elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Apr 15, 2015 21:12:33 GMT -8
Hi guys, I'm starting work again on my trailer after two years, (the 1949 Silver Lodger), that I'm totally rebuilding. There is no existing wiring to copy or anything. Anyone know of any good information on wiring a trailer, like a step by step sort of thing? Trailer Wiring for dummys?? Do I need DC wiring to interior lights? Would all the lights be DC? and just wall plugs 110? what all do I need to plan wiring for, inside. I have all the running lights wired already. I know, a lot of questions, just to start with. I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed. Wayne
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Apr 15, 2015 21:00:20 GMT -8
OK, its about 5 months later now and my shoulder is just about healed from rotator cuff surgery. I can lift my arm up over my head now (as of a couple days ago) after 6 months of therapy, so it's time to get to work on the trailer. I brought it home today from the storage lot to start looking some stuff over. I guess first I need to make a new door. I have no old one, either, so this will be a scratch build. Then I need to start doing wiring for lights and plugs. All I have done, so far, are the road lights.I have no plumbing either for that matter, so I need to set up all systems and I'm pretty much clueless on all that stuff. In my planing I've been just glossing over this step but now it's here, before I can do the woodwork, which I'm actually good at.I'll have more questions about all this that I'll put under the proper headings for electrical and plumbing, I guess. Wayne, in trouble now, Evans
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Apr 1, 2015 14:27:41 GMT -8
I had a chance to take another look at this trailer today. Very cool. IT looked longer in the photos than 16' IF you haven't seen it yet take a look at my site SilverLodger.com. A 1949 Silver Lodger. Mine was in much the same shape as yours, a lot of rot and no interior when I got it. I'm going to start work on the interior very soon. I tore a rotator cuff in August and am just about to start working again after recovering from the surgery.
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Mar 30, 2015 20:47:02 GMT -8
I love those old 40's trailers. I have a 49 model myself. How long is the box?
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Mar 29, 2015 14:42:03 GMT -8
There is a stripper called "Aircraft remover" (in case you need to get rid of a pesky aircraft) than really takes paint off of metal. One might want to sample it on aluminum sheeting though. I like that one for great results, easily. Of course it looks like what you used worked fine, but others mentioned poor results. Wayne
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Mar 27, 2015 11:48:19 GMT -8
I was looking at an antique dresser one time, many moons ago, IT was $700. at the time I thought wow that's a lot, isn't it? I asked a friend, is it worth that much? He said an antique is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.You can have it appraised but Tuesday afternoon it's worth your highest bid. Wednesday, maybe worth twice that, who knows. We had our house in Colorado for sale in 2012 for $329,000. It showed a lot but no takers for a year. We did two price reductions and still nothing. Inventory was getting very low all along the front range though so my realtor said, lets take it off the market for a couple days, it will show up as a new listing again, we brought the price up to $339,000 (the ad said new price ) it sold in a week for $329,000. go figure.
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Mar 26, 2015 16:06:21 GMT -8
My old 1949 trailer was build from the factory in just 1/2 inch plywood with battens at the joints for nailing the 4 panels, of each side, together. In my opinion, its a really crappy way to build anything. If you have to nail into the edges of a sheet of 1/2" plywood it will split, especially if water gets to it at any point. A lot of the nails in the corner joints of mine could be removed by hand, there was just nothing holding it together any longer. I rebuild using framing when I redid the whole box. My steel rolling frame was good, as were the aluminum skins and windows, everything else was trash. I had no trouble in Colorado getting a new title. Get a letter from the current owner stating everything he knows about ownership though. that may be helpful.
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Mar 26, 2015 15:56:32 GMT -8
The biggest problem with gluing things is if you have to take something apart later it's a real B**ch. I like screws myself. Wayne
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Mar 26, 2015 15:49:02 GMT -8
Mine, a 1949 trailer has a steel u channel frame and some gross members of steel welded to the frame sides. A 2/4 down the center and a couple 2/4's on the ends. I think there are 2/4's at the plywood seams too so it can be nailed to something. Mostly the steel is what's holding everything up though. I think the 2/4's are there for stiffeners only, to keep the corners from drooping and to hole the seams together. These aren't constructed like a house. There really isn't much under them, I was surprised when I got down to the frame. I have pictures of my frame at SilverLodger.com. I even added some more steel when I rebuild it. Wayne
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Mar 26, 2015 15:40:09 GMT -8
SuzieQ makes a very valid point there about moving a gutted trailer. A bit of wind could collapse the whole thing on the road. It's also good to keep it all braced even while rebuilding so things stay square during the rebuild. It's not an impossible task though, if you have the skills and tools. Things are always easy if you know how. Wayne
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Mar 26, 2015 15:31:58 GMT -8
Just a point, My son's mother and law just bought a 71 Tag Along. She is replacing all the 70's junk paneling with new birch. It was all painted pink anyway, and there was a lot of water damage. She and a girlfriend want to travel with the sisters on the fly group starting this spring. In my eyes that should add value but will it ever translate into $$$, who knows.
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Mar 22, 2015 21:51:45 GMT -8
Sorry, I haven't been on here for a few days. No the silver Lodger is shiny aluminum. Google silverlodger.com My web site will come up, with all the pictures so far. I'm hoping to pull it out of storage and start some work in another week. My shoulder is just about healed now so I can get started on the interior Wayne.
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Mar 16, 2015 20:27:16 GMT -8
Very cool trailer and great restore as well. Funny, My 1949 Silver Lodger had the same cross hatching on the doors and drawers. Same fir plywood too.
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Mar 9, 2015 14:55:19 GMT -8
Cool trailer, really. Curved pieces can be laminated, using thin enough strips to make the bend and layered up until the thickness is right. You have to make a form and clamp and bend the pieces around the form with glue in between the layers. IT really isn't all that hard.I'm a wood worker by trade and can be of more help if I can, just ask. My site is SilverLodger.com I have some pics of laminated top rails. Wayne
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Mar 9, 2015 14:19:47 GMT -8
I often feel sort of sorry for people who can't actually do the art. they miss a great experience in completing a difficult project themselves, and "how does anyone" live without a garage full of tools.I can't even imagine. But on the money side, I"have" to do my own work, it's the only way I can have anything cool. I have to scale my life down to what I can afford. That doesn't mean I have to pass on everything just I have to work in the proper realm. I do collect art, so go figure.
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