Not a vintage restoration...

Hang in there, Ruderunner

And an update, no pics just yet though.

Finally got the furnace in and functional, sprung for a programable stat. Keep things at 50 during the week and 65 on weekends, plenty comfy for working.

Also got the remains of the floor off the frame and removed the grey and black tanks. Found a couple cracked welds on a couple outriggers but they won't take too long to reweld. Did tow thw rolling chassis to the scales and went across at 820#, not counting tongue weight which is probably another 80 lbs. While I had the trailer hooked up I also picked up some plywood and 2x12 for the floor. Might start ripping the 2x12 into 2x3 tomorrow.

Suspension seems to check out ok, brakes will need the works though. It appears that the axles were originally designed to be above the springs and have been switched to under. Thing is, the added saddles aren't welded to the tubes, just held in place with the u bolts and some sort of spacers between the top and bottom saddles. Not a big deal as I'm planning to make new saddles to relocate the axles a little closer together, nothing major an inch and a hilf or so per axle.

Kirk, not sure how many would follow our lead, seems most here are looking to actually restore a vintage camper. We're looking to build a modern camper in the spirit of vintage. Otoh, most of the build process here is about the same as some of you're complete rebuilds, we just don't have a template to follow. There's plusses and minuses with that, we have the freedom to do whatever we like but have to do the engineering on the fly.

I'm fairly convinced that there is a financial advantage to doing it this way but it does take some frugal shopping. In this area, vintage camper do exists but are in such poor condition that all would need complete rebuild and that would include most of the systems which aren't likely to work, or in the case of gray tanks etc would need added. But, newer clunkers are easy to find and generally have modern systems that may still function as well as keep things legal and safer (better couplers, gray tanks etc)

While we're not keeping an actual account of how much this is costing, I have beeen keeping a running tally in my mind. Purchase was swapping a brake job about $300 value, scrapping the aluminum netted $100, extra windows and fresh water tank was about $50, the 2x12s from last week and some misc hardware from the trailer supply was about $100. So far we're in for $350 or so. Note, I got the plywood for the floors as a freebie from work, 20 sheets of 3/4 7ply but they're 3'x4' sheets leftover from building some shipping crates.

As for a progress report, I got the 2x12 ripped down to 2x3 for floor framing and loosely laid out the plywood for the floor. I did manage to relocate the axles last week, and found that I can get them 4" closer together and still maintian tire to tire clearance, good enough. A discovery was made during that process related to the blowout that tore up the streetside of the camper. Looks like the front spring hanger was bent or broken off and repaired crooked, it's pushed back about 1/2 inch. I'll account for that when I make the new spring saddles for the axles.

Mama bear is starting to see things and we spent a couple hours yesterday about where we want to place certain items in the camper. She' more of a visual person while I'm more mental (in multiple senses) meaning she has to see things and I can picture them inmy mind. We're not making big changes to the plan, just finalizing details before anything actually gets assembled. The 50's/70's kitchen table set I grabbed will be cut up to become our dinette and vanity. By 50's/70's I mean the table is old school 50's diner style with cracked ice forminca and extruded aluminum wrap on chromed curved legs, the chairs have the 50's frames but decidedly 70's upholstery, yuck. New upholstery will be done, not yet sure on colors.

Hopefully next weekend I can get the metal supply shop and start on extending the frame and repairing/relocating the outriggers. And after that I plan to remount the water tanks to get them in position before actually building the floor. It's still a long way from being a camper but at least it's starting to move in the right direction.

Love your old truck! And hope your visit to the vet had a good outcome.

I guess this is a quarterly update. Its rained here nearly daily since my last post. Which has been good news bad news.

I got to make significant progress on a project truck since I wasn't able to work outside often, but on dry days it was all out efforts to keep up with yardwork and gardening. Things are drying out lately and the upper garden is doing nicely, actually already picked some potatoes and radishes. The lower garden was devastated, looking like we lost 90 percent of what was planted.

Ive gotten most of the floor insulated and decked, heater vents in and tank vents relocated. Mocked up the bathroom fixtures and marked the location for cutting plumbing openings. Got the location of the two interior walls marked and purchased the flooring.

Helpful hint, Menards has rolls of vinyl flooring pre cut sizes of 6x9 for only 20 bucks.

Speaking of floors, i have lots of screw holes and a few seams to level out. Im going to sand things flatter but ill still have to fill some divots and seams. I have a can of floor leveling compound but its basically plaster and im worried about it cracking and popping loose from vibrations. Would say latex caulk be ok? It'll stay more flexible and can be spread smoothly.

Progress pics!


Here's the center kitchen area, at almost 7 foot long by almost 8 foot wide this should be comfortable for us to cook and eat in.  Obviously right now just open space but for reference, the drill is about where the hot water tank will be and the fridge will be against the wall in left foreground. Sink wil be above the water tank.

20190908_132245[1] by Andy Malycky, on Flickr

Bedroom bulkhead, still need to hang the door and part of the bed base is visible

20190908_132226[1] by Andy Malycky, on Flickr
Better view of the bed base and the start of the pass through storage

20190908_132216[1] by Andy Malycky, on Flickr

The throne room should be big enough for two people to use at once.

20190908_132201[1] by Andy Malycky, on Flickr

I wanted to post some pics of the vintage Ford taillights I want to use but I can't find them right now!

Upcoming work, finish the pass through and bed stand and start rough framing of the side walls for the bedroom.  Then the bathroom.  Still have to finish framing the bulkheads but need to sort out where to locate the vents and plumbing for the shower before finishing the kitchen side of those walls.

Then onto building out the kitchen cabinets, locating the sink and plumbing the propane lines and water lines.

On a sad note, Kitten who I mentioned previously was fighting a sinus infection, ended up having a tumor.  We had to put him down last week.  Mama is bummed but moving on.

Or save precious room by installing the hard-to-find over/under commode. I thought I saw a picture of one but thankfully that SNL episode has been deleted.