: 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!

:: Not My Camper-

Or Random Phone Pix…
Wasn’t sure what to call this post as I’ve already got a TAG title NOT my camper.
Very simply—these are pictures of campers, the pictures are mine; but the campers are NOT MINE and they are usually taken AT RANDOM,  with my iPhone,  when I’m out and about. They are also in various stages of repair. Because the LORD knows—I will pull-over to look at a camper and take some pictures.

We are still in the remodel stages of our camper.  Little by little getting it done. I see little campers like this, very basic; and it gives me hope and encouragement!

Soon enough we will hopefully be at the PULL-AWAY-FROM-HOME stage.
Looking like this simple beauty--- hauling it down the highway!

Until then,
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- 

:: Floor Plan Inspiration::

This weekend while out toolin' around...actually, coming home from the park for a birthday party... 

We stopped to look at a camper near our home town. It caught my eye a couple of weeks ago, when I saw it.

 We are not looking to buy another one--just gathering information for the one we have; and mainly because We still have not identified our camper Make and Model. 

We  haven't made much head way in the rebuilding of our camper. Back in 2011, when The Honey had a heart attack; it pretty much but the camper on the back burner! 

It is still something we want to do; but as it stands...

it is empty. Gutted completely. 

The lady that owned this camper said she had just sold a couple of weeks ago and had let the purchaser pay it out!  It sold for $800.00 !!!  I think she got a very good deal. 

Still she was happy to let us look at the inside and since I had my camera with me...she allowed me to take some pictures. 

Coming in the door: 

A Shower Toilet Combo 

to the left a Refridgerator

and even further left a Closet complete w/ water heater! 

combo Shower- Toilet! 

Oh How I want one of these! 

Inside the storage closet w/ water heater

Ample storage-- with cubbies over the Refridgerator

 Continuing Left and facing the Rear: 

A full size bed. 

With a bunk over top. Yes! This little door does open, but if you look in the top almost center of the photo; there is a latch holding the whole cabinet face in place. It folds down and makes a top bunk.  I believe this camper is designed to sleep 6. 

The kitchen is complete with the loveliest Harvest Gold fixtures: 

3 Burner Stove and oven. More storage. 

Dual Sink and extra counter top! 

This is the fridge and bathroom side again...looking toward the front 

The front at one time had a booth...the table has been replaced with a pedestal table and 1 swivel rocker. 

My camper won't have a swivel rocker...I hope to have the booth built and that will be the other bed in our camper. Sleeping 4 Only.  That is my plans. 

Speaking of plans. I found these plans online. We're hoping to implement some of these features in our camper. 

source

Can you believe it?  I took all those pictures of the camper's inside. .. And I forgot to take one of the outside. 

Fortunately... you can see what this 'Bell " Camper looked like. 

It is very similar to ours. However, I don't think ours is a Bell...but it is close enough. 

We're hoping to work on this some this year. 

It's been a long time since I've posted here... I know. But I've not had much to post. 

Seeing this "Bell" has me excited to do something with ours, provided The Honey is up to it and the money is there to do it. 

Kreg Jr demo on Shasta Airflyte-- Inspiration Video

Getting ready to possibly start a few little projects on the camper.
We had a couple of distractions last year-- kept us from working on our little camper.
We recently bought a Kreg Jig jr.
On recommendation from Gail---
she said it is a good tool for starters and small projects. So OKAY... that is what we bought.(smile)

While looking for videos dimenstrating this tool  I came across this fella who happens to be refurbishing a camper as well. He made a video...not his best work. But I found it informative.
I thought I'd post it here in case you might be interested as well.







That little Kreg jr.  makes short work of small projects.

Maybe soon I'll be able to post some of my own videos and project completions.

Grace and Peace~ 

Camper Progress~

Over the summer we've been busy collecting things for the camper. 

Early on, I went to a yard sale and found this great 3 burner hot plate for only $20 or $25, I can't remember the exact cost. 

We're going to build it in with it's own space and hopefully have a cover over the top for extra counter space when not in use. 

The other thing we acquired for the camper was a pretty good stack of plywood. 

It's all about 1/4 inch thickness or so and will make great cabinets! We've been trying to come up with a floor plan that will work best for our little camper -- we still have no idea what type of camper this is or what year. So I'm not certain of an original floor plan. 

So though it's been too brutally hot here to actually do any real work--we HAVE been busy researching , collecting and laying some ground work!  

AND we still have a shell of a camper. 

Grace and Peace!