1974 Trillium 1300 Project - Fiberglass RV
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Old 09-13-2015, 08:00 AM   #1
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Name: Sean
Trailer: 1974 Trillium 1300
British Columbia
Posts: 31
1974 Trillium 1300 Project

After a month and a half of searching for my first travel trailer and first fibreglass travel trailer I purchased this 1974 Trillium 1300 on Vancouver Island. The guy I purchased it from was clearly a flipper because he had only owned it a matter of months and the work he had done to it was more like putting lipstick on a pig. However it managed to make the 300km trip home and now the project has begun.

This is how it looked when I bought it.










The plans are to do the following over the next year or so. Some of it is more critical and must be done before I go hunting in November.

Replace all exterior lights with LED including the tail lights
Replace all interior lights with LED
All new electrical
New upholstery
New stainless steel cook top
New 3 way fridge, ice box currently installed
Dual battery system
Solar panel across the front windo cover
New service hook ups in stainless steel
New exterior paint ( white )
Sandblast and repair/strengthen frame and paint
New bearings and seals in the hubs
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Old 09-13-2015, 08:05 AM   #2
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Name: Sean
Trailer: 1974 Trillium 1300
British Columbia
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The first order of business was to separate the body from the frame. At one time an owner had done some crapy welding and repair to the frame where it had corroded from the inside out and cracked. I will sandblast the entire frame, fish plate the entire outside of the section and add gussets for strength. All the open ends of the tube chassis will be capped off and full welds will be run where the factory had only stitch welded it together. This is being done to add strength and seal it from water entry.

It took us a couple hours but myself and my father separated the body from the frame.





This is the crappy repair done to both sides of the frame by a previous owner.

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Old 09-14-2015, 12:39 PM   #3
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The interior looks better than mine. At least you have cushions.
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Old 09-14-2015, 03:34 PM   #4
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And I am back from the sandblasters......$150 later. Now the metal work begins.

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Old 09-14-2015, 05:46 PM   #5
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It looks like you've got all the tools needed in your shop there. You sure didn't waste any time getting into the deep end of the pool!
Best of luck on your project!
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Old 09-14-2015, 06:25 PM   #6
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I like your approach. Gut it and start fresh. Looking forward to watching.


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Old 09-14-2015, 08:40 PM   #7
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Thanx Everyone !!!

So work progressed well today with sandblasting first and welding well underway. The pockets where the bends are in the frame aren't there anymore.....I've completely boxed in the frame over the original frame. I ran out of wire this evening so I will have to get more in the morning and post pictures after I get more substantial amount of work completed. I will also be adding in 1"x3" 1/8" wall steel tube for additional strength. I will add 1/8" gussets to all other cross members in the frame for even more additional strength. Also the factory never fully welded around the cross members so I've also started welding up these areas
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Old 09-14-2015, 11:32 PM   #8
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You've really taken that little lipsticked piggy by the tail! I love to see these renovated, and like reading the details of what is done. More pictures!
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Old 09-15-2015, 10:43 AM   #9
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Is a new axle in the plan? I noticed you don't have brakes.
How did you fill in the dimples at the bends in the frame?
The crappy repair was required in a recall. Looks like cracks were already happening.

Nice trailer though.
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Old 09-15-2015, 10:50 AM   #10
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Is a new axle in the plan? I noticed you don't have brakes.
How did you fill in the dimples at the bends in the frame?
The crappy repair was required in a recall. Looks like cracks were already happening.

Nice trailer though.
I am aware of the recall and the repair is not a result of it. My trailer has never had the recall mod performed on it. The frame at one time cracked right through on one side and separated causing slight damage to the body. The plates were welded on the outsides and the cracks welded up by previous owner at one time.

You fill in the dimples at the bends by putting 1/8" sheet metal welded over essentially boxing it in. All very minor for me and my dad who grew up building hot rods. I will post pictures when it's done.

I have no intention of installing a new axle or adding brakes. The trailer only weighs 1000 pounds and my Nissan Titan has no issue with this kind of trailer.
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Old 09-15-2015, 11:32 AM   #11
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Do not put the solar panels on the front window cover , the panel is there to protect the glass from flying objects on the road . Flying objects and solar panels do not have a happy ending.
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Old 09-15-2015, 02:59 PM   #12
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Do not put the solar panels on the front window cover , the panel is there to protect the glass from flying objects on the road . Flying objects and solar panels do not have a happy ending.
For every problem there is a solution my friend
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Old 09-15-2015, 03:02 PM   #13
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Before steel work



After steel work



Paint next
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Old 09-15-2015, 03:29 PM   #14
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We welded caps on all the tube including my the front on the hitch to prevent water from entering and corroding from the inside out.




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Old 09-15-2015, 05:45 PM   #15
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And now I have to wait for the primer to dry and then paint it semi gloss black.







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Old 09-16-2015, 10:03 AM   #16
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Looking very nice. Is that a MOG axle I can see in the picture?
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Old 09-16-2015, 11:10 AM   #17
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Looking very nice. Is that a MOG axle I can see in the picture?
You are correct, that is my 1987 UNIMOG U1300L turbo diesel with fast axles. The trillium body would fit in the deck and I could close all three sides on the deck.
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Old 09-16-2015, 11:23 AM   #18
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I doubt the unimog would even notice the trailer back there :-) Is it an ex german military model?
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Old 09-16-2015, 12:12 PM   #19
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I doubt the unimog would even notice the trailer back there :-) Is it an ex german military model?
It is an ex German military ambulance with the troop deck installed. It has a 3000 KG payload capacity good for grocery shopping and beer runs.

Here is a pic of me taking it through a little hole. The rock wall on the other side of the pit was really cool to watch the truck climb out.

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Old 09-16-2015, 12:19 PM   #20
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The stuff dreams are made of
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