I haven't blogged in the last few weeks - I had to go back and re-read my last post to remind me where I had left off. Just as I was recovering from the Holidays, my dog Oso passed away. He was my best friend and companion for over 13 years. There will never be another dog quite like him!
So ... back to the RR. The weekend after Christmas, I bundled up and went to work on reinstalling the windows. Once I figured out how to do it, it went quite quickly. My mom and dad arrived for their Holiday visit (they live about 5 hours away) just in time to have Dad help me get the large front window secured into place. This "business" of fixing and tinkering with things comes from my Dad's side of the family. Its always nice to have his input and ideas. Mom was also able to help me with ideas for the best way to sew my curtains. Maybe I should just recruit her to make them for me! She does have a knack for such things.
The weekend after New Years, Debbie came over to help on the RR for a few hours. She undertook the tedious task of cleaning up my not-so-neat job of caulking the fixed window panes. I opted to get up on the roof and seal all of the seams. I have heard many times that you have to make your trailer water-tight or those new curtains will just get ruined! I had previously spray painted the interior of the door and with Debbie's help, we wrestled it back onto it's hinges. It is "off" just a bit - nothing that some caulking can't fix! Now the RR is beginning to look like a real trailer again. Windows and door all cleaned and back in place - I can almost imagine what it might have looked like 46 years ago.
Yesterday, I was able to get the luggage compartment all cleaned up and installed. It is a miracle that it fit just perfectly - I had rebuilt the entire back end and my framing job was less than perfect. I wedged it into the opening, held it in place with one foot, and screwed it to the frame. Here again, this was one of those jobs better suited to two people. But my determination won out and I got it done.
I then decided to take a look at what project I could tackle INSIDE the RR. Ah, the old water tank. Definitely had to go - who knows what crud had accumulated in it over the years. I cut and removed the rubber hose that was used to fill the tank from the outside. I used my Dremel to cut the copper line that ran to the sink. A little bit of water dribbled out. No big deal. I tried to lift the tank out - something was stuck. OK - a crow bar will do the trick. I pried and pulled and then realised it was attached to something underneath. So I grabbed a sheet of cardboard to lay on and some wrenches and slid under the RR. Seems that I hadn't noticed the copper line coming out from the floorboards that is used to drain the tank. I gave the fitting one good torque with my wrench and the sucker snapped off. About a gallon of funky, rusty water poured down on me. I was drenched from the waist up! Just glad it was a nice warm day so the RR and I would dry out quickly!!
Today, I cut the wood framing and slats that hold the back couch / bed in place. I got a futon pad for free from Craigslist that will work out nicely. I'll buy a cover for it that will match my curtain fabric. I can't wait to have my first night in the RR!!! I then spent some time shop vacuuming out the inside, cleaning up all the stuff that had accumulated on the counters and finally, cleaning up the massive amount of debris from my work bench. I'm sort of moving on to a new stage of the restoration project - from the cleaning, polishing and weatherproofing of the exterior to the finishing and detail work of the interior. Things seem to be moving right along. I will be done before I know it! I did see a little '59 canned ham for sale today on CL ... wish I had an extra place to park it!
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