thethird152
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Post by thethird152 on Jul 2, 2022 17:46:27 GMT -8
Hey gang! Relatively new member here, but I've been lurking for a while and doing lots and lots of research. Today, my project began. This will likely be a very long post, so bear with me. A few weeks ago I noticed an unfamiliar camper parked at my neighbor's house. I asked her what was up and it turns out it was her father's camper, and he had passed away a few years back. She had decided she wanted to refinish it and use it, but as she started digging in to it she realized she did not have the experience, tools, or time to fix it up properly, so she was just looking to sell it. The fact that I don't have the experience, tools, or time to fix it up properly either did not deter me in the slightest, so I offered her $500 and the deal was made. I brought it home (towed slowly and carefully, less than 1/2 mile on a dirt road) and started taking stock. The floor is mushy in spots, there's obvious rot in the expected places, the ceiling is sagging - you know, the works. Here it is the day I brought it home: All I've been able to find out so far is that this was manufactured by Majestic RV Corporation in Granger, IN. It is a 1979 model, manufactured in 1978. The company was formed in 1976 and dissolved in 1989. That's all I've got. Anyhow, anxious to start on my new project, as I'm sure most first-timers are, I started ripping stuff apart. I noticed the "shelf" holding up the fridge was rotted out, so I pulled the fridge out. I also yanked the water heater and the furnace. I got the cupboards over the sink/range taken out, and they were still in great shape. I started working on the dinette and that was a different story. There is a LOT of rot on the front end of this thing, and it had gotten through both to the benches of the dinette as well as into the cupboard/fold-down bunk above it. I got those things removed, then moved on to the bathroom. Somehow, in my haste, I neglected to take many pictures of the bathroom, but suffice it to say it was in rough shape. When I got the bathroom mostly disassembled I thought to myself "Self? You should probably educate yourself on best practices at the very least before you do more damage than you've probably already done". So, to this forum I came. I've done lots and lots of reading and watched lots and lots of videos. Since the floor is mushy, and given the rot on the front end (spoiler, there's lots in the back end too), I decided I needed to take this thing all the way down to ground and start over. Guidance here suggests that starting with the skin is the right way, so that's what I started today. Overall I'm pleasantly surprised - the wood on the ends definitely needs to be replaced, but the rest of it is still very solid. We'll see later in the project if I attempt to reuse any of it. This one side took me almost all day. Part of that is because I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm also going very slow and methodical, making this a learning experience. It was a good day's work, and I'm looking forward to digging back into it tomorrow. As I was finishing up for the evening the A/C in our house quit, because of course it did....on a holiday weekend. Hoping to be able to get someone out tomorrow to look at that so I can escape into the house to cool off from time to time. Unforunately, most of this work will take place outside. I did run out to Harbor Freight today and grab a gigantic tarp - we're expecting rain on Tuesday I welcome all comments, suggestions, guidance. I'm a total newbie at this and I love learning new things, so nothing is off limits. Thanks gang! Paul
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Hamlet
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Post by Hamlet on Jul 3, 2022 9:57:33 GMT -8
Welcome! You certainly do have your work cut out for you, but take heart! Some of the frame is quite salvageable. Other parts are, as is usual for all of us, worthy of the “Rot Hall of Fame.” If you have missed that thread, do check it out, it’ll give you hope.
You are going to wind up with a lovely late 70s trailer with most modern accoutrements. We look forward to watching your progress!
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Jul 9, 2022 10:57:02 GMT -8
Dang! Good luck..
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Post by Teachndad on Jul 10, 2022 5:07:28 GMT -8
Welcome! You certainly do have your work cut out for you, but take heart! Some of the frame is quite salvageable. Other parts are, as is usual for all of us, worthy of the “Rot Hall of Fame.” If you have missed that thread, do check it out, it’ll give you hope. You are going to wind up with a lovely late 70s trailer with most modern accoutrements. We look forward to watching your progress! Paul, Just a comment on tarps. The cheapest tarps at Harbor Freight are poorly made from my experience. If they spend any time in the sun, they will deteriorate within a few weeks. Placing a layer of plastic sheeting underneath the tarp will reduce the chance of leaks through the weave of the tarp. Use minimal thickness of 6 mil, but 9 mil is best. Make sure you cover any sharp edges with rags. Blue painters tape and old rags can work for this. Rod
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Jul 10, 2022 5:28:10 GMT -8
Welcome! You certainly do have your work cut out for you, but take heart! Some of the frame is quite salvageable. Other parts are, as is usual for all of us, worthy of the “Rot Hall of Fame.” If you have missed that thread, do check it out, it’ll give you hope. You are going to wind up with a lovely late 70s trailer with most modern accoutrements. We look forward to watching your progress! Paul, Just a comment on tarps. The cheapest tarps at Harbor Freight are poorly made from my experience. If they spend any time in the sun, they will deteriorate within a few weeks. Placing a layer of plastic sheeting underneath the tarp will reduce the chance of leaks through the weave of the tarp. Use minimal thickness of 6 mil, but 9 mil is best. Make sure you cover any sharp edges with rags. Blue painters tape and old rags can work for this. Rod Actually the best thing you can do tarp wise is to buy your tarps from Tarpsonline Dot Com. I've been buying their tarps for a few decades now and nothing stands up to the elements like these do. I have 4 year old tarps on trailers and I get hot sun and high winds all year long. Very high winds. Northern Nevada is tough on tarps. And the prices are just a tad bit higher than the ones in the big box stores. Even with shipping. You can't go wrong with tarpsonline. I buy the Silver Poly tarps.
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preacher
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We have finished the restoration/remodel of our '68 Frolic. We hope to see you on the road.
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Post by preacher on Jul 10, 2022 12:14:07 GMT -8
Thanks, Larry. That tip covers a lot.
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thethird152
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Post by thethird152 on Jul 11, 2022 4:15:17 GMT -8
Thanks to everyone for the input on tarps! I hope to have the walls and roof off this thing soon, at which point I can store them inside, along with the trailer frame. I have plenty of space, but insufficient doors. Larry, I'll definitely check out the tarp website you mentioned. Well, we had a beautiful weekend here in central Michigan so I spent most of it working on this little project. Got all the windows removed and everything else off the sides, then pulled the skins off everything. I expected to find a ton of rot and decay in the vicinity of the bathroom, given there was a shower installed, but to my surprise that part of the framing was in great shape. Lots of rot at all four corners and around most of the windows. As a newb not knowing what to expect, I was surprised to find most of the butyl tape at all seams was still tacky and pliable - I expected it to be a dried up mess. I believe I've identified the cause of the sag in the photos of the rear of the trailer. It looks like supports just rotted out, allowing gravity to take over. The roof needs to come off next - there are a few vents up there that are quite tricky to reach, and now that I've seen the state of the framing there's no way I'm putting my weight up there. I'll get it figured out. Here are a few more pics, enjoy! ~Paul
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Post by vikx on Jul 11, 2022 10:36:02 GMT -8
Interesting stack of wood alongside the front window... You're getting closer. Hang in there.
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thethird152
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Post by thethird152 on Jul 11, 2022 11:25:01 GMT -8
I'm having a great time working on it! I'm sure there will be periods of burnout, but I'm in it for the long haul. And just like I told my neighbors who called me crazy - worst case scenario I have a bunch of firewood and a dual axle trailer for $500 In my day-to-day I'm a computer guy - I work from home and fly my desk around all day long. Having a hands-on project is something I really enjoy, and I've restored enough Coleman lanterns that I needed something new
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Post by Teachndad on Jul 12, 2022 4:58:45 GMT -8
Hi Friends,
Ewe! Look at the rot. You are making good progress. Even "newer" trailers can have rot.
For help on how to remove the roof, do a search on "Mobiltec rolling the roofskin". Larry has a good video on this. You need two people.
Cheers,
Rod
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thethird152
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Post by thethird152 on Jul 12, 2022 7:29:16 GMT -8
For help on how to remove the roof, do a search on "Mobiltec rolling the roofskin". Larry has a good video on this. You need two people. Thanks Rod! I have watched a TON of Larry's videos - and he'll be gaining a new Patreon supporter shortly - including the one about removing the roof. I'm still a few days off from removing the roof - I"m pretty sure the whole thing will fall wide open once that roof is off. I'm really taking my time and getting accurate measurements for the framing that still exists so I can keep the rebuild on point. I've been learning SketchUp (I'm a computer guy after all) at Conan's suggestion (Trailer Trash to Treasure - another informative channel on YouTube) and transferring all my measurements into it. I have SO MANY QUESTIONS and even more ideas and it's taking a tremendous amount of willpower to not ask for input on all of them at once. I promise though, I'll keep this methodical and search for answers before I blindly ask questions Thanks for the encouragement so far everyone! Rain last night and more in the forecast for tonight, so I won't be getting much done until later this week. Paul
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Jul 12, 2022 8:43:40 GMT -8
The "newer" trailers generally have more rot in them and it happens in less time than the older trailers. The mid-century modern trailers built from 1945 to 1965 had the best protection against water damage. The fold over and J Rail are the reasons. All of the "newer" trailers use corner cap with the metal butted up to the corners with no fold over and that is the crux of the problem.
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thethird152
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Post by thethird152 on Jul 12, 2022 12:15:06 GMT -8
The "newer" trailers generally have more rot in them and it happens in less time than the older trailers. The mid-century modern trailers built from 1945 to 1965 had the best protection against water damage. The fold over and J Rail are the reasons. All of the "newer" trailers use corner cap with the metal butted up to the corners with no fold over and that is the crux of the problem. Awesome info, thanks Larry! Yes, this trailer had corner cap (at least that's what I'm assuming - a metal rail with screws run through it that then had a pliable vinyl-ish cap that slid in over the screws). What caused the switch? My guess would be cost savings, but I'm brand new at this.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Jul 13, 2022 7:08:20 GMT -8
The "newer" trailers generally have more rot in them and it happens in less time than the older trailers. The mid-century modern trailers built from 1945 to 1965 had the best protection against water damage. The fold over and J Rail are the reasons. All of the "newer" trailers use corner cap with the metal butted up to the corners with no fold over and that is the crux of the problem. Awesome info, thanks Larry! Yes, this trailer had corner cap (at least that's what I'm assuming - a metal rail with screws run through it that then had a pliable vinyl-ish cap that slid in over the screws). What caused the switch? My guess would be cost savings, but I'm brand new at this. Yes it's a lot less labor to install the roof metal and corner cap rail or Top Mold Edging as it's called by some. And the corner cap itself is cheaper... In my class I teach how to "uncut" the corners that the manufacturers cut in order to save on costs. If you're putting a new metal roof on I highly suggest going with fold over and J rail.
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thethird152
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Post by thethird152 on Jul 22, 2022 10:58:41 GMT -8
Hey gang! Not a ton of progress lately: between the heat and taking DW on a long-overdue vacation the camper just took a back seat for a few days. I'm getting right back at it though! I finished building the curbside wall in SketchUp and I've found it to be pretty helpful. It took me longer than it should have, but I was learning the software as I went. Streetside wall should be much quicker. When I finished the diagram in SketchUp I ran the dimensions from front to back and they came in at 15' 2 13/16". I ran outside and pulled a tape for the same measurement and it hit right on 15'3". 3/16" is lost somewhere in there, but I'm not sweating it a ton. I'll have the existing walls for templates and I imagine there will be some fine tuning as I move through this project. I'll keep everyone updated as I progress - didn't want you all to think I had given up already Thanks, Paul
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