Andy, when is the easiest/best time during construction to replace the axles?
I put in a grey tank & new black tank (28 gal each) w/ box as that was ridiculously rotted out.. but yeah, the original grey water was set to drain out a pipe in the back Another thing is, the original tub had no insulation under it whatsoever - changing that.
Never?
Can't we make an exception..?
Probably the sooner the better, since costs have already increased, which we have absorbed, but it appears that another increase could be around the corner. We have no wqy of knowing when.
Did you beef up the rear of the trailer, to avoid rear end separation, especially since you have added some weight in that area?
If not, call me this Friday when I will be back in my office, and I will tell you how.
Please estimate the addition weight your adding, so that the axle capacity can be properly increased.
Finishing up the bubble foil insulation, then getting the new wires run.
There were a few places that were too narrow for it. Despite a lot of the concerns about spray foam, I went ahead and used it for one of these spots - will update about any issues that arise -
Still have some more plumbing things to work out before the bath goes in, but I did get the shower brazed and polished. You can see the patent stamp on it - 1897, baby!
Wonderful work done by Frank Mance, very reasonable prices and all around just great to work with. I plated and polished all the rest of the fixtures to match, including the window knobs. Going to do dark woods and walls and give it a really rich feel.
The brass fixtures really crack me up. I'm always in favor -- the old houses my wife and I have re-done -- to keep original, just overhaul, so, I've done my share of stripping, prep and polishing. I usually have to go "aftermarket" on light fixtures and such that have been replaced in ill-advised updates.
But, in a trailer, to add it? I love the whimsy. Hope you'll see the whole problem as being part of a system that needs addressing all the way through, from supply to waste, and not skimp.
I, too, love the detail of old fixtures but haven't redone a pre-1920 house.
Good luck!!
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Sold, and someday another aluminum trailer.
I'm back! Construction was paused over December and January, and got started again mid Feb. I bought a lot of the appliances that are going in, and the next step is to build the mounts and cabinets around them. The electrician is finishing up the wiring.
The bathtub is in and the bath walls are up.
In the round area behind the bath, I am putting shelves for linens and one of the blowers for the TwinTemp Jr.
I am looking at copper laminates for the bath walls - not sure if they will work out or not. I definitely want to go with something unique, if not those.
which I hope will be SPECTACULAR! When it arrived at my contractor's, they kept looking for the second half until they realized it's all-in-one.
I want to keep the front of the trailer empty from the windows up. Behind that, I have the washing machine on one side, dishwasher on the other (at the front end of the axles). Then some empty space that will probably turn into counter/cupboard underneath a window. Then the refrigerator on one side and bed/fresh water on the other. These are completely over the axles.
The TwinTemp Junior!
There are 3 blowers for this. One will be on the wall by the door, aimed forward. One aimed straight-ahead near the center, and one in the cubby behind the bathtub underneath the sink.
There's also a Koldfront dishwasher and Sun Frost refrigerator (this is my baby!) but pictures will have to wait until next time.
I wanted to strip the walls to the aluminum, but the vinyl had to soak for over a day in the stripper and the labor would be way out of my budget. So my ugly walls will probably become slightly less ugly after I get them primed. Not sure what I want to do with them yet..
WOW-love the way you are going with this. We didn't like the crappy tub either but went with a 24" shower pan. We still store stuff back there when traveling. Can't wait to see more pictures.
Thanks! This has been my dream for a long time. I wanted to live aboard a yacht since I was in high school. Then I realized land yachts are where it's at
I've had my Airstream since 2007, but had a lot of trouble finding local folks willing to work on it, so I had plenty of time to plan the interior!
The issue I had with the original tub (aside from it being tiny) is the back is a quarter circle. There's no way someone can lean back in that and be even remotely comfortable.
A lot of stuff accomplished since my last post! I am working with several new contractors that I am happier with. Before, I was working with folks 3 hours away, and they'd do stuff or not do stuff and I'd only find out after it was done!
I moved into it on July 20 with only the essentials. I was called crazy. A lot. None of the appliances are mounted at all.. when it was towed to the campsite, the toilet wasn't even in! So we booked it: put in the shower walls, installed the toilet, built the bed and cabinet around the wheelwells, removed the old Vulkem outside and resealed everything, and more!
I added insulation in the bathtub finally! I did black pipe insulation on all of the pipes at the walls, but apparently I didn't take a picture, which sucks because I did a really neat job of it!
The bath is THE BEST THING EVER! It stays really warm, and I can run a full one no sweat with the TwinTemp! I ended up getting a different shower and bath faucet, as the other one was too big. I am only 5'4" and it was too short for me, with the curve in the wall.
I have the cork flooring here, but it's supposed to be very soft I was advised to put it in as the very last thing, so it doesn't get marred.
I have a new found appreciation for TSP. I was scrubbing and scrubbing the walls with soap and spray foam automotive cleaner, and they didn't really look any different. But I put on the TSP and the dirt just melted off. It was amazing! I used Tuff Stuff spray foam for some black areas that the TSP barely worked on, and a Skoy cloth instead of a sponge kept everything from dripping. That combo rocked. I wish I had the opportunity to do this when it was just a shell, but live & learn. So 20 hours of wall washing later, and I'm ready to sand and prime.
Here's a before & after:
That spot is behind the bathtub, in the back. That is where I am going to mount the sink and dishwasher - it should all be under the back window so I can still open/close it.
I had purchased a copper sink which ended up being really huge and heavy, despite me picking out the smallest one there was, so I returned it and took a chance. I bought a porcelain vessel sink. I have NO idea if it will break, but it is small and lightweight, and I figure my toilet is also porcelain so why not try? Anyway, it just looks so cool...
I have a 1972 29' ambassador too and I am with you I like the rear bath and I am able to sit down and soak! Even at 6' 1" 275lbs. I like the idea that your going with a bigger tub combo one question is it realy nesesary to have a grey water tank on the older models? My owners manual say's you can dig a hole and dump your grey water on the ground. It also goes into a option "good luck finding one!" A thermister witch basicly runs the grey water threw a small tube to your exhaust header on your vehicle. Anyway congrats on your rare treat and may all your upgrades go smothly I will folow your progress.
Hey Handyman, the campsite I am at now (western PA) just has everyone dump grey water on the ground, but I know not all are like this. Not sure what environmental or zoning laws are involved. I use natural & biodegradable soaps, so I don't feel too bad about it. Many commercial shampoos though are not biodegradable (how gross is that? hah!).
Oh but it's been awhile since I updated you guys. The walls have been de-grossed, caulked, primed & painted. Wired in 2 new outlets in the bath area and had a laminate countertop put in in preparation for my sink (which is going to be installed in 2 days WOOOO!!).
I am totally in love with these outlet covers I found. I had them brass plated them put foil cardstock behind them.
Also brass plated the window locks and levers (levers aren't on yet until I finish the screens). My bathroom is becoming beautiful.
My TwinTemp heater/hotwater is in a cabinet. I got vents for the blowers, but the heater itself gets pretty warm so I decided to put a grate on the cabinet so that heat wouldn't go to waste. This one is cast aluminum. I had it polished. I painted it with gold Rustoleum to match the brass, but this picture is just the aluminum. Will probably end up putting some sort of screen backing on it so the TwinTemp is hidden from view.
Before it got too cold, I heat taped & insulated the outside pipes and drains. Looking at UltraHeat peel & stick tank heaters for both the black & grey. Also put up bubble foil on the access doors, vents, and some of the windows - I feel like I am in an aluminum space egg! But it keeps it cozy.
Handyman. What I did for the grey tank is since the back 2 frame crossbeams were rusted out, I had new ones welded in around the new waste tanks (they were moved around 2 inches I think). Tanks are 28gal each and didn't have to be custom made.
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Another thing is, the original tub had no insulation under it whatsoever - changing that.
Dannie
with only the essentials. I was called crazy. A lot. None of the appliances are mounted at all.. when it was towed to the campsite, the toilet wasn't even in! So we booked it: put in the shower walls, installed the toilet, built the bed and cabinet around the wheelwells, removed the old Vulkem outside and resealed everything, and more!
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