Framing Dinette-Potty Closet and Fridge

 

Last weekend we began framing areas for seating- to be converted to a bed if we have guests in our camper.  This will be the dinette.  In the front portion of the trailer.

This is the curb side seat for the dinette; and it’s to the right as you enter the door.

After we got both of these boxes built, from nothing… we’ve decided they are NOT large enough across the seat.  <---> Larger seats are needed to accommodate cushions and close the gap, for the bed conversion.  We’ll be modifying them THIS WEEKEND. Live and learn.

The view from the door from left to right… (this would be on the ROADSIDE wall).

The tall studs are part of the frame for the Refrigerator compartment and possibly A/C.   You can barely tell here;

 

but more so in the next picture…there is a VENT near the floor, we were originally going to put the A/C there… but have decided a 12 volt fan for exhaust in the potty closet will be better. It’s a port-o-potty, that will have to be removed and cleaned after a few uses. A Fan…is pretty much a necessity!

This is the potty closet being framed and the other dinette set.

The potty looks like it is SITTING ON plywood. Actually, there is a hole sawn into the ply-wood and it nests into that hole…keeping the seat stationary without any movement.

We’ve yet to paint or replace window screens, which have the frames and will account for window trim. No extra wood or cost there.

Before moving on to the curb-side kitchen build we still need to

• build boxes over the wheel wells
• Finish the framing for A/C compartment
• Finish the framing for the potty closet
• Add trim inside the closeted area along the joins.

I’ll share more later.  Please leave a comment and any tips you might have on camper rebuilding. Also.. I’ve added a page at the top  “HELP I.D. our Camper” with some details… if you’d take a look and let us know what kind of camper do you THINK WE HAVE? Thanks!

Grace and Peace!

Progress on Interior- Walls

 

Since owning the trailer…We’ve torn out most of the paneling; and any insulation that was missing or otherwise not useful… we replaced. We are using double thickness of styro-foam sheets… cut to fit in various places along the walls and ceiling.

The paneling is salvaged materials… turned inside out?!

It will be painted. (ignore the debris on the floor below, I had to tear out more old panels at the last minute)

The roof surprisingly, only needed one panel- this piece has been installed and trimmed, with paneling trim pieces ripped to 2 inches, from spare drop off panels.  We’re using all the salvaged materials, as much as possible. Again, once its painted it will have a more cohesive look to it. (fingers-crossed)

The roofing has a vinyl coating on it—but rather than rip it out, we I am researching a covering. Because, naturally, I’d like for the ceiling to all match. I’m hoping against all hope… that I don’t have to use decorative contact paper… heaven help us!  That does NOT sound fun does it?

If you came here from Corn in My Coffee-Pot… then you may have already seen our second hand Black and Decker fridge and FUNKY FIBER GLASS SINK!

Now that I have those two items… I can begin a layout for the interior, and make sure the holes are the right sizes for those pieces!

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!

:: 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-