4sweeper
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1963 Leisurehome
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Post by 4sweeper on Apr 17, 2014 9:54:05 GMT -8
I introduced myself and my project to the forum a few days ago here: vintagetrailertalk.freeforums.net/thread/1910/1963-leisurehome?page=1&scrollTo=19356I'm feeling a little shy about starting a thread on my humble project, a 1963 Leisurehome trailer, but what the heck... I've seen so many helpful comments posted on other threads by people much more knowledgeable and experienced than I am that I'd like the same chance to get any input and suggestions that anybody cares to share with me. As well, I've done a lot of searching and only turned up three or four other trailers of this make on the web, and only one blog that showed any work being done on a Leisurehome. Maybe something I put on here will help somebody else. My project will not be a show quality restoration, just a repair and upgrade to make her safe and functional for our family while trying to keep her appearance nice-looking and as faithful to original as much as possible. (On a small budget....as many other people have.) Hopefully she'll end up sound enough to last another 50 years! We have no plans to sell her when she's finished and at this point nobody in the family is into rallies and shows...just camping. As the work is done though, I'll try to keep in mind that whoever inherits her down the line may want to go that route. Who knows?! We have the room to store anything we remove indefinitely, and we'll try hard to keep it a real possibility to someday do a complete glamorous restore like so many of the beautiful projects I have seen here. Last fall I pulled the back window and skins and did some re-framing, then winter came and work was halted. The first thing that happened this spring was some interior removal. The original owner of the trailer used it as his permanent home and had installed a propane heater to keep him warm through the cold Canadian prairie winters. It had never been removed because "we might use it someday". It's been over 30 years that I've used the trailer now and we've never started it up. I've always hated it because it was big and clunky and blocked half the doorway. Finally, I over-ruled my husband and took it out. Bonus: This ugly heater vent will be gone! But, I'll have a hole to disguise. I'm planning to find some way to put an exterior power outlet here when the re-wiring happens. The propane fridge came out. It barely kept things cool. An electric fridge will go in here.
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SusieQ
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'62 Shasta Compact
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Post by SusieQ on Apr 17, 2014 10:04:59 GMT -8
Thanks for sharing your pics, 4sweeper. Looks and sounds like you are doing a great job. Glad you over ruled the hubby and took that ugly heater out! I'm sure whatever you do with the hole will be better than having the ugly heater in the doorway!
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Ten
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70 Shasta 16SC + 1964 Airflyte
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Post by Ten on Apr 17, 2014 10:55:44 GMT -8
Don't be shy...we don't bite! (Nibble a little maybe...) You just never know what simple thing taken for granted may be just the thing someone else is trying to fix or do, and get the inspiration or education to do it from. I believe that someone somewhere benefits from every piece of info and experience shared.
Shame about your propane fridge...it is the same make and model, and almost the same age as one I have been testing from my trailer. It too will be replaced, only with an icebox rather than electric. And good call on the heater if you never use it. Vikx has a photo of a clever and easy fix for the scar left behind by the vent. Darned if I can remember which trailer it was on though...I'll keep looking.
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Post by vikx on Apr 17, 2014 22:30:11 GMT -8
It was on the Land Commander: Framing had to be squared:
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Apr 18, 2014 7:18:54 GMT -8
Almost makes me wish I had a big scar because I sure do want an outside outlet and don't have the heart to cut a hole in the side or floor.
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4sweeper
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1963 Leisurehome
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Post by 4sweeper on Apr 18, 2014 7:39:13 GMT -8
Wow! Thanks Vikx....you solved my problem right there! That looks really great. As soon as our snow melts again(yes,we just had a good downfall and have another 4-6 inches in the forecast for the next couple of days)I'm hoping to remove the skin on that side and could easily do the framing needed. SusieQ, I can see how an outside outlet would be handy, but I don't think I'd have purposely cut a hole either
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Hamlet
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Post by Hamlet on Apr 18, 2014 8:02:41 GMT -8
The fun (and funny) thing about these little trailers... and yours is going to be gorgeous, by the way... is that as long as you do it well, it's not necessarily expensive. Our little Hamlet (old Compact) had very little that was salvageable, including the skin. That's where we dropped most of the money we spent, on new skin and a paint job. VCT tiles are about the same cost as sheet vinyl, and will help keep the vintage feel. A fridge is a fridge, so electric will be great. Mostly, just make it work for you and your family, and it sounds as though you are already doing that. Congrats and welcome!
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Post by vikx on Apr 18, 2014 21:36:29 GMT -8
The "box" I used was a fuel fill access. It has the slanted area where the outlet is. Multitools are great for the cut out...
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4sweeper
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1963 Leisurehome
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Post by 4sweeper on Apr 19, 2014 7:51:54 GMT -8
Thanks Vikx. I spent a good amount of time online yesterday looking at options. One of our local RV dealers has an online catalog and I found a hatch with a solid back that I think would work. The back can be cut to whatever opening size/shape one needs. I'll check out the fuel fill access idea too.
I just bought a multi-tool last summer. Any excuse to get a new tool and I'm on it. A kreg jig is next on my list.
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4sweeper
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1963 Leisurehome
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Post by 4sweeper on Apr 19, 2014 8:22:47 GMT -8
We've got a snowy, sleety weather system hanging over us for the next few days so I can't get much done from the outside for a bit. I decided to pull down one of the ceiling panels which had some bad stains and lamination separation over the doorway area. I knew there were problems with framing rot alongside and just above the doorway. That will be worked on from the outside when I can get a few days of decent weather to open things up. I figured that pulling down this panel would give me a chance to see exactly what kind of condition the ceiling framing was in for sure, and it would make wiring easier. It was a pleasant discovery to find things in pretty good shape! One thing I've been pondering since I opened this up and discovered quite a bit of upward flex in the aluminum is the wisdom of sistering (is that the right term?) some frame pieces to the existing pieces in order to create a bit more of an upward curve in the center of the roof to keep water running off nicely. Is there any chance this would cause problems in those roof seams that have held up so well for so many years without my interference? (if it ain't broke, don't fix it) Or would it be a good preventative measure? Thoughts? I estimate that I could get a good inch of lift in the center without pulling the aluminum right tight. Here's a photo showing the condition of the ceiling. This trailer has never been stored inside or under cover until this last winter when I tarped it. She's held up pretty well for being 50 years old. Better than me I think (we're the same age!) Here's a photo of the damaged area above the door. The header above the door was completely rotted and there's some damage to a section of the rim board on the left. When I removed the j-rail last fall this was the only area where 4 or 5 of the screws had no grip at all and just pulled right out so this wasn't a surprise.
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Post by vikx on Apr 19, 2014 22:25:28 GMT -8
I think you curve idea is a good one. Not a lot, just to strengthen and add a crown to the roof.
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4sweeper
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1963 Leisurehome
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Post by 4sweeper on Apr 29, 2014 20:19:19 GMT -8
The forecast finally looks good for the next several days so I started taking the skins off the front so I can make repairs. It doesn't look as bad as I expected! Front end corners and window frame have rot damage. Front curbside rot above door. The hardest part so far has been removing the twisty nails from around the door.
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Post by vikx on Apr 30, 2014 22:50:36 GMT -8
OOOOooo ROT! Love it!!!
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4sweeper
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1963 Leisurehome
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Post by 4sweeper on May 1, 2014 21:18:00 GMT -8
LOL! Strangely enough, I'm having fun with it!
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4sweeper
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1963 Leisurehome
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Post by 4sweeper on May 9, 2014 16:57:52 GMT -8
I've been spending a lot of hours on the project and been making quite a bit of progress. I've been too busy to spend much time on the computer unless it was for research so I'll play catch-up with my photos now. Curbside wheel-well to doorway. Bit of a mess. Curbside wheel-well Back end, curbside, almost ready to re-insulate and put the skin back on. Front curbside, almost ready to re-insulate and re-skin. Beefed up the doorway framing. Added an outlet for a light above the stove area. Making good progress on the front, but still a few things to finish up.
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