Maintenance & Restoration

koehlerk · 07-28-2011, 04:13 PM

After driving back and forth from San Louis Obispo to visit brother-in-law, we decided we needed to do something about having to stay in hotels. We have 15 month old identical twin boys and all that stuff is a pain to lug in and out of the car to a room. We thought about an old VW camper van, but I didn't want another engine/vehicle to have to maintain.

So, the wife and I bought a very original 1978 13' Scamp.

AND THEN I found these forums. =)

Four months later, and we just finished our inaugural trip. A two day-er out to Beverly Beach State Park on the Oregon Coast. It was awesome and the Subaru pulled it like a hot knife through butter.

Things we did to get it ready:
Removed original carpet (all except for the kick-plate piece below the kitchen in remembrance of times gone by).
Elephant skin bleached and scrubbed of mildew.
Interior seams filled with latex and walls painted with low VOC Kilz.
Fiberglass bench/seats yanked out
New sealer paint on the subfloor (thankfully no rot)
Drilled out every rivet and replaced with stainless screws and acorn nuts (almost every rivet leaked and I'm glad to have had a wet start to the summer to find out).
Re-butyl'ed all vents, land connections, and louvered windows.
Barkeepers Friend'ed all the interior and exterior fiberglass
Cut and finished new hardwood ply cabinet doors and table top
Reupholstered cushions
Added two electrical outlets on new circuit.
Rewired trailer lights
Ordered and helped my buddy weld on a new axle with brakes
Salvaged 3 old wheels, painted them and had tires balanced
Installed a brake controller and 7 pin wiring harness on the '04 Subaru Outback
Get creative on how to corral the twins in a sleeping area (see pics).

Still to do:
Install Marmoleum remnant on the floor. Glue or float it?
Do more camping!

We basically wanted a fiberglass tent. Nothing fancy, but sturdy, durable, water proof, and bear resistant since half our family is in here in Oregon and half in Montana. This thing fits the bill.

Check out some pics here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1145767...244411/Scamp02

Thanks to DannyH for letting me check his Scamp out. Ours is not nearly as beautiful, but we're happy with it.

Let me know what you think...
-Kirk

cpaharley2008 · 07-28-2011, 04:23 PM

the beginning of wonderful memories....

Bill K · 07-28-2011, 04:37 PM

Looking good

and those boy's sure look like they like camping.

Bill K

Quote:

Originally Posted by koehlerk

After driving back and forth from San Louis Obispo to visit brother-in-law, we decided we needed to do something about having to stay in hotels. We have 15 month old identical twin boys and all that stuff is a pain to lug in and out of the car to a room. We thought about an old VW camper van, but I didn't want another engine/vehicle to have to maintain.

So, the wife and I bought a very original 1978 13' Scamp.

AND THEN I found these forums. =)

Four months later, and we just finished our inaugural trip. A two day-er out to Beverly Beach State Park on the Oregon Coast. It was awesome and the Subaru pulled it like a hot knife through butter.

Things we did to get it ready:
Removed original carpet (all except for the kick-plate piece below the kitchen in remembrance of times gone by).
Elephant skin bleached and scrubbed of mildew.
Interior seams filled with latex and walls painted with low VOC Kilz.
Fiberglass bench/seats yanked out
New sealer paint on the subfloor (thankfully no rot)
Drilled out every rivet and replaced with stainless screws and acorn nuts (almost every rivet leaked and I'm glad to have had a wet start to the summer to find out).
Re-butyl'ed all vents, land connections, and louvered windows.
Barkeepers Friend'ed all the interior and exterior fiberglass
Cut and finished new hardwood ply cabinet doors and table top
Reupholstered cushions
Added two electrical outlets on new circuit.
Rewired trailer lights
Ordered and helped my buddy weld on a new axle with brakes
Salvaged 3 old wheels, painted them and had tires balanced
Installed a brake controller and 7 pin wiring harness on the '04 Subaru Outback
Get creative on how to corral the twins in a sleeping area (see pics).

Still to do:
Install Marmoleum remnant on the floor. Glue or float it?
Do more camping!

We basically wanted a fiberglass tent. Nothing fancy, but sturdy, durable, water proof, and bear resistant since half our family is in here in Oregon and half in Montana. This thing fits the bill.

Check out some pics here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1145767...244411/Scamp02

Thanks to DannyH for letting me check his Scamp out. Ours is not nearly as beautiful, but we're happy with it.

Let me know what you think...
-Kirk

Sheryl · 07-28-2011, 04:49 PM

This is what it's all about--congratulations! I really enjoyed your pictures.

Donna D. · 07-28-2011, 06:39 PM

Hey Kirk thanks for posting a link to your pictures. It was nice to read the captions too. Keep making those camping memories with your boys and wife. Those memories will last a lifetime!

John_M · 07-28-2011, 08:47 PM

Thanks for sharing your pictures with us. You are infecting your boy's with the camping bug just like my father did to me and they will love you for it. Here's to good memories - enjoy!