Spot - our "new" Sunspot! - Page 4

Poppy & Nana · 07-03-2011, 03:06 PM

Congrats o the new grandson and feel better soon....so you can go and see him!

frank_a · 07-03-2011, 03:32 PM

Thanks folks. We were planning on vacationing nearby week after next for a couple weeks anyways, figuring we could see the kids, then get back to camp and relax. Didn't feel too hot today, still don't, but did get all 4 scissor jacks mounted. I did it as close to each corner as possible, while keeping the jack ends away from people's shins. I added a new angle iron crossmember in the back, and used scrap pieces (a bit over 10" each) from cutting the rear piece to size to mount the front ones. Old steel looks crummy, but it's still good and strong. Each jack will be mounted with two 3/8 and two 5/16 bolts. I need new hardware (everything is just finger tight), then will wrap it up. Basically, all the hard work is done!

Frank

frank_a · 07-04-2011, 05:09 PM

With my new jacks on I can work on the interior remodel. I fastened everything with nyloks and new hardware this morning, took 4 hours!

I tore the interior covers off the wheel wells because they were elevated such that a small open storage place was on the top of both of them. You can see how high it was by the small white line in the birch plywood on the upper front edge.

Handy, but had to go away as these will be part of the bed base soon. I think I need more 3/4" plywood. These need to get faced with something more substantial than 1/4" stuff.

Done for the night!

Frank

frank_a · 07-06-2011, 04:03 AM

Gee, ya might know, I found a better piece of metal for mounting the jacks in my shop last night. May have to give that another go. I could use all the ones I made from that crummy piece of metal and templates for all the holes.

Set up my poor man's panel saw last night and made the first few cuts on my 3/4" AB grade oak plywood for the bed platform. Each piece will be 54" X 38" so that combined they will be 54" X 76" or full bed size. I need to make some supports for it maybe later today.

coming along pretty well.

Frank

OPIE · 07-06-2011, 10:30 AM

Wow, I just read thru everything you've done...again, WOW! I was going to ask if just for fun you want to rebuild my '83 1550 when you are finished....but I was afraid you may say "Yes!" Keep up the good work, and keep the updates coming. And get some rest!

frank_a · 07-07-2011, 02:53 PM

What do you need help with Opie? Where are you in MA?

Been an incredibly busy week at work. Back to my Sunspot tonight!

Frank

frank_a · 07-09-2011, 09:29 AM

Just finished, all done in 3/4" AB grade oak plywood. Part of the support is a reconstruction of the wheel well covers with pieces of 3/4 plywood. Gail got the cushions done last night. You can see there are narrow and wider ones. The narrow ones will be seat bases, the wider ones seat backs (some day).

Now it's one to rebuilding the walls back where I tore carpet off. I have 1/4" good birch plywood for that, then it's a couple shelves from 1/2" good birch plywood. Hope to be done by tomorrow so I can play with metal and get my propane tank strapped on.

Poked a hole in my plastic vent cover. Can you get those separate?

Frank

Jim-Bev-2363 · 07-09-2011, 03:59 PM

Most of the seats I've seen have the long cushion for the seat and short for the back.

jim

frank_a · 07-09-2011, 04:50 PM

We don't have sufficient height for that to work Jim, trust me! Remember, this is a 5 X 10 Sunspot, tiny, tiny travel trailer for midgets, hobbits and the like...

My seat bases are at 11 1/4" high and my head almost touches the ceiling!

Frank

Gene · 07-09-2011, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank_a

.... Poked a hole in my plastic vent cover. Can you get those separate?...

Ouch! If it is a standard 14 x 14 vent you can get just the plastic cover at any RV dealer for about $15, or a bit more for the unbreakable polycarbonate version.

I have followed this thread from the beginning, nice job Frank.

frank_a · 07-10-2011, 04:06 AM

Thanks Gene! Almost done with phase 1. Got the rear wall paneling (1/4" birch plywood) cut out last night. This replaces the carpet that had been glued to the walls. We have company, so I'm not sure when I can turn the air compressor on for the staple gun, but it will get finished today. Right now I'm going to start putting some thinned polyurethane on the oak bed pieces, then a non-thinned coat tomorrow morning.

I could really use a new vent, but am not ready for it right now. It looks like all the attachment hardware that holds this one on is rivets, so I'd have to get up there somehow and drill or grind all them off?

I sure appreciate the help. I'm getting there, slow but sure!

Frank

Jim-Bev-2363 · 07-10-2011, 06:09 AM

Frank,

Disnonnect the crank arm so the lid will open up more. With the cover tilted back see if the hinge will not slide apart, rivets and all.

Check the top replacement cover: http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...vent-caps/1436

Just looking at your rubber seal you might replace the entire vent.

jim

Gene · 07-10-2011, 12:34 PM

I found out, the hard way, that just removing the screws from the crank is not enough. Remove the 4 screws from the plastic frame inside and drop the inside frame down, remove the screw that holds the crank handle then the 2 screws inside that hold the screen and drop it down, then remove the 2 screws from the crank. At that point you can get that roller on the end of the crank arm to slide out of the hole at the end of the slot on the vent cover arm. The vent cover should have a tab on each end of the hinge and bentong one end will let it slide off. As Jim's link shows, there are 3 types of hinges so you need to match it. I have replaced all three of mine. (one lost on the road from Bar Harbor to Wells Maine!

)

OPIE · 07-11-2011, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank_a

What do you need help with Opie? Where are you in MA?

Been an incredibly busy week at work. Back to my Sunspot tonight!

Frank

I'm all set, but thanks for the offer...this year our water heater failed and rotted out the whole floor under the back lounge. I had to cut it all out and some of the framing, that that lead to the water lines cracking, and a short in the 12v lines. I hacked together a new floor all new electric and pex lines, but she is cold water only now, and the skin outside and panelling inside are both sagging from losing support before the rebuild. A few more usable years and I'll have to decide between giving up and a complete restoration. But for now...Just got back from a week with my wife and son at Normandy Farms in Foxboro MA, and no complaints from her, so that's good enough for me.

frank_a · 07-11-2011, 07:37 PM

Jim & Gene - thanks for the advice and info on the vent cover. We will be camping close to a Campers World, and will check it out on vacation. Spot will be parked under a 12 X 12 canopy, so we should be fine.

Pretty much ready to go tomorrow, still have a few things to do that will have to get done in the morning. Took a while to figure out how to mount the propane tank, but it's done!

Frank