6.5.13 Decorating! (finally)

6.5.13

Today, I get to decorate!!  Woohoo, finally!  Everyone has their preferences.  For me I did not want to put a “theme” to the trailer, or fill it with Vintage décor.  I did, however, chose a color from the 1950’s color palate to accent with and then filled in the rest with what I like and what I felt would make it a comfy, cozy, homey, practical, useful space.  Don’t get me wrong, I have seen some adorable themed trailers and some trailers with some beautiful vintage items paying homage to the Vintage era – it just wasn’t what I wanted.  I chose a vintage Eifel Tower print and a vintage fan, a couple flamingo drinking glasses, and there will be flamingo’s outside the trailer as well and that’s it.  I also added a little bling with the chandelier because every girl needs at least 1 piece of bling.  (The drawer in the kitchen is being modified to accommodate the down spout of the sink which is why it is missing)

 

6.5.13 Inspection, Licensing

6.5.13

After going to the DOL to get an inspection Trip Permit,  I went and had Lizzy weighed yesterday to prepare for tomorrow’s inspection.  I am a proud Mommy of a 1,680lb. baby girl.  Old documents that I have found said that when the 13’ Aloha Compacts were manufactured that they weighed 1,460lbs.  With the rebuild, pressure treated wood, extra steel supports, etc. she gained a little weight.

Today is the day, I take her in for inspection to the Washington State Patrol.  I bought the trailer with only a bill of sale, and no title.  I looked up what was needed in the State of Washington to do this before I took her home.  Requirements were a bill of sale, weight slip, receipts of major components to build the trailer and a VIN number.  We looked everywhere and the rust  had just overtaken the frame of the trailer – no VIN # to be found.  I had to call and make an appointment for this inspection and the day has finally come.  Showed up to the State Patrol, he did an inspection and looked for a VIN # as well.  When was not found he issued one to me, he drilled a couple of small holes, attached the plate, and gave me an inspection certificate to take to the DOL to get her licensed.  A few $$ later at the DOL I had a license plate.  She’s official!

6.3.13 Bearings, Rally sign, trailer hitch

6.3.13

Learned how to pack bearings tonight from my favorite “borrow a husband” Tom.  I asked him if he could help me for a couple of hours last week and he has helped me wrap up EVERYTHING left ever since.  We moved the trailer to his shop last night where he has a lift and more tools than I could possibly image.  All I can think of is, “Where the hell has he, the shop, the tools, and the lift been the last 9 months? And if I had this at my house I would be restoring trailers for a living!”…. anywho, he has been a blessing, and he has a very patient wife, let’s hope she is still my friend by the end of the week.  J  After we cleaned the old bearings, repacked them, and attached them to the trailer we looked up how much to torque the wheels. (details, details).  Then was able to put on the baby-moon hubcaps – my favorite.

Tom, welding on the hitch crank!

Since Lizzy had her first sleep-over last night I felt lost when I went out to the carport and she wasn’t there.  So to kill time waiting for Tom, I dove into some of my decorating projects.  I worked on finishing up the curtains for the trailer and then worked on a sign for when I attend Rally’s.  I used an old piece of original unpolished tin for the backdrop and then attached the license plate lettering that I ordered online and popped the whole thing into a frame.  Cute!

5.30.13 Propane, Wheels and Tires

5.30.13

Propane, Wheels and Tires!  Although I am not cooking in my trailer I will be powered by propane for cooking on my BBQ and fueling my portable Fire Pit when allowed.  I have such limited space in my little Lizzy that I figure I will haul the tanks on the tongue of the trailer.  I found the tanks at Costco for a great price and they come with a gauge as well to tell me when I’m low.  I spray painted the tanks to match the rest in my smoke blue color and painted the tank tray in the cream color.

Wheels and tires has been my biggest challenge (if you can image that).  The wheels are a 15 X 6 wheel with a bolt pattern of 5 on 5.5 – which was the tricky part to find.  I finally found an affordable wheel at summitracing.com  They were easy to deal with and shipped that same day.  I also ordered the baby moon hubcabs.  J  I painted the wheels the same accent color in the trailer.  You can see in the pictures why I needed new wheels.  One of the wheels was salvageable enough to keep for a spare. 

 

 

I ordered tires from a local discount tire store had them mounted and now she has her new shoes and for the first time in 9 months she’s rolling again! Oh happy day!

 

 

 

 

 

5.15.13 Lights and Water

5.15.13

Lights and water (with help)!  I had to phone a friend for this one and “borrow a husband”. Tom was willing to help and I was willing to let someone help me.  There is only so much 1 woman can do by herself.  He helped me with the wiring and getting her lights in working order, which was a large task because there was some glitches in the way it was originally wired.  Was able to find tail lights and blinkers that were “shorter” than the average to fit inside the covers without melting the plastic cone lights on the sides.  I also had to order a licence plate light from Vintage Trailer Supply. 

 

 

 

 

Next we worked on getting the water working.  I had already bought all the parts we needed and he helped get them installed properly.  My old faucet was too rusted so I purchased a new one from IKEA.  I will not have contained water on board and I did not install a grey water tank.  So with that in mind we installed the standard hose hook up on the outside of the trailer and just attached a drain tube that will lead to the outside of the trailer and drain into “something” (not yet determined – a bucket perhaps?)  We also had to cap off the hot water line since I don’t have that option.  And Viola! We have water.

4.22.13 Paint

4.22.13
Paint, paint, paint. I have polled friends, family and the majority was to keep it shiny. However, I really like the painted look too…..so I compromised. I had to buy new tin for the back that came primed already so I decided to paint the back in the accent colors with rattle cans. I am still deciding if I will continue color down the sides or not, but for now the goal is to get her rolling! I can do all that later. 

 

 

 

I also love the names that are painted on these trailers.  Since I am doing this on a budget I found a website that you can custom order stencils at madstencilist.com.  You can order any custom lettering you’d like and its very affordable, and comes with detailed instructions.  I decided that I would put her name on the front in the accent colors as well.  I cut a template out of full sheet labels for the computer, primed the area, sprayed the accent color, let it dry, added the stencil and sprayed that in the other color, removed it all and done!  I also did all of this with rattle cans too. 

 

In between coats of paint drying I attached the diamond plateing I had purchased.  There was a pretty good hole in the original tin and several rock marks, etc.  I liked the look and the function of this too!

4.15.13 Doors, Eyebrows, Awning

4.15.13

The eyebrows were an easy install, once they were all cleaned up, lightly sanded and buffed. 

 

 

 

 

 

The door…however another story.  At this point, when you are now putting everything back together in the reverse order you took it apart, it gets a little harder to remember everything.  This is where being able to drag my laptop out to my work area came in handy to recall it all.  Once I got the door installed I attached the screen door as well.  I took the door handle and the storage hatch to the local locksmith.  He was able to key the hatch, however the door handle was so rusted AND the inner mechanism did not function as a lock at all.  The locksmith was able to dig around in some “old boxes” and he found a great replacement. 

 

 

I went online and emailed a couple people who custom make vintage awnings and asked for some quotes.  I ended up choosing Vintage Trailer Awnings by Kristi (you can find her on facebook).  The price was right, she was quick, communicated the process to me every step of the way, and the craftsmanship was great!  The awning rail was a little tricky…. I originally ordered an awing rail from Vintagetrailer.com, however the rail is rigid and straight as a board – duh.  The fact that the trailer is rounded and curved I had to do some research and order a flexible awning rail.  I found one at sailrite.com  When it arrived I made sure it fit the awning, spray painted it silver and attached it per the video tutorial on their website.  This was super easy to install!

3.24.13 Windows

3.24.13

It’s time for windows!  Took the time to clean them up, strip the old membrane/adhesive, and re-bend the screen.  For the most part the windows are in good shape and good working order.  The only screen that is ripped is the kitchen window.  In investigating how to “re-screen” the window it looked like a can I wasn’t willing to open.  For now I use a silver thread and close it up that way.  I also ordered the new glass seal - gasket material that will go around the window. I removed the old gasket that was hard and had years of shrinkage. I will install the gasket with the windows already mounted to make it easier to maneuver.  

 Windows look great, getting so
excited now!!

3.23.13 New tin

3.23.13

Months ago I purchased 2 new pieces of tin for the back of the trailer.  The original tin was way too damaged with a gaping hole in the back.  I called ahead to order the tin in a 4” pattern to match the current and was able to discuss over the phone and email pictures of the folding system that attaches the 2 pieces.  I drove to Interstate RV and Metal Supply to pick up the tin to save on the shipping cost.  The new tin comes primed already and not an option to get it raw. 

 

 

 

It was very hard to bend the tin around the curve but managed to get it done. 

 

 

 

 

 

I had to also cut out the hole where the window goes and drill out the holes for the tail lights.  And finally a milestone….All the tin has been attached!!!!!

3.22.13 top skin and vent install

3.22.13

Over the last couple weeks I started attaching the front/top tin.  Because these pieces are curved I did not polish these pieces before attaching them.  If I placed them on my work bench it would have torn the tin by attempting to lay them flat. 

When I got to the top where the vent was to be placed I had to add support cross bars…..

 

 

 

 

 

cut out the hole…

 

attach the new vent (old one was rusted shut and wouldn’t open crank open) I followed the manufacturer  instructions purchased from etrailer.com….

 

and attach the screen and inside finish moulding.