Mother Nature started working on the little "Tini-Home" canned ham trailer I was procrastinating on last night! It was REALLY windy, and today we were surprised to see that the wind had caught the loose skin at the left rear corner of the trailer and yanked it halfway off! I had joked that I didn't really need tools to start taking the thing apart, but I didn't think that I wouldn't have to even touch it! So, now instead of tarping the thing up and waiting, I guess I'll have to get busy, or there won't be anything left by spring. I haven't decided how to repair it, but I've got some ideas: The first, and now least attractive idea was to just cut the side shape out of 3/4" birch ply, and forget framing it. Seemed easy, but it'll be awful heavy. Second, I could bent square aluminum tubing into the shape, cut more for stringers and braces, and rivet it all together. Great idea, but I don't have a tubing bender. Third, I could just rebuild it with 1x3's and sawn plywood as original, and use modern sealants like 3M 5200 to seal the thing up. New 1/4" birch ply interior, and new skin on the exterior. It's got lots of coats of paint on it, so it'd be cheaper and easier to reskin the whole thing than strip and work the hail pecks out. A buddy is in the RV manufacturing business and can hook me up with new clear anodized polished aluminum sheet and e'thing else. So, I guess I'm starting it sooner than later.
I did a similar windstorm repair on my camper recently. Patching the wood sub-structure isn't too difficult; matching new skin w/ old is the bigger challenge. Go w/ option #3... (Gotta love your cl***ic Spartan(?), too)
that's not worth saving, it's junk, I'll get it out of your way sunday after the pileup, just leave it by the road, no problem, your welcome.
Using pressure treated wood this time might be a good idea. Cool little ole' trailer, I think it's worth saving!
A very good friend of mine is into restoring these big time.....everytime I see them I want to hit the road....
I would Aaron, but it'd prolly fall apart if I move it. Besides, looks like it's too small for your whole family, it's just right for us two! I gotta save it, it cost a hunnert bucks! It won't be too difficult to fix, it's way simple. Framing in a closet takes way more effort and material. They're built so poorly, it's really a wonder it's lasted this long. I kinda think I'll just do it in 1x3, and cut the front and rear body shapes out of plywood, then bond the joints and seams with 3M5200 sealant. My RV builder buddy says he's got a scream'n deal for me on new aluminum skins, polished and clear anodized, I might as well replace it all. Re the treated wood suggestion: That seems at first glance like a good idea, but that stuff does REALLY bad things to fasteners, aluminum skin and steel framing . Rebuilding it to keep water out will last me as long as it needs to. Thanks tho. I could start a whole new thing if I just leave the outside looking like it does, maybe "Rat Campers"?
Run with it! You could be a pioneer in the new "Rat Camper" movement. I bet you'll even get a cover on the new OSR spin off mag "Ol' Skool Kamperz"...
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