Forester Model 14 finished

Decided to create a new thread as its been over 90 days since Ive hammered on the  Vintage trailer talk keyboard.  I sold this trailer while I was trying to sell my 1964 Forester model 14.   I wanted to show the prospective buyers what the framing  work looked like before the insulation and skin when on etc. The husband liked what he saw and the wife really liked the color scheme of the one I was still working on.  So They bought it. It took my 90 days to finish.   I prepped this trailer  for rooftop air with oversize rafters clad in .030 aluminum c channel, 12 ga wire feed and a separate fuse box. In the end they chose a window  AC unit that I hid under the Davano. It slides out and is exposed like a regular window unit should be. This in itself became an extensive modification that Im not going to get into with this thread! 

Streetside view 
Campurist Model 14 Forester 1968 curb by Campurist, on Flickr

Curbside view with new owners tow vehicle
IMG_8251 by Campurist, on Flickr

AC unit deployed

IMG_8167 Campurist Model 14 Forester by Campurist, on Flickr

Front view with "ghost image of Forester Logo

IMG_8172 Campurist Model 14 Forester by Campurist, on Flickr

New super sized luggage door. 

Campurist Model 14 Forester by Campurist, on Flickr

Lower curbside detail. this 68 is trimmed out like a 64 with  J rail inverted and run along the bottom. It also uses the  period correct heavy duty edge guard  for the wheel well trim

Campurist Model 14 Forester by Campurist, on Flickr

Topside of the curbside.  I really like the texture of the door playing of the smoothness of the siding and all those screws! 
IMG_8159 Campurist Model 14 Forester by Campurist, on Flickr

Texture! 

IMG_8048 Campurist Model 14 Forester by Campurist, on Flickr

Going inside

The interior was taken back to a 1964 look with the brass screw fist nails, smooth amber birch and birch trim.

IMG_8187 by Campurist, on Flickr

The dark vinyl wood grain was replaced with retro betty laminate and trimmed with aluminum nose facing  instead of the brown rubber.  
IMG_8229 Campurist Model 14 Forester by Campurist, on Flickr

Gas light  gets its fuel from all new lines and two stage regulator.

IMG_8190 by Campurist, on Flickr

Tiles cut to original 9x9. plastic edge guards replaced with extruded aluminum corners


IMG_8239 Campurist Model 14 Forester by Campurist, on Flickr

cushions upholstered to match 1964 style with fabric over vinyl , vinyl piping with access zippers.

IMG_8231 Campurist Model 14 Forester by Campurist, on Flickr

Original hydro flame heater tucked around the corner with the cover of an older heater visible in the entry.

 Untitled by Campurist, on Flickr


A piano hinge allows access to a deep pantry, wine/liquor cabinet.

IMG_8242 Campurist Model 14 Forester by Campurist, on Flickr

upper kitchen cabinets 

IMG_8225 Campurist Model 14 Forester by Campurist, on Flickr

original fusebox with added AC fuse box with on/ off switch

IMG_8227 Campurist Model 14 Forester by Campurist, on Flickr

I modified an older stovetop to fit the space by installing the trim  surround from a "newer" stove. There are certain things inside a trailer that give visual cues to the trailers age and a stove is one of them. I want to remove any  hints that this camper was a 1968.  I didn't  make it look like 1950, but felt I could shave a few years off !  

IMG_8224 Campurist Model 14 Forester by Campurist, on Flickr

Davano area with  "new" period correct writing desk deployed
IMG_8222 Campurist Model 14 Forester by Campurist, on Flickr

Davano area you can see to the left, a vent for the AC. The Davano access door has been slotted to allow the  Hidden AC unit
to inhale the from the interior. 
IMG_8211 by Campurist, on Flickr

The AC unit does not impinge on the storage space beyond the left side of the Davano
IMG_8213 by Campurist, on Flickr

The trailer originaly had the old three blade shore power inlet.  As the whole trailer got a rewire, I aded a 10Ga  feed wire. and updated with a modern shore power connection, 

Untitled by Campurist, on Flickr

Updated  modern shore power connection, and correct fridge vents

IMG_8077 Campurist Model 14 Forester by Campurist, on Flickr


Jumping around a bit. .... Here we go with sealing up the front!

IMG_7482 by Campurist, on Flickr

Sometimes i think a big flatscreen tv should go here and maybe a camera can give you a picture of whats join on outside!

IMG_7483 by Campurist, on Flickr

heres the whole shebang before routing off the excess
IMG_7486 by Campurist, on Flickr

Here it is after its haircut. Now the second layer of lamination can be applied !!!  The ceiling? wall panels act like a stress skin in this system and become part of the trailers structural integrity.  

Untitled by Campurist, on Flickr

the corners can relax a even out a bit once the mega staples are driven!  The staple size is common to the wood fence building industry.

IMG_7488 by Campurist, on Flickr 

The laminating strips are precut to size before starting

IMG_7499 by Campurist, on Flickr

the staggered pattern appears while gluing.

IMG_7514 by Campurist, on Flickr

you can see the mechanics of the front curve here before it gets covered

IMG_7494 by Campurist, on Flickr

the plywood acts as a backer board for the dinette hinge

Untitled by Campurist, on Flickr

not sure I covered the "tining" of the front and back edges somewhere else, so , yes like the original, areas that may take abuse from rocky roads or bad weather, get a layer of aluminum. 

IMG_7495 by Campurist, on Flickr

The table goes in. The screws go into the backer board.

Untitled by Campurist, on Flickr

The "rafters" for rooftop wire are doubled and wrapped in an aluminum c channel.  

Untitled by Campurist, on Flickr

The channels were cut on and bent on the brake

Untitled by Campurist, on Flickr
Untitled by Campurist, on Flickr


now jumping to the entry door.  It was rotten.

IMG_7970 by Campurist, on Flickr

The bottom  of the frame was reduced to clumps of detached wood and  wood dust.

IMG_7973 by Campurist, on Flickr

solution: make new frame and use those same funky corrugated fasteners as the original

 IMG_7987 by Campurist, on Flickr


Then spend the best part of  a day stripping the old paint of the skins.  I really like these micro diamond patterned door skins,and wanted to save them. 
IMG_7981 by Campurist, on Flickr

Seemed like a logical time to attack the lockset

IMG_7792 by Campurist, on Flickr

Im not a locksmith, but I know how to degrease, and re grease stuff and thats all this lock needed.

IMG_7795 by Campurist, on Flickr

Lets do some wiring. sample of 120VAC wiring for the awning outlet. Main thing here is the abundant use of the nailing protector plates. I went a little nutty with these.

Untitled by Campurist, on Flickr

DC 7 pin connector junction box. Everything is in there.  including Brakes, accessory wire,  and battery charge wire.

Untitled by Campurist, on Flickr

 giving yourself big loops of wire really helps when it time to fish that wire out of the little hole you cut through the siding to mount the light.

Untitled by Campurist, on Flickr

Grounding : I attached a big ground wire to a frame bolt to establish ground inside the trailer for a distribution block 

Untitled by Campurist, on Flickr

This is why you replace the brake wires. This was deep inside the boxed frame where a mouse decided to chew on it. 
Untitled by Campurist, on Flickr

found the wire!

IMG_8107 by Campurist, on Flickr

automotive style connectors  are used on the exterior  DC lighting

IMG_8116 by Campurist, on Flickr

The pile of lights gets putty tape and a grommet 

IMG_8114 by Campurist, on Flickr

The license plate holder gets the same treatment. BTW  this feature add also makes the trailer present itself as older than it is.

IMG_8104 by Campurist, on Flickr


ok lets insulate this thing!   The last one, I use foam. This one I used foil backed insulation  like the original with all seams taped. 

IMG_7783 by Campurist, on Flickr

Doing condensed version of siding  

IMG_7892 by Campurist, on Flickr

I use a router to cut openings and tape off the area to avoid scratches with the router. I add bees wax to the router path to keep the bit cool and melted aluminum from forming on it.
IMG_7893 by Campurist, on Flickr

I shoot narrow crown staples around the perimeter of the opening and pay attention not to shot them where a window or doorframe screw might land!

IMG_7895 by Campurist, on Flickr

Getting the roof on. I pull the roof over the top with the leading edge attached to a pipe.... with duct tape, lots of duct tape.  this is not a one person job!

IMG_8091 by Campurist, on Flickr

I use pipe and clamps as a pulley to tighten  the webbing material thats spans the trailer length and pulls the siding flat to the trailer. . Credit  Larry from Mobiltec!  Note: with .030 siding  this is a chore and will not law perfectly flat. use Larry's tips to work out any "bulges" that may form while fastening. 
IMG_8094 by Campurist, on Flickr

IMG_8093 by Campurist, on Flickr

windows and doors magically appear.  Note: the trailer does not have an axil yet. Theres a seven ft garage door this thing has to squeeze under!  I do not recommend others try this!!! 

IMG_8096 by Campurist, on Flickr


Windows get overhauled with with new seals, fresh grease on the crank assembly and a bit of shine, but not too much!
IMG_8032 by Campurist, on Flickr
IMG_8033 by Campurist, on Flickr

Ok that it for now!