Tweaking the Closet with Panel Box and Trims--

 

We have been in limbo with this side of the camper. 

The biggest part of what you are seeing here will be seen from the door… well, maybe half. The other half, the breaker box will not bee seen. It will be enclosed within the closet.

Currently, Well it was a hot mess!

Previously,we pieced in small pieces mainly to hold the insulation up while we worked inside. Our thoughts were we’d come back and do a trimmed out board and batten look to this section.  It is also where the potty sits.

We still needed to work on the wiring before completion. The more we looked at it, the more we said, “Lets work on it next weekend.” 

‘Next weekend’ was this weekend. We took all that small paneling out of there! It’s gone! Then we replaced it with a much larger, whole piece; and went back with some trim over the seams.  It cleaned up nicely!

We also had to move the closet we were building. It houses the refrigerator and hopefully, the a/c when it’s all completed. Where did we move it you ask?  Just 4 inches to the right.  That outlet plug needs to be INSIDE THE CLOSET and not inside the potty area.

We added a door to the front, bottom section; the wheel well is under there and it will be extra storage. The left side of the closet was also closed in.

Now that is done, we can build the shelf for the A/C with a drain and a pan it needs to be vented outside via the vent you see in the top there (there is a vent behind the fridge,too). Also, this cabinet will be insulated. The compressors for both these units will throw off hot air; there’s no point in trying to cool hot air. Once it’s complete it will be a closed off unit.

I’ll be back to show you the bed/deck and carpeting we purchased to cover the floor and the deck for the mattress. This carpet is made from recycled water bottles. It will look great installed!

Grace and Peace!

Re-Building with some Salvaged Materials

Last week… we worked on the bed-frame…and the kitchen.  This little hutch is built from salvaged materials. 

The Lil’ Camper that Could has been donated lots of salvage perfect for this project!
Doors:  from my daughter house they re-did their kitchen 3 years ago before moving into their house.
Spindles: I  curb-shopped a demi-lune table a couple of years back.  The table has met it’s purposed and is now part of the camper!
Wall Panels:  paneling from the daughter’s home, flipped to the wrong side. (to be painted)
More panels:  Some of them weren’t salvageable as a whole… so we have been ripping them down to 2 inch strips for trim! (seen above/below along the seams)

We built an open shelf along the front. Also, installed new plugs and a breaker box… pictured below. 
The white vinyl panels are what we did NOT tear out. My plan is to cover the ceiling in a new vinyl contact paper that is decorative. But first, I washed these down last week… they were pretty grimy!  **See below for the before… very grimy!!! I will cover this after the painting is done.


We are still searching for DATE/ MAKE / MODEL of our Lil’Camper… I was told to check the breaker box.  We did…only found the serial number for the breaker box. Anyway… we were shopping for new breakers and a very knowledgeable older gentlemanly sales clerk told us that our breakers are an after market part now.  …AND VERY PRICEY.  $45!!! hold the phone! 
** an interesting note though, he shared that the breaker and the box that we have was from a company that closed in the early 70's (like 1970 or 1971) That means, my camper is probably a '60s model!   So...we're getting closer! 

Back to the breaker box-- 

We replaced it with a new box, breakers and a couple of new plugs for less than $45 Now… getting hubby’s brother to come wire it… or double check our wiring.

This patchwork wall… is going to be replaced with a solid piece from this pile…

crate wood!  My brother dropped off this load yesterday; and it will be perfect for some of the rebuild that is still left to do!
I’m using lots of salvaged and repurposed materials that are FREE-DOLLARS; however, I have been shopping.
Mostly inside pretties… chocolate, turquoise, some tangerine… It’s going to be pretty!
I can’t wait to start installation on that part!
Don’t forget to follow along with the progress… I post on Instagram from time to time or you can get Lil Camper That Could in your email
Thanks for coming along…
Grace and Peace.

Wash Day Assessment of the Skin and a Door knob!

Monday evening after the Littles all went home… Honey and I went outside to wash the camper down.
 
We’re not yet close enough to get it painted. But since getting the top sealed…we haven’t washed it.  We’ve had a few smaller showers right after sealing it; and checked for leaks then.
We’ve got no leaks! BIG EMPHATIC YEAH!!!!
The front panel under the windows will hopefully be replaced this next weekend. He is going this week with his brother to get the sheet metal to replace it. It’s the worse panel on the entire camper.
Dented, torn, past the point of repairs and no amount of LIPSTICK will make it look any better.
 
After washing—and getting the dirt and moss, yes! moss had started growing on it before we started the installation of work… anway, with all the debris washed away, we’re able to see the paint a little better.

It looks as if we may be able to remove the worst of it with a POWER WASHER.  The paint is very dry and scaly. A lot of it came off with our brass nozzle. I think if we use a pressure sprayer—paint removal should go pretty easily.
 
This past weekend, we hit a few yard sales in our area, and found a small, door knob, still new and in the box. It doesn’t protrude like the average household door knobs. The keys were included.  Sorry, it’s a little blurry, but you get the idea! Brushed Nickle…

** edited to say: I grabbed this from the garbage and snapped a picture. Apparently, NOT brushed nickle; instead it's Stainless Steel Finish. I bought it at a yard sale... but it came from Dollar General. It is the perfect size. 

I like it!  It will look so much better after the whole thing is painted.
Little baby steps. 
It’s coming along!
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Grace and Peace!