'77 Boler -- total newbies

[Sam and Jess]

Update: I surprised Jess today by putting the frame and body back together while she was at work. Now we can get started on the body and paint work!!!

Here are the latest pictures with the redone frame, new axle and the new wheels and tires all where they belong. The Tires are 185/?/r14. They fit, but just barely. The left side has plenty of room, but the right is pretty tight, I can just squeeze my hand between the body (around the wheel well) and the tire, otherwise there is plenty of room inside the wheel well.


Tried to get a close up of the new frame paint. This just reminds me I need to paint the tongue jack and chain.


You can see just a smidgen of fiberglass damage on the left side of the frame. This actually occurred when we took the body off. I don't remember how.

Curb side. The trailer sits much higher with the new axle, tires and wheels. I believe it is right at the same ground clearance as our T.V. This is the side the tire gap is very slim. Should be okay with a little modification.


Overall shot.


Left side. Note, Jess has started to remove everything to get ready for paint. We are still not sure what to do about a window. We are thinking big.

All for now, hopefully get more done tomorrow.

--Sam

[CliveAlive]

Looking good!

What's the story with the window?

I had the window missing that side when I got my Boler. The PO had removed it and put in framing for a window a/c, then covered with plexiglass. You can see it in my Trailer Profile.

I was lucky to find windows from someone who replaced all theirs.

If you looking for one to match the other side, I have one that needs new glass if you are interested.

[Sam and Jess]

Originally Posted by CliveAlive

Looking good!

What's the story with the window?

I had the window missing that side when I got my Boler. The PO had removed it and put in framing for a window a/c, then covered with plexiglass. You can see it in my Trailer Profile.

I was lucky to find windows from someone who replaced all theirs.

If you looking for one to match the other side, I have one that needs new glass if you are interested.

Clive,

Same thing happened with ours, the previous owner removed the window to put in an air conditioner. Who knows what they did with the window.

I would be happy to pay you for your window. Is it a Jalousie? How much are you asking for it? Thanks so much, Clive!!!

--Sam

[CliveAlive]

Originally Posted by Sam and Jess

Clive,

Same thing happened with ours, the previous owner removed the window to put in an air conditioner. Who knows what they did with the window.

I would be happy to pay you for your window. Is it a Jalousie? How much are you asking for it? Thanks so much, Clive!!!

--Sam

Sam,

Yes, it is a jalousie. I will try and find pics of it and will send you a PM.

[h.mike]

You mentioned sacrificing part of your closet for air condt. how are you planning on doing that? I have asimilar situation, just picking your brain. h.mike

[Sam and Jess]

Originally Posted by h.mike

You mentioned sacrificing part of your closet for air condt. how are you planning on doing that? I have asimilar situation, just picking your brain. h.mike

I have found several A/C window units which are pretty small (5000BTU) that fit inside the closet. I am planning on building a little shelf which will sit directly on the wheel well and then sealing the "hot" side of the A/C unit up from the inside. I will then place a large vent at the base of the closet on the exterior side for fresh air circulation. I am hoping it will work... time will tell. --Sam

[LukeP]

looks good Sam&Jess! what degree arm angle did you get, on the axle?

[h.mike]

Originally Posted by Sam and Jess

I have found several A/C window units which are pretty small (5000BTU) that fit inside the closet. I am planning on building a little shelf which will sit directly on the wheel well and then sealing the "hot" side of the A/C unit up from the inside. I will then place a large vent at the base of the closet on the exterior side for fresh air circulation. I am hoping it will work... time will tell. --Sam

Thanks for the quick reply, I'll file it for when I'm ready. I followed each photo in your build, great undertaking. hope I can do as well. h.mike

[Sam and Jess]

Originally Posted by LukeP

looks good Sam&Jess! what degree arm angle did you get, on the axle?

Thanks Luke,

You know, I am not real sure. I just had Paul Neumeister send us the standard Boler axle, so I assume it is the stock angle. I am sure you could call Paul to find out what angle he orders. He was great to work with and the axle fit perfectly.

--Sam

[Randy Bishop]

Can I ask where you found the wheels and what name brand are they???, I've been using 14" Ford Ranger Aluminum wheels but they've got tougher and tougher to find....

[Sam and Jess]

Originally Posted by Randy Bishop

Can I ask where you found the wheels and what name brand are they???, I've been using 14" Ford Ranger Aluminum wheels but they've got tougher and tougher to find....

Hey Randy,

I found them on Craigslist. They are Ansen wheels (not actual Ansen, but Ansen style). I believe these came off an old Pinto or something like that. I think they are 6 or 7 inches wide, which is pretty wide for a Boler, but they fit (barely). They do take shank lug nuts, so if you find some make sure you get the Shank lug as well. --Sam

[Sam and Jess]

Just a quick pic or two for an update.





More to come soon.

--Sam

[Vickie B.]

Yeah!!!!!!

[Sam and Jess]

I need to update this thread to give myself a prod to get back to work!

So, this summer hasn't gone as planned. In June, we were working several hours a day on the Boler, meeting our (aggressive) timeline to complete the reno for a trip in July. Then, in the span of 4 weeks, Sam's mother was diagnosed with cancer (3rd time in 2 years), declined treatment, went downhill rapidly, and passed away.

After the funeral was over, and arrangements were made for selling the house and estate items next month, we realized we suddenly had some downtime matching our original vacation time. Except... the Boler wasn't ready, and we were too exhausted to even consider cobbling it together in a week just to be road-worthy. Our next thought was to keep our South Dakota campsite, but tent it -- ick, as much as we love camping, we weren't feeling like our rugged outdoorsy selves.

So, we thought maybe we'd cut ourselves a break and try out traveling like most people we know -- driving to a touristy place not too far away, staying in a hotel, eating every meal in a restaurant. Chicago's museums and aquarium (for the kids), and IKEA (for us) sounded particularly appealing. But after doing the math on that budget, we joked that we might as well fly off to an all-inclusive Caribbean resort for that amount of cash.

So we did just that!



Now -- BACK TO WORK. I left off on the last step of the Boler's "$50 paint job". Just a hint: it's only a $50 project if you happen to own a sandpaper warehouse.

-- Jess

[Vickie B.]

So sorry to hear about Sam's mother. But glad you took a nice trip!

Darn, I guess this means you can't come to the Weston Bend Meet Up this weekend???? Sure would love to meet you!

Vickie

[Sam and Jess]

Originally Posted by Vickie B.

So sorry to hear about Sam's mother. But glad you took a nice trip!

Darn, I guess this means you can't come to the Weston Bend Meet Up this weekend???? Sure would love to meet you!

Vickie

Thanks Vickie. Rereading my post above, it sounds a bit flippant, but it truly has been a rough couple of months... except for that trip, of course.

We're now even more excited to get back to camping and are shooting for a fully reno'd trailer by the end of September.

[John_M]

I don't think (and I can't speak for Vickie yet I am sure she feels the same) that it sounded flippant at all - sorry for your loss.

[Vickie B.]

Not flippant at all, Jess! It is apparent Sam's mother had been through so much in 2 years, she made the decision and you all were there for her. She would want you to go on. You balanced the sad and good of life---that's all we can do.

Take Care!

[Night Sailor]

Originally Posted by Kevin K

1st thing i would do is paint it a LIGHT color. The color you have now will cook you right out of the trailer.

In boating people call white, Caribbean White, because it is the coolest. White may be boring, but it is coolest.

[Night Sailor]

Originally Posted by Vickie B.

Not flippant at all, Jess! It is apparent Sam's mother had been through so much in 2 years, she made the decision and you all were there for her. She would want you to go on. You balanced the sad and good of life---that's all we can do.

Take Care!

Sorry to hear the sad news. And good luck with your project. It looks like it is coming along nicely...