|
|
Post by schweetcruisers on Dec 17, 2014 19:46:47 GMT -8
Where you draw the line on restoring a fairly rare trailer? Do you put it back as original as possible? Or do you modify it at will? Here is my conundrum, will it hurt the value and desirability if I modify some of the cabinets from their original design? I like a design from another manufacture but it would blend well in the Kenskill, I also prefer some details of the earlier kenskills. Most if the cabinets I'm thinking about redoing are damaged from rot or are delaminated and need to be rebuilt anyways, so do i rebuild or modify?
|
|
|
|
Post by universalexports on Dec 17, 2014 20:39:57 GMT -8
the short answer is it depends, if you are doing it to resell later I would stay original, most would prefer to buy a stock unmolested trailer, even if they plan on modifying it like they want it. no ones taste is the same. what you think is a cool mod might be a deal breaker with a prospective buyer, but its hard for them to argue with anything if it like it came from the factory, however if you are planing on keeping it forever, do what you want and make it yours.
|
|
|
|
Post by Teachndad on Dec 17, 2014 21:25:34 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by vikx on Dec 17, 2014 22:07:14 GMT -8
I say it's your trailer and make it YOURS. Tasteful modifications are OK in my book. Unless you have a museum quality trailer that will be totally restored to original, mods are accepted. I'm not saying modern countertops in a vintage trailer belong. Try to stay with the vintage look and feel.
And take lots of pictures for us!
|
|
John Palmer
Senior Member
Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
Posts: 1,623 
Likes: 574
Currently Offline
|
Post by John Palmer on Dec 17, 2014 23:13:45 GMT -8
Schweet, in my mind, "tastefull, period correct", and "quality done" modifications are improvements to make it more useable. For example, I have a Sirrus satellite radio and a hidden micro wave in my 1958 Mallard, and I don't think it takes away from the overall vintage look.
Now if we are talking about a museum restoration, that will never be used, it has to go back to original.
So........the deciding factor is "will you plan to use it"?
|
|
SusieQ
Global Moderator 
Posts: 4,781 
Likes: 1,197
'62 Shasta Compact
Currently Offline
|
Post by SusieQ on Dec 18, 2014 6:00:17 GMT -8
I was a little surprised to see this post from you Schweets. You have such a beautifully restored trailer, I know you understand the attraction to the vintage pristine restorations. I think it totally depends on the trailer and your intended use. Restore or remodel? Fifty years from now, will it matter if someone wonders if it was original or not? It saddens me to see vintage trailers lose their true vintage components but as my brother in law, who restores vintage cars, told me, "It's only original once." Once we start taking them apart, they are no longer "original" in the virgin sense. I'm sure whatever you do will be quite beautiful.
|
|
kirkadie
1K Member
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 556
'69 Serro Scotty Hilander
Currently Offline
|
Post by kirkadie on Dec 18, 2014 6:11:18 GMT -8
SQ nailed it for me;
"It's only original once".
Scotty's construction techniques were so shoddy there's no way I want to replicate them... minimal framing, stapled cabinets shot from the inside with 'too-long' staples, then bent over outside..
bent cardboard for the bathroom(?) wall.
nun-huh, not going to repeat their mistakes.
|
|
|
|
Post by schweetcruisers on Dec 18, 2014 7:53:05 GMT -8
I was a little surprised to see this post from you Schweets. You have such a beautifully restored trailer, I know you understand the attraction to the vintage pristine restorations. I think it totally depends on the trailer and your intended use. Restore or remodel? Fifty years from now, will it matter if someone wonders if it was original or not? It saddens me to see vintage trailers lose their true vintage components but as my brother in law, who restores vintage cars, told me, "It's only original once." Once we start taking them apart, they are no longer "original" in the virgin sense. I'm sure whatever you do will be quite beautiful. So the funny thing about my Shasta is it's anything but a pristine original restored trailer. The thought behind the Shasta was to make it look like something they could have built. Besides cutting off the "dome", my Shasta originally had the built it "bathroom" which was too small to use so we turned that area into a closet, when I rebuilt all the cabinets I did them with round corners (not something offered for '61). It has a true full size bed and since it's a bigger bed I recessed the night stand into the wall of the cabinet so the bed could pull out. I Added some scalloping on the shelf above the bed as it was just a plain shelf, and rebuilt the gaucho bed with integrated legs that are reminiscent of a piece of Heywood Wakefield Modern furniture. My thought is to do pretty much the same idea, make it look like something Kenskill could have done, and unless I take it to Pismo for judging I don't think anyone will ever know. The conundrum I have is this is a Fairly rare trailer, as it's a one year only body style with the rear fin, and one year only paint scheme on the outside(not sure if it will be repainted that way again) and I'm guessing the 23 1/2' body style wasn't a big seller and even less with the optional twin beds instead of the standard full size bed and I'm guessing very few exist today in either configuration. So here is the basic plan... 1) Rebuild the upper front cabinet(due to rot) in the 1960 Kenskill Style, my '61 has 4 flip up doors, the '60 has 2 flip up doors and a stylize shelf in between. 2) Redo the back splashes, the faux tile is actually in really bad shape and the "grout" had been caulked over and over through out the years, the '60 model had a Formica backsplash. 3) Replace the counter tops, while I love the Kitchen's laminate, it is cracked and peeling on the corners due to the sub-straight Kenskill used (particle board). They also used a different Laminate on the dinette table(whitish gray), a different laminate in the Bathroom (pale yellow) and yet a different laminate on the sliders in the bathroom(white) Also the way Kenskill built the cabinets and counters the only way to remove the particle Board sub-straight is to disassemble and rebuild the cabinets, Hence I have the opportunity rebuilt them into something really special instead of just a plain box. As far as using it or not, if we keep it we'll definitely use it, technically it is for sale as I type this but it's not listed anywhere and I'm not actively seeking a buyer right now! |
|
