Here's where I'm at.

I've started constructing the new cushion covers:

Old ones on left/new on right

Thanks to a lot of rain this week I was able to identify where my water leaks are. The worst are the roof vent (already knew it needed replacement) the windows (rear and left side) and the roof where this rail is attached:

Does anyone know what it is exactly and if I need to keep it? Was it from an awning? I wouldn't mind putting an awning on in the future.

Not sure what this is - is it just a patch from other damage? I was thinking of removing it and filling in whatever it's covering:

Here's the interior - seats removed.

Hi Lainey
Project for you is starting to come together.The metal patch I think is just that,a patch.I just came from downtown and was looking at fiberglass repair kits.I will be doing some repairs.(first time)this will be a learning experiance.

The metal rod is for a awing.See Simpson Sears.They have them.
:wave

Chester...You'll enjoy working with FG. Its quite forgiving & shapes quickly using hand tools. Suggest you not jump into power grinders, etc. until you've worked with it for awhile. I've done several repairs on VW dunebuggy & Baja bodies, always with good results...We had 3 sons who grew up driving them & it seems they were always "too close" to something & needed patching!

Carefully follow mixing instructions for resin & please work with ample ventilation. Those fumes are baaad!

Best of luck!!

Dick Rothfuss

Hi Dick
Thanks for the encouragement.I guess its like the first time at anything you are abit nervious.Oh well , will get some on weekend and try it.:wave

For fiberglass working newbies...this is from one of my resource books: SAFETY FIRST...Catalyst can cause blindness!
Gelcoat and catalyst are corrosive and flammable chemicals. Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Wear protective clothing, eye protection and gloves. In case of contact, flush with water plenty of water, consult a physician immediately. Also wear protective respiratory equipment and/or work in a well ventilated area.

Better to be overprotected than under protected!:o

Hi Donna
Thanks.We should all work and do things with safety in mind.
:)

Fiberglass work can be even more fun if you use thos latex disposable gloves and disposable brushes. The stuff gets all over and it is so nice to just put on the FG, shove it around with your fingers, and then just peel the goopy gloves off and throw them away.

If you don't you'll have fuzzy goop all over your hands, then clothes, then dishes and your TV within moments.

Pop on a new pair and you're working again in minutes..

Lainey
Your cushions are looking great.
Willma

Gee shucks, :red Thanks Willma!

Tom
Good Points.My wife will love you.

It's also handy to have all your fiberglass cut ahead of time, or have someone there who can cut the material so you don't get the stickey gooey stuff on mom's new scissors. :)

Lainey, the cushions look great. I'm doing the same job right now. I was trying to salvage the old zippers without much success, I think I'm going to try velcro instead.

I wasn't getting very far when I started, since I would cut one piece, sew it, go cut another, sew it... I got everything cut out ahead of time (the job I hate) and now I buzzed out three medium-sized cushions last night after supper.

Hi All
I am doing some fiberglass repairs now.This stuf is really quite easy to work with.

I haven't gotten there yet, but I've seen fiberglassing done before. I looks like it will be pretty easy, especially using disposable gloves and brushes like Tom said. Now, if only I didn't have a full time job to get in the way of Bolering...

The Before shot:


Hole cut larger:


Homemade Gasket:


End Result:

That is beautiful. Now when are you coming to Oklahoma? I could use some help.

I had new tires put on today. They are Maxxis 175/80R13 6 Ply. Hope that's a decent brand. I opted not to get Carslie's as it sounded like they can be problematic. The old ones weren't really worth keeping for a spare, so I still need to get a rim and tire for a spare, will opt for a good used for the spare I think.

Also, was the first time hooking up on my own (second time ever out with the unit). It was super great, hit the mark on the first try for lining up. The curtains were all out, so as Ches suggested to me - driving with the curtains open to see through worked great. I'm going to drive that way at least until I get used to reading distances in the UTM mirrors.

Jana, I'm one step closer to being ready to take a trip, too bad we're so far away from Oklahoma.

Well, I had my trailer in at the welding shop for a bit of repair to a crack. It was cracked in the same old place, only on the opposite side. When they were welding on it they said that it was pretty rotten. The shop owner came by and had a look at it. We found 2 more cracks.
This is the plan of attack:
1. I will cut out 2 bits of flooring from in the front storage area so they can access the top of the frame.
2. They are planning on welding the 2 cracks, then adding a piece of flat bar along the bottom of both sides on the a-frame.
3. I can glass in the patches of plywood back to the floor.

Does this seem like a reasonable repair? The welding shop is estimating 2 hours work (provided I expose the frame for them).

Hi Lainey
That sounds about right.Those cracks are one of the biggest problems with 13ft Bolers.Do it right and you will be happy with many years of camping.:wave

Were these crack so tiny you couldn't see them yourself? so the check up was for your piece of mind and they found something? Now don't get me wrong I'm not saying it doesn't need done, I'm just wonder if I need an expert to see what I haven't found. I've been under mine, I've looked. :E I don't have a Boler so it may not be a problem on mine, just Janaparanoia talking. but it's hard to get her to shut up once she starts. :E

Jana, I'm right behind you in the paranoia department. Cracks in the frame?! Start...ing ... to ... hy...per...ven..ti..late..
now . .. .. . ....

Lainey - wanted to tell you your vent and cushions look great. Also, I bought the exact same brand and size of tires for the same reason. Keep me posted how yours hold up, and I'll do likewise.

No, nothing that was completely hidden. I saw the first big crack, and it just drew my attention away from the rest I think. The other two are noticable to the naked eye. I think that as long as you've looked everything over very carefully, then you should be fine. The only thing not visible is that the cracks are at the top of the frame, so it's very likely that the top is cracked too (where the floor covers it)

Beverly - sounds like a good plan for the tires. I'll keep you posted.

Did you see Ches's pictures of his old frame? that was really horrifying. To think he pulled that home like that. He could have really gotten hurt. He probably knew and took care, but if he hadn't. (shiver) Okay taking big deep breath. breath out whhhhooooo. there that's better. :)


Visable I can handle. Thanks.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think one of the reasons the Bolers have so many cracked frames is the way they were designed. Look at the picture of Ches', it has all these bits and pieces welded together and the welds are usually where they crack.

The first year, possibly two, of Trilliums had frames like Bolers. Then they changed. Our Trill has a frame rail on each side that is continuous from the hitch point to the bumper. Built like a cars frame. Then there are cross braces between the two frame rails. The weak spot on these are where they bend upwards at the front of the trailer but one rarely hears about Trillium frames cracking.

So Jana, your Buttercup is a cousin of the Trill so you probably don't have anything to worry about.

Nancy

The frame on mine has one solid piece that runs front to back on each side. It was broken at the spots close to the bend though. The metal on the frames was very thin to begin with, so I guess for being outside for 33 years, it's not all bad. The front end of the frames do take a lot of beating as they are being pulled.

Here's a couple pictures of the painted ensolite. I used 1 coat of Bullseye 1-2-3 primer and 2 topcoats of General Paint Hi Performance 2000 acrylic coating. The ensolite seams are noticable, but I think they are less pronounced than seam tape (and now maintenance free!)


(Don't ask me why they don't look the same colour in the pictures?? Odd)

Lainey
Looking good.:thumb

yes frames to crack mine from perviouus owners has all joints reinforced cross rails with side rails . keeping an eye on the ones i can see!

Progress continues (slowly it seems)

Here's the rear benches and flooring:


The upper cabinets (doors painted)


The front bench (1st coat) and the bunk bed railing:

:wave
Hello Lainey,
By the number of major repairs and changes you have undertaken in a short time I get the impression you are not afraid of hard work or a challenge! Your progress pictures show vast improvements. Hope you are ready before your expected departure date. Good Luck
CHEERS:ola

Owen, yes, I'm a sucker for punishment! (But you should see what a mess the house has become during this time! :laugh)
Actually it turned out that my scheduled holidays conflicted with other's at my work (non-scheduled) so I've decided (ever so graciously ;) ) to postpone for 2 weeks - so it will be just perfect for me I think, and all the places I wanted to go won't be quite so busy by then too.

:wave
Hi Lainey,
I am sure your co-workers think you are a saint. I know that you want everything done before you leave, but in years past i have been in many and varied places when I saw new ideas and little gadgets that I thought I had to have. Many an afternoon has been spent doing small changes and add-ons when it was too hot to travel too far or do too much. for example, I put on a new hitch jack in Post Falls, Idaho, replaced awning springs in Spokane, and repaired U-joints on the tow vehicle in Wenatchee, Wa.
"As long as you own it you will improve it" (and Love it)

PS.- I married my wife twentysix years ago, and it wasn't for her housekeeping skills.:kiss The boys love the time they spent with us, but they never complain if the house gets messy - does it matter? Enjoy the trip.:steer :steer
CHEERS

Nice job Lainey! You all make me want to find one to remodel. It almost looks like fun!

Good point about working on things while travelling. I am planning on taking along the new door seal to install one afternoon, some sealant to cover any leaky rivets, and whatever else I can think of.

I am taking it in tomorrow am to have the welding done. That leaves new rubber base to go in, the final coat of paint on the front bench, sewing about 1/2 of the cushion covers, cutting the dinette foam, getting a spare tire & rim, and installing the bunk bed. Not too bad of a list I guess. (new curtains might have to wait :cry )

Just posting a few more pictures. The new closet door (door was missing when I got it) (new window screen installed in background)


The closet interior (new door seal in background)
I hung 2 fabric closet organizers over a piece of tubing threaded over the top of the closet rail. There is still room for tall things to go in along the right side and in front.

Hi Lainey
I like that closet door.:wave

I admire your work and attention to detail....what you, Chester and the other rebuilders have done is first class. Any time someone challenges the integrity of glass I refer them to this site and how many 20-30 year old trailers are still goin' strong. Hope to make it north if my job goes south and see this gorgeous country, fun people and these cool Canadian rigs. (Sis lives in Brattleboro VT and would make a great jump off point.....)

Hi Phil
Check with Larry Page--Larry and his wife Teddy stopped here on there trip to Alaska.They could give you some ideas on whats up here.:wave