Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I'm looking at purchasing a 62 Scottie over 4 hours away sight-unseen, he's asking $850. Weighing the work effort, time, space, etc.

http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d99/j ... %20Scotty/



There is some damage to the street side aluminum as well as plywood underneath. Owner states that the plywood is bad and that the edging is not attached at both the front and rear lower corners. The more you go towards the center of the camper, the better it is. This only shows water flows down.....the suspension is the torsional coil for each side. More pics are suppose to come.

No history is known. I'm wondering what kind of hassle it would be to take the aluminum siding off and remove the old plywood to restructure the side framing? Is the aluminum skin 'glued' to the plywood like most do with a TD? Or is the aluminum sheet 'floating' on the side? I'm not sure if it's 3' sections or a whole sheet. If sections, I'll guess that the top is secured and the bottom unsecured to the plywood. Can I assume that?
I've seen a lot of work done by others here with the space necessary to do such work. I'm in a locale that won't let me 'store' the work-in-progress camper in my driveway. There is no space in the garage and no room on the side of the house and the driveway is steep!!!, with sort of a flat top to work.

I'd like to remove the aluminum siding, add better side frame structure, add wood siding with trim and keep the aluminum roof. Something to the effect of Brad J's TD, Len Slumber's Coach TD, Cabinet Maker's TD, Goldcoop Cedar TD, and some others. I really like the wood trim with the wood side exterior, all tied in with an aluminum top.

You might PM Gage. He's got a lot of great info and knowhow experience in those trailers, I think.

I bought a 69 Siesta trailer I replaced the ceiling panels, both vents, three spars, and I am currently working on pulling the back siding up to rebuild the frame under the bed in the back. the siding was glued to the spars but not the interior ply, it is a siding/insulation/spar/ interior ply sandwich. Some paint etc and it is a great trailer, all for under a grand. Is it worth doing? I think yes, especially a cool scotty like that!

Just to give you a flavor of what you might be doing...

http://homepages.wmich.edu/~kroes/s-sco ... index.html

And of course, only you can decide if it's worth it.

Mike...

From what I can see in those pictures it looks like a frame up job so unless you are real ambitious. Can't say what it's worth but from the work it needs it's more than I'd pay. JMO

..only you can decide what is worth what but I wouldn't give 200 bucks for it based on the available pics...I would consider hauling it off for free though...
madjack

These "easy" projects can turn into a lot of work...
Okay if thats what you enjoy, but if you want to go camping in it soon, look for one that isn't coming apart at the seams...

Rob




Another "old trailer project" start to finish.
http://mobilesportsman.blogspot.com/

I've never tried restoring/rebuilding one but it would seem that the more wood you have intact, the more you patterns you have.

Some of the ideas and that last pic is what I'm afraid to take on. To start with the frame for 8 hours drive plus the asking price is a large ticket to bite into. I have asked for detail pics of the siding situation. Waiting on those pics.

Thanks for the info on the wall configuration of the old camper. I would have thought that a plywood sheet would be on the outside to retain the insulation better and keep the a 'dry' layer.

If anyone else is interested, the camper is listed under the craigslist.org for St. Louis.

mikeschn wrote:Just to give you a flavor of what you might be doing...

http://homepages.wmich.edu/~kroes/s-sco ... index.html

And of course, only you can decide if it's worth it.

Mike...

Doesn't this Scotty break down show that the plywood is on the outside of the framing?

That's what it looks like to me...

Mike...

THE HORROR ...................THE HORROR glad I didn't find that crap in mine. I still think a scotty rebuild would be way cool look at those cool wheel cutouts! I mean SNAP!

if you are good at working with wood its a good trailer i have been restoring a 1957 shasta its a lot of work ,,the wife says i can build a tear if i finish the trailer first the worst part of the trailer you are looking at is someone painted the inside

I've taken the higher road route and decided not to consider this.

I still have a Bronco project in the garage for over 2 years. It requires some welding which I haven't started to do.

Thanks for the insight. I was looking at doing such a TD, and may still, just not on that grand of scale.

Just for GP, the trailer is a Scotty Tonga. Silver Side. Its a fairly rare model. Actually has a bathroom, or at least an area for one. It is a bit pricey though for the condition. If you get it wait till you start tearing it apart. With the exception of the plywood John Serro used ANYTHING that was laying around for lumber. I tore the roof off of one I had years ago and all the ribs said "do not stack over 5 high" or "do not truck from this end" all over them.

Happy Trails

Len