1977 Trillium 1300 new addition - Fiberglass RV
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Old 09-27-2018, 04:59 PM   #1
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Name: bill
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
The Mountains of North Carolina
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1977 Trillium 1300 new addition

Always wanted a vintage trailer to go along with our 2013 Escape 19. For some reason I decided it needed to be a Trillium. After a couple of disappointments (rotted floors, sagging curb side roof), I finally picked one up.

Our Escape 19 will continue to be our “workhorse”. This one will just be something for me to work on and take on solo trips. Wife is humoring me on this one!

Trailer had been sitting idle in a garage for the last 15 years. Pretty original with some nice options like kitchen and door windows, upper shelves all around, spare tire holder. I believe the cushion fabric and curtains are original.

Trailer had what I believe to be 1984 Sears passenger tires on it, of course totally dry rotted and cracked. Outside lights worked on one side but not the other. Fortunately I brought a set of magnetic trailer lights.

Some dope had put a hasp lock on the outside, and apparently had problems with his rivet gun so I have some repair to do! First night out (on the way home it wasn’t nearby) and the coverter just went out....

Lost the only key already (day one) but I just found it.

I’ll post pictures when I get home.

Serial #13-1105669

As “luck” would have it I have good inside storage for it. Seems our Casita garage wouldn’t fit our Escape, so we added a carport for the Escape.

I’ve been pestering David with all of my Trillium finds. Now it’s time to dig in.
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Old 09-27-2018, 05:31 PM   #2
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Also, FYI, on my 2010 F150 with 20 inch wheels, I ended up using a four inch drop receiver. The Trillium has 13 inch wheels. I brought a 2 inch drop receiver but the trailer was tipped upward at the front. No good! So I got s 4 inch drop receiver and there is just s very slight drop towards the front (perfect).

With my Escape 19 (15 inch wheels) I use a zero drop.
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Old 09-29-2018, 04:52 PM   #3
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OK, I'll try to post some pictures:

As purchased:

1977 Trillium 1300 by wrk101, on Flickr

Looks better than it is, tires were 24 years old, so I replaced them before hitching up. Also gave me a chance to check the bearings (seemed decent enough to make it home, where I will replace them for sure),

1977 Trillium 1300 by wrk101, on Flickr

Interior looks pretty original to me:

1977 Trillium 1300 by wrk101, on Flickr

1977 Trillium 1300 by wrk101, on Flickr
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Old 09-29-2018, 04:57 PM   #4
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The Mountains of North Carolina
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Had to put a set of magnetic trailer lights as half of them are not working. with new replacement wheels (Northern Tool purchase).

1977 Trillium 1300 by wrk101, on Flickr
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Old 09-29-2018, 05:09 PM   #5
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Thrifty Bill,

We have had two Trilliums with original upholstery, but the original curtains in both were long gone. Hold onto them!
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77 Trillium 4500
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Old 09-29-2018, 05:18 PM   #6
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First job is to fix this damage from rivets. Original owner put a crude hasp and lock on the outside. The last owner removed the hasp, but it left a fair number of holes and some stuck rivets too.

Last owner had this trailer for over 15 years. He had a friend tow it home, stuck it in a garage, and never used it. Got its first use in a long time on the drive home to my house.

The four holes to the far left of this picture go right through to the closet. The fifth hole has the remnants of a rivet seized in it. Other rivets and pieces of rivets in the door.

The original (?) Bargman lock works, sort of. Lever opens and closes the door, key turns the lock mechanism, but it doesn't lock.


1977 Trillium 1300 by wrk101, on Flickr
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Old 09-29-2018, 06:25 PM   #7
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Aside from the tires and holes, it looks pretty nice. Good find.
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Old 09-29-2018, 07:59 PM   #8
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Right now the plan is to keep the curtains and cushions (figure out a way to clean them). I have to get rid of the carpet (nasty).

Trailer is resting at home in my formerly Casita carport. I will need an assist to roll it into the garage (I think it will fit). Good thing as it just started raining.
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Old 09-29-2018, 09:24 PM   #9
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Very nice, Bill, and soon to become nicer, I'm sure. Sometimes a 13' is all you want or need!
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Old 09-30-2018, 07:28 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon in AZ View Post
Very nice, Bill, and soon to become nicer, I'm sure. Sometimes a 13' is all you want or need!
My "thinking" right now is this will be my solo, short trip trailer. I'm the camper in the family, my wife is OK going with our Escape 19, but nothing smaller. This will be a change of pace.

Only thing I really miss on this trailer is the original gravity propane heater. Kind of sucks that it is gone.


thanks!
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Old 09-30-2018, 08:11 AM   #11
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Very nice find bill. Re the lock, I found "new old stock" L400 replacement cylinder on kijiji that I was able to retrofit into the lockset. Required slight mod to the lockset using a dremel.
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Old 09-30-2018, 08:16 AM   #12
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Looks like you need to reposition and maybe replace the hinges. I recently incorporated brass threaded inserts into the body behind hinges, thus switched from sheet metal screws to machine screws. So far (800 miles of towing) its working.
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Old 09-30-2018, 10:32 AM   #13
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Trailer came with new replacement hinges so that is on my list for sure!
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Old 10-02-2018, 09:34 AM   #14
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Welcome to the Trillium club. Looks like a good find. I would suggest checking the frame especially at the bends. Keep an eye on eBay for a lock rebuild kit. I found one for $25. Low price because it was missing some parts. The missing parts were a couple of screws available at any hardware store for pennies. Enjoy your project. Raz
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Old 10-02-2018, 02:24 PM   #15
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Right now, waiting on some supplies to arrive. So I am doing a little interior work, pulling the old carpet and dealing with the cushions. I definitely want to save the original cushions, fabric shows zero wear. A couple of the zippers crumbled while removing the old foam. Will probably replace the foam.

Main outside focus will be the windows. Have to figure out which one will be the "easiest" to remove, probably one of the side windows.

Patched the pesky holes from the hasp.

Frame is reinforced, but not the football shaped patch that I am used to seeing, instead someone welded a plate on the bottom. I can't see how that will help....

Wiring inside the back of the refrigerator is kind of scary looking, insulation has turned into a black tacky mess.

1977 Trillium 1300 by wrk101, on Flickr

Back upper corner of the door frame looks like someone took a bite out of it!

1977 Trillium 1300 by wrk101, on Flickr
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Old 10-03-2018, 07:21 PM   #16
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Trailer: 72 Trillium 1300
Ontario
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Fantastic find! I love my 72 Trillium but it needs work. I plan on buying tires tomorrow actually. What did you buy-trailer tires or car? The current tires are marked 185/70R14. Do you have any pictures of wiring under closet? My closet was ripped out and existing wires were cut. I have Bargman lock specs if you want diagram. I found on this site last week. I have similar problem with my lock mechanism-but removed and repositioned parts and it works.
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Old 10-03-2018, 09:31 PM   #17
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Name: bill
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Yes, I took the lock apart, studied it some, and now it is working.

I always, always, buy only trailer tires for trailers. The ones I bought were mounted to wheels, picked them up at Northern Tool as I needed something to get the trailer home safely.

I plan to pick up some used Ford Ranger alloy wheels and go with them. I have Carllisle trailer tires on my Escape and I'll probably go the same way on the Trillium.

I bought the Carlisle tires at Walmart.com for my Escape. You can get them for $50 each, which is pretty reasonable IMHO. Local tire shop charged me $10 to mount and balance.

No pictures on the wiring, but there is not much in the closet. Basically the outside door light, and wiring to an interior light that is mounted on the side of my closet pointed towards the curb side dinette. Most of the wiring runs either across the front, the rear, or the kitchen area.
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Old 10-06-2018, 05:29 PM   #18
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Name: bill
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OK, just installed the vinyl plank floor: Shaw Resort Teak, picked it up at Lowes. Used one box (27 sq ft) and had just one full piece left.

1977 Trillium Floor by wrk101, on Flickr

1977 Trillium Floor by wrk101, on Flickr


I plan to trim it out with polystyrene cove molding (used instead of quarter round). No nails, floor is floating, cove molding will be glued onto the side walls (not attached to the floor).
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Old 10-07-2018, 06:12 PM   #19
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Following Randy Bishop's lead, I picked up a set of alloy wheels from a 1990s Ford Ranger. Should dress up the Trillium quite a bit. $50 on Craigslist.

Did an initial clean, and they are already looking pretty good!1977 Trillium Progress by wrk101, on Flickr
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Old 10-09-2018, 11:25 AM   #20
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Those are nice looking rims! No screw holes for the hub cover.

I found that I had to grind out the center of the Ranger rims to get them over the center of the hub. This makes getting the wheels balanced a bit complex.
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