Bringing Up The Rear

My awesome helper is back! It was great to have Lori helping me again this weekend, besides a huge help she's my best friend and we have fun together!

Lori worked at dismantling the kitchen area to address the overall deterioration of the surfaces and cabinets; we will be replacing the old, beat up Formica. We need to build a table for the trailer anyway and decided we should match the counter top to the table.

We removed the bunk-beds, the back wall entirely and the paneling on the street side rear...this time I measured the distance between the cross framing on the ceiling that rolls down the rear as well so the framing will be easier to replicate. I will be installing the Birch paneling from the top side so I think the rear will progress much faster then the front did.

I also got a bit of a look at the plumbing for the bathroom....still trying out figure out if there was/is a black holding tank and we are debating the shower.... which will be coming out at least to inspect the floor area more closely. The toilet drain is all cast iron and looks like something you would see in an old house...

We removed the furnace and refrigerator to clean and repair everything as needed. I'll be locating the newer furnace, hot water heater and power converter at this stage (thank you Brittany and Jay!) so I bought a book to help figure it all out... "RV Repair & Maintenance Manual" which received great revues.... we will see.

Second Installment of "Tools Explained"

"Wire Wheel" Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench at the speed of light.  Also removes fingerprints and hard earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes to say "Oh sh_ _!

The latest "progress" pictures:

I rolled the siding up on the roof, should have just removed it from the onset but have no good place to store it

The corners are the only really deteriorated areas so rebuilding this should go relatively fast

Upper corner on the curb side

Mid section - which is also several pieces of plywood nailed together

Floor looks solid but the lower framing will need replaced...the bumper is coming off, it's bent due to someone attempting to lift the trailer with a bumper jack

Better view of the upper corner

The street side is about the same condition as the curb side

The plywood seemed to act like a sponge - very rotten where as the rest of the framing is in good condition 

Took photos of all the measurements for frame placement AND made a drawing - I R edumecated!

I wonder if the plywood had been sealed with paint if it might have held up all these years....

You get the idea, the plywood soaked up the moisture and saturated the adjacent wood - framing and paneling both

My bestest pal removing some screws on the bunk to get it out of the way

Looks like a much better way to accomplish repairs, next time (HAHAHA) the roof comes off...

She cut the paneling using our very handy multi tool and cutting blade attachment, nice clean cuts - she's awesome and really loves this stuff!

I thought I would find a black water tank here...was grateful I didn't see eyeballs looking back at me!

Look at that cast Iron! The shower pan is just ahead of the drain and should allow good access once removed.

Here's where the potty was - elegant huh?  The shower is an aluminum surround with provisions for a curtain - located just ahead of the toilet area.

This is s section view, it will be interesting to see what is behind the panleling on this side.

Going to modern plastic plumbing should lighten her up a bit....

Lori is taking no prisoners on the Formica removal, kinda hokey the way it was installed really.

Cool pattern and color...too bad there is nothing similar made anymore.... we will be going with Formica Retro "Aqua Boomerang" pattern

It was put up in several pieces for some reason; I'm gonna try to install the new in larger pieces without seams

The Formica is badly stained, has many screw/nail holes from added gadgets over the years and is just too tattered to save

More of Lori's handy work, found and removed all the anchor screws for the refrigerator - which we took out for repair and painting

So here we are as of Saturday November 6th.... The disassembly went smoothly and revealed no surprises...the 1x2 and 2x2 framing wood used is very nice wood - clear and solid. You just can't find wood like that anymore so I bought some reclaimed studs and a planer to make my own....stay tuned for the adventure!.


The street side paneling and shower removal are next.