Gutting the Tradewind...

[sequoiacoast]

Well, I have decided to gut the interior. The smell in there is lessening without the cushions and the rotten kitchen counter. But it still smells and there is questionable floor rot under the bathroom, so I am taking it all out.

So far I have the front gaucho, kitchen (sink, stove, and furnace), side gaucho, and both top cabinets on that side out. I have been searching out info on the removal of the bath... I don't want to ruin any fiberglass.

I have a few questions:
1) I don't know if any of the appliances work. I have removed them - can I check if they work by hooking them up to propane/electricity in my driveway?
2) Are the light fixtures specialized, can you install a normal interior fixture?
3) The access doors outside- Mine only have the lock at the bottom and can be pulled out from the top. There are no side locking deals to keep them in place. How are they supposed to be? And is it possible to keep rain out??
4) I am putting in new window gaskets and want to polish the trim before I put the new gasket in... but I don't have a polisher- I bought a mini wheel that you attatch to a drill. What steps do you go through to polish trim. And how about screens??
5) Zolatone: Is it used on the interior skin or the fiberglass? I saw Balgrn painted his fiberglass but I didn't catch with what?
6) Are the rivets used on the int. skin a specific size? Are they called Olympic rivets?
I know I have more questions - can't remember them now...

We finally have a break in the rain, and I have to get out there. There are so many leaks, I know the windows leak, I think the stove vent cover leaks. Is it posssible the running lights leak? I don't think the sky lights are leaking. The compartments are definately a problem!
Thank you!!

[malconium]

I can furnsish a answers to a couple of your questions...

2.) I think you will find that most of the light fixtures are 12volt so you could not replace them with a standard 110volt home type. Otherwise there are lots of different types of 12volt things available.

6.) The interior rivets are not the olympic type. The olympics are used on the outside and look very similar to the original type. The interior ones are plain ordinary aluminum pop-rivets in 1/8" diameter. They are sold at both Lowes and Home Depot and would not be hard to find at most any hardware store.

Malcolm

[Chaplain Kent]

6.) The interior rivets are not the olympic type. The olympics are used on the outside and look very similar to the original type. The interior ones are plain ordinary aluminum pop-rivets in 1/8" diameter. They are sold at both Lowes and Home Depot and would not be hard to find at most any hardware store.

Malcolm[/quote]"

Here's a tip for the rivets. Unless you are planning on painting the interior walls, you can paint the rivets to match the walls before you use them. Just find a spray paint color that will match and spray away.
You should be able to test all of your appliances on the driveway. Be careful that you have your connections tight and don not walk off with the propane tank connected and turned on.
Your light fixtures should work with both 110 and 12V. I found an excellent resource for them is RV Surplus in Elkhorn, IN.
Balgrn has a web page and I am certain he will be chiming in soon. On that page is an excellent step by step how to paint your bathroom. You can search it.
Good luck to you. I look forward to seeing your progress.

[Wardinbb]

Originally Posted by sequoiacoast

Well, I have decided to gut the interior. The smell in there is lessening without the cushions and the rotten kitchen counter. But it still smells and there is questionable floor rot under the bathroom, so I am taking it all out.

So far I have the front gaucho, kitchen (sink, stove, and furnace), side gaucho, and both top cabinets on that side out. I have been searching out info on the removal of the bath... I don't want to ruin any fiberglass.
Gots to do whats ya gots to do. It all drills out, even the fasteners ya can't find at first! The fibreglass can be resurfaced, Por15 makes some great hard as nails finishes.

I have a few questions:
1) I don't know if any of the appliances work. I have removed them - can I check if they work by hooking them up to propane/electricity in my driveway?
I did the same by getting a bar-b-que hose that comes with a regulator.
2) Are the light fixtures specialized, can you install a normal interior fixture?
Sure. You can use any fixture you want, they even make 12v bulbs that are std. 120v size, but your power consumption and source is the issue.
3) The access doors outside- Mine only have the lock at the bottom and can be pulled out from the top. There are no side locking deals to keep them in place. How are they supposed to be? And is it possible to keep rain out??
Mine slip into a recess at the top of the extrusion frame to the tune of about a 1/4 inch. I added closed foam weather strip 1/4 x 1/8(thk) to the backside of the door.
4) I am putting in new window gaskets and want to polish the trim before I put the new gasket in... but I don't have a polisher- I bought a mini wheel that you attatch to a drill. What steps do you go through to polish trim. And how about screens??
I did the same when I reconditioned the windows. I did it by hand with a red and/or blue cotton shop rag. Used Nuvite, given the course medium and fine, I didn't make it past medium. The drip rail, which had to be removed to get the window frame out, and the frame itself both got hand polished. Screen frames seem a bit overkill to me but have at it. I threw the shop towels away when finished.
5) Zolatone: Is it used on the interior skin or the fiberglass? I saw Balgrn painted his fiberglass but I didn't catch with what?
Mine is in good shape. Its on both the fibreglass end caps and the rest of the interior. I've cleaned some of it with Awsome, a 99cent cleaner available at most dollar stores. Looks great.
6) Are the rivets used on the int. skin a specific size? Are they called Olympic rivets?
Not usually. Olympic's are usually reserved for the outside unless you want something highlighted or designed on the inside. Just a regular pop rivet is used on the inside. They come in wide flange if needed and painted in at least black, brown or white if you want them that way. 1/8" rivet either short or medium length, depending on whether its going back to secure just skin or hitting a rib.
I know I have more questions - can't remember them now...

We finally have a break in the rain, and I have to get out there. There are so many leaks, I know the windows leak, I think the stove vent cover leaks. Is it posssible the running lights leak? I don't think the sky lights are leaking. The compartments are definately a problem! Everything leaks darn it! Its worth undoing and sealing with Vulkem everywhere you go. The seals on my skylites were dehydrated a bit with no replacements available at the time. I topped them off with new closed cell foam weatherseal. Works so far until replacement.
Thank you!!

Have fun and keep us posted.
Ed