LiteHouse Trailer-4-Two Rebuild

[Davie B]

When we first bought the little camper, there was a little softness in the floor near the sink. I found the leak and ignored the floor for a few years. This past summer, because of some landscape work going on, I left the trailer out and uncovered. When I opened the door a few weeks ago, it was a mess with mould on everything except the rat fur walls and the fiberglass cabinets. The vinyl floor was cracked and wet.

This is the second time I've had to deal with moisture problems in the camper. This time, I'm sealing everything.

Despite the laziness and inattention of it's owner, the LiteHouse is a great little trailer and I'm doing my best to put it back in shape. This past weekend, I unwired and unplumbed it, and removed the cabinets on the port side. The OSB floor, in many places was basically compost. Next weekend I plan to removed the rest of the cabinets and finish removing the OSB. I'm assuming that I'll need to sand down the fiberglass under the floor, fair up any dings and install a new substrate.

I've found a BC marine plywood called "marine tex" from a company called Plum Creek. Once I get the fiberglass prepped and the wood trimmed to size, I plan to seal the plywood with West System or something similar, glass it in place and figure out some sort of finish flooring to install. My biggest concern is getting the new floor at the same height as the original so that the holes in the cabinets and trailer walls line up.

In the meantime, the cushions have mould in them and need replacing. I'm considering buying a 4" memory foam queen size mattress and cutting it to make replacements. I don't know anything about upholstery, but there is an industrial sewing machine at the local makerspace so I guess learning to use that is also on my agenda. \

The next trip scheduled for the trailer is a music festival on Memorial Day weekend. I've got a lot to do between now and then. I'm reading through the form posts on floor replacement and have learned stuff. However, any suggestions, ideas or encouraging words are welcome. Photos to come.

[Davie B]

With one bench removed. The hardest part so far has been removing and labeling the wiring and plumbing.


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[Lee Senn]

I am looking forward to following your rehab, hopefully with many pictures. This is something many of us are facing or will eventually face and your endeavor will be very helpful. Lee

[Davie B]

The black hose was a vent for the battery. I moved it to the tongue (in place of the propane tank) several years ago. I'm going to patch that hole.

The opening below the hose is where the shore power cable snakes out. I'm planning on glassing over that hole too and replacing it with a waterproof 20 a male connector like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NU...20amp+rv+inlet

You can also see the 2" hole in the floor where the battery and ground cables enter the cabin. I'm planning on glassing that hole over and rerouting the battery cable from the tongue through some sort of water resistant fitting.

My main goal is to eliminate any easy access for humidity. Things get damp in the Florida summers.



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[Kai in Seattle]

My sympathy and sincere encouragement for all your hard work so far and to come!

Memorial Day, eh? It's possible...we're aiming at end of April or first of June, but at this point don't know yet if it's possible.

I like hearing how you labelled your plumbing and wiring...good idea.

Your idea of getting a thick foam queen mattress and cutting and recovering it yourself is a good one; you don't actually need a commercial sewing machine to do this basic upholstery...but a serger would make things nice (you can substitute built-in stitches and/or cam stitches in some sewing machine models).

Wishing you great good luck and all the best...a real job ahead for you!

(From our perspective of a huge job behind and ahead of us, too!)

[EllPea in CA]

Originally Posted by Davie B

Attachment 92379
With one bench removed. The hardest part so far has been removing and labeling the wiring and plumbing.
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Oh yikes (referring to floor damage)! What a cautionary tale for those tempted to inattention!
Ellpea

[EllPea in CA]

I was looking at that 12v connector also, but decided against it after reading the reviews:

"Great connector; however, beware -- the picture shows a normal connector but the actual product is standard 20A cross pin connector that requires a matching 20A extension cord"

Several other reviewers mentioned the same problem, and also said the extension cord was very pricey ($80 or so).

(I'm in need of a fitting like this, and would also like one with a coax cable if they're made. Right now there's a pile of cable and extension cord crammed into my kitchen cabinet... it's gotta GO!)

Anyway, good luck with all of your work on this!
Ellpea

[Davie B]

The old floor is slowly coming up. In the photo, the mostly ruined OSB is to the left. The red part is the original fiberglass. The tan is the bottom layer of the OSB which the got impregnated with resin when the floor was laid.

Some of the tan stuff has become delaminated and chips off easily. Some of it is firmly attached to the fiberglass. Thus, dear reader, a decision is required.

I could chip off all of the loose stuff, give it a light sanding, and fair up the floor with thickened epoxy. Or, I can get a pneumatic sander and bring everything down to bare and prepped fiberglass, then patch and fair it.

I'm heading toward the 2nd plan but am totally willing to be talked out of it.


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[Davie B]

A little instant cleaning karma - Found an envelope with $340 as i was taking apart the refrigerator cabinet.


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[Mary F]

[Kai in Seattle]

Holy Moly! WOW! Good Karma, indeed!

[EllPea in CA]

Congrats on the cash! Considering the labor you're doing, clearly the trailer fairies are smiling down on you.

[Davie B]

The money belongs to my son. He lost it on a trip 3 years ago. At least we're keeping it in the family.


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[Kai in Seattle]

Oh, SNAP! Good luck for him, anyway! As you say, it stays in the family!


Here's a little something to make up for it--Microsoft used to have this program and you could put your own (or any) face on the bills--it was quite fun but apparently also quite illegal...



WE found three pennies underneath the plywood... ya gotta be proud!

[Davie B]

As part of my LiteHouse rebuild, I am redoing the cushions. The upholstery guy said that except for some mold, the foam is in good shape. At his suggestion, I'm treating the mold with. 30% bleach solution.


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[Davie B]

I learned the hard way to wear my whites when working with bleach.


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[Davie B]

Mostly deconstructed. The next steps: remove the door and get the redo of the OSB off.


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[Kai in Seattle]

Rinse, rinse, rinse, and good luck! No kidding, wear your whites!

[Davie B]

The most difficult part of this phase was the time spent trying. To find one of the two oscillating tools I already own. Now I own three of them. I expect that I have several weekend days of working on getting the OSB out. The original builder put a lot of liquid nails around the edges.


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[Kai in Seattle]

Oh, man! OSB and liquid nails--just a lovely combo! I feel for you!

And time spent searching for that tool you know you have...wow! So true! LOL on the now you own three. I've had to stop Paul a few times from shopping for what he already has, and encourage him to KEEP LOOKING...usually he finds it. Once he found something even better, and used that. Wish I could remember what it was. Some grinding thing.

Don't forget to avoid silicone sealants. You probably know that already. Good threads on here about silicone and why not use it.