Aristocrazy

This is the place where you can introduce yourself, and include a photo if so desired.

Aristocrazy

Postby Wildwood » Sun Aug 07, 2011 8:15 pm

I am new to the site but a long time camper, up until now in tents [and maybe a couple more to go]. We're friends of Thomas Miller's and have been meaning to try and meet during one of the gatherings, but it hasn't worked out yet. Owning a business keeps me hopping.

Yesterday my wife Jana found a 1970 Aristocrat Low Liner camper for sale on craigslist for $1300. Today we bought it for $1100. Even though I left behind several decades of working on old trucks, I just couldn't pass this camper up. Owning one outright without payments really appealed to me.

As you can see it is not in too bad a shape although he called it a deer-lease special. It does need a bunch of TLC, but being the owner of a deck & fence company and having built many a cabinet in my time, it will be fun to work on the interior. Everything works electrically but it needs to be rewired to have the trailer brakes work again.

The bones are good, but I will no doubt have a few questions as we go along with the fixin' up. It won't be a complete gut/rebuild, but there will be a fair amount of work involved. Eventually I think all the cabinet fronts will get replaced, but for now we may just paint them after we peel the fake wood grain off them.

Anyway, Thomas speaks very highly of the site and those of you he has met. looking forward to joining the camper crowd and ditching all the tent setup for change!

Image

Image

Image

Image
Wildwood
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2011 5:25 pm
Location: Terrell, Texas

The other photos...

Postby Wildwood » Sun Aug 07, 2011 9:01 pm

Image

Image

Image
Wildwood
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2011 5:25 pm
Location: Terrell, Texas

Postby 2bits » Sun Aug 07, 2011 10:14 pm

Hey Kelly,

Glad to see you here! (Yes I am the Thomas he speaks of, so you all know we are in for trouble haha)

Kelly is one of my best friends and the guy that got me started in carpentry so please give him a good welcome!

Doesn't the stove, AC and other stuff work too? This looks like a nice "deer lease" special. Sound like a rescue to me!

People here love seeing teardowns and progress so please feel free to create a build thread in the Build Journals section. I would like to see what you will do with it!

Welcome to the forum!
Thomas

Image
User avatar
2bits
2bit Member
 
Posts: 5132
Images: 8
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:04 pm
Location: Lake Tawakoni, TX
Top

Postby parnold » Sun Aug 07, 2011 11:13 pm

Welcome aboard!

Looks like you've got a nice cozy camper there. You'll find fixing it up to be challenging and rewarding both. Please be sure to take lots of pictures and share, and if Thomas helps.. leave him out of the pics. :lol:
User avatar
parnold
Donating Member
 
Posts: 2344
Images: 302
Joined: Mon Feb 08, 2010 4:49 pm
Location: Northwest New Jersey
Top

Postby 2bits » Sun Aug 07, 2011 11:28 pm

Whaddaya Mea?? Ain't I sexy enough???

:lol:
Last edited by 2bits on Tue Aug 09, 2011 7:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thomas

Image
User avatar
2bits
2bit Member
 
Posts: 5132
Images: 8
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:04 pm
Location: Lake Tawakoni, TX
Top

Postby Wildwood » Mon Aug 08, 2011 7:41 am

Yeah, everything works, even got two propane bottles and two regulators with it. It has a composting toilet but we're going to switch it back to a regular one. Going to have to get a tank. Also need to swap out the water tank they put in and install a hookup hose and a heater.
Wildwood
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2011 5:25 pm
Location: Terrell, Texas
Top

Postby 2bits » Mon Aug 08, 2011 8:30 am

This is a thread I started about the weather heater topic. alot of good info in there!

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=44050
Thomas

Image
User avatar
2bits
2bit Member
 
Posts: 5132
Images: 8
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:04 pm
Location: Lake Tawakoni, TX
Top

Postby honeask » Mon Aug 08, 2011 9:59 am

Thomas! Where are your manners, invite them to Lake Bistineau, if he puts it in high gear he can make it. Is he the friend you dug post holes with/for? One way or the other, nice trailer and I hope to see what it turns out to look like.
Sandy

We're not here for a long time, just here for a good time.
The stars at night are big and bright, (clap) (clap) (clap) (clap) DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS.
User avatar
honeask
Donating Member
 
Posts: 456
Images: 9
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 6:55 pm
Location: Tomball TX
Top

Postby aggie79 » Mon Aug 08, 2011 11:35 am

Welcome Kelly!

I love that Aristocrat. Those have an amazing amount of room in a small package. Get that thing ready for LCG! (If you don't know what that is, stop by the South Central section of the forum or ask Thomas.)

2bits wrote:This is a thread I started about the weather heater topic.


Freudian slip? Thomas, I think you (and I) have been out in the sun too much lately. :lol:

Take care,
Tom
Tom (& Linda)
For build info on our former Silver Beatle teardrop:
Build Thread

93503
User avatar
aggie79
Super Duper Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 5405
Images: 686
Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:42 pm
Location: Watauga, Texas
Top

Postby 2bits » Mon Aug 08, 2011 3:09 pm

Haha yeah, I've been inviting Kelly to gatherings for a while now, but he owns a deck business and many times can't plan too far ahead. I see some camping comin in short order though!
Thomas

Image
User avatar
2bits
2bit Member
 
Posts: 5132
Images: 8
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:04 pm
Location: Lake Tawakoni, TX
Top

Welcome....your trailer needs a build name...like Kettle

Postby Txbum » Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:22 am

:thumbsup: Welcome Kelly, glad to have ypu on board. Maybe you can make the Loyd Park event in September. Kelly ..Travel Trailer.. Living ..Easy... Txbum...Richard :applause:
Txbum
Titanium Donating Member
 
Posts: 142
Images: 51
Joined: Tue May 19, 2009 9:16 am
Location: Schulenburg Tx
Top

Postby jerry101jlh » Wed Aug 10, 2011 12:44 pm

I like how it appears to sit lower than a lot of trailers. Would think that would make it easier to tow
jerry101jlh
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 167
Joined: Fri May 27, 2011 2:15 pm
Top

Postby Wildwood » Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:40 pm

Thanks for the welcomes! Jana has been busy with the heat gun taking the woodgrain decals off the interior plywood. Turns out the plywood is Lauan which is Phillipine Mahogany and it's readily available in case I need to replace a panel or two. Going to finish the plywood with polyurethane.

I doubt we'll be going anywhere in September or October unless business falls off. November is the target date to have it ready to camp. It won't be finished by any stretch, but it will be functional.

It is very easy to tow, I have a short bed regular cab 4x4 and this one is the perfect size for the truck. I need to elongate the tongue of the trailer so my back fenders don't hit the front of the trailer when I cut it sharp. Going to need another 5-6" for clearance.
Wildwood
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2011 5:25 pm
Location: Terrell, Texas
Top

Postby 2bits » Thu Aug 11, 2011 12:26 am

Well the Lake Mineral Wells State Park Thanksgiving Weekend gathering might be just the ticket! You might be able to book late because of the holiday, but it can't hurt to book now to have a goal either! It would be really cool to caravan! Just a thought! Campable is campable! I'll be in my new camper too...

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=44838
Thomas

Image
User avatar
2bits
2bit Member
 
Posts: 5132
Images: 8
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:04 pm
Location: Lake Tawakoni, TX
Top

Postby S. Heisley » Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:07 am

Any friend of Thomas's is a friend of ours! (Of course, you'd be welcome anyway.) ...Looking forward to seeing up dates on your "dear" trailer! :lol: :thumbsup:
User avatar
S. Heisley
Super Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 8871
Images: 495
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:02 am
Location: No. California
Top

Next

Return to Newbies, Introduce yourselves

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests