Trillium 4500 Plywood Upper Cabinet Repair

[David Tilston]

I just purchased a 1978 Trillium 4500. The upper cabinets at either end of the trailer have all lost the white mac-tac coating. There are shreds of it here and there, but effectively it is all gone. All that is left is a 1/8" mahogany plywood with a textured contact cement finish. Not pretty, (see attached photo). There were also panels on either side of the closet with the same material. I pulled them out since, while they were still about half covered with the mac-tac, they took up space, and I don't really mind the inside of my closet being a bit rough.

What I am considering doing is purchasing a smooth glossy white fibre glass sheet product. It is 0.09 thick , less thick then the 1/8" (0.125") plywood, but I think some rubber strip or something to take up the extra space and keep it from feeling lose and rattling will work. I will have to drill out some rivets, and the wiring for the lights is tucked into the frame, but I think this is doable. The doors have been removed in the photo, but I have them to use as patterns.

I would appreciate some feedback on this idea.

[Rarebird]

HI!
When we cleaned up the interior of our Trillium I replaced all that plywood with new clear birch plywood. I cut it all with a scroll saw, and coated it all with a clear polyurethane (5 coats). I also remade the sliding upper cabinet doors the same way. The wood was inexpensive, and easy to work with.
I used birch because it is easy to find in a variety of thicknesses, and I am planning on replacing all cabinet doors, and table, with birch.
I also removed all that fake woodgrain stripe that goes around all the aluminum (and the little light fixtures). That's a personal taste thing, but the new wood doors against the clean aluminum is a little more of a modern look.
Marjie

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by marjie s.

HI!
I also removed all that fake woodgrain stripe that goes around all the aluminum (and the little light fixtures). That's a personal taste thing, but the new wood doors against the clean aluminum is a little more of a modern look.
Marjie

Marjie - I also plan to remove the woodgrain stripe. What did you use?

[Raz]

Hello David and welcome. A while back a member posted what I thought was a great way to get free fiberglass sheeting. He posted on craigs list that he was looking for an old shower surround. People redoing their bathrooms were more than happy to give it to him rather than pay to dispose of it. As I recall he was overwhelmed with offers. Raz

[Rarebird]

Hi David,
I just grabbed a corner and peeled it right off. Very satisfying!
Maybe I was just lucky???
Marjie

[Ed Harris]

I found and used 1/8" Birch plywood and replaced the stripe and the fridge insert with it.
Then I replaced all of the doors to match.

[David Tilston]

I have also been looking at using 1/8" sign white lexan. It is about $140 a 100"x52" sheet. If I did this, then I would mount LED lights to the inside bottom of the cabinet. The same kind that are used to replace 12V light bulbs in dome lights and the fixtures in my trailer now. I have seen them for $20 at Walmart. The only thing you would see is the button. Push it and the underside of the cabinet lights up.
The fibre glass option is a little cheaper, about $90 a sheet, $50 if I opt for a "pebble finish", but I won't.

[Chris McVeigh]

I replaced mine with melamine coated hardboard of the same thickness
More solutions in post below
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...ers-44420.html

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by Chris McVeigh

I replaced mine with melamine coated hardboard of the same thickness
More solutions in post below
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...ers-44420.html

Thank you! That is exactly what I was looking for.