Took a short break from Mustangs.

[Ridge Runner 1,112]

After getting disgusted trying to get find parts for the stang ,i decided to take a break before i really broke something ,about the last three months  actually .

My neighbor gave me a 27 foot travel trailer last year ,i decided to restore it ...and i have been having a blast .It is a 1973 Luxury Liner ,27 footer ,in fair shape but needing some attention .I decided to redo the whole thing ,starting inside first .This is how it looked inside and out when i first got it .

I decided to tear it down to the bones and redo the floors ,walls and the ceiling .It had 5/8 particle board flooring and it was getting weak and the paneling was dull and peeling in places so out it all came .

[Ridge Runner 1,112]

Looks like i lost my pics of the flooring going back in .I used 5/8 high grade ply wood instead of particle board ,it was much stronger ...and even lighter .

The ceiling was next ,instead of paneling ,i found some 1/4 inch plywood paneling with ribs about 1 1/2 inch across the facing .Got out the airless and sprayed the Ceiling semi gloss white 

I wanted good high grade wood paneling for the walls but all you can find around here is that paper board crap and that just was not going to do it .I found furniture grade maple and Birch 3/16 plywood and started to work doing the walls ,the walls are maple and the doors and cabinets are birch .

 My Mom talked me into staining the walls walnut ,i wanted something a bit lighter but i am glad i went with the walnut .

Got out the old HVLP sprayer ,first time i ever used it and i have had it for about 4 years .This thing sprays wood finish so easy ,i used Helmsman gloss clear urathane ,none of that water base crap, and the grain in the wood just popped .

[Ridge Runner 1,112]

I wanted to follow the original floor plan fairly close so i took pics and measurements before i tore it all apart .

After the walls were in i did hard wood laminant flooring ,thing locks together like a puzzle ,and i cant find that pic ...oh well .

The next step was the bath room ,not much bigger than a big closet ,but it has a full size shower and tub ,a fair size sink and a very cramped toilet .I reused the shower and tub because is was in great shape and i didn't think i would find another that would fit .

The walls go together in panels and are screwed together so i did each panel and sprayed them in the paint booth ,saved a heck of a lot of masking .

I bought a new toilet ,the old one leaked at the bowl ,and this one has never had someones bare butt sitting on it ...a toilet with a kick starter ,what will they think of next ? I tried for a good hour to start that sucker with no luck, must be a defective one  HAHAHA!

[DocWok 30]

That's nice work Ridge, looks great, thumbs up from me !

As far as the toilet goes, once you use it and it has some explosive gases in it......

[SM69Mach 68]

Awesome work.  Love the upgrades and all of it looks great.

[Ridge Runner 1,112]

I bought a new vanity and sink ,it wasn't easy to find one small enough to fit in the bath room and i had to do some trimming on the bottom of the cabinet to get it to fit but it worked out great .i also found a small medacine cabinet that works very well .The lights are all hooked up and working ,it has 12 volt and 120 lighting and can run off either .The power converter can run 120 and charge the battery at the same time or simply run the 12 volt system .

The two cabinets at the front and the rear of the trailer were next ,simple front face and floor and screw in place .I built the cabinets out side and sprayed them in the paint booth so when they were dry they just screwed in .

The kitchen was next .Built the cabinets out side and brought them in finished .I used 3/4 inch furniture grade ply wood for the counter top and laminated the new sheeting on ,this is the first time i have done this an it was a lot of fun and i learned a lot doing it .And that countertop glue ...it will glue your fingers together also 

 

 

[Ridge Runner 1,112]

It wouldn't let me post that last pic .This is the original sink ,it was in great shape ,and all stainless steel .

There was a cabinet  to the right of stove that had a lift top but i figured a flat screen would just fit on top so i made the top solid and made sliding doors in the front.used the left over counter top to finish the top of the cabinet .The old hide away table was still good so i used it again ,i will recover the table top the same as the counter top later .

 

 

 

 

 

[Ridge Runner 1,112]

Well ...it cut me off again !

This is the old table HAHA not much good for anything but i have been using it to screw on the hinges on the cabinet doors so it does have a use for something .

The original fridge was BIG ,this sucker had to weigh 200 pounds .The only way to get it out was to cut it in half because it wouldn't fit through the door ,i don't know how they got the friggen thing in there .

I build a new cabinet and bought a new smaller ...and waaaay lighter fridge .

I build new hall way cabinets ,made them 2 inches narrower because i had to turn side ways to walk down the hall way .

I used the original cabinet doors and closet doors but i re skinned the out side with birch paneling and stained it and finished them with the Helmsman finish ...i love this stuff .

I have a bunch of trim to go ,it is in the booth now drying ,and i have to make the bed frame and finish hooking up the hot water heater and a few other things and this will be my hide away ,a place to just lock the doors ,turn on the AC ...that still works by the way ,and hide from the world .The out side just needs a re paint something i will do a little later .

[prayers1 153]

Your definitely a skilled craftsman. Very nice!

[bswor 71]

Your definitely a skilled craftsman. Very nice!

 

 

Ditto, great job man!

[Ash 145]

Great work Ridge!

I used to do a lot of wood work myself and I know you can never capture the real beauty of the grain and feature in a photo. I bet it looks amazing in person. Well done!

[Ridge Runner 1,112]

I don't get the chance to work with wood very often ,especially something like this .Wood work seems to be a lot more relaxing than working with metal .it is easy to cut and shape with out a whole lot of effort .

Yeah, the grain doesn't show as well in pics as in person ,it really stands out . 

Did most of the trim today ,and trim will drive you nuts with all the 45 * corners but it was still fun .The original stove is in but needs some work but it does work .I will have to get a few more pics .Every thing is almost done except the bed room ,i have to make a base for the bed and a cabinet for a new electric hot water heater .

[Ash 145]

Wood work seems to be a lot more relaxing than working with metal.

Absolutely agree, I find it very relaxing. Only stressful thing is you can't put wood back together like you can metal if you cut it too short. ha! And all those mitre joints you are doing the trim with are sure easily to make an error on.

 

This is something I made years ago. I enjoyed the entire process.

 

 

 

And this'll give you an idea of the frame work to it.

 

[Ridge Runner 1,112]

That is sweet Ash ,it's a few steps above what i could do though .

Yep those miter joints can be a real pain in the butt ,especially when you keep cutting them backwards ...Damn it !

[Ash 145]

Thanks, Ridge!

 

Haha, yep I know what you mean. Done that plenty of times. After several dozen cuts, you get in the groove and easily lose track of which direction which one needs to go.

[RPM 1,190]

Damn Jim! Top shelf right there bud. Can't wait to see the exterior. Kudos on the nice work.

[Ridge Runner 1,112]

The out side doesn't need a whole lot,mostly a repaint ,except the bottom out side trim is missing on the front door .Any one parting out a travel trailer I will buy the front door and the hinge ?

[Ridge Runner 1,112]

I got most of the trim finished ,just a couple of sticks left where the bed frame still has to be built 

The stove is cleaned up and in ,broke the handle on the front so i have to find a replacement 

I found some nice looking screen at Home depot for the ceiling vents ,this would make great looking speaker grills 

My mom found some curtains that keep with that antique look i have been trying for 

I started polishing the out side window frames ,one down and 34 more to go ...Oh Crap !!

I am missing the bottom of the front door ,if any one is parting out a travel trailer or a camper with this type of door i sure could use this trim ,i could use all the door trim ...and the hinge in fact .

[RPM 1,190]

Nice! What are you gonna charge for room and board?

[Ridge Runner 1,112]

Arm and a leg 

[Midlife 814]

Arm and a leg 

Great!  I'll put up RPM's arm and a leg for a weekend's use around Thanksgiving time.  Pencil me in.