Our Home Away From Home

[Jim Pike]

Thanks for the photos, it really helps. Your floor looks great compared to mine (I almost wish I hadn't looked at mine). I know I should replace the floor, but will probably put it off so that we can use the trailer/bathroom this coming season at the lake - where our '68 Overlander is parked. I am inspired that I may yet feel comfortable tackling the floor replacement. Looking forward to your next posting of photos.

Last year, I gathered up my courage and tackled dropping the leaking black tank and now have had it repaired (plastic welded). It took a surprising amount of time and effort to get everthing apart as none of the sheet metal screws were prepared to co-operate - wouldn't turn and my drill bits wouldn't bite to drill out the screws*. I had a new galvanized box bent up and cut new angle iron supports (the old box and supports were very badly rusted). Got replacement parts for the original toilet and valves. Saw how bad the floor really is.

Didn't get anything put back together before winter started and we had to pack up for the season. It's really not practical to work on the trailer during the winter (usually gets snow, and is definitely cold and wet). C'mon Spring!

Thanks.

Jim

Victoria, BC

*Nothing, absolutely nothing, is ever simple.

[Bobz Hog]

Thanks, Jim. What you don't see is the PO tried to repair the problem with bondo and large lag bolts. This didn't help the problem of tail sag and the integrity of the structure was compromised. Remember, as mentioned in other threads, Airstreams get their strength through a combination of frame, floor, and the sides which are all tied together. If they are all in good shape, you don't have problems, but if any one of the three elements is in bad shape, it affects the whole structure. Be sure that your repair takes this into consideration. That's why I decided to replace the affected part of the floor.
These new pictures show the after of my repairs. The rear floor with the new floor covering installed, the new water heater with the "collar" I made to fill in the hole around it, and the polishing in progress.

[sequoiacoast]

Hey looking good Bob- the polishing looks great! I'm thinking you'll be out camping this summer for sure!

[Jim Pike]

Thanks for the photo update. My, that new floor sure is pretty (it will make a tremendous difference I'm sure - I have read many of the posts about floors and structural integrity). Deep cell battery, too! I haven't quite figured out exactly where and how it was originally mounted back there.

Looks like you still have the original pump (P&R?). I managed to freeze ours and it cracked - forcing the issue of replacing the pump. The new one is definitely much more quiet and smooth.

The double configuration is nice - it's what I'd prefer. A P.O. had hacked into the curb side twin on ours, so one of my projects is to make the remaining twin into a "double" (really a 3/4, I think).

Good luck with the polishing - looking good!

Jim

[Bobz Hog]

A lot has happened since my last post. I got the trailer back from polishing and decided to replace the water delivery system with PEX. Since a friend of mine was familiar with installing this stuff and he had the tools, we ran all new lines to the sinks, toilet, shower, and fresh water tank. I used white PEX for the cold water lines and Red PEX for the hot water lines. Meanwhile, a professional painter friend of mine assisted me (or should I say it was the other way around) in repairing and painting the bathroom fiberglass/plastic parts which turned out beautifully. Next, I installed the cork flooring. I decided to install it wall to wall so the entire inside of the floor was covered, even though some of it will be under the cabinets, etc. I used glue down cork which wasn't too difficult to install; however you use contact cement and that can get quite "sticky" if you don't place the tiles just right the first time. Meanwhile, I've been refinishing the wood surfaces of the cabinets and bulkheads and rebuilding or replacing the weak or broken parts. To date, I have the bathroom installed (minus the cabinet doors), bedroom done, the new stereo installed above the front sofa/bed, and half the kitchen installed. I replaced the gaucho bed in the living area with a "flip flop" type sofa bed which has a built in frame. I modified the original storage area for the gaucho bed to work as a platform for the new sofa which works quite nicely.

[danalee]

WOW you have done so much work. I would love to see a picture of your bathroom.

[Bobz Hog]

It's been so long since I posted pictures, I forgot how. Here's an attempt to post some of the progress photos.

[moosetags]

Wow! That's really nice looking work.

Brian

[sequoiacoast]

Whoa- I missed all these pics- the floor is beautiful- and the bathroom- well, I thought it was mine... so of course I Love it (haha)!!

I will definitely make time to come by- in the next few weeks- I'm taking off for a family trip this weekend- first outing since last August!

[Bobz Hog]

Since my last posting, the work has gone along more quickly. We're almost finished and anxious to go campin'. I changed out the fronts of the appliances in the galley with brushed stainless steel and made the quilted backsplash for the stove. All the wood was lightly sanded and refinished and the pieces that were too far gone were replaced and stained to match. I also made new counter tops since the one for the stove and sink fell apart when I removed it. Since we went for a tropical theme (inspired by Sequoia Coast's Tradewind of the same vintage), the bulkhead next to the refrigerator was decoupaged with hand made paper with fern relief which turned out looking like leather. I had to remake the table structure and bar cupboard using both recycled wood from the shelves behind the gaucho beds and new wood. We decided that since this trailer will be mostly used by the two of us, the gaucho bed in the bedroom would be replaced by an RV mattress. I installed a 23" flat screen TV on mounting hardware that allows viewing from both the bedroom and the living room. After all was done, I discovered the old Suburban furnace refused to work; so I crawled under the stove and installed a new Suburban furnace as described in other threads in this forum. It saved me a ton of time and it works great. Lesson learned: don't assume things work just because the PO says so. I'm currently working on chasing down the leaks that plague my front side windows. Both lower windows have water in the catch basin after a rain storm. I noticed they don't have weepholes like most household aluminum windows do. Have any of you drilled weepholes at the bottom of the windows? Photos of the interior to follow.

[Bobz Hog]

Here are the pictures that show the finished (almost) interior.

[87MH]

Good job!!

What are the plans for the future?

[Bobz Hog]

Dennis, I'm working on the exterior now and plan to purchase an awning in the near future. Meanwhile, we're goin' campin'. We would like to get together with other 'streamers and travel this great nation of ours.
Bob

[BarryIowa]

Love the 68 Overlander! The pictures on this thread are pretty few and far between but sooooo much work was done. Impressive!

[casarodante]

Very nice. It will be fun to see it!