I have updated my website with renos of my boler:
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/lwebb16/Boler/

Click on "2006" to see this year's updates.

As always your Boler is great! Do you do these reno's yourself or do you pay a company to do it?
It all looks so perfectly done!

I have sooo many questions for you about your latest mods!!! What did u use to paint under the sink?Where did you get the stove and fridge? Where do you find those cool containers that roll out like draws (above stove and in closet)....

Your trips too look like a wonderful experience. That is one happy Boler I am sure!

Hi Jollean
With the exception of welding, the fridge installation and the fantastic fan I do the mods myself - I love to putter.
I used tremclad gloss white to paint under the sink - same paint I used on the walls. It is a bit smelly for a few days but a box of baking soda left sitting in the trailer absorbs most of the odor. I painted my walls 5 years ago and they still look like the day I painted them.
I purchased the stove and fridge from International RV - the people making the new Trillium Outbacks in Calgary.
The boxes that work like drawers are from IKEA. They are called TROFAST. Ikea also sells the plastic rails for the drawers. The drawer above the stove is lined on the bottom with metal (furnace ducting) so it won't melt from the heat of the stove.
If you have any other questions just let me know - and yes, I have a very happy boler!

It's a pleasure to see all the work you've done on your Boler - it looks fantastic! The camping and scenery shots on your website are lovely too.

Our Casita's gelcoat is in pretty poor condition, so the outside of your trailer really caught my eye. What brand of marine paint did you use? How did you apply it? Any words of wisdom for someone contemplating a paint job? It looks great, and the decals you made are the perfect finishing touch!

Jeanne

Hi Jeanne
I used IMPERVO Marine Paint from Benjamin Moore. I applied it with a 4" high density foam roller. Gave the whole trailer 2 coats.
Words of wisdom .... hmmmm .... I don't know ... perhaps just to have patience - roll the paint slowly for less splatter and spread the paint well so you don't get any runs. You are better off to give it multiple coats than to put it on too thick. Also, if bugs land on your paint before it is dry DO NOT try to remove them while the paint is wet. Wait until it is dry and they will just come right off with no mark.
Good Luck!

Thanks for the tips Laura!

Jeanne

The reno's are GREAT! I love the new stove!

- Miriam

Laura, was the upholstery place expensive for cutting the cushions for you? I live just outside of Calgary and need cushions before May and it looks like I will be too busy to get to them.
Thanks,
Dave

your reno's are fabulous! I have to admire you woman who dig in and get stuff like that done.... I wouldnt dare....

Hi Dave
If I recall correctly they didn't even charge to cut the cushions to shape for me.
I got them at Labbe Bedding just off Macleod Tr (by Chinook).
I had to take my old ones in and they just cut the new ones to the same shape.
Great place, great prices and excellent product.
I have a bad back and get a great nights sleep on the new foam.
Laura

Wow! Just took a look at all of your renovations. What a great job! Laura, how did you go about getting the custom graphics done? Our "new" 84 Bigfoot 5th wheel graphics -- well, let's just say they are very 1980s... but my hubby wants it to still have a Bigfoot logo. I was thinking maybe we could recreate a newer Bigfoot logo.

Maureen

I did the graphics myself - I went to a sign shop and purchased the vinyl then used an x-acto knife to cut the graphics out and then applied them on the trailer.
You also can create something and have the sign company cut it for you.

Since I don't have an artistic bone in my body, I'm sure I couldn't create the graphics myself -- but your tips are helpful. We should either check into a sign shop or learn to "embrace" the "retro" look we have. Thanks!

Hey Laura,
GREAT RENOS! hehe I just wanted to verify though, you got the fridge from Inter. RV, so then it's a true RV fridge, a 2way or a 3 way, NOT the dorm fridge we see in so many renos? Reason I ask is Im more of a boondocker or dry camper, so the dorm fridge replacing an icebox isn't going to do much for me, and Im curious to see just how expensive/tough it is to get a real RV fridge put in. Did your Boler have a fridge originally, or an icebox?
My current rig, Compact II, has a 3 way fridge, but I have an idea that there might be another rig in my future, so I'm just trying to 'learn ahead' I guess you could say...hehe Thanks for sharing your pics and experiences with us all! Joe

Laura,
Very impressive mods! I love it!
I have a question about the black part on the exterior. Is that paint or some other material? It looks like those rubber covers people sometimes put on cars. We just had our Scamp painted & haven't taken it out yet but I've already thought about all the dings that we'll get on the front. You were so smart to do something to hide them!
Sandra

Laura, I thank you for the lead to Labbe bedding. I have not picked up the cushions yet but I have no question they will be of great quality. What friendly staff, I would bet they are the owners which is always nice to see. Somebody else was getting cushions and new covers done at the same time too.

Thanks again Laura,
Dave

Hi Joe
Yes, my fridge is an RV Fridge. It is a 12v model - it runs off the batteries/solar panel.
It cools very evenly and very quickly - seems like a good investment so far.
The original fridge was a 3 way and was starting to have problems ... the cost for replacement was about $1000. I looked into 2 and 3 way as well and they were basically the same price.
Laura

Hi Sandra
The front is indeed rubber. I have had several people ask me what kind but I don't know - one of my neighbours gave it to me. It is relatively thin which makes it very flexible.
Adding it to the front is quite a chore as the boler curves every which direction but the end result works very well to keep the chips off the front of the trailer.
Hope this helps!
Laura

Great stuff Laura,
I have a quick question. Did you shorten the table by 3 inches to make it easier to get into the position of sitting down at your table ?

It's a little tight for me to squeeze beside the sink counter and behind the table without my legs hitting the table each time.

Just curious. I don't want to jeapordize bed size but I do want to make it easier to go and sit down.

Laura, I'm very impressed with what you've done. Take a bow!

Our first FG trailer was a Boler we bought in Calgary some years ago. Because we were just two, and retired at that, we took out the front bunks and put in a two-person dinette. That way we could leave our rear bed made up at all times. We loved that little unit!

But, enough about us, we came to compliment you. You've done great work with your reno. Well done! Like the others I like the plastic trays suspended below the shelves as you have done. In fact, there are a ton of good ideas on your web site. Thanks for sharing with us.

Laura,
What is holding the black rubber cover on the front? Is it one of those that is made for a car? I would love to do that to our Scamp if we could get one.
Sandra

Hi Sandra
The rubber is attached with glue. It is not like a vinyl "car bra".
It was just a roll of rubber and I cut it to shape.
Laura

Hi Eric
Yes, I shortened the table to make it easier to get in and out.
I mulled about doing this because I didn't want to ruin the table and also did not want to decrease the size of the bed, but I came up with a solution that actually works better than just the table. Now I wish I had done it years ago!
I added a strip of MDF (I think it is about 10" wide) across at the back under the window that is the same thickness as the table. I just cut it to length and shape and attached it with screws to hold it in place when travelling. It rests on the same lip that the table rests on. So, when you lay the table down the mdf makes the flat area larger than it was before.
The dog loves it because it is his own personal bridge between the two benches when the table is up ...
Laura

Laura,
Nice concepts, nice reno's, nice documentation, nice travelogues.
Thank you for sharing.

Kurt & Ann K.

Looks awesome Laura!! I just bought my 72 Boler 1300 in May. first project is to replace the cushions. Found some awesome upholstery at Fabricland and now I'm just looking for foam. I'm wondering if you remember how much you paid for your foam from Labbe's and what density/thickness you bought...are you happy with it so far (comfortable)?

thanks for any info!!

Alysha

I am so impressed that you did all those yourself! I can only hope that someday I can be that handy! Keep up the good work and keep sharing the photos--you're inspiring!

Hi Alysha
I can't recall exactly what I paid for the foam - maybe $100 for the back bed and about $75 for the front ... I did the back bed first, then decided to do the front bed too.
I bought the "best" foam as I have a bad back and need a good bed. It is awesome - every bit as comfortable as the bed in my house.
Hope this helps - if you call Labbe I'm sure they can tell you over the phone how much it will be.

I followed Laura's lead and went to Labbe but it was over $350 for it all. I do not remember the densities, but it was 20 year foam (daily use) on everything but the upper bunk which was more like 5 or 15 I do not remember. They do require old foam to use as a template(I would have given mine to you but I recently disposed of it). When I was there another Boler was getting done, if you are lucky maybe there will be somebody else doing it to.

Good luck, very impressed with Labbe.