Getting back into the camper projects...

[flagmanruss]

I had torn out the panel under the tub so I could seal around the plumbing to keep the mice out. See earlier post: http://forum.mopar1973man.com/threads/3810-Rodent-Combat!! I wrecked the original panel, a vynal coating on about 2 plys of thin wood on a frame of 3/4 X 3/4 wood. After I finished closing up the plumbing access, I installed wood strips to screw to with the new panel. There is sat waiting for me to get back to it. Yesterday I did (finally) get the panel back in. The top has to tuck under the hook on the tub edge & I had to flex the wall some to get past the corner moulding to the left. I ran a row of screws along the floor into the strip I'd installed. The hard part was the getting the top edge up against the tub hook, I'd anticipated this & put a nylon string around the partto draw it out so my screws could bite. One did, one didn't. I managed to drop down get another screw to bite. I have a piece of quarter round oak that needs finish before I finish screw it along the floor to cover the screws. Then I hung the bathroom door again. I'd had it off to make more room as the plumbing was on both sides of that partition. Working alone was a bit challenging but I used shims to hold the door up. I had designed & installed a magnetic cabinette door catch to hold the bathroom door open... sometimes, depending on how the trailer was sitting, it would decide to close when I didn't want it to & I got tired of hanging up on it. I cut a part of circle of fancy wood which i screwed near the bottom of the door as a door stop, and screwed the magnet to the bottom of that. Once the quarter round is on, the matching steel plate will go back on. Today I went out to work on something else. My dear wifee has been emptying the horse trailer to be sold... by cluttering up the camper. It was just starting to drizzle rain. I discovered the big vent hatch (escape hatch for the top bunk which is gone now) slowly dripping onto the pile of storage stuff. I moved things around to put my big cardboard (kneel on this hunk) on top, & put a container on the drip spot. It'll take clearing the floor & then a step ladder to inspect the hatch. The previous owner had installed a drop down Ikea maple table on the right side under the window. We liked the table but the larger cabinettes above made it hazardous... too easy to stand up under them or walk into them. We had decided to move it to the left next to the stove. I used my squeeze clamps to hold the mounting bracket to the window frame & was able to catch a few screws. It took some finness, but it's now attached to the other side of the trailer. I think the support bracket needs a repair but I can just remove the hinges on that & drill / screw it back together. In the meantime, I had been laying out some discount store roll up bamboo blinds for rear windows. It was a tight fit, because of the cabinettes above. In the end, I screwed the left side to the wall under the cabinettes. The right side had different cabinettes & I screwed up into the bottom of them. I had to fold the triangular mounting tabs over horrizontal & screw right through to get them high enough. The trick to getting this done was I used my pair of squeeze clamps... to the window track on the front side & opened the window & clamped the trailer side in the rear... to make a support to hold the blind's weight while I worked. Because the blinds are over the top part of the windows... I'm only using 2' of an 8' blind... there rolled up blind cluts the window area. I'm thinking about super glueing a row across & then cutting them off & moving the groved bottom stick up. I marked across one blind & did the super glue. I left it for the day. I'll check it in the future & see if it took before cutting. (Might not be able to get another exact blind from the Job Lot closeout store... And I don't want to end up with a bunch of kindling!) There were some & I had installed more screw eyes & folding tie anchors in the walls to secure cargo. These changes may require more or moving them. So this is my weekend's worth of progress.

[Mopar1973Man]

I'd love to see pics of this... It gives me ideas too...

[flagmanruss]

There was a single shelf & useless bin behind the toilet. My saber saw opened it up, I ordered a pair of doors & added 4 shelves.

I noticed some wasted space beside the OEM drawers... After study & measuring... my saber saw opened it up & I framed a back through the drawer. I cut a door out of maple & did some basic router work. Installed TP holder.

The closet had 2 doors & a 3" strip right down the middle... I cut the strip out & replaced the doors. We lifted a Ikea dresser that came with the trailer & put it inside after repairs.

After closing up around the plumbing, I just reinstalled the front panel. Screws along the bottom will be covered by quarter round as soon as I get some finish on it. There were just 2 screws though the tub flange. I had to add another screw on the left to draw it up.

I had cut out a piece of rounded wood which I screwed to the door as a stop. Mounted a magnetic catch to the bottom at the correct angle. The mating steel square will be reinstalled on the tub just above the quarter round.

[Mopar1973Man]

Holy Cow Russ...I love the cabinet owrk that's awesome. Even better yet the fact of where you stuffed the TP roll that is awesome. Heck sitting on my can I have a tough time with where the TP roll where its hanging now... :rolleyes:Then if you get any of those mega rolls you got to remove the roll to lift the lid...

[flagmanruss]

The previous owners used it for a warehouse & office while doing fairs. Here's the overhead Ikea cabinettes... the oversized rear one is a real head knocker.

Bin storage is pretty useful. Pardon the mess...

The previous had an Ikea folding table mounted on the right... under the head knocking cabinettes... I moved it to the left, next to the stove. We eat at the folding table. Will use the folding table for serving.

Here's the bamboo blinds... on the left behind the kitchen... it was a very tight fit under the OEM cabinette but I was able to screw it to the wall

The right side there was no room to screw the blinds to the wall so I screwed straight up into the cabinette bottom. The shaker coat peg installs are some of my work.

[riddle family]

That is some good upgrades. Wish I was a little more handy with stuff like that. I am always worried I will make things worse! --- I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?ssjuv5 2003 Ram with gauges and a Smarty! Not much more. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mopar1973Man]

That truely is awesome work... Wow! You are a handy man for RV projects. :wow:I'm sure that's going to be much nicer RV now because its built your way!

[flagmanruss]

The area over the wheel wells OEM had 2 pull out couches & a folding table and up high (over the 4 ATV tie downs) was a double bed that pulled down. These items were long gone before we aquired the trailer. Only the front queen bed remains. Except for having all the coolers in the camper where they don't belong... the rest of the things fold up & strap to tie downs on the walls for transport. There are some things out of the bedroom too because we've got the mattress on edge on blocks for the winter.I opened up all the window drains... even drilled some extras... under some conditions, the tracks could overflow. Still I found water on the floor after heavy rain yester-day & night. I don't know enough about fixing / maintaining RV rain tight. I'm seeing a drip from the rear vent / escape hatch (for the rear double which is long gone). My years dealing with boats where every inch of space is utilized inspired me with possibilities. Over the winter, I've had the power with it's auto charger (3 RV battery bank) on a timer... runs a couple of hours a day...

[dripley]

Nice work Russ. I have got to build me a center island for the kitchen real soon. Narrow enough at the bottom for when the slide outs slide in, but big enough at the top for sme extra counter space.

[flagmanruss]

My inlaws have a island on wheels with a fold out top in their kitchen. I don't know any brand... I think the wheels lock or just remove them. http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/XGN.aspx?N=4294933135&CatSel=4294933135--carts+++islands&DeptID=70752&PCatID=70752&CatID=70840&CatTyp=RLE&Dep=FURNITURE&Pcat=FURNITURE&Cat=Dining+%2b+Kitchen&SO=0&PSO=0&sa=1&cmAMS_T=XGN3&cmAMS_C=SUBCAT&cmAMS_Z=XGN3ABOVEPAGINATION&CmCatId=EXTERNAL|70840

[dripley]

I have looked aseveral of thowe type, but i want something permanly mounted. But who knows if the right one premade comes along, I might change my mind.

[AH64ID]

Looks great! It makes me want to tackle some bigger RV mods.