Steve,
We can let our vigilant mods here decide! But this is being done in Kevin's honor to be sure ... if it weren't for his tutorial video, I would likely still be wondering how to put a
weight bearing column into my Play Pac w/o screwing into the fiberglass!
Without getting too detailed (which will all go into the Play Pac
Renovation thread I will post once I am done), I glassed a fairly large piece of 1"x6" pine (about 2 feet long) to the ceiling and an about 1' x 1' square of 1" pine on the floor for a baseplate. I used 2x3" instead of 2x4 to save on
weight - but where I goofed up is the braces that are screwed to the glassed in wood are made for 2x4s. So i will hack the excess 'flaps' on the braces that stick out beyond the edge of the 2x3s, bend them toward the 2x3s and screw that flap to the 2x3 to actually keep them locked in place. So that issue kind of works itself out.
I jacked up the ceiling with an additional brace until it was level and got the 2x3s into place and screwed them in. I was quite surprised it all worked out. the roof was level when i went outside and checked, and the real test was that the sagging 2x4 braces on the roof were now perfectly level. The
weight was just too much after all this time so the column seems to have worked. I also took a shot of the door before and after and the mount of
light coming through before and after was substantial. Since the door seal is uneven and needs replacing and the hinge is also sagging and needs to be re-riveted, i was pretty surprised at how dramatic a difference that column makes. Of course one half of the camper has zero interior structural support and that half also has a big hole in it - a door! SO i can now see why some kind of support on each side is needed (at least on a 40 year old camper!). The column goes through the bench but i plan to recut the bench lid and the portion under the stove will be turned into a small extra cabinet which will also add some extra support when its all tied together. Will finish with a headliner of some kind to hide all the mess.
I knows probably sounds clear as mud, but in my nutty brain - there is a plan! Mods please feel free to move this or start my reno thread or leave in place. I hope this of some use and thanks again to Kevin for getting me this far!
photos (poor quality using my phone camera): 1) ceiling wood glassed in with 2x3 supports and braces. 2) supports will be bolted to stove cabinet and are braced below inside the bench storage area to glassed in wood block. 3) glassed in wood block on floor (inside bench) before support install. 4) door with
light coming through prior to support install 5) door after support install
Flyer
The Bac Pac (SOLD)
The Bac Pac (v.2) (SOLD)
The Bald Eggle (SOLD)
The Den
Linear Mode
