Maintenance & Restoration

streetvan1 · 06-25-2012, 07:38 PM

Just wanted to post a few pics, and ask a few questions. This is my first fiberglass trailer, but once upon a time, I had an old conventional one.

First thing, the brochure that came with it! Pretty cool. Nothing helpful as far as repair or maintenance, but pretty cool anyway.

streetvan1 · 06-25-2012, 07:49 PM

And now, for quesion period!

My first issue is the door. It doesn't close properly. It seems to rattle, like it's not closing tightly enough, but it's close enough to the body in the middle where the latch is, then seems like it's pulled away at the top and bottom. I've been messing with it, trying to figure out what's wrong.

It almost seems like either the door is bent, or the trailer is bulged in the middle? Or is it simpler than that? It does leak some water, so I'd like to get it sorted out, then go on with fixing the water damage.

I must be missing something here. Any ideas?

mszabo · 06-25-2012, 08:47 PM

Looks like someone tried to break into it. It's damaged top and bottom, and at the lock. Or someone lost the key and damaged trying to get into it.

streetvan1 · 06-25-2012, 09:21 PM

That's what I was thinking too. I was thinking I could pull the door off and straighten it, but I'm concerned that it might crack. The automotive trick for this is to put a block of wood in where the latch is, and push both ends til they bend into the correct shape, but the sidewall seems kind of delecate. Will I break stuff attempting this?

Dudley · 06-25-2012, 10:23 PM

where are you in Alberta, if your in Edmonton you can come over to look at mine or I can check your door for ya, I have a 76 Ventura . The doors are not the best on these and are a hard size to find, going to build a new one later this summer if I can find a window.

mszabo · 06-25-2012, 10:27 PM

It's a 37 year old door. I'd remove it and rebuild it.

Dudley · 06-25-2012, 10:31 PM

What ever you do, don't throw out the door latch!!! Its a Bargman L400 and they sell for about $200 used on Ebay or here

Darrell O · 06-26-2012, 07:03 PM

My Ventura door bows slightly outward at the bottom. The frame/jamb is fine though. You can check yours by holding a straight edge (piece of lumber - eyeball it to make sure that it's straight) but you will likely find the issue is with the door slab and not the trailer body/door frame.

I plan to rebuild the door someday and it looks like it should be simple and easy procedure. I expect that there's a (3/4"?) wood core sandwiched by the outer steel skin and interior paneling. When rebuilding day comes I will get a strong stable piece of plywood - possibly concrete forming grade, and new exterior door skin, about 3/32" from the bulk plastics shop.

The next step will be to disassemble the existing door and set aside all the hardware and metal pieces for reassembly. I'll use the existing wood core as a template, or a least transfer the measurements to the new plywood if the old wood is to rotten to handle, then reassemble.

To reduce the weight I may swiss cheese the wood core with a series of holes cutout with a 3-4" hole saw.

Finally, to eliminate future detoriation I would take a hard look at the construction and installation of the door window frame and take measures to prevent any future water ingress/leakage from it - which I suspect is the smoking gun for any wonky doors of this sort of design.

But for all of that, if you could scan that rare and cool Ventura brochure at a 300 dpi for the document center you would undoubtedly make other Ventura owners very happy - especially me.

WildBirder · 06-26-2012, 07:47 PM

Can't help with your door but cool brochure. thx for the pics.

Mark

streetvan1 · 06-26-2012, 09:03 PM

Thanks for the tips guys! A friend of mine who worked building oilfield shacks years ago was telling me about a material they use, with steel on both sides, and foam type stuff on the inside, about 3 inches thick. It's well insulated and strong, apparently. He's going to try and score me some, then I'll try and make a door out of it. If that won't work out, I'll make one from wood and fiberglass.

Good to know that the latch assembly is desirable. I'll make sure it finds a good home if I don't re-use it.

Spent tonight cleaning and packing, fist trip with it will be Saturday. In spite of the door's likely terminal condition, I've been able to bend the top in enough that it keeps water out. So I'll call that a win for now!

streetvan1 · 06-26-2012, 09:17 PM

and glad you guys like the brochure! I thought it was totally amazing when I found it in there. I don't have a scanner, but I'll see what I can do about getting decent digital copies of it.

Roy in TO · 06-26-2012, 11:28 PM

Drew,
Do any of your friends have a multi-function printer? Many of the newer inkjets will now easily scan to a PDF. Those can be uploaded.

There is probably a way to save a digital picture as a PDF. My guess would be a MAC or using photoshop.