1964 Globetrotter | You did what?

[Janet H]

We briefly lost our senses and signed on for another interesting 1964 project; after all, a weekend without the sound for grinding, buffing and cussing just doesn't seem complete....

This sad little trailer has been in my area for it's entire life. First as a rock hounds adventure-mobile, then an urban storage shed and finally left to turn to dust and provide shade for a couple of nice dogs in the backyard of a busy family. It's a project. PROJECT!

The good: no rot anywhere, no mold, no critters and mostly original, all paperwork and repair records for the entire life of the trailer came with and CHEAP!

The bad: All systems are in need of replacement, the axle, tires, wheels, tanks, upholstery, etc. It was stored under a blue tarp and the bungee cords left black scuffs (should buff out). The dinette is not original and will be scrapped.

The ugly: The door needs to be replaced. It was broken into at some point and the door badly mangled. Someone beat the mangled door back into plumb and put on a padlock. And there's a dented segment. Sigh.... remember, it was cheap

Here are some before pics

[Janet H]

New Old Door

Initially we were going to pass on this trailer because of the door problems but then low and behold on e-bay a new old stock door was listed for sale. Fate or folly? The seller was not sure what year the door was but it looked right and the measurements seemed about right so... we moved forward (remember... CHEAP) now we own an extra door with a small and fixable ding to replace the one with holes, and crumples.

Challenges: making hinges from VTS work on new door, removing 50 year old tape residue from door. Any door advice?

[Janet H]

Found fun

A turquoise humphrey lamp - looks like an aftermarket addition. This was mounted over the dinette and will shortly be listed on ebay - perfect swag for a nice canned ham.

[Janet H]

So the rehab is on! Not a restoration to original but a redo - to make it perfect for a weekend on solo trip.

We have already hauled the dinette (poorly built after the fact) to the dump and the side gaucho is out. The stick on floor tiles are removed and today the subfloor was sealed.

I believe the kitchen cabinet will have to be rebuilt but we're still contemplating what sort of layout will will be needed so for now we're focusing on sealing up the trailer, fixing the door, replacing the segment, vents, gaskets etc. There's plenty of time this winter to contemplate the perfect layout.

At one point someone beautified the interior - among other things all switch plates had these added. Lovely ....

[gregtx]

I think you made a great purchase and a project, but nothing you haven't done already. I'm sure after your hard work it will be cherished! Will be looking for the gas lamp on ebay...I want it for my new project, 1970 Overlander.

Greg

[reinergirl]

I think you should put the switch plates up on ebay .... Yuck

Looks like a nice project, I can't believe what good condition the floor is! Looking forward to seeing what you do with it!

[Janet H]

Considering various layout options... Has anyone ever added a dedicated desk space? The L shaped seating would include a pull out to make a large bed.

We've also considered adding a small gray tank under the kitchen sink. The space there is very limited and might be better dedicated for this purpose.

We've even considered adding a second gray tank in the bottom of the curbside closet and doing some fancy plumbing footwork to make it all functional.


Here's a draft of an idea. The small table would be a pedestal mount thing that could be stowed away



Thoughts about this?

[InsideOut]

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S Janet! Glad to see you finally found the "right" '64 GT...awesome! You will love it - we loved ours.

So, with your new L-shaped seating/bed layout, it looks like you have removed the gas heater - will this only be a fair weather trailer or electric only or ???...what will you be doing for heat? Otherwise, looks like a solid plan.

Good luck, can't wait to see this one back on the road!

Shari

[Janet H]

Heat is required

The old heater was a disaster and so we pulled it out. It will be replaced with a new direct discharge gas model from suburban that will be in the same location but will fit under the seating. This allows seating to stretch through the area where the old heater was.

Because so much on this trailer has already been altered or trashed, I don't have too many qualms about altering the original.

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by Janet

Because so much on this trailer has already been altered or trashed, I don't have too many qualms about altering the original.

I get it.

Shari

[Janet H]

Time for an update. Recently we replaced the axle with a new one from Inland RV and aside from some seized, rusted nuts this went well - direct bolt on (with some new mounting holes).

Body work began in earnest today and it's been "interesting" We had some known challenges (remember the trailer was CHEAP). Now we have more.

The planned exterior work had been:
Patches where heater, water heater had been and one upper rear segment as well at the front curbside lower panel. Then work on the door replacement.

Taking off the front curbside panel (which was dented) has revealed a whole new mess of problems. There is a lot wrong with this trailer. My fearless DH is confident he can resolve them but only time will tell.

It looks like this rig was in an accident. The front curbside corner was rebuilt - not very well. The patch on the floor which I assumed was water related clearly was in service of this repair. A close inspection of the frame shows that it's in good shape and straight.

All lower front panels will have to be replaced (probably inside as out). The window will have to be rebuilt, some work done on the vertical structure. There are cut and wrong sized ribs held in with one or two rivets. The door frame will need a repair. It's good that we took it apart - wires were run through jagged holes with no spacers, it allows access to replace electric boxes that are the wrong size, etc. Note the "c-channel repair" - welded iron. Still mulling this one over. So - here are the gory pics - how many things can you find wrong??? Any advice?

[InsideOut]

Oh my...looks like you'll have a few extra projects ahead of you! Just think of the sense of accomplishment you're gonna have when done ~

Any advice? Take it one "mini-project" at a time and remember, things are gonna get worse, before they get better ~

Besides, it'll give you more time to save your pennies for that fabric you want!

Shari

[Janet H]

We have been contemplating adding a small stack window to just in front of the door on the curb side. These are available for sale and are used on current models.
Does anyone know if the wall thickness has changed much over the years? I have some concern that trim rings are going to be the wrong size.

[Belegedhel]

I would be just as concerned that the curvature of the wall in a 64 would be so different from a modern, wide-body trailer, that you would not get a flush-fit of the window tot he skin. I investigated adding a window that was available on the doors of the 75th anniversary Bambi to my 70's era trailer, and was told by the factory that I could probably make it work, but I would have to bend the window frame to close the gap.

good luck!

[Janet H]

Here is the location we are considering and so I don;t think curve is a huge concern.. Currently this section is in pieces and is being rebuilt anyway so now's the time to do this..

[Janet H]

A little progress today.. The dented segment has been worked over with an english wheel and is going back in place.

Before and afters....

[Janet H]

And the door... remember the door? Horrible. It was missing locks and had been broken into with a crowbar and then repaired with a hammer. Garys made a new one and it's installed. Gaskets still need to be added and adjustments made but it FITS and latches and locks. It's a miracle. The door was the deal breaker on this rehab.. the rest of this tuff we know how to do but the door was a giant challenge. The old door could not be reskinned but had to be built from scratch. Once we dug in to remove the lower curbside segment we discovered a nightmare repair...

This trailer has been in an accident and the door and lower front segments rebuilt - not very well. The front had been restructured with angle iron and ribs sistered in. The frame was tweaked. Who puts angle iron in an Airstream??

When the door was fixed at the same time as this other stuff they cut it down a little because they didn't make the front repairs properly and the old door didn't fit in the tweaked frame.

The frame is straight now and the front rebuilt, today we have a door.

Old repair:



Old door:



New door (still in need of gaskets)

[Janet H]

Reno is stalled today. Snow!

[MarkR]

nice . . . i see that you got your window in - very cool

[Janet H]

The window is a good addition. This was added so that you could see out on that side of the trailer.. There was a big 'blind spot' there