75 Trillium

[Roger Hunckler]

Here's our little 75 trillium we found late last year and have been working on a few updates, now that the weather here is getting warm, more time to play with it. We just re-upholsered the cushions (new foam) cut down a 20' awning fabric discarded from a replacement and made an awning bag, color sanded the clear and buffed (getting new clear coat in a couple of weeks) added a stereo/cd player, new fridge, and will be replacing the stove top as well, along with a fixed traveler toilet and 12V water pump, stripped the chassis down to metal and painted black, installed laminate wood floor, made snap on door window screen, installed mini blinds and matching window trim, replaced all the window screw trim too. It's been a fun little part time project, the trailer basically is in very good condition just needed some cosmetic tlc. Since we own a fabrication shop the upholstrey and awning was a snap (helps to have a very talented seamstress for my wife). Still have plenty of little trims to do, having fun!

Well, I thought I'd just post a few pics, might be selling this when I get bored with it. I posted a few before and after pics.

Roger H

[Frederick L. Simson]

That sure looks nice!

[Doug Mager]

Now THAT's real purdy Roger

[Booker B.]

Hi Roger,

That looks great! What fridge model did you use to replace the original?

[Roger Hunckler]

Hi Roger,

That looks great! What fridge model did you use to replace the original?

For now I just replaced the old and nasty original with a small unit from Lowes, works great and I'll change it back if I find something that works better. Thanks your your comment.

Roger

[james kent]

Clean, Neat, Tidy.
Boy I can't show these pic to SHE.
Verrry nice

[Dave Baston]

Hi Roger,
Congratulations on your 1975 Trillium 1300 GEM! You did an awesome job. I have to ask...what product(s) did you use on the exterior to make it shine so beautiful? I owed 3 trilliums last year at once and sold 2 and kept my original 1978 Trillium 4500 Deluxe. Thanks!
Dave in Michigan

[Roger Hunckler]

Hi Roger,
Congratulations on your 1975 Trillium 1300 GEM! You did an awesome job. I have to ask...what product(s) did you use on the exterior to make it shine so beautiful? I owed 3 trilliums last year at once and sold 2 and kept my original 1978 Trillium 4500 Deluxe. Thanks!
Dave in Michigan

Thanks! Well, the previous owner had brushed on some type of non permanent clear coat, when I bought it it looked like it was painted with a brush, so I color sanded the whole trailer with wet and dry super fine and a block to level the brush marks then used a high speed buffer and some very good compound I found (EZ-1 Clean Cut Compound for clear coat ) and buffed it to a high gloss, it came out great. The only problem is that the clear was not a real automotive clear, so I am going to do another color sand and clear it with automotive clear and buff it out again, then it's going to blind you in the sun! I shot the door the other day just playing around and it's super slick. I believe that I could even roll on the automotive clear coat and get the same results, spraying saves alot of sanding though. I've been using a high speed buffer for many years and what's nice about the EZ-1 is that it doesn't build up on the surface, it buffs off easily and leaves a super high gloss using a wool pad.

[Roger Hunckler]

Hi Roger,

That looks great! What fridge model did you use to replace the original?

The original fridge was just old and ugly, I bought a 110V fridge from Lowes and put it in, I'm trimming it off so it fills the hole, but it works great and if I run across another lp model I'll replace it. I'll post some pics when I finish it up.

Roger

[Phil Underwood]

very clean.. still looks new

[Dave Baston]

Thanks! Well, the previous owner had brushed on some type of non permanent clear coat, when I bought it it looked like it was painted with a brush, so I color sanded the whole trailer with wet and dry super fine and a block to level the brush marks then used a high speed buffer and some very good compound I found (EZ-1 Clean Cut Compound for clear coat ) and buffed it to a high gloss, it came out great. The only problem is that the clear was not a real automotive clear, so I am going to do another color sand and clear it with automotive clear and buff it out again, then it's going to blind you in the sun! I shot the door the other day just playing around and it's super slick. I believe that I could even roll on the automotive clear coat and get the same results, spraying saves alot of sanding though. I've been using a high speed buffer for many years and what's nice about the EZ-1 is that it doesn't build up on the surface, it buffs off easily and leaves a super high gloss using a wool pad.

Roger,
Excellent! My 1978 Trillium is close to mint condition and I have used 10 different products in the 5 1/2 years owning this little beauty. Last year I used Meguires NXT paste. Polished up nice, but never been able to achieve that "Out-Of-The-Mold" from the factory shine like how yours looks from those awsome photos! So like a painter my canvas (Exterior Shell) needs nothing. If I apply this "EZ-1 Clean-Cut" Compound will I get that high gloss as you are explaning to me without harming my pristine "Gel-Coat" condition. If so, where did you buy yours and how much will it cost approx? Then get a small wool pad to apply and "Right From The Factory Look" her I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave in Michigan

[Roger Hunckler]

Roger,
Excellent! My 1978 Trillium is close to mint condition and I have used 10 different products in the 5 1/2 years owning this little beauty. Last year I used Meguires NXT paste. Polished up nice, but never been able to achieve that "Out-Of-The-Mold" from the factory shine like how yours looks from those awsome photos! So like a painter my canvas (Exterior Shell) needs nothing. If I apply this "EZ-1 Clean-Cut" Compound will I get that high gloss as you are explaning to me without harming my pristine "Gel-Coat" condition. If so, where did you buy yours and how much will it cost approx? Then get a small wool pad to apply and "Right From The Factory Look" her I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave in Michigan

Hi Dave,

I bought this at a parts store here, they recommended it and it very easy to use with a buffer, I'm sure it would buff up gel-coat nicely, mine has a clear coat so it came out really shiny, the clear the previous owner used was not a permanent clear and its a little thin in spots, that's why I'm going to put a coat of automotive clear on it, that will make a permanent high gloss. This polish is clear safe so it's not too abrasive I think it cost around 20.00 for the bottle, I like using it way better than mequires or 3m polishes. It's alot faster too.

Roger

[Dave Baston]

Roger,
I will buy a bottle and let you know how it turns out in late spring.
Happy Camping Soon!
Dave

[Connie M.]

Very nice new upholstery look. We have the same pattern as your original cushions - sigh.

[Booker B.]

Hi Roger,

Are your blinds just standard mini-blinds or are they RV specific. How are for traveling, do they swing around a lot on the road? I really prefer the way you have the mini blinds over drapes, very clean look.

[Mike Montville]

Here's our little 75 trillium we found late last year and have been working on a few updates, now that the weather here is getting warm, more time to play with it. We just re-upholsered the cushions (new foam) cut down a 20' awning fabric discarded from a replacement and made an awning bag, color sanded the clear and buffed (getting new clear coat in a couple of weeks) added a stereo/cd player, new fridge, and will be replacing the stove top as well, along with a fixed traveler toilet and 12V water pump, stripped the chassis down to metal and painted black, installed laminate wood floor, made snap on door window screen, installed mini blinds and matching window trim, replaced all the window screw trim too. It's been a fun little part time project, the trailer basically is in very good condition just needed some cosmetic tlc. Since we own a fabrication shop the upholstrey and awning was a snap (helps to have a very talented seamstress for my wife). Still have plenty of little trims to do, having fun!

Well, I thought I'd just post a few pics, might be selling this when I get bored with it. I posted a few before and after pics.

Roger H

Hi Roger,

I'd like to ask you a question about your awning. It looks like the end of your bag extends out past the awning rail. ie. the awning rail is shorter then your awning bag. If this is the case, How far does it hang out on each side, and have you ever had a problem with it? I have an awning that I want to purchase and the BAG is 7'4" and my Awning rail is 7'. The bag would hang out 2" on each side.

Thanks,
Mike

[Roger Hunckler]

Hi Roger,

Are your blinds just standard mini-blinds or are they RV specific. How are for traveling, do they swing around a lot on the road? I really prefer the way you have the mini blinds over drapes, very clean look.

They're just standard mini blinds, we obviously shortened them so they were the right leingth, I just put some Heavy Duty velcro at each end and attach the bottom that way, I tried the original lower hardware but it didn't hold, this worked alot better and holds well. I liked the mini blinds better too, thanks for your comments! I think we spent about 20 bucks on these!

[Roger Hunckler]

Hi Roger,

I'd like to ask you a question about your awning. It looks like the end of your bag extends out past the awning rail. ie. the awning rail is shorter then your awning bag. If this is the case, How far does it hang out on each side, and have you ever had a problem with it? I have an awning that I want to purchase and the BAG is 7'4" and my Awning rail is 7'. The bay would hang out 2" on each side.

Thanks,
Mike

I haven't really gone anywhere since the awning, but to answer your question there won't be a problem, I intentionally made it this way to get the maximum width on the fabric and to allow enough wiggle room for the awning, because it never rolls up perfectly square. We made this one from the good section of a scrap 20' awning, and already had a roll of black marine vinyl in our shop. Thanks! Roger

[Roger Hunckler]

Thanks! Well, the previous owner had brushed on some type of non permanent clear coat, when I bought it it looked like it was painted with a brush, so I color sanded the whole trailer with wet and dry super fine and a block to level the brush marks then used a high speed buffer and some very good compound I found (EZ-1 Clean Cut Compound for clear coat ) and buffed it to a high gloss, it came out great. The only problem is that the clear was not a real automotive clear, so I am going to do another color sand and clear it with automotive clear and buff it out again, then it's going to blind you in the sun! I shot the door the other day just playing around and it's super slick. I believe that I could even roll on the automotive clear coat and get the same results, spraying saves alot of sanding though. I've been using a high speed buffer for many years and what's nice about the EZ-1 is that it doesn't build up on the surface, it buffs off easily and leaves a super high gloss using a wool pad.

3-17 Dave, I was in Auto Zone yesterday and see they have quarts of Clear for 20.00, by Duplicolor. I believe I'm going to give this a try in a few weeks, as soon as I've got a couple days of warm weather and nothing else to do. If I end up using this I'll let you know the results. I already have some clear left over from painting my daughters car, but I think I'd like to shoot it with this, it may be just the ticket.

[Roger Hunckler]

Very nice new upholstery look. We have the same pattern as your original cushions - sigh.

Thanks! My wife owns a workroom so we used some material she had laying around (I'm all for that!) I wasn' t sure about the pattern when she showed it to me, but it really looks great in the trailer, she cut new foam using 5", (original is 4") then cut the backs down 1" That made them alot more comfortable to sit on, and at the same time brought the back cushions up to the bottom of the windows, and fit perfectly for the bed. (I love this woman)! The matching window trim is just attached with velcro, and made a huge difference in the look, (her idea).

Roger