Post by RinTin on Jul 25, 2015 12:49:08 GMT -8
I considered salvaging the original cabinetry but did not like how the tall cabinet was configured. The ice box projected out to one side which always looked goofy to me. Not only that, when sitting in the rear gaucho, it was right in your face, encroaching into an already small space. The only solution was a new cabinet without the protrusion.
I thought about installing a 3-way refrigerator but decided to keep this trailer fairly simple. The trailer did not have an ice box when I purchased it. I had bought a new ice box from VTS that was a perfect fit for the original opening and I wanted to incorporate it into the cabinet. I also had a catalytic heater I wanted to include. There were only so many ways to lay this out in a single cabinet and it just didn’t work. The ice box was too big, so it will be moved to the kitchenette.
The cabinets were built using the same skin on frame method as the original’s, but with much stronger joinery.
New versus old:
The width of the new cabinet matches the lower portion of the original so the gaucho will fit correctly.
Checking the fit of the new frame before skinning:
The heater will be recessed into the cabinet. Here the fit was double checked with the skins applied and heater trim in place:
The kitchenette was more complicated. I also have a 1961 Aloha trailer in the que and the layout of its kitchenette would work perfectly for this trailer. Fortune was in my favor as I even had an extra ice box that I picked up a few years ago which was the correct size.
I needed the sink from the original cabinet to check for fit while building the new one.
The floor was marked where the cabinet would end and a template of the wheel well made.
The wheel well template was used to establish the clearances needed for a full sized face frame layout. It is much easier and more accurate to do it this way than just taking measurements. I allowed a quarter inch fudge factor for clearance around the wheel well, and crammed as much useable space into the cabinet as possible.
Don’t study my notes too hard, there are several mistakes that were eventually corrected.
Test fitting the frame:
New versus old, the new cabinet is 3” taller:
Final fit check with skins applied:
The dinette benches were then built. The seat platform will be recessed which makes it smaller, thus easier to remove and replace without beating up the wall paneling. I made the center supports removable so I could get the fresh water tank in and out, plus store larger items in the other side if need be.
My little pocket camera does not pick up the color of the paneling very well. I walked into the shop early one evening and there was some great evening light which created a really nice glow inside the trailer which I tried to capture.
My camera almost got it but not quite. I’d really like a decent DSLR camera along with the know how to use it.
I thought about installing a 3-way refrigerator but decided to keep this trailer fairly simple. The trailer did not have an ice box when I purchased it. I had bought a new ice box from VTS that was a perfect fit for the original opening and I wanted to incorporate it into the cabinet. I also had a catalytic heater I wanted to include. There were only so many ways to lay this out in a single cabinet and it just didn’t work. The ice box was too big, so it will be moved to the kitchenette.
The cabinets were built using the same skin on frame method as the original’s, but with much stronger joinery.
New versus old:
The width of the new cabinet matches the lower portion of the original so the gaucho will fit correctly.
Checking the fit of the new frame before skinning:
The heater will be recessed into the cabinet. Here the fit was double checked with the skins applied and heater trim in place:
The kitchenette was more complicated. I also have a 1961 Aloha trailer in the que and the layout of its kitchenette would work perfectly for this trailer. Fortune was in my favor as I even had an extra ice box that I picked up a few years ago which was the correct size.
I needed the sink from the original cabinet to check for fit while building the new one.
The floor was marked where the cabinet would end and a template of the wheel well made.
The wheel well template was used to establish the clearances needed for a full sized face frame layout. It is much easier and more accurate to do it this way than just taking measurements. I allowed a quarter inch fudge factor for clearance around the wheel well, and crammed as much useable space into the cabinet as possible.
Don’t study my notes too hard, there are several mistakes that were eventually corrected.
Test fitting the frame:
New versus old, the new cabinet is 3” taller:
Final fit check with skins applied:
The dinette benches were then built. The seat platform will be recessed which makes it smaller, thus easier to remove and replace without beating up the wall paneling. I made the center supports removable so I could get the fresh water tank in and out, plus store larger items in the other side if need be.
My little pocket camera does not pick up the color of the paneling very well. I walked into the shop early one evening and there was some great evening light which created a really nice glow inside the trailer which I tried to capture.
My camera almost got it but not quite. I’d really like a decent DSLR camera along with the know how to use it.
