78 Surfside Re-build - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 01-03-2013, 06:23 PM   #1
Member
 
jrocmagoo's Avatar
 
Name: Jeremy
Trailer: 1978 Tripple E Surfside
British Columbia
Posts: 87
Registry
78 Surfside Re-build

hello everyone! ive been stalking the site for a while now looking at purchasing a boler as a project and as luck would have it christmas morning a not too shiney but solid 1978 triple e surfside sitting in my driveway! so i figured it was time to sign up! it needs some tlc but overall its in good shape minus a fridge (if anyone is looking to sell one that would be cool!). i will be posting up pics as i start ripping it apart for a rebuild, way to many ideas in my head , also have to work on a tow rig as it may be pushing it hooking onto my Focus in the mountains (altho it would look good cause there both yellow!)

many good threads and ideas on here for repairs and upgrades, thanks for the insight!
jrocmagoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2013, 06:43 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Robin G's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2007 Casita
Posts: 3,428
Congratulations! Do post pic's of your re-hab. They are always great for future members for inspiration. And the rest of us, enjoy seeing your progress. Summer's not far away, so don't get to, into ripping it apart. You wanna camp a little...... Again, Congrats!
Robin G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2013, 06:43 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Thomas G.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 5,112
Quote:
Originally Posted by jrocmagoo View Post
...... minus a fridge (if anyone is looking to sell one that would be cool!)..........!

Welcome. We look forward to following your progress. Post lots of pictures!

This may help you in finding a fridge:

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...tor-50097.html
__________________
UHaul and Burro owners, join the UHaul Campers on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/529276933859491/
Thomas G. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2013, 07:24 PM   #4
Moderator
 
Pam Garlow's Avatar
 
Trailer: U-Haul 1985
Posts: 3,436
Registry
Welcome, and I hear you about the Focus. That's what I owned when I bought my UHaul camper! I now tow with a Ford Escape. The focus was only rated for towing 1000lbs. Keep us in the loop as you refubish!
Pam Garlow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2013, 07:39 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
Posts: 25,697
to FiberglassRV... we're glad you're here

If you got a trailer on Christmas morning, it sounds like Santa knew you were good last year

Just IMHO a suggestion. You can read and devour all kinds of ideas, but it's all about you and your needs. I'd suggest NOT tearing into the trailer, but consider using it for a couple of trips. You'd be surprised at the things that may not need to be done and other items that will. But, you won't know that until you use it. Other's needs and wants are truly not your needs and wants. It does need to be safe to go down the road and clean, because your dirt is cleaner than their dirt.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2013, 09:13 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Trailer: 1990 Bigfoot 5th Wheel
Posts: 604
Quote:
Originally Posted by Donna D. View Post
to FiberglassRV... we're glad you're here

If you got a trailer on Christmas morning, it sounds like Santa knew you were good last year

Just IMHO a suggestion. You can read and devour all kinds of ideas, but it's all about you and your needs. I'd suggest NOT tearing into the trailer, but consider using it for a couple of trips. You'd be surprised at the things that may not need to be done and other items that will. But, you won't know that until you use it. Other's needs and wants are truly not your needs and wants. It does need to be safe to go down the road and clean, because your dirt is cleaner than their dirt.
Words of wisdom.
Cam A is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2013, 05:07 PM   #7
Member
 
jrocmagoo's Avatar
 
Name: Jeremy
Trailer: 1978 Tripple E Surfside
British Columbia
Posts: 87
Registry
thanks for the tips, a big cleaning is for sure the first on the list, then tires and the fridge and just go from there, i do hope to use it this summer so i cant go to crazy but i would like to check the frame and make sure its not going to fall in half
jrocmagoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2013, 06:57 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Francesca Knowles's Avatar
 
Name: Francesca Knowles
Trailer: '78 Trillium 4500
Jefferson County, Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 4,669
Registry
Hey!

Another Surfside!

Cool...

There's another new member here with a Surfside who's looking for pics of the door hinges- are yours the original, and if so can you post some pics?

Thanks...

Francesca
__________________
.................................
Propane Facts vs. Fiction:. Click here
Tow Limit Calculator: Click here
Francesca Knowles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2013, 09:32 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
alan in alberta's Avatar
 
Name: Alan
Trailer: 2006 Escape 17 B Raven and a Pearl
Alberta
Posts: 163
hi and welcome

our surfside has been a great trailer so far ( lots of work though)

you may want to upgrade the tug a lttle though

we pull with a 3.0 litre ranger and some of the hills slow us down quite a bit

i cant imagine the coquillhalla with a focus......lol
alan in alberta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2013, 05:03 PM   #10
Member
 
jrocmagoo's Avatar
 
Name: Jeremy
Trailer: 1978 Tripple E Surfside
British Columbia
Posts: 87
Registry
heres a few quick pics and one of my door hinges, they look pretty stock?
Attached Thumbnails
2012-12-25_14-07-22_834.jpg   2012-12-25_17-09-26_902.jpg  

2012-12-30_19-54-01_559.jpg  
jrocmagoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2013, 05:31 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Francesca Knowles's Avatar
 
Name: Francesca Knowles
Trailer: '78 Trillium 4500
Jefferson County, Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 4,669
Registry
Hey- thanks, Jeremy

They sure look stock to me!

I'll bet those are refrigeration hinges of some kind. Lots of mfr's used that type of thing for fg trailer doors...different styles, of course. It would be worthwhile looking at some of those places. I'd bet that there's a maker name or at least a model number on the backside of the hinge.

Here's a close-but-no-cigar hinge from McMaster-Carr (note the "swoop" to the door surface):


One thing per replacement, though:
That type of hinge often comes in different offsets, so one would have to know what the right one is. I know Trillium door hinges are very specific in that department, and since the Surfside is so much a product of that design I think it likely that the door in this case would have such an offset, too.

Francesca
__________________
.................................
Propane Facts vs. Fiction:. Click here
Tow Limit Calculator: Click here
Francesca Knowles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2013, 05:51 PM   #12
Member
 
jrocmagoo's Avatar
 
Name: Jeremy
Trailer: 1978 Tripple E Surfside
British Columbia
Posts: 87
Registry
i may just put in new pins and screws as the hinge itself is solid but the holes in the glass wore out. does anyone know if there scewed into wood behind that fiberglass or just into one layer of the glass? the raised section looks like it would be reinforced?
jrocmagoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2013, 06:03 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Francesca Knowles's Avatar
 
Name: Francesca Knowles
Trailer: '78 Trillium 4500
Jefferson County, Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 4,669
Registry
If those are woodscrews and not nutted bolts:
They wouldn't hold for any length of time in the skin- there should be reinforcing, probably wood, under the glass on the door itself. It's likely to be a little rotten under there...if so:
My advice is to clean out, enlarge a bit, fill with epoxy or hardwood doweling and redrill for new screws.

On the trailer body the hinges might be attached with throughbolts....if so it would show on the inside.

Francesca
__________________
.................................
Propane Facts vs. Fiction:. Click here
Tow Limit Calculator: Click here
Francesca Knowles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2013, 09:12 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Marinab's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1977 TM14 Surfside / 2007 Toyota Tundra V8 2wd
Posts: 289
Registry
My Surfside had wood inside the door. I had new hinges put on mine to try and correct some of the sagging of the door.
Marinab is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-05-2013, 09:44 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
WildBirder's Avatar
 
Name: Mark
Trailer: 1969 Boler (Flat Top)
British Columbia
Posts: 530
Registry
The previous owner of my Boler had drilled and then re-drilled again the door latch screw holes. I filled the holes with this J-B PlasticWeld | Plastic Repair Epoxy Putty and drilled original small holes. All damage was hidden with the face plate. It's strong stuff, designed for fiberglass. Can be sanded and drilled. I beleive it would work with a door hinge, though I personally haven't tested it under weight.

On edit: It wouldn't support the surrounding glass and not as good as a back brace but would be a better than new or bigger holes.
Attached Images
 
__________________
Mark
1969 Boler
(#183)
WildBirder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2013, 03:37 PM   #16
Member
 
jrocmagoo's Avatar
 
Name: Jeremy
Trailer: 1978 Tripple E Surfside
British Columbia
Posts: 87
Registry
Heres some more pics before the tear down and clean up!
Attached Thumbnails
2013-01-06_12-10-35_61.jpg   2013-01-06_12-11-27_51.jpg  

2013-01-06_12-11-41_912.jpg   2013-01-06_12-12-01_882.jpg  

jrocmagoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2013, 03:41 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
Francesca Knowles's Avatar
 
Name: Francesca Knowles
Trailer: '78 Trillium 4500
Jefferson County, Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 4,669
Registry
Interesting!

Am I looking at wood cabinetry, or is that some kind of a skin over fiberglass?

Thanks!

Francesca
__________________
.................................
Propane Facts vs. Fiction:. Click here
Tow Limit Calculator: Click here
Francesca Knowles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2013, 04:49 PM   #18
Member
 
jrocmagoo's Avatar
 
Name: Jeremy
Trailer: 1978 Tripple E Surfside
British Columbia
Posts: 87
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles View Post
Interesting!

Am I looking at wood cabinetry, or is that some kind of a skin over fiberglass?

Thanks!

Francesca

Its wood but particle board
jrocmagoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2013, 04:52 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Francesca Knowles's Avatar
 
Name: Francesca Knowles
Trailer: '78 Trillium 4500
Jefferson County, Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 4,669
Registry
Thanks- I didn't realize that Surfsides came that way! Are the cabinets still in pretty good shape?

Are there any molded fixtures inside at all?

Francesca
__________________
.................................
Propane Facts vs. Fiction:. Click here
Tow Limit Calculator: Click here
Francesca Knowles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2013, 05:24 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
David Tilston's Avatar
 
Name: Dave W
Trailer: Trillium 4500 - 1976, 1978, 1979, 1300 - 1977, and a 1973
Alberta
Posts: 6,926
Registry
I think the front kitchen Surfsides had fibreglass cabinets, and a small bathroom.
David Tilston is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
surfside


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Surfside builder?Surfside manual Hub Bru Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 19 06-19-2015 11:03 AM
Snow build-up on fiberglass roofs General Chat 5 02-14-2014 06:43 PM
The "Silkstone" build Ian S. General Chat 13 07-02-2008 11:52 AM
Microwave build in and laminate floor Karen K. Modifications, Alterations and Updates 9 01-20-2008 03:42 PM
What would you build? Legacy Posts General Chat 11 06-01-2003 02:01 AM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:35 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.