Visit our Popular Forums

Dave Park · 07-17-2011, 11:47 PM

I am fine. The main hold-up is the ban on outdoor welding in Central Texas, due to the severity of the drought. You have to get a $100 permit to weld outdoors, and meet all sorts of requirements. If you are caught it's a $500 fine and if you start a fire you're on the hook for the whole amount. This means when I separate the frame, it'll need to be welded indoors.

I have decided to do this shell-on, unless the frame throws us a curveball. Oh, the frame turns out to be 4x2 box section.

It's great having the electrical system ordered and coming - I have a lot of wiring to do when I have the inner skins off. Having the system here and available makes organizing the wiring much easier.

Things on the shopping list for the near future:

Whichever brand of radiant barrier is best value at purchase time.
Foil tape
Lots of 12v wire (I have 110v coated wire but will need some for the 30A run)
Rivets
Aluminum sheet (need to measure) for outer skin (roof and rear SS quarter)
Aluminum sheet (need to measure) for inner skin (may be able to re-use removed outer skin inside)
Beading tool for panel edges (door rebuild)
All door lock/latch hardware
Elevator bolts - fastenall
Pin punch - good way to start drilling rivet heads
7 4x8 sheets of 3/4" MGP (or something of suitable quality)
Black, gray and fresh tanks
Water pump
Window seals (and anything else needed for window restoration of 14 hehr windows)

Decisions to be made soon:
Axles/suspension
Limits of roof skin replacement (whole or partial panel)
Floor covering
Zolatone color

Plans for this week:
Remove floor, assess frame, remove lower skins, assess c-channel
Move trailer to permanent work location
Level trailer
Remove axles/suspension and assess
Create layout plan in digital form

Well, that's the plan for now. We'll see how the plan survives contact with the enemy

whitsend · 07-18-2011, 01:50 PM

Dave - If a 2nd set of hands would be of any help to you, just give me a call. Inside pop rivets I can drill out like a pro. If you have the belly pan off, I can also help with removing the original elevator bolts (by pneumatically shearing the bolt's shank from below) and pulling out the old factory ply. I have some ramps that would raise the trailer up 8 to 10", making working from below a LOT easier. I can grind off or rough up any frame rust or prime or paint the frame with the best of 'em. I also have at least one box fan that really helps on hot days. Like many others, I really would like to help!!

sams · 07-18-2011, 06:19 PM

At home for restoration in Texas.

soldiermedic · 07-18-2011, 06:25 PM

Dave tells me they got rain today. What I wouldn't give for about 2 weeks of solid rain here. He was able to get some floor removed so we could see the floor. looks like the rear frame crossmember is toast, but remember there hasn't been a rear vent in this trailer for who knows how long. The crossmember right in from of it has a small chunck cut out of it due to where the pipe was running through. Not sure how we will handle it, as it is such a small area missing on the 2nd piece. Other than this, everything really looks good.

Steve

sams · 07-18-2011, 06:26 PM

Good Move!

sams · 07-18-2011, 06:40 PM

Before & After

whitsend · 07-18-2011, 09:01 PM

That's great progress Dave!!! Considering the heat wave we're in right now, I'd say that's a job "well done"?

Dave Park · 07-19-2011, 07:19 AM

Jim, thanks. The heat is a real energy-sapper.

Would you like to come up for a day and help me with the floor removal? You could bring that nibbler and we could make some good progress.

My time's split right now, pouring the pad in the back yard... This will be a slower week.

Hopefully, a bit more rain today.

scorpiontimo · 07-20-2011, 08:35 AM

OMG that is a big girl you guys have a lot of work ahead. Rondi may be able to find a day to come and help sense we are not working for a month or so. we miss Pecan Park and all our tube kids that come to tube. Oh you guys remember Buddy our friend that came to the rally helped with the BBQ, as you know he has been looking for a airstream caught the bug he's the guy that went to camping world in Houston to buy one for a lot of cash and they screwed him around he came home without well he has been watching your fun with yours well last night we bought a 72 overlander in Austin I will be towing it to Johnson today and start work on updating it with new floor and elic and polishing and a few other needed things Steve he got the bug so bad he is in a 2011 lacrosse 32 foot trailer he plans on moving from that to the overlander and selling the Lacrosse, reason he likes the overlander it is just like ours except shorter but inside looks like my baby's baby. I think I can get him to come over and help when you need some hands on yours if he does not get to into his to deep but looks like i will be having this ready for live and road-able in about 2 weeks if all my parts come in fast great frame and flood and axles we will see you guys soon I hope Sean & Rondi

soldiermedic · 07-21-2011, 11:32 AM

Moving along with the same theme here in Texas.

Dave is working on a concrete pad in his back yard to move the Sovereign up onto. He thinks the trailer will be able to go on Tuesday after giving the pad enough time to cure. It's hot as can be here in Texas and Dave is mixing the concrete by hand...what a dedicated guy.

In the mean time, I am on a shopping spree. The guy I bought the worthington tanks from on Ebay sold me three window cranks, a porch light, and his H-20 Handle with door latch mechanism. The handle normally runs $149 and you cannot find the latch internal mechanism anywhere. I took the lot for $100. Yay!

I also have completed my first VTS order which I'm saving about $70 from the FCU restoration rally coupon. I wish Steve had all the things I needed in stock though! Craigslist has been providing great deals as well. I have an agreement to purchase two new Optima blue top batteries. These are the 1,000 amp big cells....Talked the guy down to $200. They are up in Belton, TX which is a ways for me, but I am hoping Top may have some time in the next weeks to swing by and grab them. I am hoping to get up to Dave's and go shopping for plywood, elevator bolts, sealant, etc within the next week. Only 3 weeks till I leave Texas to head back to Missouri.

That's all for now.

soldiermedic · 07-24-2011, 12:56 PM

Last week on Ebay I scored a cool deal on this kitchen multi-roll holder. I had one already, but it was showing some signs of rust. Once I saw the chrome on this one in near perfect shape, and it's a sovereign brand to boot...I had to have it.

I'm heading up to Dave's on Tuesday so we can shop for plywood, romex, epoxy sealant for the floor, bolts, etc. Then we will move the trailer back onto the pad he poured last week. Dave hopes to be welding within a week or so.

robandzoe · 07-24-2011, 08:46 PM

Dave and Steve,

Just a reminder... these frames are known to thin out from the inside out... We re-enforced our frame when we did a shell on.

Sweet Sovereign of the Road: More Frame work for ya!

and here

Sweet Sovereign of the Road: Where's the Beef?

We did this because Colin, with his '59 boxed frame, was leaving a Walmart parking lot one time and hit whole A-frame snapped off. be sure to check for thickness in certain points... Colin said when they were plug welding that new steel in, that there were sections where you could tell it was thin by the weld.

soldiermedic · 07-25-2011, 08:18 AM

Hey Rob,

Your first link is a page not found. Reviewing the other now.

Thanks,

Steve

Lance M · 07-25-2011, 08:31 AM

Worked for me??!! It is under December 2005.

soldiermedic · 07-25-2011, 08:49 AM

Oddly, it works for me now when I go to it.

Top, I've got a mission for you when you are able bodied. Any plans to visit San Antonio this weekend for camping still?

Steve

Lance M · 07-25-2011, 04:02 PM

Steve,
Yes we will be in SA on Friday around noon. We plan to stay at the FSH RV park. Have plans for Friday evening? We were thinking about a nice place to have supper with you and the family. Let me know.

soldiermedic · 07-25-2011, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top

Steve,
Yes we will be in SA on Friday around noon. We plan to stay at the FSH RV park. Have plans for Friday evening? We were thinking about a nice place to have supper with you and the family. Let me know.

Our plans since we heard you may be coming down to camp were to hang out with you guys. PM sent.

Steve

soldiermedic · 07-25-2011, 07:30 PM

Well,

I am keeping complete books on this project, and today's activity put us over the 6k mark. Top did me a huge favor by going to Temple, TX to purchase for new Optima batteries. I set the deal up last week, and just needed Top's okay that he had a bit of time to spare. I got them both for $200 which has to be a deal since I know they have to be at least $150 each. Top even sent me a picture.

I also placed my first order with vintage trailer supply. I saved over $60 with a coupon, so I'm happy with that at least.

Dave must feel like it's Christmas at his house since everyday something else shows up at his house from online ordering.

Steve

Dave Park · 07-27-2011, 09:33 AM

We've hit a snag with the window operators.

These handles have a 1/4" bar, and one handle can open every window. The replacement handles on VTS' website are a knurled socket that fits onto a knurled knob on the operator.

My only solution is to buy those, then epoxy 1" lengths of 1/4" stock in each one. Any better solutions, or a source for the correct handles, as we don't want to blow $250+ on new operators just because of handles.