SusieQ
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'62 Shasta Compact
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Post by SusieQ on Apr 16, 2015 6:00:21 GMT -8
I know the paneling is not the most beautiful interior but if it is not water damaged, then keep it. Replacing rotten framework is not that difficult. You don't want to paint it before it's structurally sound.
Mobiltec has videos of almost every aspect of tackling repairs. But when you start taking it apart, you will begin to understand how it is put together and it then it it won't be so scary.
The j-rails and awning rail are screwed on. The screws will be rusted and corroded so plan on spending some time removing them. Have a tool handy for the stubborn ones. I used a Dremel tool and cut slits in the heads so I could get a screwdriver in them. I'm going to that "as seen on TV tool" for my next one. After you get the j-rails off, scrape off the old putty. The skins will be tacked down with small nails and/or staples. The trim around the wheel well is screwed on, too.
Most likely places for rot are each of the four corners at the bottom, above the wheel well, the vent area and the back window. The bottom skirt board across the front of mine (65) is totally rotted, as in disintegrated. It was the opposite on my 62, the bottom rear skirt board was totally gone but the front was in good shape.
You may find monsterous amounts of rot, and you may find just a few bad spots. You really don't know until you look.
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benrogers
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Post by benrogers on Apr 16, 2015 6:46:15 GMT -8
Susie,
Would you take the door off too since everything else is coming off? I'm going to take some photos this weekend of the passenger side prior to doing anything and I'll start an ongoing thread for the repairs so everything is kind of concentrated there.
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RinTin
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Post by RinTin on Apr 16, 2015 6:59:11 GMT -8
Susie, I look forward to that link! I think my inexperience is what's got me rattled here. There are so many opinions and blogs on what to do and what not to do it's very difficult to determine the best approach. Don't get me wrong, I had planned on rebuilding the camper from the ground of if necessary because I hate the interior paneling and I know that most of it is stapled to the frame, so the skins would have to come off. Now, just to put on a coat of paint, not only do I have to remove all these exterior pieces but lift the skins for rot and without a garage that terrifies me. It's not about the tools or the woodworking. I can build and repair all types of stuff. I think a big part is about the time with the skins off if required, keeping the skins attached without the rails. I only see edge screws on mine. A simple paint job just got very complicated and it has me rattled. Ben Thanks for putting things in perspective, I was beginning to wonder if you were up to the task. If all you want to do is put on a coat of paint, slap on another coat of latex and be done with it. If you want to repair your trailer correctly, there is a process, that is what we are all trying to guide you through. In your situation, as part of the process, you need to come up with a solution to protect your trailer while it is exposed. It isn't difficult, many have done it, but it can be a pain in the ass. I am telling you this based on years of experience. My first career was as a roofing contractor. Here in the PNW it is wet from mid fall to late spring. Nobody calls a roofer when their roof isn't leaking. A roofer has to eat so we worked year around tearing off roofs and tarping off homes. We did this countless times for many years and not once did I have a failure. If I can protect an entire house with tarps, surely you can figure out a way to protect your tiny little trailer. The thing with a temporary cover is, they are temporary. Minimize your risk to exposure by minimizing the time under cover. Opening up your trailer requires a big commitment, which I suspect is what you are really terrified of. With the days getting longer, right now is the time of year to do this. So quit your hemming and hawing and get cracking on it.  |
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Apr 16, 2015 7:02:25 GMT -8
Yes, if you take that bottom panel off all the way across, then the door has to come off. Door comes off easily, too. You may find the board under the door is rotted, too. If you want to start really small, take your j-rail off the curbside front and take your door off. There is a small panel on the right side of the door. The front panel laps over the edge so you will have to carefully bend the edges back with out tearing the metal. Lift up the panel and take a peak or better yet, pull it out of the channel and take it off. The larger panels will come out the same way. I took the bottom panels off all the way around on mine and left the top ones and roof on until I had the bottom finished. It was easier to keep it covered that way.
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benrogers
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Post by benrogers on Apr 16, 2015 7:18:48 GMT -8
Greg,
It is a fear of commitment. I work 9 to 5 so I'm pretty much limited to weekends and weeknights provided I have enough light.
Susie,
That's a great idea. So those bottom panels just slide out of that channel where it's folded over with the upper panel?
Ben
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RinTin
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Post by RinTin on Apr 16, 2015 9:45:23 GMT -8
Greg, It is a fear of commitment. I work 9 to 5 so I'm pretty much limited to weekends and weeknights provided I have enough light. Ben While I understand you are trying taking everything into consideration, nonetheless, from reading your posts, in many ways you are getting way ahead of yourself and turning this into a mental monster. In the end you need to either commit or give it up. Nothing will happen until you make a decision and act on it. Are you in a situation where you could leave the trailer where it is and work on it for an extended period of time? 2-3 years even? If so, you are good to go. There are many many people who have done and are doing this while their trailers are under tarps. Your time constraints sound no different than anyone else here who is still working. It comes down to how bad you really want to do this and what sacrifices you are willing to endure to make it happen. Repairing a trailer is nothing more than a logical series of small projects. Your first one is to find a way to protect your trailer while working on it. None of us knew exactly what we were getting into when we started, but we all got started. There are more and more resources for you to learn from all the time. As you take the trailer apart, it will reveal itself to you and tell you what needs to be done. We are all here to share our experience and help you along the way. |
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benrogers
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Post by benrogers on Apr 16, 2015 9:48:32 GMT -8
Yeah your right. I need to finish one outdoor project and then it's time to start removing screws. I have a huge tarp and plenty of bungies and rope to cover an open side.
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MarthaS
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Post by MarthaS on Apr 16, 2015 10:59:24 GMT -8
Ben...you are actually in a great place. We did it wrong by doing some cosmetic fixes on our trailer and rot repairs from the inside. Instead of listening to the experienced group here, we thought, "come on..how hard can it be". Well, it is over 2 years now and just in December we took the skins off and are now doing it right. We could have had the trailer done twice by now if we had listened to the sage advice here. So, by you sharing your feelings here and being open to the guidance, you're already saving yourself time and money.
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benrogers
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Post by benrogers on Apr 16, 2015 11:23:19 GMT -8
Thanks Macnmrs. It's terrifying to be honest but we'll see where it gets us!
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Post by vikx on Apr 16, 2015 21:03:47 GMT -8
If I could give Macnmrs two thumbs up, I would.
You CAN DO THIS Ben!
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benrogers
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Post by benrogers on Apr 17, 2015 4:26:02 GMT -8
I'm starting to get a little excited. I'm sure some of my other hobbies are going to take a severe back seat, like model trains, but not fishing. Oh Hell No, not fishing |
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yas
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Post by yas on Apr 17, 2015 4:49:30 GMT -8
For me, fishing has suffered too. I just missed the spring caddis hatch on the Rio Grande :-(
It's not really the trailer that's the problem, it's having a job. Got to fix that ...
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benrogers
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Post by benrogers on Apr 17, 2015 5:02:42 GMT -8
We were down most of last year with injuries and never even got the fishing kayaks out so this year it's VERY high on the list.
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RinTin
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Post by RinTin on Apr 17, 2015 5:38:55 GMT -8
"Named must your fear be before banish it you can"
-Yoda-
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benrogers
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Post by benrogers on Apr 17, 2015 5:41:20 GMT -8
"Named must your fear be before banish it you can" -Yoda- She's been named ' Mayfly' |
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