Truck and trailer together

 This will be my last post for a couple of months as the trailer and truck are finished on the out side. I took this picture in the fall when leaves had already peaked but still had some color. This is the first time I had the truck and trailer hooked together. I am going to have to buy a hitch that drops down a little more so the trailer will be level when I pull it.

 This was my dad, Milo Clay Miller's truck,  he bought it in 1965. It is a GMC fleet side long bed. I had the truck restored this past summer and that was been a dream come true for me. This truck has the 305E V6 engine in it and four speed transmission .

 I took the ordinary wood that was in the bed out, and bought some hickory, planed to the correct thickness. I then ripped the boards to width and used dado blades to cut groves in boards. This turned out to be quite a project and needed some help to rip, and grove the boards.

 When dad bought the truck it had painted grille's and bumpers I replaced those with the chrome. I also bought chrome smoothie wheels for the tires. My wife thinks I am going through my second child hood.  She is probably right, but I sure enjoy the looks I get driving down the road.

 Here you can see the inside of the cab and how it was painted. I had carpet put in and the seat that was reworked and covered to match those in the trailer.

We used the trailer once even thought it was not finished on the inside. Didn't pull it with the GMC because the truck was not finished at that time . As soon as the whether permits I will start back on finishing the inside of the trailer, and will continue with my blog. Maybe this summer we might meet at a vintage rallies.

Building the Front Booth

May 18th 2011

In this photo I am starting to build the frame for the booth. I also installed a new circuit breaker so we could start tying the circuits together in the new breaker box.

The picture on the right shows the booth frame that goes in on the right side of the trailer just inside of the door. The frame was built out of solid birch  On the and front I used birch veneer, then used plywood place on the top to hold the cushions in place.







                                                                


                                                              I have completed the booth for the left side of the trailer that fits in next to the stove. all have put the cushions in place. The cushions were made out of 6 inch foam. They are very comfortable and the material used to cover the booth seats matches the seat that I had recovered for my 1965 GMC truck. We are going to use that GMC truck that we are going to use to pull the trailer.

 

This picture shows the completed booth on the right as you come in the trailer door.  The table sets between the two booths. Letting down both booth and rearranging the cushions makes a bed in the front of the trailer.

Installing countertop and appliances

April 20 2011





Here you can see the refrigerator has been installed on the left, both it and the stove are black. I would have liked to put in a two way unit but the expense was more than I wanted to pay. Each time we go out camping or to a vintage rallies it will only be for a few days at a time.

 I have the plywood counter top in place, with the the hole cut out for the sink. Next I will be getting the Formica ready to glue down .

The stove is set in place but before I fasten it down I will have to cut three pieces of Stanley steel to be put down on the back, side and bottom of this opening. The steel will help protect the wood from the heat put off by the stove .

In this photo you can see that the Formica  has been glued down. The sink and facet have been installed

Building closet cabinet

 April18, 2011



After building the frame work I would sand and finish the frame before installing it in the trailer.




                                                         
                                              

 This is the frame work for the closet and refrigerator, I also have some drawers below the refrigerator. This is one place I made a change from the original pattern, the old pattern had the refrigerator on the bottom, I wanted it higher so I wouldn't have to lean down each time I needed something out of the refrigerator.

You can see the space made for the refrigerator and the space for the drawers below it. On left side of the closet wall you can see has supports for shelves.

The frame work is just about completed and has been installed . The original refrigerator was gas but it was in bad shape, so I replaced it with a new one that is electric. You can see the vent in the side of the trailer that will keep it from over heating.






 In the bottom picture when when we had completed the frame we then installed a piece of finished birch veneer on the the outside of the closet frame.                                                               

Building Cabinet Frames

 April 9 2011


I used the old cabinet frame for a pattern but we did change it a little. We built the new frame out of solid birch. I bought a special jig at Lowe's so we could drill each piece of wood from behind and then pull it up tight with special wood screws that came with the the jig. This was much faster and easier than going back with wooden dowels. I tried that first, but got tired of throwing wood away when the dowels didn't match the holes. LOL








 

In these next two pictures you see the front of the kitchen cabinet, on the far right the gas stove will be placed in the center I have three drawers with a cabinet below. The far left will have cabinet doors with shelves behind the door and a drawer beneath. When the counter top is put on the sink will fit down in that space also.

Here the cabinet has been completed, and installed securely over the new fender well ready for counter top sink. Now for the other side.....










to be continued......

Making Sweet Pea look good from behind.

 March 20 2011




I found new reproduction tail light lens at Vintage supply company but could not fine new tail light's, so my son and I had to design a metal piece to snap rivet to the trailer that would hold the new lens. 

That wire that is sticking out is were the license plate light and trailer tag will go. Once you get into your trailer restoration you will see, if you can't buy what you need you are going to have to build it. That's all part of the fun!

I had already rebuilt this rear shelf time so that once we had the gaucho couch installed we could put it in.

Putting windows back in the trailer, and designing frame for front windows

March 20 2011


I tried to work on the  windows every chance I had so that when I reached the point I could put them back in they would be ready. It took a lot of time cleaning and polishing, but they are now ready. I ordered some Bula tape in order to seal the windows. I put the windows back in with stainless steel screws.

The two front windows I traced an outline on poster board and took it to a glass shop and had new plexiglass cut to fit.  Shalie researched on the computer to find a rubber seal that I could  put around the edge of the plexiglass. I designed a Birch wooden window frame so that when I placed the rubber and glass inside the window opening and then pulled the wooden frame up tight water can not get into the opening. At least that is my hope, as these windows are notorious for leaking.   let you know later how it works .

This is the new plexi -glass, with rubber seal installed and pulled up tight from the inside with the Birch frame. I think it really looks nice. It was really a matter of trying to design a way to make this window better than new. 










                  

 

The rear window had to be completely rebuilt plus putting a new screen in it. It took some time but I am pleased with the end result and  that is what matters. Getting that bead to stay in the channel when I was replacing the screen tried my patience. I can laugh about it now, but wasn't laughing at the time.  Ha Ha !

A Gaucho Couch = Sweet Dreams

March 14 211

My wife is checking our measurements, so this  bed will be just right when we finish building the gaucho couch. It was   cold that day but she is a real trooper and has been a big help. This is her little Sweet Pea, too. She is going to add the ladies touch to it when we have finished with the rebuilding.








                                                                                                                                                              

  We covered the plywood with carpet, so when we slipped it in and out it would not  scratch the veneer and also be easier on the cushions. That would also enable the carpet to provide a base for the cushions to set upon and protect that upholstery as well.                                         

  The gaucho couch in the back was reupholstered in a retro style with channel stitching below the cream panel at the top and silver beading between the two. The couch then pulls out to make a large bed. We replaced the 4" foam with 6" foam. We think it will be quite comfortable.

Building the bed frame for the double bed

February 17 2010

That is my wife and my son sitting to the left of me. We were putting our heads together planning the frame so that my wife and I would both be comfortable at night when we would be using the trailer.





This is my son and I burning a little night oil while working on the the rear bed frame. The exterior of the trailer is pretty close to as it came from the factory except for the furnace vent by the door. The inside I changed a few things a little to make it more comfortable for us. The original   seat went all the way across the back,but would not pull out for two people. We built the bed to where it had storage under it and also would pull forward so the back cushion could slide down and make a double bed

That is the framing in place and veneer running across the front. The two outside storage spaces you get two from the outside compartment doors, the center storage you raise the plywood that the cushions  rest on to get what you need .







This just another shot of the frame, and floor.

Putting the new floor in the trailer.

 October 19, 2010


We knew that we wanted a black and white checker board pattern, because it fit that time period for the trailers of the 60's. We looked for this flooring for quite a while before we found it, the correct size of tile which was in preportion to the size of the trailer. Fortunately, we found this Armstrong remnant for a 1/3 of what it would cost off the roll.








You are looking at the finished floor with all the veneer in place. Before we cut the linoleum flooring I had to prepare the floor of the trailer, fill any small anchor bolt holes are places that were not even in the floor. After that was completed I rolled out the linoleum floor cut it to fit around fender wells then started gluing the floor down working from the back of the trailer to the front. This is a two person job so that when you roll the flooring up some to put the glue down you don't tear it when you roll it back out in place.

This was not that hard to do, just measure twice before you cut and get some one to help you, it will make it go much better. I also want to back up just a little to tell you that before I put the veneer back in the trailer I took the trailer to a trailer repair shop. I had them run new wire from front to rear, put a new plug in on the front, hook up the electric trailer brakes and run new wire for clearance lights, turn signals and brake lights. I made sure all those lights were working before I put the veneer in.

Sweet Pea (In the beginning)

Gary has worked so hard to restore our little Shasta travel trailer. We named her "Sweet Pea" so I thought it would be good to remember where we started because this process has taken a year at this point.

Back to the inside to put in insulation and start replacing veneer,and new wiring

Augustl 1, 2010
I reworked wiring and added some extra circuits in the trailer,so we would have the outlets we needed and also be able to handle the amps. we would need. You can also see that the wooden studs in the walls and over head wood is only 1by2 inch pine. The ceiling was sagging down some, so I bought some 3/4 inch aluminum angle and screwed them in on each side. That would help a lot when I went back with the new Birch veneer.
 

The insulating of the  trailer went pretty fast, I bought 4 by 8 foot sheets of insulation and cut it to fit. The insulation was 3/4 inch same thickness as the pine wood. I would mark the width I needed with A black pen then cut it with a razor blade knife , I also had a Roto-Zip tool that came in handy.

You can see the copper tubing and wire in the side of the wall. That is when I got my note book back out and made a drawing of every stud and brace in each side,top, back, and front of trailer. When you begin to put veneer back in you have to know where those wires are so you want run a nail or screw in them.

I've been working hard replacing the insulation and veneer. The blue masking tape is marking studs where wires are going though the wall. Buying prefinished veneer saved me a lot of time and work. If you use prefinished veneer do not leave the tape on any longer then necessary.

It's beginning to take shape again and look like a trailer on the inside although still along ways to go. You are looking at the overhead cabinets in the front of the trailer.




The shelf in the bottom picture will go in the back of the trailer. I had to remake it with new veneer. I used the old shelf as a pattern and also reworked front shelf. Getting the veneer back in the trailer really stiffened the trailer back up.

Painting is Completed!! WooHoo!

July 8,  2010
 Finally the painting was completed and this is the finished product after all the tape and paper has been removed. I painted the trailer hitch and bumper white to match the trailer.

When you are preparing your trailer for painting take your time when removing dings and dents in the siding. I thought I had done a pretty good job, but when I begin to spray that finish coat on I didn't have any problem seeing the area's that I should have given a little more tender loving care. I am still pleased with how it turned out. This one and one more will be two for me! HA HA

I had already rebuilt  the door frame and prepared it for painting. So I just had to make sure I matched up the stripe on the door with the one on the trailer.









This has been a long process, sanding, priming and removing dents and dings. It is very important to
wear a good respirator during this process for your protection.
After having painted the trailer I removed the wheels and had them
powder coated to match the red stripe. I will next order baby moon hubcaps.