54-55 Shasta camper frame off restoration the rebuild begins

Thanks. I don't plan to do 70 but need to make sure what the limit is. I am still playing with load and hitch height at this point and will also need to look at my tongue weight. Being that everything moved and changed along the way it will take a few times to get it right. Last time I drove it, it wasn't loaded.

My first camping trip is Friday with a 2 hour drive so I want to make sure I test it out before going that far.

Thanks I will look at adding the sway control as well.

I haven't used a load leveler for quite some time. My trailers are all around 1800 to 3000 lbs, so I don't see the necessity. I guess it depends on your vehicle and what you're trying to accomplish. I think sway bars are better than load levelers for sway. Up and down the weight distribution hitch might help.

Haven't tried the Harbor Freight one. It seems overkill for a vintage trailer, rated at 10,000 pounds. I would try to get a lighter rated set. They weigh a TON and do put stress on the vehicle. Be absolutely positive your hitch is class III and is bolted to the frame. I had a welded hitch break off my truck after a long trip.

Thanks everyone for the nice comments and the help.

Last night I worked on staining the strips that will be used to cover the seams.
Cleaned the work bench and put away lots of stuff
Added stop chains to the doors that when opened to far hit the ceiling
Started installing a sway bar, but will need to get the hitch piece welded on as well as the ball for the trailer.

This leaves me another question:
If I get someone to weld on the trailer do you have to do anything special with protecting electric stuff?

Also 2 days from my first camping trip, I am getting excited! 

Today is the day. I got the sway ball welded on yesterday and now I am ready to go. I did have one issue with the camper yesterday, the globe off the veritas gas lamp broke. We leave at 1 for a 2 hour drive (I hope) and will set up for the first time.

I was thinking about what I got done since April 1st and figure 4 months (160 to 180 hours) to do a total frame off restoration was pretty good. I have about 8 hours or so of trim, metal band and other misc small items left to do and then I figure 100 hours to buff the camper but I think the buffing will be done next year. (Or maybe I will let is stay a sleeper outside and gem inside)

I will post when I get back and let you know how it went.

Tell your wife... great job!

I am back and the first camping trip went very well. The weather was great and my wife had a great time.

Here is what I learned:
-Need a power strip with a 5ft cord because my wifes coffee maker and toaster had to be used on the floor
- bring gloves with next time for the cold nights around the campfire
- need a table cloth with clips
- need a cover for the greasy trailer ball
- make sure the fan is turned down on the dyson fan/heater so it doesn't sound like a jet plane taking off in the middle of the night
- need some type of garbage container for outside
- a porta potty is a life saver at 1, 2, 3 etc in the morning.

20170908_165855 by Tom Ress, on Flickr

The work is slowing and should come to an end at least for this thread within the next week. Last night I did the following:

Added dust covers to the back of the bench seats
Started added the seam strips to the ceiling
You will notice that the wood is solid birch. The neighbors grandpa milled these for me. 

20170911_205448 by Tom Ress, on Flickr