More paint

The exposed frame has now been repaired and primed....so we figured extra top-coats could only be a good thing to stave off future corrosion.....

I bought a gallon of the silver Rust-Oleum - and I'm not really going to have that much use for it externally.  Really, just the tongue and the bumper.  So, I am just using it to paint the frame.  All I accomplished today!

Silver paint

Just a little progress -  I've been under the trailer painting the bottoms of the framework with primer. 

Good thing I've got freckles and red(ish) hair...... I'm splattering rust-colored primer on my face and hair as I paint with my arms reaching up to the framework with me lying on the floor.  And it's oil-based paint so it doesn't just wash off either!

The tongue looking pretty good with a first coat of silver Rust-Oleum.  I thought it was going to look too "bright", but I'm thinking it may be ok.

I'll include the "before shot" here just as a reminder of what a difference a week or two makes!!

Surprise Change from 23 ft to 26 ft!

We happened to be looking at the original Avion brochure that was in the packet of info we got from Duane's parents.  We thought the trailer was a 23 ft LaGrande.

But on closer inspection, the 23 ft layout in the brochure was not exactly fitting what we see in our trailer.  There was one-too-few closets.....so we took the measurement that was documented in the brochure - and - Surprise!  Ours is a 26 ft LaGrande. 

So, I'll now change the blog here to reflect our extra 3 feet!

Frame welding/repairs

The bottom of the center frame steel was rusted through. So that had to be replaced.

Here is the "tongue" just as we were starting the repair.  You will have to forgive me for saying "we" sometimes.....you all know that most of this "heavy work" is accomplished by Duane with me there for moral support!!  Here he's just starting to cut out the "bad stuff".

Prepped and ready for welding.

The same framework, just further back inside the trailer.

He fabricated a "patch" exactly to fit.

And there we are!!  All welded up - good as new! 

A few more coats of paint (silver Rust-Oleum) and we'll be off working on other things!

Sandblasting!

Parts, rusty parts! 

Very nice to have friends with equipment you don't have!!!  Lou at Flying Leaf Aviation let me borrow his nice bead blast booth.  It's fun for about a minute....watching the rust fly off.  Then it's just tedious!!!

Amazing difference - 

And all primed with Rust-Oleum.  We really should buy stock in that company!!

Some Painting

So, the top surfaces of the frame were finally in good enough shape last night to do some painting. We'll probably have to touch up some spots as we see them later, but it's good to get this accomplished!

Paper loosely in place - wouldn't want to get Rust-Oleum on the aluminum!

Done for the night.  More grinding and repairs needed on the bottom surfaces though!

More this-and-that....

Lot's of grinding on the rusty frame.  Duane is going to have to "scab-in" some steel framework where it's just to rusty to leave in place.

I thought the "sparkles" were pretty!

My activity the past few days has been removing as much rust from the frame as possible.  Grinding, scraping, sanding....

I've treated the frame with "rust converter" chemical.  This chemically changes the little bits of remaining rust into an inert substance.  After an overnite cure and good rinsing, this will be ready for some good ole' Rust-o-leum Rusty Metal Primer!  Are we having fun yet????

Chilly day here....so we played (worked) on the project....

In order to gain access to repair the floor, we need to remove the bottom aluminum skin.  I say "we", but we all know that mostly means "Duane".....I am "gopher".....I go "fer" the tools as he needs them.....

It was actually quite a chore.  Lots of rivets to remove.  The trailer had to be jacked up so he could gain access behind the axles.  But skin is off now - this will likely be replaced with brand new.   Looks small here but is 12' long!

 

My fun for the day was grinding rust from the frame.  An amazing amount of rust!

Making lots of progress - the frame is now exposed to the floor below.   Rust treatment and painting soon!

Vinyl shelf paper removal

Just using this snowy day to do some more cleaning. Here's our lovely little head....or bathroom....I don't know what you call it in a travel trailer!  The tub actually matches the sink - they're both "harvest gold" true to their 1973 heritage!  I don't know why the photo makes the tub look green....

Nothing major today - just decided that some of this vintage shelf paper had to go!  It's some sort of really-good stuck on vinyl.   It wouldn't pull of easily - just tore in small pieces.

Handy heat gun to the rescue.  In low heat mode, the putty knife just pushed it away.  Easy-peasy!  I did wear my fresh-forced-air mask since the fumes from the vinyl seemed noxious!

All pretty!  I don't know if I'll put anything back.  Lots of time to figure that out!

More cleaning

I guess I'll be doing a lot of before/after shots..... I went down last armed with more bleach. This time I put on the "Hobby Air" fresh air system. I thought I might better protect my lungs a little from the chlorine gas!

Just a little more scrubbing -  the walls were moldy where we removed the couches and sink areas.





Always nice to have things tidy!  A good spray of bleach and more elbow grease. 

This is gonna be fun!

We did a bit of demolition this weekend....mostly with our bare hands!  The floor at the front of the trailer is completely rotten.  Duane, of course, cannot stand anything less than a perfect repair.  So - everything's gotta go!

Cabinets/stove/sink -  out!  We'll replace the counter top with Corrian or something like that anyway.

Couches and table - out! We'll probably spruce up the finish and re-install.  The fabric seat cushions are in great shape.  I've removed all the "soft" items and stashed them safely in the spare bedroom for the duration of the repairs to make sure they don't get harmed.

And now for the really ugly part!!  Starting the floor removal.

The floor was just crumbling under the carpet.  The framework is in pretty good shape, but we'll refurb that too a bit.

Done for the night!  The pickup bed is full of rubbish!

Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning

We've put in a portable dehumidifier - and I've begun a very long process of cleaning the mold off most every surface. The trailer was obviously very clean when they parked it....it just got moldy sitting for years.

 Here's a little side wall that has mold all over it.  I know, it looks bad.  But it cleans up amazingly with a little elbow grease.  OK, ALOT of elbow grease.....

And here's the same spot "after"!

 Another "before" shot:

And "after"! Lots to do!!

And here's the "after"! Lots to do!!

The Avion!

We needed another "mode of travel"! We have air travel covered with the airplane, water travel covered with the sailboat....that leaves land travel.

Duane's parents had gotten a travel trailer many years ago thinking that they would do some retirement camping. But, the trailer never got used....that's where we come in! An agreement was reached and we now have ourselves a nice project!

For the record, it's a 1973 Avion LaGrande 23. Nicely appointed for it's time - air conditioning, heater, full kitchen, "double bed", full bathroom, water and holding tanks.


These will be the official "before" photos!

As it sat beside their driveway.

Note the little tree that had grown up around the front of the trailer.  Yeah, it sat there for that long!   No worries - Cordy's tree trimmer took care of it easily.

Much maneuvering was accomplished on a beautiful February Sunday before we could hook it up to our pickup.

Granny supervised from the top of the hill. (She's recovering from recent shoulder surgery).

Finally, with a little "push" from Cordy and his tractor, the Avion was loosened from it's recent home.

With some temporary lights and air in the tires, we were (very carefully) on our way.  Duane was concerned about the old tires, but thought we could probably make it 4 hrs to home.  We stopped at each rest area to do a "walk around" just to make sure all was OK.  We made it down Old Fort Mountain just fine (in 3rd gear to make sure we didn't go too fast!).

But around Morganton, we hear a loud "pop" - like a gunshot.  Duane quickly pulled over on the exit ramp (lucky timing!).  He got busy changing a chewed-up tire with the only spare we had.  Morganton is a nice place - we had at least 10 folks stop and ask if we needed assistance!

With the spare in place, we pulled up the exit ramp and into a BP station.  Keep in mind, it's 6pm on SuperBowl Sunday!   No chance that we could get new tires put on.   I asked the lady at the counter if we could leave the trailer there.  She looked out at it and gave me a really funny look....no doubt thinking that we wanted to ditch the moldy old trailer on her property!  (She might not see the potential!)  But, since we really didn't have any options, she told us to back it over to the side and it would be OK.  We really appreciate the favor and of course, we filled up with fuel and bought snacks there as a partial "payment"!

What an adventure!  Life if full of them, I suppose!  All good fun - got a comfy room at the Comfort Inn and had dinner.   Early the next morning, I started making calls to find some tires.  Duane wanted to make sure we got the heavy load rated tires - so I was skeptical that my search would be fruitful.  Amazingly - there was a White Tire Service location about 1/2 mile from the BP station!  And even more amazingly, they had exactly the tires we were looking for!   

Within 2 hours, we had all four tires replaced (and the spare too!) and were on our way Monday morning.  I don't think we could have asked for a better "breakdown".  

Duane had hoped to wait until after the "refurbishment" to put the new tires on....but the trailer will be sitting in the hangar and won't be subject to much damaging sunlight.   Uneventful few hours driving and we were home mid-day!

I snapped a few photos of the interior too.  The upholstery was re-done very nicely which Pat & Cordy purchased it.  Unfortunately, there must have been a leak over the years - although you can't see it - the floor will have to be replaced.  That is likely to be a major undertaking - I'm sure you'll see it here, haha!

The mirrors give a weird effect looking back into the trailer.  The cabinetry in in good shape but moldy.  Looks like it will clean up nicely.

This is the "double" bed advertised on the sales brochure.    It's 48" wide - which appears to be called a 3/4 mattress. 

Nice kitchen.  I'm thinking some granite (or lightweight replacement) might be in the cards!

Pulled up to the hangar - it will need a lot of TLC.  The windows and trim will need some attention and we'll have to figure out what "systems" are still functional.  Electrical, water, propane, batteries.  Should be interesting!

We dove in an spent a few hours washing. It's a satiny finish - so it won't be "polished" like you see some.

Parked in the hangar where it may be for quite a while!  Let the fun begin!!