'84 13' UHAUL build thread - Page 2 - Fiberglass RV
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Old 01-09-2017, 04:30 PM   #21
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Name: Mike
Trailer: 1996 16' Casita SD
Louisiana
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In doing this I removed two body bolts. If the rest are like those two, I could picture the body flying off going down the road.
The straps on the board are just to keep them level with the floor and will be removed before the next step.
I removed all the rotten wood and ground down to the fiberglass on the bottom.
Clean everything with acetone.
Brush on a liberal coat of resin.
Lay in a layer of mat.
Brush a coat of resin on all the edges and bottom of the wood.
Placed the wood and ....wait.
It's cold out and I don't like it because I want to play with the camper!
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Old 01-09-2017, 05:14 PM   #22
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Florida
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Great work. I love the use of donor fiber glass from an old boat. i think that could work for my future plans.
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Old 01-10-2017, 09:20 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burro View Post
Great work. I love the use of donor fiber glass from an old boat. i think that could work for my future plans.
Thanks! I like to repurpose what I can.
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Old 01-10-2017, 06:34 PM   #24
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Well, I guess I'm not going to just clean it up and wax it. I haven't painted a camper before. Never too old to learn , I guess. The joint smoothed out really nicely!

Couldn't do any more to the floor....ran out of hardener for the fiberglass. Prolly stop and get some at Wally World on the way home tonight.
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Old 01-13-2017, 01:37 PM   #25
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These are under the battery box and the table base. The two halves have spirited. I'll have to clean up whatever sealer the PO used before glassing it back together. I also cut off whatever bolts I could . I'm going to replace bolts as I go.
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Old 01-13-2017, 02:05 PM   #26
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Name: Mike
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I'm a "full disclosure" type person. I keep these logs because I usually wind up selling and I point the buyer to the thread.
I cleaned up under the battery box and poked around -literally- with a screw driver. Hence, the holes. Instead of cutting this area out I saturated the area three times with fiberglass resin and let it soak in. Then laid two layers of cloth on top.
I'm sure this rot happened because of the separated halves under the bottom - and the bad sealing job.
I know it's not the optimal fix. But I have no doubt it will hold a lot better than what's there now!
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Old 01-13-2017, 07:37 PM   #27
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Name: Gary
Trailer: UHaul CT13
Iowa
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Mike,
Interesting--following along on your build. I assume your rebuild underneath the battery location felt firm, once you were done.
The old expression came to mind: 'Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.' Sounds like you're "makin' do" just fine.
keepin' on........
Gary
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Old 01-13-2017, 09:12 PM   #28
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Thanks Gary. The bottom is in pretty good shape- sturdy wise. I haven't done anything to it , yet. I will though. I just don't want this to be another one of my "3 year" projects. I want to use it. I'm always truthful to a fault when I decide to sell something. I find it easier to keep a log and tell prospects to check it.
The wood under those holes was very dry. It soaked up the resin and made me imagine I was using on of those wood rot products. I just flooded it! It will last a long time even if it wasn't professionally done.
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Old 01-14-2017, 07:11 PM   #29
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Name: Michael
Trailer: UHaul
Florida
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Nice work

Do those windows go in like the originals, with the locking bead?
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Old 01-15-2017, 07:16 PM   #30
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Name: Mike
Trailer: 1996 16' Casita SD
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GabbyB View Post
Do those windows go in like the originals, with the locking bead?
The Scamp window goes in like the front and rear Uhaul windows, with a screwed in clamp.
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Old 01-15-2017, 07:50 PM   #31
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Poking around a little more. Cut some more wood out. The pieces I fit in there are leftover pieces I cut off a boat I used for the Scamp window.
I slathered everything with resin, put in mat, put in the fiberglass pieces, slathered the pieces and put on some more mat. Put a big brick on it and propped up from the bottom with a jack.
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Old 01-27-2017, 05:48 PM   #32
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Name: Mike
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I'm keeping a Face Book thread going also and sometimes forget to come here.
I'm moving right along! I finished up with the floor work and delete idea to paint inside the storage ares for two reasons.
1 - keep the dust down. The fiberglass is not finished well in the storage areas and the fibers are loose. I don't want to breath them or wear them...which brings us to number
2 - I want it good enough to store clothes in.
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Old 01-27-2017, 05:55 PM   #33
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Name: Mike
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Getting jiggy with body bolts. I was going to replace a couple today.....wound up not going to work. But, I got all of them done except the two middle of the floor ones . I think they'll stay. There's about 20 of them and it is a pain but knowing your body isn't going to blow off going down the road is priceless!
The second pic shows the old vs. the new size.
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Old 01-27-2017, 05:59 PM   #34
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New body bolts look good like this but the rest will be painted over. One other reason for painting - if there's a future leak, I don't want it getting to the wood between the fiberglass.
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Old 01-27-2017, 06:27 PM   #35
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Name: Mike
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Louisiana
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Most bolts and screws look ok from the top. When you start taking the out, they look a lot different.
BTW - I had to cut several body bolts off from the underside with a Drexel. Then, drive the rest upward through the floor.
Thank you Mr. Dremel for inventing your tool!
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Old 01-27-2017, 06:31 PM   #36
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BTW- all my pictures are on my tablet so when I post sometimes auto incorrect corrects my words.
For example Drexel is Dremel.
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Old 02-02-2017, 05:12 PM   #37
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Name: Mike
Trailer: 1996 16' Casita SD
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I got all the "understorage " areas painted and all the body bolts replace (that was a job!). Moved on up to the top. Even though my fan works , it's a cheap and I want a Maxxaire .
There was a lot (5) layers of different types of sealants. Very hard to chip off. I just cut a slot in the screws and they came up without too much protest.
I have a lot of holes to fill. I'm going to dip toothpicks in resin and jam them in the holes.
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Old 02-02-2017, 05:21 PM   #38
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Name: Mike
Trailer: 1996 16' Casita SD
Louisiana
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There are 6 screws holding the solar panel on. Two came out with a minimum of resistance. Two came out by cutting the slots, bending the slots and grabbing with channel locks. Two wanted there little heads cut off. So I obliged.
The panel amazingly still puts out 15.5v. I think a new one the same size will put out around 18v (standard for a 12v panel).
My CT has been in the dry for a couple of months and was still wet under the solar panel.
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Old 02-02-2017, 05:23 PM   #39
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Name: Mike
Trailer: 1996 16' Casita SD
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Nasty and dirty! Got a lot of cleaning to do!
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Old 02-02-2017, 07:08 PM   #40
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Name: Gary
Trailer: UHaul CT13
Iowa
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Mike,
Nice pics of your step-by-step progress up-top!
I have to undo/redo the topside of mine pretty soon... be interesting to see what I find up there. [probably pretty similar to what you've found]
Keep up the good work!............
Gary
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