Built a Rock Guard

 

 

Not much going on with the camper on the outside lately.  Most of the work has been inside. However, we did construct a rock guard for the front window, with recycled aluminum. It’s not fancy and it’s very light weight. So far, we haven’t had a need until today to open it up.  We propped it up today with a piece of PVC. 

We’re looking for new material for the bottom portion on the front.  Haven’t found any yet that is the right size.  Ours is pretty dinged-up there on the front.

The outside is yet to be painted. Though we did seal the roof over the summer and gave it a good scrubbing.  That was a drastic improvement!

Sorry, I don’t have pictures of the actual build for this rock guard. I might be able to come up with some written instructions, but without photos—it might be kind of pointless. 

Anyway, I just wanted to show it.

We’ve just about gotten all the trim up inside and we have the carpet cut and laid down. I’ll try and get a post for the inside work soon.  So please check back!

Grace and Peace~

Repairing our Mistakes- Possible I.D. on the Lil Camper

 

Early on,we searched for an ID for our camper. The Make and Model tag, model number or any identification marks were no where to be found.  I was a little disappointed. Then we began rebuilding.

The Honey put some framing pieces in thinking we’d just build around them and we’d never see them.  I went along with the idea because I’ve NEVER done this before, so what did I know?  cool, we’ll just build around it. Four years later… this bed area is built and paneling is up and this IS A PROBLEM!

As you can plainly see, we DID NOT build around that 1x3.  I have the original screen frames that will go on all the windows on the inside…except this window. I just didn’t like it and wasn’t happy with it.  Yes, I’m that kind of woman. The kind that goes along with your ideas, but in the end… makes you change it because I really didn’t like it in the first place. I’m not proud of it. It’s just who I am. 

It did help my case when we noticed a little leak. {she grins}

Out comes the window. Only to discover, there was also some ROT that was missed 4 years ago. Apparently, the leak has been there for quite some time. We had to rebuild the whole entire back wall from just below the cabinet that stretches across the back all the way down  to the bumper.

In the process though… {excitement builds!}  We found these original manufacturer markings on the underside of the skin! 

I’ve done a little bit of research and I’m wondering is this the answer we’ve been searching for all along?  It our camper MAKE an OKANAGAN? 

I’m curious.  If you have anything to offer regarding our lil camper , please leave me an comment tell me what you know about my camper…possibly my OKIE!

* click here for other details and Identifying marks from our camper

In the end, I guess it’s a good thing I wasn’t please with that 1 x 3 sticking out there. Hopefully now, I’ll be able to use the original frame when I put the new screens up in there.

Grace and Peace in your travels!

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!

The New-ISH Door–

This weekend we worked on the trailer.
A couple of weeks ago—we bought a door off a man, that had various trailer parts in his back yard.

This week we modified the door jam and fit the door onto the trailer. The new door was about 1 inch too small lengthwise and width-wise.
This is what it looked like 4 years ago when we dragged brought it home! It was a frame with cabinet doors screwed to it.

Now we have a bona-fide camper door, with window. We’re not finished with it, of course, but I’m so happy to have a it on especially now that it’s supposed to rain this week.
I put new screen in the screen door and modified the little sliders for the door knob opening. Can you tell what I used?
AN OLD LICENSE PLATE!

In case you don’t remember, we have no idea what type of camper this is… make, model, year, etc. Just that it’s a camper.  I call it a deer lease camper…because that what it had been used for, for many years.  It’ has been VERY USED! 
I said all that to remind you that we’re not going back inside this camper like an original rebuild. It will be modified and styled after our own tastes.  Rustic and junky… of course it will be getting purty-fied inside and out… the rustic junky will be the style.
License plates inserts… fit the bill for that! The door and whole exterior will be getting paint… hopefully soon!
Lastly, this weekend we had to break down and buy another tongue jack. The one that was on there…just wouldn’t work. It was a hindrance and dangerous! 
I really can’t wait to get to the PURTY-FYING PART! Because while I do want Rustic… I’m not sure I’m comfortable with all the RUST… on something I’m dragging around behind me.  Something might fall off!
I do have some pictures of cutting the door opening and adding new supports for the door.  I used the Kreg Jig Jr… for some of this work.  I think I’m getting a little bit better with that tool.
I’ll post an actual in progress post for the beefing up the door jam soon so check back!
Thanks for visiting…
Grace and Peace!

: A New Vintage Door and a Story

Some time back in 2014, I had begun taking my dad every month for his errands; to the bank, and paying his bills, etc.

On one of our trips – we had passed by a house with a camper in the back yard… it had been heavily damaged. I filed it away in the back of my mind and thought I’d go back with my husband to inquire about it.

The next month. Gone. It was disappointing.

On the way back … the day that I first noticed it was gone.  I did see the door and some windows stacked neatly against a fence on the property.

That was a year ago!

Fast-Forward to this weekend, Memorial Day weekend, 2015—we finally had some cash on hand and a truck. We drove out in the rain—having not been by there in a while, not even sure it was still there.

But it was!

I was thrilled.  We pulled up and honked (they had a gate) no one came to the door. It was raining… but not too bad, just a sprinkle. For a while we discussed opening the gate and going to the door.

Hmmm… this is Texas, in the country… and opening another man’s gate to walk up to his house… well, that’s pretty much TRESPASSING here.  The Honey said he would go to the door.

I stayed in the truck …er, get away car!  With cell-phone in hand.

He spoke to the man, who said, “SURE! come on around and have a look at it!” So we did,  we waded through the soggy wet grass, in the rain around back to have a look and offered him cash. He said he’d give it to us… but we thought we should pay him something!

I gave a price and he came back lower … ?!?!  I thought I was the only person to do that! We met in the middle … and paid him $60!

Not too bad for a vintage trailer door, complete with screen door and frosted window glass!

It needs a little bit of work; some trim, door handle, screen door handle… new screen… overall TLC. Paint.

It has going for it: 

• Glass- intact and whole
• Screen Door – frame complete
• Metal Sheeting- No Rips or Tears in the metal
• Hinge- Complete
• Wood frame- solid

Right now, the grass is growing, the ground is saturated, we can’t move the trailer to work on it and getting to it is difficult. But, I can’t wait to get in there get this door on it.

We bought this camper 4 years ago…and we work on it off and on… it is definitely a project. I can’t wait to one day go camping and have some fun with it. One thing for sure. We have had some fun with already… and we have some fun stories about putting it all back together! 

We got a door, which is hard to come by, if you’re not familiar with VINTAGE TRAILER PARTS AND CRAIG’S LIST, all because we stopped and inquired.

We laughed about it going home, the rain, the uncertainty, the trespassing… the memories are already being made!

That’s how we got our door!

‘Til next time,
Grace and Peace

:: Glass

We needed all the back glass.
Two panes on the front.
One on the side.

You can see this side window on the left (road side) has a broken pane in the bottom. 
 
I am happy for this progress.  We have NEW GLASS! 

This in NOT a cheap installation.  The panes are tempered.  We measured.  Added up how many.  Nine were the same size…the two up front, not pictured were a bit smaller.
Our SIL and youngest daughter gifted us with the glass.  I’m grateful to them for that!
The Honey attached the lights a few weeks back while I was out for the day, he also put the cargo door back together, added putty tape and reattached it to the camper.  I don’t have any close ups of any of this work.
But I wanted to document the progress!  Little things, you know!
We’ve also had a pretty good rain since making repairs to the roof and sealing the front window frame. I’m happy to report NO Leaks!   I have pictures for that and a post coming soon about adding new framing in the roof.
‘Til next time-
Grace and Peace!

:: Adding Running Lights

After about 3 years... 

We're finally to point of working on the camper again. 

In 3 years, I've still not figured out what kind of camper we have.  I've found plenty of campers that resemble it, in size, shape, and possible lay out. (Like this 1965 Frolic @ Little Vintage Trailer)  Our camper didn't have any sort of lay out really, except for a 'deer lease' styled bed and plywood shelf ;  and one factory cabinet.  Other than that-- there are  no labels, tags, etc. to give any clues. 

Our little camper is in such a state-- that the bones are good; but the layout could go just about any way we want it. 

Being on a tight budget means we can't just run out and buy new. I do a lot of research on line-- looking at options for parts, watching videos of HOW TO's and price checking. 

So, while we were at the flea market this weekend I knew that six  l.e.d. lights for $10.00 was a good price.  We also visited ACE Hardware and found a good price- on putty tape.  This stuff is so important when installing windows or mounting these lights.  Anywhere there is a HOLE and your installing something on the outside...this putty tape needs to seal it so that water STAYS OUT of the camper. 

My husband is looking forward again to getting out camper ready for camping.  It is down the road a ways still-- but little things are getting done. Even if we are only doing a few small things each week-- it is moving in a forward direction. 

Putting  these lights on today... really made me smile! 

It's the little things! 

I've got a few more things to post about; and will be writing about any future projects too. Hopefully on a more regular basis. Please be sure and check back or subscribe via email on the right >>>>>> 

and see updates to the camper as they happen!  

Grace and Peace- 

The Rear has Been Brought UP!

I last posted about the Tear out version:  Back inside the Rear  and  Bringing up the Rear  

you can click on those links to read them. 

This is replacing the studs in the wall and exterior plywood sheathing. 

We only had to replace from the window down;  so the blue you see is the tarp pulled up and holding the aluminum rolled up and out of the way so we could work. 

Honey has rebuilt the studs across the back of the trailer in this picture. 

 Believe it or not... This was a pretty easy task; rebuilding the rear wall. In this picture you can see that the corner post  is good (you'll see the opposite one on down in the post)

 The studs in this particular trailer are generally 2x2's or 2x4's as I've said before; sometimes they are pieced together to make a 2x6. In rebuilding this back wall;  we were out of 2x2's so this is 2 - 2x3's that we had and repurposed them  to reconstruct the wall. We also used a 2x4 going along the middle  and a 2x3 (white) that was repurposed from the bed that had been built by the previous owner. All good wood, although it appears to be worn in some areas-- it is very sturdy now.

This is the plywood put into place.  We cut the end off to measure the width of the trailer and then Honey cut out for the window. So it is all one piece.

 I think that the reason they call this 'ply'wood--- is because IT IS SO PLIABLE. It molds to the shape we need so easily. This piece curved just were we needed it and is held easily with screws.

 One piece of plywood is all it took from the top of the window- (covered by the tarp)

 View from inside- with Tarp covering the window opening. The plywood meets up right at the top of the window; just under the pink insulation.

In this window you can see that the corner post in the rear is in really good condition, I mentioned this in a previous post-- We did NOT have to replace these (both rear corners were good,surprisingly) 

 Rolling the aluminum skin back down getting ready to cover the plywood. 

Fastening Aluminum~ 

You can see that we have not cut out for the cargo hold door yet. 

We have some smaller pieces of plywood that have to be added inside to beef up the lower corners where the tail-lights will be and then we will be replacing the rest of the aluminum siding and door trim. 

Tarp Tying 101~ 

 Weather Predictors were calling for rain.

Here is the trailer all buttoned up for rainy weather.

It held pretty well. We had pretty severe weather here in East Texas last night.
Our county  and our little Town had Tornado Warnings early this morning; and several Tornadoes were indicated throughout the area.  (Dallas, Kaufman, and Hunt Counties)

Thanks for Reading
Grace and Peace. 

Good Bones--

Since Saturday we have gotten quite a bit done. I have tons of pictures and trying to sort and organize them into sets suitable for posting! 

I think these pictures were taken on Monday (after 2 days of tear out and planning)

**You can read out the TEAR OUT here.**

This is the front wall and CS wall REBUILD.

 The bottom portion of the wall is built at an angle/slant -- we had to go back that way
1. because it looks cool
2. the outside skin is cut to fit that design
3. It looks cool!

 We had to reframe the window with 2x2's and a 2x4 going across underneath the window --You can see the new corner post --remember it was almost completely rotted away. After nailing the 2x2 and 2x4 together they that to be cut to accommodate the slanted front bottom portion and cut at the top to accommodate the rounded roof.

 this is just another view.  The ply wood on the floor is in the corner is just laying there.

 This is the outside view of the work we did. Underneath the aluminum sheathing that plywood is the full width  which is 48 inches-- It is positioned from the top portion of the window and comes down at a slight curve just below the aluminum and stops.

 This picture shows the small piece of plywood attached to make the angle design on the front of the trailer.

 Close up view of  front fastened plywood pieces.

This is the exterior CS wall where the side window goes. This sits just in front of the door. It hasn't been cut out for the window yet.

 Another view. 

 You can see Honey's hand-- he is cutting out for the window using the saws-all.

This is just a smidgen of the window you can see from the inside ; the framing is and ply wood has been started for the CS window.

We've used mostly new material. I think the plywood around the outside CS window was something we had-- but overall the project has only cost about $150.00 (and that was all gift cards from my birthday party) -Woot-woot!

Thanks for Reading-
Grace and Peace!