'62 Overlander... new girl on the block

[KCN]

Sweet! Since tamales have already been used, I'll have to come up with some other meaningful way of saying thanks...

My welder is supposed to come by on Saturday, so I'll post pics of my re-worked bumper and repaired step after that.

The attached picture is taken from the curbside looking under my rear belly pan - you can see where the pan failed where it came in contact with the piece of angle and again where it contacted the hold down plate..and again inside the trailer. I had strips of belly pan in the rear and wired it all up to get it home. I guess I'll repeat the design, since Frank says so, but I'll be putting something between the angle and the pan to discourage the corrosion as well as putting some kind of barrier between the belly pan and the hold down plate.

[KCN]

Reconfigured my bumper yesterday, repaired my step, and boxed in the part of the a-frame that goes under the shell - mine was an open channel all the way from the coupler to the base of the a-frame and it was a critter/dirt/water entrance.

I found pictures of other California '62's including a GT that had the same bumper as mine - not drilled for 2 spares but build tight against the back of the trailer. I think this was a bad idea, and found a trailer with similar bumper construction to mine but spaced further away and decided that was the way to go - see the comp picture. My welder (who has a mobile rig and welds for Conoco building the big drilling rigs) spliced in some new 4" channel. Like most construction materials, the 2014 4" is a tiny bit smaller than 1962 4", but close enough.

I'm taking so long on this project that I'm even starting to LOOK like my trailer...

[65CV]

Originally Posted by KCN

...

I'm taking so long on this project that I'm even starting to LOOK like my trailer...

Somebody has to step up and say what we're all thinking... You look beautiful!

[KCN]

Sweet-talker!

Starting on my belly pans. Trying to re-create the rear from the jigsaw puzzle that it was is challenging.

I pulled my front section out and made an upside-down floor using my old hacked-out outrigger to help me fit the sections. It's working pretty well, actually. Kind of borrowed this idea from Steve Bittner from the Vintage Trailer Academy last year (registration is now open so jump on that quickly since it sold out last year pretty early).

Started talking to Lewster about my electrical plan...since I have nothing in my trailer in terms of appliances/systems I figured I'd ask a master RV tech and find out what breaks most often and NOT buy that... He was at the academy last year also, and I took a lot of notes in his seminars. Didn't understand most of it at the time, but I took a lot of notes!

Listened to the VAP last night and some guy was telling a story about how the skid plates really saved his wheel because it prevented the trailer from riding on the rim when a tire blew out..which I guess was at least part of Wally's intention in adding them...so now I get it....more of a protection than I realized. A real PITA to work the belly pan around them though!!

[KCN]

Belly pans are in progress. It makes me crazy not to be able to find 60" 5052 H32 .032. I found some in California, but the shipping logistics make it a bad choice. So I guess I'll piece together 48" and call it good, or this could go on forever. I messed around with .025 and .040 and now have a goodly pile of messed up .025 and .040. .032 is the way for me to go.

It's been way below zero, so no POR 15 on the bumper mods yet. Hopefully today. I've been burning a lot of propane in my shop heater.

Bathroom musings: I would like to use a Thetford Cassette C-200, which has an external access door. I'll have to cut a hole in the rear ss panel for that. I like the outside access for the black dump.

I'm also looking at the Aqua-hot Hydronic heating and hot water system...pricey, but I like it. I found a used 375 series vs the new 400...any body have any feedback on those??

And look what I found at my aluminum dealer...just in time for Valentine's Day
I was going to have him slice some up and make aluminum 'cookies' and rivet them all over the outside of my trailer... or make wind chimes...or....cool light fixtures..or inlays in a countertop....please stop me....

Seriously, feedback on the Aqua-hot would be appreciated.

[truckasaurus]

Have you considered the aluminum sheet that semi shops have? I used it on my belly pan as it comes on a coil and is very wide, I don't recall the alloy but I could look it up for you. Just a thought as it's available everywhere from what I gather.

[Wabbiteer]

The only hint of a problem with the thetford is winter temperatures and not very much distance & insulation between their door and a cassette & other vital components that could bust seams if it experienced blasts of cold wind. Not that a nearly inert and well treated tank would be much of a liability, just saying.

[KCN]

My aluminum guy "has a guy" who has a coil that he cuts occasionally and he finally (on my tenth trip there) offered to get some 60" but "not if you're in a hurry." Since I am actually now held up from going further by having to finish the belly pans, I guess I'll move ahead with the spliced sheets. Upside is that I can isolate areas for future easier access if my center belly is in sections.

Good point on the Thetford black tank, and was definitely not going to use their door but hopefully fabricate one that's aluminum and beautiful. And insulated. Watch their video for that toilet - I liked the part about the seat having a chin rest...

Meanwhile, fun and games with Aerowood's shrinker/stretcher that is currently residing in my trailer. I made caps for the outriggers to prevent (or at least delay) the new bellypan from wearing through at the contact points with the outrigger. I think I'll attach them to the outrigger along the flange with double-sided tape of an eternal variety. I used one of the old outriggers as my template, and an 8" x 3" scrap seemed to be about the right size. I bent the pieces on my brake first. I still have to make the bigger ones for the double-outriggers at the step.

[utee94]

You Colorado folks have access to all the best tools, lucky!

-Marcus

[Aerowood]

Originally Posted by utee94

You Colorado folks have access to all the best tools, lucky!

-Marcus

All you have to do is change your mailing address to be able to join us and play in our sandbox

[KCN]

ugh. My floor is just too wide. Finally just pulled it all up yesterday and and am re-doing it. Combination of several things - a) narrower frame than spec, b) floor was missing in the rear when I got it, c) I didn't measure what WAS there in the spots where it was still intact, and last but not least, d) know-how. Now I have it, before I didn't.

It's like knitting a sweater and getting all the way to the neck and having to unravel it. I've done that, too. OR putting a quilt together, only to have it resemble a trapezoid instead of a rectangle. Done that, too.

More important things, I know. But my oldest daughter got engaged yesterday, and my middle daughter got three job offers (she graduates this spring)...so I need to get this thing done a) for wedding pictures and b) to take a trip with #2 before she enters the world of 8-5 M-F.

Back to the shop.

[calais66]

Better too big than too small--at least you don't have to start completely at square one. Congrats on all the great family news as well! Sounds like 2014 is going to be an exciting year!

[KCN]

It fits now.

[Aerowood]

Are you bolting it all down now?

[MarkR]

Whoa Nellie . . . what is that "drill accessory" called and where can I get one?

Nice C-Channel. You must've "stretched" it somehow to get it to curve so nicely.

[KCN]

Kip - I am bolting it down. Again. I had to take 3/16 off each side because the floor was 3/8 too wide but I'd already bolted it down once and wanted to use the same holes. Had to re-epoxy all the sides.

Mark - that is called a Tight Fit Drill kit - Kip had a really cool little right angle drill that I coveted and that's the closest I could find. I got it at Aircraft Spruce but I've seen them on Amazon, Ebay, etc.. and other brands that look similar. I'm also using an Offset Drill Attachment (about 10 bucks at HD) that uses hex shank bits because I needed a longer 1/4 bit and the kit didn't come with one. Prices vary widely on that kit; it's crazy.

Those corner channels are awesome, aren't they? They were made for me by Vinstream. I looked for months and months trying to get someone to replicate the originals. Super happy with them.

[KCN]

I got a NOS Bargman L-100 but it does not fit my door - the holes are too small. On post #118 I put pictures of my door. When I took it apart, a chunk of wood that had been drilled with the same hole pattern fell out - it was between the door layers for support.

So does this mean I need a L77?

For sale: 1 Bargman L-100, NOS, in box...

[Colin H]

Originally Posted by KCN

I got a NOS Bargman L-100 but it does not fit my door - the holes are too small. On post #118 I put pictures of my door. When I took it apart, a chunk of wood that had been drilled with the same hole pattern fell out - it was between the door layers for support.

So does this mean I need a L77?

For sale: 1 Bargman L-100, NOS, in box...

Your trailer originally had a "Chesler" handle on it, which is very similar to the L100. Unless you can find a Chesler, the L100 is the closest you're going to get. Modify your door to suit the L100. The L77 had a vertical hole, not even close to what you're showing on post 118.

Colin

[KCN]

Thanks, Colin. I didn't really consider the Chesler because I thought those were only used in the late 60's trailers.

More curious about what was actually there, than anything. I'll modify and use the L100 unless I find something else.

[KCN]

Why you need to remove the old steel, hinge-mounting plates. I will have these fabricated out of aluminum for replacement. Goodly amount of corrosion on the inside, although none was visible from outside on the jamb itself.