My Compact Jr. frame restoration

[Legacy Posts]

Although not visible from the before pic, the frame on my Compact Jr. was in pretty shabby condition. The tongue and rear bumper were covered in coat after coat of white paint (different shades through the years as I found out) over crusty, rusty, chipped previous coats. I decided that before I tackled the inside I should bring the foundation up to 100%.

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ebf156ec9bf7My Compact Jr Rear Rt.JPG/>

I used aircraft stripper to remove the paint from the tongue and rear bumper. The rest of the frame was just rust.

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ebf162031f3cframe before.jpg/>

Next came the hours and HOURS of tedious sandblasting. At this time, I also X-braced the frame and continued the longitudinal center brace to the front. Note also the new mounting points for the swaybar brackets.

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ebf16cc698f8frame sandblasted.jpg/>

I applied two coats of Rust Oleum grey primer and two coats of white to the frame. The axle and leaf springs are silver (a "hammered finish" that looks really good), and the swaybar and brackets are black.

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ebf1775025b3frame painted.jpg/>

My wife and I were only able to camp in the trailer once last year (soon after we bought it). The camper leaned mightily in the corners, particularly interstate off-ramps and cloverleafs, even when taken at quite reasonable speeds. I decided the camper needed a swaybar. The unit I used was from a 1995 Chevrolet Blazer 4x4, and it fit really nicely! I'm looking forward to flatter cornering on our next trip!

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ebf18e1c28b6frame swaybar.jpg/>

I can't wait to bolt the body back on and hit the road. The interior mods (new refrigerator, microwave, a/c, cooktop, refinished cabinets and hardware, etc.......) will probably wait for a while. I don't want the unit out of commission during prime camping season.

Camp Naked!!!!!!!!!!

[Legacy Posts]

The spare tire mount is new, too. There was no factory spare tire storage solution, so I created one. I welded an additional piece of angle iron to the original center longitudinal brace and used all-thread to create the tire mount (bolted and welded to the angle iron). I chose stock that had the same threads as the wheel studs, and the spare is bolted up with the same chrome lug nuts, so the same tire tool can be used to drop it down. The new mount will be difficult to get to, but it beats putting the spare inside the camper and throwing it out every time we were inside it. Besides, although a pain to access, at least it's there.

Also, the wheels are new. I paid $35.00 each for new white wagon wheels for the camper. I wanted new wheels for aesthetics, plus I needed an extra rim for the spare tire. So, instead of finding and buying a used rim, I bought two new ones and mounted the spare on one of the old.

[Legacy Posts]

:wave Nice Job!!!!!!!! Keep the pics coming!

Bill H

[Legacy Posts]

Wow! A better than new frame, Matthew!

I also like your spare tire mount. But I have a question for you ... when you have a flat tire, will you still have enough clearance to unscrew the bolts holding the spare?

I guess even if you have a flat, you can jack it up to get some additional clearance.

Nice looking job, however! I agree with Bill. Keep the pictures coming!

Get the body back on and go camping (and of course, we want pictures of the maiden voyage on the snappy looking frame!)

[Legacy Posts]

WOW! Matthew, What a great job! I only wish I'd had access to sandblasting when I did mine. The wire brush job I did is nothing in comparison. It's going to eat on me that I didn't go the extra mile. How much clearance do you have now with the spare moved inderneath?


Lanny

[Legacy Posts]

Hi
I had the spare tire on my Boler the same as you got now.I bought a new spare tire 2 weeks back and could not get it installed under unit.I found it very hard.I am old as dirt and don't have the same strenght I did when I was young.Old spare tire holding brackets now cut off and going to mount on bumper.

PS -------Excelent job on frame.:wave

[Legacy Posts]

Hi Matthew,

Great job on the frame of your trailer! I really like the spare tire holder. We did something similar with our truck (tow vehicle). Did you remember to goop up the threads with lots of anti-seize so that you can undo the darn things when you need to? We can attest to the value of ant-seize... it works wonders on just such an application.

My husband is just scoping out the magnitude of his frame repairs and improvements. We too will be lifting the shell right off the frame for maximum access. I've got a question for you about the sand blasting....

I gather from the size of your toolchest that you're a pretty handy guy. Did you do the sand blasting yourself? If so, how'd you keep the grit under control? What grit did you use? We have a huge compressor too, and My husband would love to rig something up to sandblast before painting.

Looking forward to your next batch of photos!
~ Melanie

[Legacy Posts]

:wave
Matthew:
I am curious as to why you have the White-Walls turned in.:conf
What a great looking job you are doing!!:cblob
I want a little trailer just like that.:E

[Legacy Posts]

Lenny asked about spare tire clearance. It looks pretty good right now. I don't think the springs compress very much with the body shell mounted, but we'll see if it changes. Here are a couple of pics that show clearance....

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ec061ca374c3front spare view.jpg/>

<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ec061f4a3c39side spare view.jpg/>

Melanie, sanblasting was a *(^(#$(&#@. It took forever. Even with my large home compressor, I had to stop every few minutes and wait for it to build pressure back up. I have probably 30 hours in sandblasting. I have since learned there are individuals and businesses with commercial-sized sandblasters that would complete the job in a couple of hours. I will never sandblast something so large again. I'll gladly pay someone else to knock it out in an afternoon. If you want it shiny silver, as I did mine, prepare to work a looooong time. As for the sand dispersion, I sandblasted in my driveway. As I used up all of my sand, I wheeled the trailer out of the way, swept the sand into a pile, then scooped it up with a dustpan into a 5 gal. bucket covered with a spare window screen to sift debris.

Emmit, I just prefer the blackwall in this application. I usually only prefer whitewalls out on classic cars (1970's and before), and on a few more current Cadillac, Buick, and Lincoln-type models.

I just got done lowering the camper body back on the frame with the help of 6 neighbors (four to lift, two to pull sawhorses, and one to manouver the trailer into place. Whew!! It's nice to have it back together, though.