New Owners of a Surf-Side!

[shaelab]

I have posted on here before but didn't have photos to post. We purchased a 1976 Surf Side TM-14 (gaucho style) from family just this spring. We are planning on getting it in tiptop shape, as time and money allows. For now we are so excited to be able to camp off the ground in a sweet little trailer! First time taking it out will be this weekend for Canada Day weekend! There are lots of things to do to it. We have already re-wired it, cleaned out mildew from the underside of the cushions, replaced the plywood for the seats as they were filled with mildew, tried to fix the reamed out door hinge screw holes (they are starting to loosen already again), and now we are trying to figure out a temporary way to clamp the jalousie windows down while driving. The cranks are stripped out and do not seal them tight, worried about if it rains during travel. We plan to actually fix the cranks but this is a temp. fix. Anyway, we are excited to be Surf Side owners! If anyone has any helpful info please share!

Thanks!

[k corbin]

Originally Posted by shaelab

I have posted on here before but didn't have photos to post. We purchased a 1976 Surf Side TM-14 (gaucho style) from family just this spring. We are planning on getting it in tiptop shape, as time and money allows. For now we are so excited to be able to camp off the ground in a sweet little trailer! First time taking it out will be this weekend for Canada Day weekend! There are lots of things to do to it. We have already re-wired it, cleaned out mildew from the underside of the cushions, replaced the plywood for the seats as they were filled with mildew, tried to fix the reamed out door hinge screw holes (they are starting to loosen already again), and now we are trying to figure out a temporary way to clamp the jalousie windows down while driving. The cranks are stripped out and do not seal them tight, worried about if it rains during travel. We plan to actually fix the cranks but this is a temp. fix. Anyway, we are excited to be Surf Side owners! If anyone has any helpful info please share!

Thanks!

Vintage Trailer Supply seems to stock a pretty good selection of parts for fixing up jalousie windows on trailers. Window Hardware

Not sure about your hinge holes. If the hinge area is backed up with wood them push some epoxy putty into the holes. Let it cure then drill pilot hole for the screws into that filler. The stick type of epoxy putty is handy for that job. If the screws just go into fiberglass and aluminum you might see if you can add some hardwood back behind there and use longer screws to pull it together with.

[Bob in Mb]

Bob has redone all our windows but when we got our Surf-Side, the windows were held closed with binder clips like they sell at the office supply store. You might try that for this weekend. Have fun!

[Old Macdonalds]

congratulations! Yours is not as nasty looking on the outside as ours and we are redoing ours entirely as well, time and money being a factor. We have replaced all our exterior lights so have leftover originals if you or anyone else needs. As for your door hinges, we haven't replaced ours yet having a sag issue on the front to correct but I have discovered that there was some sort of wood (now rotten) in the frame behind the fiberglass. I will probably end up opening up the frame and putting some kind of backing to beef it up. Will try to post photos when I do it. Thinking of using some metal strapping so as not to have a huge patch job. Also check your frame where it bends up at the front. Some other Surf-siders have found cracking here. Ours had been repaired before we bought it. It seems to be a weak spot in the design that you want to catch before it becomes a problem. Otherwise have loads of fun. Our egg is half gutted but we are still camping so don't let a little renovation stand between you and the great outdoors because it still beats a tent!