mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Aug 23, 2013 6:59:17 GMT -8
You're welcome Eliz.... Ya they really like to cover up the water damage with pillows, curtains, stuffed animals, you name it. Water damage is also covered up with paint sometimes. The 56 that I just finished a few months ago looked pretty good at first glance. The PO had covered up all the rotted birch with new birch. He didn't even take the old birch out first. It was a rotted mess when I pulled out the new paneling he had put in. The gentleman who had purchased the trailer paid a heck of a lot more for it than it was worth because he didn't know what to look for and he bought it on Ebay from 500 miles away. He had no idea how bad it was until I tore into it.
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Post by 62shastacrazymom on Aug 27, 2013 22:53:21 GMT -8
You know when I bought mine a year ago or so, I thought could just patch it, etc. But I found this site (the vstf) AFTER my purchase and decided to take the skins off. It then became a whole new animal I wasn't financially prepared for. But I was hooked and in love with my Shasta!! So, slowly she is creeping along, being rebuilt from all new materials and some that I could save. It has been guidance from Larry and others that have saved my sanity and kept me patient. I have so much to learn still. I am thankful tho that a good friend of mine whom wanted to buy a Shasta, came and saw my piece of junk without the skin on. She then knew that looks can be deceiving. The next day she drove a few hours to look at a compact that was asking $5000. She checked it out and said to me it probably wasn't worth $1000! I was so glad I could help her make a good decision. She now has a restored Aloja that is amazing and worth the fair asking price. But I'm thankful to u all for this post. Hope it stops people from doing what I did blindly. My end will be a happy one, but I am one of the lucky ones I think. And u cannot hire just anyone to help u fix these. Believe me I interviewed tons. The house thing is right---some guys had no clue the difference in how they are built. I finally found a craftsman who loves old trailers, and has a passion for his work. But not many are out there. Good luck and be realistic!!!!
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lrmoore
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66/67 go-tag-a-long
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66/67 go-tag-a-long
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Post by lrmoore on Aug 30, 2013 9:11:18 GMT -8
I just can not say enough THANKS to the wonderful people on this site. the videos have saved me so much rework to come it is amazing. When we bought our GTAL we knew it was in really bad shape, but I believe it is able to be saved. Most of them (small trailers) get torn down to the frame and used as utillity trailers on the farms, they are worth more for frame and axels. It just makes me sad, so I had to save this one, and maybe more in the future (don't tell Hubby).
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Sept 5, 2013 16:20:20 GMT -8
The passion I see on this board that people have for this work is truly inspiring. And remember that we never really stop learning. Just about the time you think you know it all, another trailer pops up that someone is working on and you learn something new again. The creativity that you people display is also very inspiring. Even an old hack like me learns something new just about every time I come to this board. I believe that there is no real destination in vintage trailer restoral. It's the journey that I enjoy. I don't know how many of you know this but I really hate towing trailers LOL.... And it's only because of the way other drivers treat us on the road. Nothing to do with towing itself.
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smccusk
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63 SC Restoration in progress
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1963 Shasta SC
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Post by smccusk on Sept 5, 2013 18:40:00 GMT -8
Moiltec, I hear you as far as towing a trailer goes, most people have no problem aggressively trying to get around you. One thing I've noticed with the Shasta is a lot of people actually slow down to check you out. I've owned a couple white box on wheels RV's, the vintage rig gets more respect...but I don't live in CA. As far as learning, you very selflessly post a lot of good info that a lot of folks (including myself) truly appreciate. Thanks again for your contribution to the vintage trailer world.
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mobiltec
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1954 Jewel In Progress...
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Post by mobiltec on Sept 5, 2013 19:09:40 GMT -8
Oh it's my pleasure smccusk. Say what's your real name? I know I've heard it before but can't remember. smccusk is hard to type LOL.. Besides, I don't know how to pronounce it.
In a lot of cases I get the same thing when towing a vintage rig. But in CA they don't appreciate the rig. They just want to get around you and they don't care if they kill everone including themselves to do it. Then there's the merging thing. I won't even go there LOL...
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smccusk
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63 SC Restoration in progress
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1963 Shasta SC
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Post by smccusk on Sept 5, 2013 19:48:38 GMT -8
Mobiltec, lol...nobody wants to merge behind a camper...I'm guilty myself. My name is Steve.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Sept 6, 2013 7:00:44 GMT -8
I was thinking Steve but wasn't sure.
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hyphen
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Post by hyphen on Oct 8, 2013 21:57:45 GMT -8
Thank you Larry for always telling it straight, your amazing videos on youtube & the endless advice you give. I watched your deville & shasta videos for hours, taking notes of course. I did a lot of homework before buying & like so many here, have months of work ahead. Sadly, winter is coming fast here in Southern Alberta. So, I will do what I can & impatiently wait for good weather. I love the tool tips you have also, I've ordered the multi-tool from Harbour freight, the screw pliers (after taking out too many screws with vice grips) & the silicone Re-Mov product. That stuff saved me hours removing possibly 12 tubes of silicone, on the dreaded dinette windows of my Shasta. A big thanks to all of you who have bravely traveled this rocky road before us & are so freely willing to help all of us newbies
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Oct 10, 2013 7:19:31 GMT -8
You're welcome hyphen... Say I've been in your neck of the woods a couple times. So beautiful up there. When I was in high school our band toured the area for the Calgary Stampede twice. I really would like to come back again some day.
Glad you are on your way with your project. Lots you can do during the winter in front of the TV and the fire place. Polishing up all the latches and other hardware with #0000 steel wool is one time consuming thing you can get out of the way. Refinishing the drawers and cabinet doors one or two at a time is another. Looking for and collecting parts like gas lamps or electrical supplies or even a spare tire are all things that can be done in the winter. Here I wait for winter to do my outside work and in the hot 100+ degree weather during the summer I do all that stuff inside in the air conditioning... LOL
Good luck and keep watching! And remember that we are all here to help. This place is a HUGE resource with lots of info and tidbits.
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moonshiner
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Post by moonshiner on Oct 15, 2013 21:01:29 GMT -8
Thank you so much Larry for introducing me to the VTF. I am going to go home tomorrow and work on my trailer. I look forward to networking with others on there love of the old. I will try and figure out how to post pics ...maybe tomorrow.
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mobiltec
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1954 Jewel In Progress...
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Post by mobiltec on Oct 15, 2013 21:17:16 GMT -8
Thank you so much Larry for introducing me to the VTF. I am going to go home tomorrow and work on my trailer. I look forward to networking with others on there love of the old. I will try and figure out how to post pics ...maybe tomorrow. Good to have you moonshiner.... There is a tutorial on here on how to post pics and it's pretty dang easy.... Welcome and enjoy...
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gonekayaking
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enjoying using my camper and not working on it anymore!
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1956 Shasta 1500
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Post by gonekayaking on Oct 17, 2013 8:24:11 GMT -8
Larry, you are such an asset to this forum, glad you overcame your skepticism about such boards and joined us. Without you VikX, Soup, and others too numerous to name, the vintage trailer restoration world woudl be a much smaller place.There are many of us here who wish we'd know about this or the previous forum BEFORE...but either way, I think a lot of us who have benefited feel like we must pay it forward, so here's to hoping that that continues for a long long time!
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mobiltec
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1954 Jewel In Progress...
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Post by mobiltec on Oct 17, 2013 8:43:46 GMT -8
Thanks Marguerite. I'm just paying back and maybe a little bit forward. I was a newbie once too but had no where to turn when I started working on my first "pre-owned" trailer back in 1978. I know I have photos of it. Maybe I can find and digitize them. Today it would be a vintage trailer. Back then it was actually pretty new LOL... You know it's a lot of fun just helping too. And I have learned a lot from this forum myself. I don't know as much as people think I do. I have just been through the process a few more times. Practice makes almost perfect you know. The best thing about this hobby is the people. The trailers just give us a chance to play together and the internet allows us to do it no matter where we are in the world too. The perfect marriage of low tech and high tech....
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corky
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1964 Shasta 16-SCS
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Post by corky on Oct 17, 2013 18:38:40 GMT -8
I'm also a Newbie on this site, and take delivery on my '64 SCS this weekend. Larry, I have already found your great video library at cannedhamtrailers.com, and very much appreciate your commitment to helping out! Although I have never laid my greasy fingers on an old classic camper, I've jumped into enough other old projects to look carefully before I leap! (Old cars, golf carts, boats, tractors, etc. etc. etc.) Your videos and this forum are going to be a BIG help! Pictures and more info to come when I bring her home and figure out the posting! ) Cheers, Corky
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