New Compact Jr owner and rebuilder

[airculd17]

Hi, my name is John and I purchased a derelict 1972 compact Jr back in August of last year to renovate for me and my wife to enjoy. Basically gutted it and started over with minimal carpentry skills and made it into a fiberglass tent with a super queen size bed oriented longways instead of the usual layout. It had already been deprived of all interior galley and such, and I didn't want those items as I do all my cooking outside. Most of that space was converted to storage. I am excited about learning more about the glass campers from this site, Thanks

[RRIZZO]

Cute !

[kootenaigirl]

Looks great and I am sure the bed will be really comfy.

[DannyH]

Great looking trailer. Nice re-build.

[Bobbie Mayer]

I am confused. Is your bed 60 inches wide or 72 inches? Longways IS the regular orientation of the bed in a Compact.

I like the spacious feeling, do you have photos with the bed folded out?

[Donna D.]

Hi John, welcome to FiberglassRV! Bobbie is correct, one thing that makes this rear-entry trailer unique is the very large bed! Great mods you've done to make it uniquely your own

Love the color, yellow makes me happy!

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by airculd17

Basically gutted it and started over with minimal carpentry skills...

Looks way more than minimal to me.

[raddar]

I have a compact too and I see your little awning. Nice. How is that attached?

[Robin G]

Beautiful work! Love the paint job, it's so cute! Now get out and enjoy it!






And welcome, glad you joined us!

[Cyndivg11]

Very nice! I hope you are enjoying it!

[airculd17]

Well, I didn't know that the bed was supposed to be longways. This trailer was basically a hollow shell except for a little homemade bed lying crossways that I thought that was the way it was supposed to be. Have never seen another compact Jr. The awning i bought on ebay and attaches with aluminum rails just as it would on a popup. The bed is actually 72 by 79 inches. You will also notice some previous owner removed the fridge and installed a window on the right side rear. That cause more than one redesign problem. Thanks for the info

[bbuehler]

John,
Way to GO!
Can you tell all of US Compact owners what you dd or where you went to get a NEW CANVAS & Screen windowed Pop-Up collar made??!!!!
Please don't tell me that a gutted trailer had a pristine pop-up canvas collar, 'cause mine "...sure as SHOOTIN' don't.."
I need to redo mine and am not sure where to go...other than to a high priced auto upholstery shop. I checked out the Volkswagon Van site, and they cost approx. $400 NEW....YIKES!!!!!!!!
BB

[airculd17]

BB, I regret to say the pop up canvas and the seat cushions represented approximately half of my entire investment in the restoration. The popup canvas cost appx. 600 bucks and the cushions another 500. I had them done at a marine upholstery place because they were the only ones who could make the windows and sew them in. At least that was the case in this area. I might have taken more time to find a shop with the same capabilities but I was pushed for time , couldn't wait to go camping in it ... I wanted to use an online bulk supplier but they would have had a rough time fitting it with just my dimensions. BTW when I got it the previous owners had installed screen wire in the popup opening, that would have been very interesting considering our first night out in it we had 2 inches of rain fall in about a half hour.

[Rick Brown]

John
Very good job, a nice clean design. I noticed in your picture that it looks like the pop up sides are inside of the ridge that rises up from the trailer, on all Jr's the pop up should be on the outside of this ridge to prevent rain water from coming into the trailer. I would hate to see all your hard work get water damaged. Enjoy your trailer and welcome to the Compact Jr Family. Its great when you see another one saved and used.

[airculd17]

Rick, It does appear to be on the inside because it is located above the wooden bolsters but it is actually on the outside and has survived a torrential rain without any leakage. Thanks , John

[francene]

Hi John,
Really like what you've done. The exterior looks great, too. I like the color sceme and black outline graphic- What paint did you use on the exterior?

Nice clean work on the inside, and you eliminated the kitchen clutter by cooking outside.

Did you have to do anything to the frame or front tongue area?

I'd be interested in ordering the awning set up you mentioned. Do you have the details on where you got it?

Enjoy it!

Fran
74 compactII

[airculd17]

Hi Francene, Thanks for the compliments, I am ashamed to admit I painted it with regular house paint and a brush and roller. I can spray paint fairly well but automotive paint has reached pricing levels that will put you in cardiac arrest. I also wanted to try my paint scheme with this method first to see how it looked in real life. , I may paint it with urethane later on. here is the link to the awning found on ebay. You will also need the rails for it, they are available from any online rv parts dealer.
COLEMAN BAG AWNING POP UP CAMPER AWNING 8' | eBay
The tongue had already been lowered by welding another similar size tongue on top of the old one which keeps the front end nice and low so the rv doesn't trap air and try to wig wag. It appears that someone also had braced the left side of the frame right where it goes under the fiberglass body by welding a plate the same size as the frame over it for a distance of about 10 inches. I try to limit my tongue weight to appx 100 lbs by the use of plastic containers which i can slide back and forth inside the camper when towing. , John

[D Davis]

John, welcome! You will love this site! And I love what you did to your little trailer! Thank you for sharing your photos with us. Especially like the color scheme. Also noticed if you wanted to you (rainy day) could put your coleman stove inside on that nice counter top, and you have a big fridge! How luxurious. Enjoy your camping days.

[Bobbie Mayer]

I turned my bed sideways, since I am not so tall that it matters, and it is easier to get in and out that way. But lots of people like the big original bed. I like how open your interior looks.

[scribeslave]

I just bought a 1971 Compact Jr for $900. It needs some work. Has a crack in the front. I can fix fiberglass, no problem, but is water got in what is in there. Crack is on outside shell only. The bed looks big. Is there any specs out there?

Any pitfalls to look at before I go camping it next month?