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 !

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.

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.

Off Comes the Veneer!!

October 29,  2009

I found the fastest and easiest way to remove the veneer was to grind the heads off the nails with a disk grinder, pull veneer off the walls and then to pull the nails out of the studs.

After all the veneer was removed, I took all the insulation out to reveal the wiring  and plumbing. When I reached the point of replacing the insulation I would use 3/4 " Styrofoam insulation.

As you can see from the photo below the framing and studs below the windows had a lot of water damage. As a result of the damage from leaking around the windows, which is common on these Shastas, I will need to replace any damaged wood. The vertical studs were replaced with pine and the wood framing that the studs were attached to were replaced with treated pine. 

BEFORE

My son, Darin, who is a metal fabricator made
short work of providing me with new fenders for
the tire wells.  Thank Goodness for sons with skills!

READY TO ASSEMBLE

AFTER

Beginning the work on Sweetpea

Compose

 We backed the trailer into the shop and began to get excited about beginning the work to restore our little Sweet Pea on October 19th 2009.

 I decided to do an off frame restoration, due to rust on the frame and bumper. This way I could sandblast frame, prime, and paint. I will go back under trailer with a new floor.

 Fender wells were very badly rusted through. Fortunately, my son is a sheet metal worker and quickly made new fender wells for me.









I began to remove  everything from inside of trailer. I stored the cabinets so that I would have pattern when I began to rebuild. Water had damaged the veneer on the walls, cabinets, and built-ins.

While taking everything out of trailer, I took a lot of pictures and notes, knowing that I would need this information when I began to put things back. I could have saved some of the veneer, but decided to replace all the veneer with 1/4 inch pre-finished Birch veneer. The original veneer was 1/8 inch. I also would rebuild all cabinet frames out of solid hard birch.