cottontailfarm
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Metzendorf 1974?
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Post by cottontailfarm on Jun 10, 2016 12:29:21 GMT -8
I'm new here, I apologize if this isn't in the right section. My question for all of the seasoned members is: When the hunt is over and the trailer is home, where to start? I just purchased my 73 Shasta 1400 last week. Currently she's in a tire shop having the rims and tires replaced and her bearings packed so I can tow it home. There is old water damage in one upper corner where the fridge would have been. Roof vent is missing but has been covered with plywood and I didn't see any active wet areas. I also found a current wet area. The dinette seat in the back corner of the camper had a few drops of water inside the under-seat storage area. . No idea how it got there/where it is coming from. I'm sure 100 people will do this 100 ways, but I've never done this at all. How do you triage repairs? What do you start with? When you're going to have to teach yourself how to do it as you go? Thank you.
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Post by bigbill on Jun 10, 2016 12:49:16 GMT -8
Start by watching mobiltec's videos the are found by looking at the bottom of one of his posts. My suggestion is to start by removing the lower exterior sheet metal. This will allow you to acess the normal areas while structure damage is usually found. Then go from there. Good luck, have fun it is not as hard as it sounds.
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Post by bigbill on Jun 10, 2016 12:53:28 GMT -8
The most common mistake a newbie makes is trying to repair from the inside. Save yourself a lot of time, discomfort, and money by doing it right from the start. Trust me it is the easiest way, and you can do it.
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mobiltec
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1954 Jewel In Progress...
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Post by mobiltec on Jun 10, 2016 15:39:51 GMT -8
Bill has gotten you off to a great start. First, educate yourself. The best way to do that is to watch someone else. That's why I made the videos. The 57 Westerner Partial Project videos will show you a lot in a short amount of time. Then start watching the 57 Shasta series. When you feel you know enough to start working, go ahead and get into the "discovery" phase of the project. That means lifting or removing the lower side skins, the lower front and the lower rear skin to see what kind of damage you have. Then you can start just about anywhere. Complete one section at a time.
Don't look at your trailer as one huge insurmountable project. Look at it as a pile of little projects that once all completed, you will have a nice trailer to enjoy without fear of it falling apart on the freeway.
Good luck, welcome and remember that above all, have fun. We are all here to help you. Don't be afraid. We've all been where you are now.
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ladywendolyn
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1964 Golden Falcon
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Post by ladywendolyn on Jun 10, 2016 16:42:29 GMT -8
If you want a step by step guide with lots of photo's, buy this manual written by one of our own. It is the best $25 I have spent on my trailer. I keep it on my workbench to refer to constantly. You can check it out here. vintagetrailerrepairmanual.weebly.com
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nccamper
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1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
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Post by nccamper on Jun 10, 2016 18:30:28 GMT -8
You're getting some great advice.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is to gut everything at once. It becomes overwhelming and you lose your template.
I like to start with the side walls working from the bottom up. Then I move on to the front lower panel, the rear lower panel before shifting to the roof. But everybody has a different way of working.
Enjoy.
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cottontailfarm
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Metzendorf 1974?
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Post by cottontailfarm on Jun 10, 2016 19:17:59 GMT -8
Thank you so much everyone. I'll start going through videos tomorrow. The idea of taking an exterior panel off of this thing (and putting it back on, ha!) makes me feel ill at this point. Time to start studying.
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Post by bigbill on Jun 11, 2016 16:31:18 GMT -8
You will find that taking exterior panels off and reinstalling them is a vary simple step once you do it. i have built many campers from scratch but the first time I pulled an exterior panel off made me nervous as to how it would line back up but it went back with no problems. Just watch the videos and learn then proceed slowly till you get the hang of it. Many of the trailers you see on here were rebuilt by women, some of them even did it barefoot. You will find some really good advice will come from some of these women who was as nervous as you when they started their first rebuild. Just remember if you don't know, ask, it will save you time and money in the long run.
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cottontailfarm
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Metzendorf 1974?
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Post by cottontailfarm on Jun 20, 2016 18:38:39 GMT -8
Just wanted to say that I've been watching mobiltec's videos and man oh man, thank you! I started out worried sick about this project and now I am so excited and can't wait to roll up my sleeve! The way everything is broken down in the videos is just fantastic. I learn by watching and this is like standing alongside side someone while they work. Perfect!
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Jun 20, 2016 19:14:48 GMT -8
I'm glad the videos are helping. You will still have a lot of questions but you can ask them here and between all of us we can usually come up with some kind of answer..
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Post by svanland07 on Jul 9, 2016 17:11:08 GMT -8
Where are these mobiltec videos? YouTube link??
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Ten
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70 Shasta 16SC + 1964 Airflyte
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Post by Ten on Jul 9, 2016 17:44:37 GMT -8
You can find them easily by searching "mobiltec" on Youtube, or they are all available through mobilstec's website, cannedhamtrailers.com . Here is one place to start: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy_KlnaYJDs
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mobiltec
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1954 Jewel In Progress...
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Post by mobiltec on Jul 10, 2016 17:25:21 GMT -8
Where are these mobiltec videos? YouTube link?? It's best to go to the website. They are all listed so what you want is easier to find than searching You Tube... www.cannedhamtrailers.com
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