dragonwagons
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Post by dragonwagons on Oct 4, 2017 18:24:32 GMT -8
Hey everyone, I thought it was time to make a few posts on the refinishing on our 1963 Shasta Astrodome. I will add more pics when I get a flicker account etc.. So this is just more of an intro at the moment. I run a small custom car and restoration shop just a little south of Salt Lake City, Utah. The kids had gotten old enough I wanted to go camping with them. I have gotten old enough I don’t like sleeping on the ground or setting up a tent, so I had my heart set on a cute little teardrop. Just something small simple and a great place to store your gear while you travel, light weight to be pulled behind almost anything and style to the nines. Sounded like a great plan until, I pitched it to the most beautiful woman in the world. I was quickly informed there is no bathroom. I thought yeah no tanks to take care of, no rv dump stations, nothing to winterize etc... I thought it’s perfect right? NOPE! I was then informed that I was very wrong, and then I was given the guidence of, “If you want me to come there will be a BATHROOM and space to put everyone inside.” So the hunt was on, something small enough to be easy to pull, yet fit all the new requirements. I searched all across the USA. I also travel a lot for work so I figured, Why not. I finally found the 1963 Shasta Astrodome just about 30 miles south of us. It was rough, very rough, but I figured it would be a good project for the boys, and a cheap way to try out some basic camping. Once again I was very wrong. Well this is way too many words and not enough pictures I know. I will try to fix this in the near future but for now here is a link to the pervious owners blog (I hope that’s ok) for now. The below link is how I found it (with pictures.) susiegobyebye.wordpress.com/Clint |
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aslmx
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Post by aslmx on Oct 4, 2017 18:46:01 GMT -8
I love that style. Be sure to post up pics. I couldn't get Flickr to work for me. I use tiny pic. It was down when the photo bucket crap was going on but my account seems to be working now. " The most beautiful woman in the world". I see what you did there.
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CorvettCrzy
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Post by CorvettCrzy on Oct 4, 2017 19:05:31 GMT -8
Welcome! Looking forward to seeing the pics of your dome. It sounds like you have the experience to make it something real special.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Oct 5, 2017 4:42:39 GMT -8
Welcome! "I have gotten old enough I don’t like sleeping on the ground or setting up a tent,..." I had that realization in Bryce Canyon when the temp hit 19 degrees one night. My wife woke up to find I had piled the clothes on top of my sleeping bag and wrapped my head with sweat pants like an Arab's turban. I always wonder how you get the door for the bathroom closed with the bed pulled out?  You’ll find tutorials showing how to link photos to your post here: vintagetrailertalk.freeforums.net/thread/7276/add-photos-hosted-flickr-tutorial |
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mrmarty51
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Post by mrmarty51 on Oct 5, 2017 5:24:47 GMT -8
I too am one that likes that style of a camper.
Appears You have found a nice one to work on.
If an Astrodome ever comes available in My area, I`ll be doing what is necessary to get it into My posession.
Might have to remove the bathroom facilities though, I do not deal well with them sorts of things. LOL
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aslmx
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Post by aslmx on Oct 5, 2017 9:26:22 GMT -8
I too am one that likes that style of a camper. Appears You have found a nice one to work on. If an Astrodome ever comes available in My area, I`ll be doing what is necessary to get it into My posession. Might have to remove the bathroom facilities though, I do not deal well with them sorts of things. LOL same here. I will have the emergency potty for the midnight emergencies. |
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mrmarty51
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Post by mrmarty51 on Oct 5, 2017 13:15:42 GMT -8
I too am one that likes that style of a camper. Appears You have found a nice one to work on. If an Astrodome ever comes available in My area, I`ll be doing what is necessary to get it into My posession. Might have to remove the bathroom facilities though, I do not deal well with them sorts of things. LOL same here. I will have the emergency potty for the midnight emergencies. When I am camping, it is usually cold, I mean below zero cold. I take along a shovel, a spud bar and a post hole digger. Off into the sagebrush, knock down a smallish hole about 3 foot deep. Enough said I think. LOL Of course, it is remote and nobody around, unlike a camping ground. LOL |
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Post by Teachndad on Oct 6, 2017 4:35:50 GMT -8
Welcome Clint. I loved your intro post. Fantastic. It's hilarious.  LOL! Your difference in perspective with your wife is classic. I want to use your post as an example of multiple perspectives in my Kindergarten class. (seriously) Looking forward to the story of your restoration. Cheers, Rod |
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dragonwagons
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Post by dragonwagons on Jul 28, 2018 14:05:22 GMT -8
The bathroom is still available even with the goucho pulled all the way out because the door folds in half, like the lav. door you would see on almost all commercial aircraft. The little bedside table makes for a stop too make sure the goucho is not pulled out too far.  20180726_170606 by Clint Dansie, on Flickr |
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dragonwagons
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Post by dragonwagons on Jul 28, 2018 15:08:53 GMT -8
We have fixed it up and used it a couple times but last year we had a propane leak coming from the stove. I had attempted to fix it multiple times it was a very tiny line that was aluminium, but failed. Not wanting to blowup the camper and possibly the family it was the reason to renovate some more. Time to remove the stove and upgrade the fridge. I measured out he space and decided that the Dometic rm2454 would be a good fit and it was a 3 way. Until it came. The fridge would fit the space just how I had planned except.... it was too big to fit through the door. Ok maybe the big window that spans almost the entire width of the trailer. Nope Choice one: Send it back and kiss the money for shipping good buy. Two sell it local (didn't think of this at the time.) Three make a hole big enough for it to fit.
I choose three
 Shasta Astrodome 1963 resto by Clint Dansie, on Flickr |
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dragonwagons
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Post by dragonwagons on Jul 28, 2018 15:21:58 GMT -8
Vintage purists look away. This is not for you. The skin was already torn at bottom of the door and I had previously made a patch and braced the door frame. I split the interior panel behind the hinge for the drop down table so most of the split in the panel is hidden. While I was there I figured it was a good time to add an outdoor shower. I like this spot because we have found with kids and dogs trying to clean off their feet before they get in (always sand IDK why) is the most challenging. Notice the lack of rot under the "Shasta" window just and ugly goop (silicone) job.  Shasta Astrodome 1963 resto by Clint Dansie, on Flickr  Shasta Astrodome 1963 resto by Clint Dansie, on Flickr  Shasta Astrodome 1963 resto by Clint Dansie, on Flickr I hope this picture size is working for everyone. 375 x 500 |
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CorvettCrzy
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Post by CorvettCrzy on Jul 29, 2018 23:41:37 GMT -8
Well at least it's covered, once it's painted it'll hardly show (clearing throat). But seriously, if our campers aren't comfortable we won't use them and then they just sit and rot a second time. I also veered off the purist path and installed an a/c unit. Boy I was glad I did camping in Utah at 100 degrees, hell fire for a Michigander.
Because I recently purchased a domed trailer (Franklin), and heard all about the cutter club and the leak prone dome - do you have evidence of leaks in yours? I don't see any, wondering if they're hidden some how.
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dragonwagons
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Post by dragonwagons on Sept 6, 2018 19:05:11 GMT -8
I had the kids help me put a clear poly on the inside when we first got it. Big Mistake. I thought it was going to be more of a preservation not a restoration. (Another Big Mistake) So I fixed some of the things that needed attention right away. New brakes and bearings repacked. I had an equalizer hitch from a previous trailer, although over kill for this I had it, so on it went. I replaced all the water lines and changed out the holding tank for a new one with a sure-flow pump. Installed a new toilet for some important person. Had my Father sew up some new cushions and mattress. We used it this was a few times. This is from one of our trips down To Zions Park Utah the photo is from Ceder Breaks Utah. The Van pulled it over the Very steep grade with switchbacks.  20150820_172826 by Clint Dansie, on Flickr  20150820_172903 by Clint Dansie, on Flickr  20150820_172853 by Clint Dansie, on Flickr |
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dragonwagons
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Post by dragonwagons on Sept 6, 2018 19:28:19 GMT -8
There was a rip that had been "fixed" I think they used liquid nail to fill a rip in the Skin on the roof right above the door. It eventually failed and I was put a proper patch on it. A piece of .063 AL with pop rivets all the way around put down with Dicor. This is what will lead to the "snowball effect."  20180725_174616 by Clint Dansie, on Flickr I also lost most of the pics that I had from when I rebuilt the door. It was one of the first things I did. I hated the sagging door and it was caved in on the bottom. I didn't want the flimsy flexing door so I rebuilt the structure out if AL square tubing. I also braced it triangularly but I lost all the pics of the finished product.  20141004_201851 by Clint Dansie, on Flickr |
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dragonwagons
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Post by dragonwagons on Sept 6, 2018 19:45:29 GMT -8
Ok here are the pics of it when the Previous Owner bought it. It was in mostly the same condition, when we bought it. You can see that someone extended the tongue some time in its life. It's not the prettiest but it is functional.  Untitled by Clint Dansie, on Flickr  Untitled by Clint Dansie, on Flickr |
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LOL!