1976 Caravaner Renovate or Restore?

[Jenmaron]

I am in the same boat with my new mint condition 1996 Excel. Started painting the panelling and am having serious second thoughts. The upholstery is also mint condition but I really do not like the fabric. How do I update the look without removing the vintage perfect condition?

[Sdmezurek]

Originally Posted by tonydead

Slowly but surely. Got all the demo done, taken most all of the vinyl stuck to the inside aluminum off. Started to paint the bathroom before it got too cold to do any more coatings. Bought a replacement toilet and enough pex pipe to replace all the water lines. Good thing too because previous owners didn't winterize properly and the cooper was split in several places. Working on making penny tiles inside while it's cold to do the bathroom floor, the rest of the flooring is probably going to be a wood laminate.

These are before and after demo pics. Used the Jasco stripper, goof-off and WD-40 method to get everything off the walls.

Old thread, but how easy was it to peel off the coating with the above.mentioned products? What would.you do different?

[tonydead]

Originally Posted by Sdmezurek

Old thread, but how easy was it to peel off the coating with the above.mentioned products? What would.you do different?

It takes a lot of elbow grease, but, it works. Be really careful and point a space heater at it after applying the stripper will help it bubble and come off. Just use the stripper to peel off the vinyl and then it's elbow grease with whatever works to get the glue off. Goof off and WD-40 worked best for us.

[tonydead]

Took a couple weekends off. Back at it now concentrating on the other side. Built a platform for the new fridge. We put it in the same spot as the original to utilize the vent in the roof. We enlarged the hole in the floor to get it closer to the recommended area - planning to add some 12 volt exhaust fans too. Since the fridge has to be in that exact spot I mounted it and will build the enclosure around it instead of the other way around. Ran the very last gas line to it, gas is done. Closet and storage space is going between the fridge and bathroom.

[tonydead]

Framed up and sealed the air intake and exhaust for the fridge when running on propane. These fridges are designed to be sealed at the front when slid into their spot in the cabinet frame. Since I am able to build the cabinetry around the fridge I opted to seal it at the rear.

[tonydead]

Continuing on framing in the exhaust to the roof vent.

[tonydead]

Picture showing the different types of seals used.

[tonydead]

Working on framing around the microwave in the cabinet above the fridge.

[tonydead]

Put in final bulkhead to close off the refrigerator and closet from the living space. Making a cubbyhole to mimic one that was in the same place originally.

[tonydead]

Putting up the distressed wood paneling on the refrigerator bulk head. Worked on some less glamorous details like finishing window gasket replacement that didn't warrant any photos.

[tonydead]

Finished the distressed wood paneling sometime last year....

[tonydead]

Now the long cold wet winter is about over it's time to get back at it. Started the dinette/bed area with the bench framework. Tried out the inserted panel concept on the first one to make sure it looked like I wanted. I have two routers, one bench mounted, so i can do all the cuts without changing bits which works out nice.

[tonydead]

More of the base of the dinette/bed complete.

[tonydead]

Dinette moving ahead.

[tonydead]

Dinette benches nearly finished. Have enough walnut left to make the table top out of which will drop down to form the bed. It's going to be tricky because of the upward front location of the door in the Caravanners. It needs to have a drop leaf, at an angle cut diagonally across the table, to allow people in and out of the door. When in bed mode it will close off the door in order to have a full approx. queen size bed up front.

[tonydead]

Finished side bench. The seat with the hand-hold in the middle is for taking it out (the others all open up with piano hinges for storage) and setting it so that it bridges the span of the doorway when the bed is being made.

The wife has settled on the material for the cushions and has made the first one.

The unfinished space over the wheel well is going to be raised up for counter/desk space up to just under the window. Then a hidden TV than will sit below in front of the wheel well when not being used and pop up, out and rotate for viewing.

[my3sonsdad]

What brand of floating floor plank did you use?

[tonydead]

Originally Posted by my3sonsdad

What brand of floating floor plank did you use?

From iFloor:
Collection Morning Mist
Coverage 26.91
Vinyl Style Wood Look
Dimensions 5.5mm x 48 in x 5 3/4 in
Color Tone Medium
Color Variation Low
Edge Square Edge
Joint System Click
Installation Method Float
Surface Textured
Finish 20mil Wear Layer
Warranty Lifetime Limited/10 Year Light Commercial

The website says it's still available and still on sale. It has a touch of gray/blue in it that kind of brings together the wood with aluminum. Wife got paint and cushion material in the same theme, she's in charge of interior decorating. I just liked the less than $2 per square foot, half of what some of the other stores and brands wanted. I think I got 60sf for just over a hundred bucks and had a full box left over.

Over the two years it has been installed I did have a seam come loose once early on. I left plenty of gaps around the edges and brought it back with a pull bar and some firm taps with a hammer. It seems to have settled in now really well. I don't anticipate any future problems with it.

[tonydead]

Here is the image taken from the website. It's hard to see the blue/gray color in a photograph.

[my3sonsdad]

Thanks!