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Sneakinup · 02-21-2012, 09:34 AM

I agree about Rustoleum paints for the most part, but I thought I would try this stuff out. The OSPHO'd steel has been exposed for weeks now in the moist FL weather with no signs of rust forming. I think this product will work OK. It will be another month or two before I close everything in with the banana wrap and belly skin. Will let you all know what happens!

Chuck · 02-21-2012, 11:54 AM

Are you painting on top of the ospho, or just using that spray-undercoating?

Sneakinup · 02-21-2012, 12:01 PM

For right now I am just spraying on the undercoating on top of the OSPHO'd metals. It will be a month or so before I am ready to button up the banana wraps and belly skin. I want to see how it holds up. I already tested painting over the undercoating and that worked well, but that is double the process. The can says it is paintable. Most likely I will just leave the undercoating since it totally covers like paint. "They" say it is not necessary to paint over it unless you are trying to match a color. The stuff is black, and that is what I would be painting the frame anyway.

TomW · 02-29-2012, 05:36 PM

I used a similar product on my Overlander, and did not paint where the sun did not shine.

Tom

Sneakinup · 03-01-2012, 05:21 AM

My underbelly has been exposed for some time now in the moist Florida air, and things seem to be holding up fine down there. When I do close it up, the areas "where the sun don't shine" will have some ventilation ports like I did in my last trailer... as well as no pink stuff! It will have an opportunity to AIR out.

utee94 · 03-01-2012, 11:40 AM

I've never put a bellypan back on mine, and almost 3 years of camping on it this way. I love being able to see the floor from the underside, I'll never be surprised by rot this way, and the water repellent I treated the plywood with is holding up well so far. I suppose I could re-treat it every few years maybe.

The floor gets significantly colder in winter, and slightly warmer in summer, but that's not enough to make me want to change what I'm doing.

Sneakinup · 03-03-2012, 10:17 AM

What did you attach your gas lines to without a belly skin? The frame cross members?

Jim & Susan · 03-03-2012, 04:42 PM

You guys without bellypans are much more brave than I. I have this vision of rolling down the road and arriving at the campsite with a roadkill armadillo staring back at me next to the step release.

Jim

utee94 · 03-03-2012, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sneakinup

What did you attach your gas lines to without a belly skin? The frame cross members?

Yup!

To be accurate, I've only redone the back half of my trailer so far, so only a partial run of gas line back to the water heater is ""hanging free." The majority of the gas connections are in the front half (range, furnace, refrigerator, and Humphrey light), and the front half still has its bellypan... mostly.

-Marcus

whitsend · 06-30-2012, 12:58 PM

"Where have all the updates gone?"
What have I missed?

Sneakinup · 06-30-2012, 02:36 PM

Thanks for asking... you haven't missed anything as I haven't posted anything. Been working on it here and there when I have time. Haven't updated my website in a while either.

Since I last posted I have....

Replaced both waste valves with Valterra valves and tested tanks for leaks.
Replaced/welded in all outriggers except for two on the rear street side.
Painted the entire frame.. except for the rear where the tanks go.
Insulated the entire underside of the trailer with foam board.
Reattached the belly skin from the edge of the waste tanks to the back of the water tank.
Set the heater hoses for the tanks back in and wire tied them in place.
Sawed off the broken shock studs and drilled new holes for new mounts.
Cleaned up the A-Frame and painted.
Replaced the electric jack with a Bulldog Hand Crank
Repaired the inside wheel well ABS where it was cracked.

There is probably more, but I can't remember right now. And, it will be a year that I have this trailer in August!

My new axles arrived a few weeks ago. They will be going on in the next few days. Local auto parts stores didn't have the recommended shocks so I ordered them online.

Once the axles are in place... that will be HUGE! Then I concentrate on the "rear end" of the trailer. After that, tanks go in and I button up the bottom. Sounds simple when I say it, but we all know to multiply anticipated time and money by at least 5 times!

77 Sovereign

TomW · 06-30-2012, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sneakinup

... Since I last posted I have....

Thanks for the update!

I understand how the day job can get in the way of aluminum projects.

Tom

Sneakinup · 11-22-2012, 11:48 AM

In case anyone is interested, I updated my renovation website. It has been offline for quite some time now as I have switched web hosting companies. I haven't done all that much on my trailer in the last 5 months as my work has been very busy. Of course that is a good thing, because it funds my Airstream Addiction (AA).

1977 Airstream Renovation

As an update, my frame has been completely "rust coated" with OSPHO, and painted with Rustoleum rubberized paint and has endured the rainy season here in Tampa. I crawled under the trailer this week to inspect, and everything looks perfect. I am very happy with the results.

My axles and shocks are installed. Insulation in place. Belly skin over the axles attached, and some other miscellaneous stuff that takes a ridiculous amount of time to complete is mostly done.

As the year winds down, my business slows down as well. Rather than relaxing and taking time off to de-stress, I hope to make some major strides in my renovation. If all goes well, I may be able to use my trailer before I get too old!

**Janet H** · 11-22-2012, 11:55 AM

Awesome pics - you've been busy!

Sneakinup · 11-22-2012, 04:55 PM

If only I had more time!

ROBERTSUNRUS · 11-22-2012, 08:41 PM

Hi, quite a story you have while re-doing your trailer. Lots of creativity, like how you made plastic washers; I like that idea.

Sneakinup · 11-23-2012, 10:05 AM

Thanks... you have to be creative with these old trailers or buy everything new!

Nosborasil · 09-14-2015, 02:12 PM

Hello-
I stumbled on this thread with hopes of finding questions to ask regarding the possible purchase of a 77 sovereign 😁

I never saw your web page posted and wondered if you would mind sending me a link so I could read about your progress a few years back as you worked on your Sovereign.
Thanks much-
Lisa