1978 Trillium 4500 restoration ...

[freddo411]

It is a shell of itself! I removed everything not glassed down, and I also removed the gaucho, and demo'd and fixed part of the floor.

At this point it is all "downhill" from here, I get to put things back in.

[sfoss]

Wow it's looking great. I am just in aw of some of these projects. I can't wait to see more pics!

[freddo411]

Here is a visual update on my progress.

First picture is the dinette table seat compartment BEFORE.

The after pictures show that the rotten floor board has been removed and replaced with a new board that I fiberglassed in (resin on bottom, resin and glass cloth on top. Also covered with a nice white primer coat.

I've added an exterior hatch.

[sfoss]

WOW, BETTER THAN NEW. You are really making this so nice. Won't it be fun to take it out and use it? You will be sad when it is all done. You'll be looking for another one to take it's place so you have a project.

[Kevin Dyck]

Hello. Just to clarify, once you removed the belly band you simply fibreglass/bondo over it, sand, prime and paint? It looks great, certainly better than our 4500 with the original belly band. I'd love to get rid of it.

[freddo411]

Originally Posted by Kevin Dyck

Hello. Just to clarify, once you removed the belly band you simply fibreglass/bondo over it, sand, prime and paint? It looks great, certainly better than our 4500 with the original belly band. I'd love to get rid of it.

Kevin,

Yes, essentially.

Here's a summary based what I learned in the process.

* it is very easy to bend the bellyband while removing it. If you plan to reuse it, be very careful.
* You can cut out the backing plates with a dremel multitool (oscillating tool). This is superior to grinding them out. Cutting out is:
-- faster
-- cleaner
-- and leaves a smaller, well defined area to fill which makes the glassing/bondo-ing much easier later.
* Try to keep your cuts "inside" the band. Having the original band well defined makes the repair much easier. This was easy.
* Use bondo GLASS on the first fill pass. try not to fill over the top of your area.
* use Bondo filler on the next pass. Use more than you think you need (exceed the top). Don't try to be pretty as this point. You'll sand out a bunch of the bondo anyway.
* Use a sander (80 grit) with a vacuum attached on the bondo.
* I needed to repeat this step a bunch of times.
* use a long 2x4 with sandpaper stapled to it to sand the band flat, fine and smooth.

* now is good time to do any other body work. New door handle? New electric input? etc.

* I sent out the paint work. I understand they use a urethane primer that is quite thick which will fill tiny cracks and holes. I understand you can DIY this if desired.

I highly recommend this thread:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...and-46424.html

I don't have camping experience with the new paint job. I wonder if not having a "rub strip" will matter?

[freddo411]

Today we hung all the windows. Happy to be "buttoned up". Taking the Bernerwagon out for an inaugural camping weekend this Friday. Almost nothing is installed inside, but the outside is ready to go. It really is a camping trip.

[freddo411]

Camper lights are done and working. After 6 months of tear down, clean out, patch up and screw-in the "BernerWagon" is about to go on its first trip.

A lot remains to do, but I have a long standing "outing" in May. So we roll on Friday.

[ken h]

Hi Fred, great work on the storage compartment. With the gelcoat finish it is almost like having a light in there sure brightens it up.

[Randy Bishop]

Originally Posted by freddo411

Today we hung all the windows. Happy to be "buttoned up". Taking the Bernerwagon out for an inaugural camping weekend this Friday. Almost nothing is installed inside, but the outside is ready to go. It really is a camping trip.

Looking around the back window what is the yellow around the window is that just a shadow or something else......

[freddo411]

Randy, in the photo you are seeing the butyl squeezing out before we have trimmed it.

I'll post some "cleaned up" pictures after this weekend.

[freddo411]

No doors on the cabinets (haven't gotten to that yet), but still enjoying our first campout.

[Randy Bishop]

Looks like a relaxing outing right there.......What you got planed for the wheels....I put Ford 14" Aluminum Ranger Wheels on mine gave me a little more ground clearance and looked good too..A little hard to fine but they are out there got most of mine for around $100 for a set of 4..

[freddo411]

Just the right size ...

[itlives]

Nice looking camper there, Freddo!

[freddo411]

Thanks Mike, it is getting there. Lots of things still to do. ;-)

[mrhartman98]

Wow Fred, That's inspiring work, Well Done!
I have recently purchased a 1975 Trillium 1300(?) and it is in need of serious tlc. I don't think I could do all the cool mod's you have done to yours but I at least need to patch and refinish the outershell, replace all interior-walls, floors, upholstry, etc. and either refurbish/replace/86 existing utilities. I'm trying to soak up as much as I can so that I can make a plan... never have done anything like this!... wish me luck :}
Happy Trails,
mike

[freddo411]

Mike,
Sure, it is a big project that can take a while, but it is very do-able, one small piece at a time.

I've discovered that you can fix things a bit at a time and camp with your trailer too.

Good luck!

[itlives]

Originally Posted by mrhartman98

Wow Fred, That's inspiring work, Well Done!
I have recently purchased a 1975 Trillium 1300(?) and it is in need of serious tlc. I don't think I could do all the cool mod's you have done to yours but I at least need to patch and refinish the outershell, replace all interior-walls, floors, upholstry, etc. and either refurbish/replace/86 existing utilities. I'm trying to soak up as much as I can so that I can make a plan... never have done anything like this!... wish me luck :}
Happy Trails,
mike

Michael, at the top of the page near the right, click on Manufacturers, then Trillium. There's lots of Trillium only threads there (mine too, -shameless plug)
This is assuming you haven't already figured it out.

[RRJR]

Vintage Trillium owners will be glad to see this link
"trilliumrv.wordpress.com/parts"

Good News

Ron