Ventura Help - 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 10-02-2015, 04:40 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Name: Leslie
Trailer: Nomad
Ontario
Posts: 10
Ventura Help

We are scheduled to pick up a 1974 Ventura this weekend (Finally) but since she is 5 hours away I've only seen pictures (interior original and complete, some water marks on the ceiling) oh and not to mention a custom (lol) paint job of cammo green and yellow graffiti. I've just noticed the door looks like it has a lot of water damage around the bottom (looks fat). Is this a serious issue and hard to fix? I've photos on my phone and will try and upload later. Trailer is $350 so it is worth a shot regardless of door issue?
LeslieKW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2015, 06:19 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Dudley's Avatar
 
Name: David
Trailer: 1998 Casita 17 SD
Alberta
Posts: 786
Registry
the door will be toast with water rot from water getting in from the window. You may find one on a slide in truck camper. I built a new one from a wooden interior house door skinned with formica and put in a round porthole window. I think I would try to find a proper door if I were to do it again. BTW if the lock is in good shape , it will probably sell for about $200 on ebay, its a Bargmann l400 so there is half the cost of the trailer. The nice thing about the Ventura is that it has flat walls so makes the interior work fairly easy but it does have weak roof formers that break due to snow load and the roof will sag causing leaks. Also check for cracks above the rear window as there have been a few reported here that go right through (including my old one). The top and bottom halves are NOT fiberglassed together and may be leaking so add that to the list.

There are a few here that are going through rebuilds this year with lots of pictures!

They are a fairly hard tow as the have a flat high front end and cause a lot of drag at highway speed compared to say a boler, but they also have a stronger frame and brakes(if they are working)
Dudley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2015, 07:17 AM   #3
Junior Member
 
Name: Leslie
Trailer: Nomad
Ontario
Posts: 10
David! Thank you so much for the information! I've posted some pics in my album if you want to see the gem we are looking to rebuild. She is something!
LeslieKW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2015, 07:49 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Dudley's Avatar
 
Name: David
Trailer: 1998 Casita 17 SD
Alberta
Posts: 786
Registry
If they look like that out here they usually say "GO ESKS". Yes I live in Edmonton.

Take a deep breath and access the needs and wants before tearing into it. Get it water tight first, reseal the windows with butyl tape, (DO NOT USE SILICON SEALER) see if you can strip the paint or paint over it. Check below the floor under the rear benches and fridge as they have been know to trap water in the bottom tub especially behind the wheels. If you have an awning rail on the top of the roof , check for leaks from the screws. Mine also had a bolt through the roof holding the upper cabinet in place that was leaking. Of course, check the vent.

Winter is coming so make up a brace for the roof (2x4 tee wedge to the floor) to support for snow load. Hate to come out in the spring to a broken roof.

all ventura threads
Dudley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2015, 09:21 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Trailer: 13 ft Ventura
Posts: 103
The window frame in the Ventura door directs water inside the door cavity so that's why they rot.

Select a new (non-opening) window and prepare to rebuild a door using the original as a template.

I rebuilt the door all from scratch, except I reused the Bargman lock and the aluminum flanges. First step was to build a core with a finished panel towards the interior. The cosmetics of the outside panel didn't matter because that was skinned over with powder coated sheet metal.

A residential interior door isn't ideal because the standard thickness is 1-3/8". The Ventura door is thinner, 1-1/8" to the best of my recollection. Anyhow, the door won't close properly if you're new door thickness doesn't match the original.

Just thinking out loud here, but I wonder if anybody has had luck using chemical stripper to remove PO paint jobs. 3M had/has a non-toxic stripper that might work, but you have to give it a long time to soften the finish.
Darrell O is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
ventura


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
1976 Ventura Camper - Need some advice / help Merc1fuL Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 26 09-21-2022 02:53 PM
Ventura Floor HELP Msmootsen Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 8 06-18-2015 10:00 PM
Help and parts needed for a ventura data-k Care and Feeding of Molded Fiberglass Trailers 5 12-30-2013 09:09 AM
Ventura model Mike jagular Forum Admin, News & Announcements 1 03-19-2006 09:58 PM
84 Ventura 12' Guy Pallister Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 1 03-07-2006 05:55 PM

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

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:58 AM.


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