has a 2" x 4" with front beveled edge going from side wall to side wall on the floor. The board is butted up against the front wall paneling w/ carriage bolts through the 2 X 4 and attached to the "C" channel steel frame. 2. The diamond pattern metal is a bodge, duh, should be birch. :-) Here's a picture showing the 2 x 4.  Mark |
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msgoehring
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Just call me Margaret the shellac, buff, sand an shine queen.
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1957 Westerner Deluxe
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Post by msgoehring on May 12, 2016 21:51:40 GMT -8
WOW Mark, I'm glad you told me. I think we will definitely leave everything in place and just pull the appliances after it is at uncle's. Those need to have the house paint stripped (even INSIDE the icebox, I swear these people had more paint then sense) and of course the stove needs rebuilt. I won't use it till I'm 100% sure it's safe.
Thanks all for the advice. We had seen so many totally gutted trailers for sale we weren't sure which way to go.
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msgoehring
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Just call me Margaret the shellac, buff, sand an shine queen.
Posts: 860
Likes: 303
1957 Westerner Deluxe
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Post by msgoehring on May 12, 2016 21:59:54 GMT -8
... I have to take better pictures of the dinette and kitchen, but hopefully you get the idea of what we are dealing with. TIA, Margaret FYI - besides the obvious, there are a couple of strange things in this picture. 1. Lola has a 2" x 4" with beveled edged going from side wall to side wall on the floor where the front wall paneling meets floor (w/ carriage bolts down to "C" channel longitudinal metal frame). 2. the diamond pattern metal is a bodge, should be birch. Mark Not sure about the 2x4, do you have a pic of that I could see. It doesn't appear to have been anything like that there and the other interior of a '57 that I saw was exactly like mine, even the metal in the same place. I think it was the inside of yours I looked at, but your year was different as far as the shape of the benches also, in '57 they are rounded. Here's a better view of the dinette I got today. 
Ignore the bare plywood boxes, those are something a PO did when they took out the seats. |
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Lola53
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1953 Westfield Westerner
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Post by Lola53 on May 12, 2016 22:05:57 GMT -8
WOW Mark, I'm glad you told me. I think we will definitely leave everything in place and just pull the appliances after it is at uncle's. Those need to have the house paint stripped (even INSIDE the icebox, I swear these people had more paint then sense) and of course the stove needs rebuilt. I won't use it till I'm 100% sure it's safe. Thanks all for the advice. We had seen so many totally gutted trailers for sale we weren't sure which way to go. Please, don't give me credit for the cabinets providing strength. I'm a newbie like you. There are many wiser and much more experienced members that have described the strength provided by the cabinets in previous posts. I believe them. Mark. |
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Lola53
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1953 Westfield Westerner
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Post by Lola53 on May 12, 2016 22:12:54 GMT -8
Not sure about the 2x4, do you have a pic of that I could see. It doesn't appear to have been anything like that there and the other interior of a '57 that I saw was exactly like mine, even the metal in the same place. I think it was the inside of yours I looked at, but your year was different as far as the shape of the benches also, in '57 they are rounded. Here's a better view of the dinette I got today. You beat me too it, I was just modifying my first post to include a picture. I can take more pictures of the board this weekend if that will help. I think the board provides a place to attach the birch and "kerbing" / skin along the floor intersection. Yes, the benches are different. I like the rounded corners. Perhaps Teachndad or one of the other 57 Westerner owners can send you their bench photos. Mark |
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Lola53
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1953 Westfield Westerner
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Post by Lola53 on May 12, 2016 22:34:39 GMT -8
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