Tale of a '55 FC Whale Reno

[Bubba L]

After our first big trip over some pretty bumpy roads, we came up with a list of lessons learned:

The Isotherm Freezer came with a bungee corded door. I changed that to what I thought was stainless steel piano hinge, but it rusted after one trip. I replaced the rusted hinge with a plastic piano hinge from McMaster-Carr. Other than the hinge, using the icebox conversion unit in the old Dometic M16 worked flawlessly.


One advantage to renovating a trailer yourself is that if a screw comes loose, you probably recognize where it came from. I did find a screw and it was a stop screw from the wooden (Walter of Wabash type) slide. I put it back in with Locktite.

We found one small leak at the center Hehr vent and will have to Parbond that.

When we stopped in El Paso for the night, there was a terrific sandstorm in progress. We were thankful we had the MaXXFans that could be operated as ceiling fans since we didn't want to open the vent lids. On the downside, we have noticed that the MaXXFan lids will stick shut if they are not kept lubricated with dry silicone.

The sliding bathroom door was too heavy (2-3/8" Birch Plywood glued together); the hanging door track rollers came loose due to the weight of the door and the bouncing of the trailer. I am making a new hollow core door using 3/16" framing veneered with 3/16" birch plywood. I guesstimate it will be at least 40% lighter.

The little bathroom Hehr Standard window handle must have been in the 12 o'clock position and vibrated counterclockwise to open the window by 1/2" while traveling. I closed and tightened it so that the handle was not sitting at 12 o'clock. I was prepared to remove and rotate the handle, but it was not necessary.

The bottom latch of the door-within-a-door vibrated open. I fixed this by slightly bending the latch receiver so that it fit tighter. This still concerns me and I need to figure out a foolproof way to keep the door closed if the latches fail.

The air conditioner in heat mode works great and is quiet because the condenser unit doesn't run. However, in cooling mode on high, the noise from the outside air intake louvered vent next to the front door is high and an annoyance if sitting outside. As the AC approaches the setpoint temperature, it kicks into a lower gear and the noise becomes tolerable. If I had to do it again, I'd figure out a way to put the condenser in the belly pan away from the curbside.


The first night at Pismo, we had a heavy rain causing our awning stakes to pull out. We found many people there used springs on their awning ropes to lessen the tension on the stakes.


Using the same sway/weight distribution system on the '55 as was on the '66, I noticed some slight fishtailing when the wheel was turned. This did not happen on the '66. Is this indicative of too much weight in the back of the trailer or tow vehicle?

One of the biggest lessons was to bring extra cash. The following sign was displayed by our neighbor and we had to buy the sign in order to point it away from us.


Aside from the few things we need to fix, we still need to address the bathroom. More to come...............

[dbj216]

The first big trip always finds some issues whether the trailer is vintage or new. Overall, you would have to say it has been a success so far.

I wonder how many problems I will have on my first trip in my 75 Overlander. We shall see soon.

David

[steinVT]

Sounds like a very successful first trip if you ask me. I'm envious.

Curious about the fish tailing. Bumper weight and weight distribution is something I have been thinking about as we add all of these new systems. Is that something you monitored during your build?

Mark

[mimiandrews]

Fishtailing is definitely a sign that the trailer's Center of Gravity is too far aft. Have you weighed the trailer by itself and determined the tongue weight?

[Bubba L]

Originally Posted by steinVT

Sounds like a very successful first trip if you ask me. I'm envious.

Curious about the fish tailing. Bumper weight and weight distribution is something I have been thinking about as we add all of these new systems. Is that something you monitored during your build?

Mark

Mark, we did monitor weight distribution during the build. The trailer weighs around 3500lbs with a tongue weight of about 325lbs. I think I have less than a couple hundred pounds added aft. That would be the AC air handler and the battery. I also had added a 1/4” x 4” x 4’ piece of steel at the axle and main frame to spread the point load at the axle. Maybe I’m being too critical. It trailers flawlessly and only sways slightly at the rear when I turn the steering wheel when passing or dodging road kill. When it does sway, it returns back to straight trailering position immediately. We were even in a hefty sand storm outside of El Paso and the sway bars held the trailer steady. I didn’t like the weight of the bath sliding door. I almost have the new hollow core replacement made. I’ll keep an eye on it and report back if I find something that needs correcting.

[islandtrader]

If what you say is correct on the sway...then I would think that is a normal reaction. I have always noticed that while towing my boat. I would jerk the steering wheel and the trailer would kick out once and then come back in line.

[Bubba L]

Originally Posted by islandtrader

If what you say is correct on the sway...then I would think that is a normal reaction. I have always noticed that while towing my boat. I would jerk the steering wheel and the trailer would kick out once and then come back in line.

Kent, that’s basically what’s happening. I’m no expert at towing but was hoping this is close to normal. Thanks

[Bubba L]

I've not found a bathroom sink light enough and small enough to hang on the wall between the commode and shower. I don't know the size of the original sink, but there is very little space. There is no space in the shower to put a corner sink.
I am toying with the idea of making a flip up sink. I'd like to find a bowl with a drain hole situated towards the back so that I can install a 90 degree drain connector with a flexible hose so that the hose is against the wall when the sink is flipped up. This is not a new idea, it is similar to other flip up Pullman sink designs, but all I've seen to date are too large for my bath. I'm looking for a sink that is 3-4" deep and 10" in diameter.


For the faucet, I am thinking about using a wall mount sprayer because when the sink is flipped up, the spigot has to fit within the confines of the bowl.


Any good ideas out there?

[57Vintage]

Originally Posted by Bubba L

I've not found a bathroom sink light enough and small enough to hang on the wall between the commode and shower. I don't know the size of the original sink, but there is very little space. There is no space in the shower to put a corner sink.
I am toying with the idea of making a flip up sink. I'd like to find a bowl with a drain hole situated towards the back so that I can install a 90 degree drain connector with a flexible hose so that the hose is against the wall when the sink is flipped up. This is not a new idea, it is similar to other flip up Pullman sink designs, but all I've seen to date are too large for my bath. I'm looking for a sink that is 3-4" deep and 10" in diameter.
Attachment 344742 Attachment 344743

For the faucet, I am thinking about using a wall mount sprayer because when the sink is flipped up, the spigot has to fit within the confines of the bowl.
Attachment 344744

Any good ideas out there?

Find a sink drain/basket with a 90 and attach flexible tubing. Might not have to dis connect when up. Got one for my tub. Not at home so I can't look up source. If you can't locate PM next week.

[Bubba L]

Thanks Harold. I’ll PM you next week.

[Jeremy9107]

A folding sink is an interesting idea. If I was going that path I think I’d do something similar to what you have designed.

[Bubba L]

Originally Posted by Jeremy9107

A folding sink is an interesting idea. If I was going that path I think I’d do something similar to what you have designed.

Jeremy, it’s hard to build a mock-up without the faucet and sink. But, you don’t know what faucet or sink to get until you build a mock-up. We’re looking at a few marine sites for hardware ideas. I rebuilt the mock-up this morning to accommodate a faucet we think will work. Getting closer to finalizing.

[Bubba L]

Read about this on the Forums awhile back and decided to avail myself to some insurance. It was noted that in all tornado movies, you see cows and horses and trees and cars flying through the air, but you never see chickens. So I bought some insurance for $2.99 and activated it by mounting it to the front of the '55. For those of you who say this is a rooster and not a chicken, I say
"all roosters are chickens, but not all chickens are roosters".

[MattB]

Originally Posted by Bubba L

Read about this on the Forums awhile back and decided to avail myself to some insurance. It was noted that in all tornado movies, you see cows and horses and trees and cars flying through the air, but you never see chickens. So I bought some insurance for $2.99 and activated it by mounting it to the front of the '55.

Bubba, I simply cannot argue with this logic. It is infallible.

I am incorporating this into my plan as well. Kansas has also been known to experience tornadoes, apparently according to the movies.

[Jeremy9107]

Cheap insurance and hope it works. Do you live in tornado alley? As for me, I’m investing in Sasquatch insurance.

[Bubba L]

Originally Posted by MattB

Bubba, I simply cannot argue with this logic. It is infallible.

I am incorporating this into my plan as well. Kansas has also been known to experience tornadoes, apparently according to the movies.

We’re heading to Bull Shoals near tornado alley soon so I thought I would increase the insurance. Can’t hurt.

[Bubba L]

Originally Posted by Jeremy9107

Cheap insurance and hope it works. Do you live in tornado alley? As for me, I’m investing in Sasquatch insurance.

Jeremy, I heard that Sasquatch eat chickens. If so, we’ll need to steer clear of Nevada. Don’t want to lose my insurance.

[mimiandrews]

I've heard of sasquatch sightings in the east Texas woods too. Be careful.

[Bubba L]

It's been awhile since I've posted, but we've been enjoying some camping trips with the trailer. I also needed the time to figure out how to make a sink small enough to not obstruct the space to the shower and toilet. Pretty small ceramic sinks are made, but I was concerned they would be too heavy.

After several mock-ups, here is my final design.

It is a flip up sink that is extremely light weight. The hot/cold marine faucet articulates in several directions, but can remain extended into the bowl when the sink is closed. The sink is a 9' round stainless steel marine sink, 5" deep. I found a barbed 90 degree drain on which I could slide a drain hose. When closed, the furthest point in 8 3/4" from the wall. I used aluminum 3/4" angle brackets to rivet it to the wall inside the box on all 4 corners. I also used gimp between the wall and the box.

The flexible drain hose slides into an 1.5" vertical schedule 40 PVC pipe. At the bottom of this pipe is a Hepvo trap in lieu of a P trap. The pex tubing has shutoff valves for hot and cold water. My next step is to create a cover to hide the plumbing yet allow access to it.


Anxious to see how well it works on the road; that's another reason I haven't covered anything up yet.

[Hittenstiehl]

That is as fabulous sink!very nicely done. Reminds me of a vintage Pullman railway sink.