I Bought a Standie!

[Cliffmeister2000]

OK, to me it's a slouchie, but to most folks it is a standie. I'm 6'4', this appears to be about 6'3" inside.

1977 Maple Leaf

Only 13ft long (17 ft including the tongue), but it's a tandem axle! As near as I can tell, it is supposed to have a dry weight of 1640 lbs.





Tows nicely, has a sink and a stove, a refrigerator and a heater, and a toilet.



The stove has got to go. It's a Brown, made of cheap stainless, and is flecked with rust and other stains. Works great, though! Same with the sink, works but corroded.

I need to replace the countertop anyway, so I can pick a sink and stove of my choosing, and make the countertop to fit.

Anybody know where I can get a vintage stove? There is no oven, and I don't need one. I am guessing the stove will be used to make coffee and, on rainy days, heat a can of soup.

Haven't figured out the gas/electric refrigerator yet. The refrigerator is a Trav'ler by Elixir. Gas/Electric. Don't know if it wiorks or not, and don't yet know how to find out. Says to level before operating, but I don't see any switch or anything. I don't even know if they mean 12 volt DC or 120 volt AC electric. I found a hole that looks like it is meant to light a pilot, but need to figure it out more before I try it. Haven't looked at the heater yet.

No holding tank, grey or black. Direct connect to sewer, or I guess I have to get one of those things with a handle and wheels.

Only one of the running lights currently works. Tail lights, brake lights, and turn signals all work fine. I need to replace the 7 pin cable, it's stiff as a frozen hose!

Has 2 propane tanks, both have fuel in them. Has 4 brand new tires, but the spare is very weather checked. The tires are 13in trailer specific.

I would appreciate any information you can offer on Maple Leaf trailers. I have an owner's guide, but it is generic to the line of trailers, not to the specific one we have.

I would also appreciate any info on the refrigerator. I found a manual on Elixir 3 way refers, but this one appears to be a 2 way.

I need a source for laminate that has a vintage look. Robin egg blue or something similar. shiny like they used to be, not matte or textured like they are now.

If I have posted this in the wrong place, Administrators please feel free to move it! I would like to run a journal here on the mods I make to it.

[canned o minimum]

DON'T GET RID A THAT STOVE ! Imma be in yer neighborhood Friday 22 Feb... I have a stove.. vintage. I can bring it and you can see if it will work fer ya. I'll send ya sum pics.. it's at my shop. Came outta a vintage camper. One of the burners is missin.. maybe yers will work in this one.

Congrats on the"Haunchback".. LOL

We'll be in touch..

Crazy Robert

[S. Heisley]

Congratulations, Cliff. Hope it becomes all that it promises to be.

You might try diet coke on the stove and sink. If that works, you might be able to polish them up with a little metal rouge or simply use some of a product called Stainless Steel Magic to clean and polish them. After that, you may change your mind about switching them out.

Both Big Box stores have hundreds of laminate samples that you can special order from. You don't have to settle for what they have in stock. They usually keep the special order laminate display somewhere on the installed counter tops where they show the various cabinet selections.

[Lgboro]

You could powder coat the appliances if they are in working order and make them new again. As for a toilet - take a look at a composting toilet (http://www.natureshead.net) if you don't want to mess with the plumbing of a wet toilet. I've only found one u tube video that was real critical of the composting toilet and as nasty as it was it had to be someone with a bone to pick or some really nasty people. All the other reviews said the toilet had no odor when directions are followed. Looks like a really clean camper.

[Cliffmeister2000]

DON'T GET RID A THAT STOVE ! Imma be in yer neighborhood Friday 22 Feb... I have a stove.. vintage. I can bring it and you can see if it will work fer ya. I'll send ya sum pics.. it's at my shop. Came outta a vintage camper. One of the burners is missin.. maybe yers will work in this one.

Congrats on the"Haunchback".. LOL

We'll be in touch..

Crazy Robert

Thanks, Robert! Looking forward to seeing you! Is your bug back on the road?

[Cliffmeister2000]

Congratulations, Cliff. Hope it becomes all that it promises to be.

You might try diet coke on the stove and sink. If that works, you might be able to polish them up with a little metal rouge or simply use some of a product called Stainless Steel Magic to clean and polish them. After that, you may change your mind about switching them out.

Both Big Box stores have hundreds of laminate samples that you can special order from. You don't have to settle for what they have in stock. They usually keep the special order laminate display somewhere on the installed counter tops where they show the various cabinet selections.

Thank you Sharon. I'll give the diet Coke a try. I have diet Pepsi, but I've heard only Coke has the chemicals to clean stuff.

I've been through hundreds of samples. We want shiny, and that's not in right now. We want no texture, and all we have found without texture are dull to satin finish. And we want blue. Lighter (Robin's egg) is preferable, but we'll take what we can get.

[Cliffmeister2000]

You could powder coat the appliances if they are in working order and make them new again. As for a toilet - take a look at a composting toilet (http://www.natureshead.net) if you don't want to mess with the plumbing of a wet toilet. I've only found one u tube video that was real critical of the composting toilet and as nasty as it was it had to be someone with a bone to pick or some really nasty people. All the other reviews said the toilet had no odor when directions are followed. Looks like a really clean camper.

Those toilets look pretty nice, but I want this one to work if it will. I have a "Hassock" toilet we can use in the meantime.

[dmb90260]

Cliff: There comes a time when you tire of the canopy over the kitchen/entertainment center/dining room quaking when the wind blows and rain water coursing through the place

You are getting some pretty good advice so far. I recommend Rob.\'s group... http://repairingyesterdaystrailers.yuku.com It has the most knowledgeable and helpful people out there. One member, Eric aka Pigbiter is in Oregon but he collects parts off old trailers and may have what you need.

[Cliffmeister2000]

Cliff: There comes a time when you tire of the canopy over the kitchen/entertainment center/dining room quaking when the wind blows and rain water coursing through the place

You are getting some pretty good advice so far. I recommend Rob.\'s group... http://repairingyesterdaystrailers.yuku.com It has the most knowledgeable and helpful people out there. One member, Eric aka Pigbiter is in Oregon but he collects parts off old trailers and may have what you need.

Thanks, Dennis! I'll check it out. The main reason for the standie was Gina's back surgery last year. It has become very difficult for her to get in and out of the teardrop.

We love camping, and sought out a vintage so we would still be welcome in most groups. As a 1977, it's not as vintage as I wanted, but at $1,100, it was way too good a deal to pass up!

[TENNJIM]

Congratulations Cliff and Gina. It looks in good condition although needing a little work. We polished up our vintage trailer sink with BAR KEEPERS FRIEND (naturally, knowing us). It works on stainless steel. In the 90's, I had a 1980 Wilderness with a 2-way Fridge. It was 120volt ac or propane. To run it on propane, I had to go outside and take a panel off behind the fridge to light a pilot. Again, great find! Hope to see you folks at Apache Junction in March.

Jim and Sheryl / Utah

[Cliffmeister2000]

Congratulations Cliff and Gina. It looks in good condition although needing a little work. We polished up our vintage trailer sink with BAR KEEPERS FRIEND (naturally, knowing us). It works on stainless steel. In the 90's, I had a 1980 Wilderness with a 2-way Fridge. It was 120volt ac or propane. To run it on propane, I had to go outside and take a panel off behind the fridge to light a pilot. Again, great find! Hope to see you folks at Apache Junction in March.

Jim and Sheryl / Utah

Thanks! I hope we will be seeing you in Apache Junction this year, at the Lost Dutchman campground?

The refrigerator actually works! With 120V at least. I found the pilot light hole, but usually there is a button to push to get gas to the pilot light? I don't see one...

[jandmz]

EDIT

EDIT

The refrigerator actually works! With 120V at least. I found the pilot light hole, but usually there is a button to push to get gas to the pilot light? I don't see one...

On some gas controls, the temperature control knob and the start button are combined. You need to turn the temperature knob away from the "off" position and press it and hold the knob down to light the pilot. Then you have to hold it until it heats up a thermocouple that will keep the pilot on. If you let off the knob and the pilot goes out, it ddidn't warm up long enough, or the thermocouple needs to be replaced. I had a popup camper that used this system, and the flame to run the fridge is so small, even at full cold, that you could barely even see it at night.

[Cliffmeister2000]

EDIT

EDIT

The refrigerator actually works! With 120V at least. I found the pilot light hole, but usually there is a button to push to get gas to the pilot light? I don't see one...

On some gas controls, the temperature control knob and the start button are combined. You need to turn the temperature knob away from the "off" position and press it and hold the knob down to light the pilot. Then you have to hold it until it heats up a thermocouple that will keep the pilot on. If you let off the knob and the pilot goes out, it ddidn't warm up long enough, or the thermocouple needs to be replaced. I had a popup camper that used this system, and the flame to run the fridge is so small, even at full cold, that you could barely even see it at night.

I haven't found any kind of control at all on this thing yet. It's probably there, haven't really looked very hard yet.

I bought a deep cycle battery and battery box today, installed them. The 12v system seems to work fine. Need to add a battery tender. I am really spoiled with the tender on the teardrop!

Bought new window frames for the door, but broke the glass reinstalling the new ones.

I have created a "to to" list. Goes like this.

Things to do to the new trailer

Make cabinet doors and drawers
Rebuild dinette
Replace counter top
Replace sink
Replace stove
Test heater
Fix carpet in toilet room
Add gray and black water tanks and re-plumb
Fix running lights
Replace 2 window panes
Find replacement shades for reading lights
Fix sharp edge on door
Fix area under bed
Find and install bike carrier
Paint exterior
Roof seal
Tongue box?
Battery and battery box $105 done
Fabric. $115
Cushions & curtains
Replace spare tire
Butyl tape
Replace screw cover inserts
Fix soft spot in floor in doorway
Replace window cranks
Weather window strips
Test city water system
Test self contained water system
Diagram wiring system, plumbing system
Add air conditioner?

[rjd]

Most have a little door below the frig. Flips down Should have a flint striker on a rod to the pilot tube atleast this is the set up on my 1972 Forrester. By level you need to have the trailer level that will be good enough . The ammonia system works by rising in the coils. Off level they supposedly form bubbles that wont let it work properly .

Good Luck .

[doug hodder]

The stove doesn't appear to be all that bad, much better than what I got in my recent build. I think I'd try to clean it and the sink up first before you commit to new ones. A drop in stove top like that will run about 150$ with shipping and a sink will go at least 50$. Being stainless, they should clean up with some time and elbow work. The used stoves I've seen aren't any better than what you have now. Just my opinion. Doug