jlr
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Post by jlr on Apr 15, 2014 16:46:58 GMT -8
My husband and I just bought a 1972 tag a long camper. We started ripping out the interior this past weekend and found a lot of rot in the front where the curves are. We haven't made it to the back yet but my guess is that it will also be rotted. It was so bad that the wood just crumbled in my hand.
We are handy but have never tackled anything like this before. I am worried now that we are in over our heads. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. We hope that once we rip into it more that it is just the front and back that is rotted and not the whole frame.
Does anyone have advice on the best and most efficient way to rip out the paneling to check the integrity of the rest of the camper?
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pirateslife
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1969 Shasta Compact
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Post by pirateslife on Apr 15, 2014 16:55:48 GMT -8
To the addiction. You are not over your heads. Start a cuss jar and you will pay for the rally trips in the future when it's done. As with any structural repairs, they need to be done with the skin off, and preferably rebuilt from the outside in... I am one of those that done the repairs with the skin off and going to panel from the inside, so I won't chime in much.... Btw, we gotta have pics, lol. Good luck and enjoy!
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soup
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Post by soup on Apr 15, 2014 17:12:21 GMT -8
Welcome to VTT jlr! Just do the front first and the front two side walls too if needed before doing any more demo in the back. The secret is doing small sections at a time. The Go-Tag-Along trailers are usually built like tanks. The late 60's model I had experience with had 2X2" wall frame sticks and was built better than the average Shasta. Little heavier trailer but would last a lot longer if the proper roof seam maintenance was performed. You can't eat a whole pie in one sitting without getting sick. You have to eat smaller pieces across several days before the whole pie is done. Good luck, enjoy the site. Start a restore thread in the restorations section and view a few of the builds there too before demoing too much of your trailer at one time. Let it simmer, soup
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Apr 15, 2014 17:24:08 GMT -8
You just never know for sure what's under there until you look. Don't panic! It's not as hard as it seems. Like Pirate said, tackle it from the outside in and like Soup said, small sections. Baby steps will get you a long way.
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Ten
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Post by Ten on Apr 15, 2014 17:50:43 GMT -8
Hi, and welcome and good luck!
Two things that come to mind after reading so far. First, no one ever says that taking on the repairs from the outside, that is, lifting and removing skins, is nowhere near as hard as it seems. Like anything else, go slowly, pay attention to how it comes apart because that is how it goes back together, don't try to do it all at once (lots of photos as you go by the way!)...Most importantly, don't be scared of it...
Second, as you start in on the repairs from outside, don't remove the interior all at once with the exterior. It is easier to replace in sections...it will hold truer to the original size, and otherwise you are at the mercy of the tape measure to fit everything back together again.
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jlr
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Post by jlr on Apr 16, 2014 9:01:49 GMT -8
Thanks everyone for the encouraging words and advice.
I will post some pictures soon!
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jlr
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Post by jlr on Apr 24, 2014 17:26:47 GMT -8
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jlr
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Post by jlr on Apr 24, 2014 17:29:07 GMT -8
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