1985 FWC Fleet Refurbish

[RGingerelli2001TRD]

Well I finally had some time away from work and some time to work on the camper so I was finally able to get the cabinet doors made, routed and hung, put on the pulls and catches.

Thought I had some 5/8" material laying around to rebuild the under seat cabinet/support but I didn't so I'll save that for this weekend. Also going to rebuild the over couch cabinet when I get the 5/8" material.

The solar panel will hopefully be installed this weekend also, going to make a simple unistrut rack to hold it firmly to the roof but with about a 2" gap away from the roof.

Once the rest of the 5/8" mdf is replaced ill be ready for paint! Any color suggestions? Thinking something to match the exterior. Also gonna recover the seats/cushions.

Pic of cabinet doors:

 

[pappawheely]

Looks good. I would paint it something light and bright.

 

[subterran]

Say - you asked for camper name suggestions. Yours is a nice 'sharky' grey outside, so how about something sharkish, like Mako or Hammerhead? (Or Snarky..!) My wife and I always poke fun at huge camper names - 'Explorer' on a 30 foot 5th wheel...Explore what, in that crazy rig!?

You cabinets are looking good, keep 'em coming!

 

[RGingerelli2001TRD]

Say - you asked for camper name suggestions. Yours is a nice 'sharky' grey outside, so how about something sharkish, like Mako or Hammerhead? (Or Snarky..!) My wife and I always poke fun at huge camper names - 'Explorer' on a 30 foot 5th wheel...Explore what, in that crazy rig!?

You cabinets are looking good, keep 'em coming!

Subterran, I like the shark suggestion, seems like a perfect fit. Kinda funny too cause I swam competitively for years on the "Larkey Sharks".

Looks good. I would paint it something light and bright.

Thanks! I'm thinking a light grey or some sort of white.

 

[tanglefoot]

I think the stability issue Poppa's referring to is while driving, not while parked. A good (bad) bump on an off-camber section could easily dump the trailer on its side.

I used to have a Courier bed trailer of similar vintage...I'm surprised you'd have to trim the fenderwells. Although it looks smaller than a Toyota bed, when I got out the measuring tape it was actually a little wider!

The decision to use the camper on a trailer should depend a lot on the types of terrain you drive on. Pulling a trailer with any real weight over a rocky trail is a definite challenge. Another option to explore would be mounting some good corner jacks on the camper so you could take it off and leave it at the campsite. Having a trailer has its complexities: licensing (more expensive than I expected), storage, maintenance, etc. That's why I got rid of mine.

 

[RGingerelli2001TRD]

Finally had some time this weekend along with some beautiful weather up here in the bay area to get some work done on the camper.

Got the inside all prepped for paint and got it primed and completely painted and put back together, minus the seat area wood supports, going to rebuild those tonight.

It was a marathon weekend of painting the FWC's interior. With that now done I am going to attempt to recover the seats or possibly take it to a local shop and have them redone and finish a few misc things. Also been talking with FWC about lift panels and a new top and thats in the works for the end of January. Gonna have both lift panels and vinyl replaced and also see about having the headliner fixed/replaced.

Pics to come later today!

 

[RGingerelli2001TRD]

Some pics of the inside:

 

[java]

Looking really good! Get the solar done yet? I just ordered that same kit in 200W

 

[RGingerelli2001TRD]

Looking really good! Get the solar done yet? I just ordered that same kit in 200W

Thanks! Solar is up and running. If I have some time this week I'm going to mount the panel to the roof after making a small rack for it. Also gonna make a rack on the other side for a canoe.

 

[RGingerelli2001TRD]

Well yesterday was a day full of camper work. Got the call from my boss around 8am saying that we wouldn't have work monday or tuesday this week do to or subs being on our job site and the little guy in my head was stoked.

So yesterday I was able to finish putting together the cabinet and was also able to pull out all the old MDF seat supports and duplicated them and painted them and reinstalled. Was also able to "tile" sticky back vinyl tile, the counter as well as a small back splash and pulled up a floor "tile" that was gouged and replaced it as well. Picked up a new propane line from a local propane shop and got the heater up and running, I needed that a week ago when it was 23* here.

Today Ill build a small rack for the solar panel and get it mounted to the roof as well as make a small canoe rack. Seal up the roof screws and finish sealing the portion of the camper that sits in the bed with Rustoleum Flex-Seal. And also get my speakers mounted inside.

Then it will be ready for FWC to replace the lift panels and vinyl, then when I get it back I will tape it off and seal the roof with white Rustoleum Flex-Seal.

Pics:







Alright, time to go out side and spend the day wrapping up the camper!!!

 

[RGingerelli2001TRD]

Sorry I had to add one more pic!

 

[java]

Looking good! Im guessing that isn't the charge controller that came with the panel from amazon?

 

[RGingerelli2001TRD]

Thats a go power charge controller with 100 watt panel on the roof. Building the solar panel and canoe rack right now just took a break to check expo. Pics to come

 

[Stan@FourWheel]

Looking GREAT !!

 

[RGingerelli2001TRD]

Looking GREAT !!

Thanks Stan! I've been talking to Brenda via email about lift panels and new vinyl for January. Also thinking it would be smart to do the headliner too just waiting on price for the addition of the headliner.