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yukionna · 03-23-2008, 06:27 AM

Thanks to another forum member (our "little birdie"), we have added a '54 Safari to our family. You can read about how we found it in another thread.

We were beyond thrilled with the 13-panels, of course...what is there not to love about one of those! The condition is typical for an unused, "been sitting around for awhile" 1954 trailer. It wasn't used as a storage shed but had been neglected for many years. There are signs of water leaks and the subsequent floor rot along with a few "beauty marks" in the skin, but overall she is a beauty!

Pictures to follow soon.

**azflycaster** · 03-23-2008, 06:31 AM

Congratulations on a great find. Looking forward to seeing the pictures.

Ganglin · 03-23-2008, 06:58 AM

Can you post a pic of the bath please. Nice trailer - enjoy!

robandzoe · 03-23-2008, 07:17 AM

Yukionna,

Congrats on your find. You're way ahead of the one we found. These front kitchen models are really neat if you ask me. What are your plans for it? Ours is a long term project.

Rob

yukionna · 03-23-2008, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robandzoe

Yukionna,

Congrats on your find. You're way ahead of the one we found. These front kitchen models are really neat if you ask me. What are your plans for it? Ours is a long term project.

Rob

Rob...I saw your thread on your latest FL trailer. Very nice kitchen in yours!

I think we are leaning toward going the same route as you have planned -- keeping kitchen and bathroom the same (using original appliance, if possible) and the remainder is an open slate. Though I like the dinette location. The view out of that bank of windows is spectacular, to say the least. I'm leaning toward a wrap around gaucho set up in the rear with twin beds or the option to put a board across middle to make a larger bed.

The wardrobe closets are in good condition as is the pantry so I will probably keep those but perhaps improve upon the storage usability by adding drawers or shelves inside.

yukionna · 03-24-2008, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robandzoe

...Ours is a long term project...

Our '54 will be a long term project too. We will start on it after we finish the '61 Ambassador and the '64 Suburban. Too many projects...not enough time!

fotochop · 03-24-2008, 11:07 AM

oh my. congratulations is not strong enough: YOU SCORED!!! especially if that's the one you got for $2.5K more pictures please! can't wait to see your extensively illustrated renov thread...

yukionna · 03-26-2008, 06:52 AM

The bathroom is small and only contains the commode and a sink. The window in the bathroom opens but the glass is opaque (as is the matching window in the kitchen). The cabinet under the sink has a hinged-on-the-bottom type door. There is no shower. We are considering adding a shower which would turn the bathroom into a wet bath. Has anyone done this before with this type of bathroom layout?

InsideOut · 03-26-2008, 07:57 AM

Our 1956 Safari has a front, corner wet bath...although we haven't used it yet!

It's very simply plumbed...seems like it will work as well as any modern wet bath. We do have a different sink though...it's a waterproof fiberglass/plastic (similar to this) rather than laminate like yours.

Shari

yukionna · 03-26-2008, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InsideOut

Our 1956 Safari has a front, corner wet bath...although we haven't used it yet! It's very simply plumbed...seems like it will work as well as any modern wet bath.

Where is the plumbing located for the shower?

InsideOut · 03-26-2008, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yukionna

Where is the plumbing located for the shower?

Well, right now it's in the garage, bottom shelf of the 'project cabinets'!

But it's 'home' is surface mounted above the sink - you can see the water pipe going up in this 'before' picture, but sorry I don't have one of the showerhead itself.

The corner sink is streetside in the corner next to the wall separating the dinette and the bathroom. When standing in the doorway, on the left back corner...make sense?

Shari

yukionna · 03-26-2008, 09:15 AM

Shari, that makes sense -- thanks for posting the information.

So, I would deduce that your commode is to the right of the sink, perhaps under the window? Do you know whether or not your bathroom is the "factory" floorplan or was it changed by a PO?

InsideOut · 03-26-2008, 09:22 AM

The commode is on the right of the door...in the curve, under the window. It is the 100% original layout for 56 which is different than the 54's (and I think also the 55's).

One of the other 'easy to spot' differences I have noticed between years is the heater type & location. On the '56 it's a wall mounted heater on the pantry face, rear of the entry door and on the earlier models it's the freestanding round heater forward of the entry door.

Shari

toastie · 03-26-2008, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yukionna

Thanks to another forum member (our "little birdie"), we have added a '54 Safari to our family. You can read about how we found it in another thread.

We were beyond thrilled with the 13-panels, of course...what is there not to love about one of those! The condition is typical for an unused, "been sitting around for awhile" 1954 trailer. It wasn't used as a storage shed but had been neglected for many years. There are signs of water leaks and the subsequent floor rot along with a few "beauty marks" in the skin, but overall she is a beauty!

Pictures to follow soon.

Congratulations on a great find. Consider yourself lucky on this one, I was hot on the trail for it, any time I can find a 13 panel 30 mins. from the house at that price consider it gone.

InsideOut · 03-26-2008, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InsideOut

The commode is on the right of the door...in the curve, under the window. It is the 100% original layout for 56 which is different than the 54's (and I think also the 55's).

Here's another couple of pictures from other '56 Safari bathrooms from RJ's photo archives:

Shari

yukionna · 03-27-2008, 08:30 AM

Shari -- thanks for the detailed bathroom/photo information! It is very helpful.

The trailer has an unusual bunk bed in the rear of the trailer. Does anyone know if this was an option from the factory or not? I have examined the bunk closely but I can't tell if it is stock or a PO add-on. The wood used is very similar to the wood used in the cabinets of my '64 Bambi II so either it is factory or it is PO add on from many years ago.

It is very curious with the door that comes down and "locks" the occupant into the "crib". I guess it would be good for a baby or toddler as you wouldn't have to worry about the child falling out!

InsideOut · 03-27-2008, 08:48 AM

Ours too has a bunk...but it's very different from yours.

I'm pretty certain that ours is original because of the way the wood, detailing, screw plugs and finishes match the rest of the cabinetry...down to the welting trim at the walls and lack of finish where it connects to the upper cabinets (even under the white paint). However, I've not seen another like it either...every bunk I've seen (in the mid-50's) has been different, no two have been alike. So it's possible that none of them were done at the factory. Here's some others from the Photo Archives:

1954 Safari Bunk
1954 Crusier Bunk

1956 Safari Bunk 'A'
1956 Safari Bunk 'B'
1956 Safari Bunk 'C'

If only these babies could talk!

Shari

yukionna · 03-27-2008, 08:54 AM

Are you planning on keeping the bunk as part of your restoration?

InsideOut · 03-27-2008, 09:19 AM

We have no real reason to keep it, as we don't have kids or grandkids and it's not big enough for an adult. However, our kitty would love the 'hiding place' and the idea of extra storage is really nice - but I don't think it's necessary. On the other hand, I love the exposed 13 panels which are kind of hidden by the bunk. The wardrobes and upper cabinets had to all come out before it could, so it will have to be one of the first things to go back in if we decide to do that.

I've also thought of making it into a shallower shelf, so Lily would still have a place to go, but it wouldn't hang over the beds as much...but it would still hide the 13 panel detailing and it may not work w/o major modification because of the size of the front frame and the curves of the ceiling.

So the jury is still out...I have stripped it and prepped it to be re-installed just like all the other cabinets at this point, but am still vacillating about it going back in.

Shari