2bits "Prowler"

[2bits]

I posted a short intro a month ago when I first bought this camper but I am starting to do some work on it I figured it was time for a build thread. I stumbled across this 10ft 1974 Prowler on a FB site called East Texas Man Cave, it’s like an online swap meet. He was asking $500 and I bought it for $375 and it even has a title which is rare for an old camper like this. It’s actually in decent shape except for at the back with the usual major rot. The floor is solid and windows and screens are intact. It towed like a dream, and I’ve taken it out on an hour long drive twice since. The bearings stay cool, but I still am going to repack them soon. The tires look perfect, and it has a brand new looking spare. It definitely is a project but being a tiny trailer, I could not resist it for that price.

After cleaning up the interior I decided that I am going to use this until it gets too hot to camp and while I finish the teardrop I am building. Once camping season is over, I’ll gut the interior, re-do the rotted framing sections in stages hopefully without doing a full tear down, then reinstall a king size bed, full size shower, and a clothes hangar rod and that’s it… Only the things I need to camp. I’ll have the teardrop for if/when the rebuild rolls into the fall season.

The idea is for this one to camp in it until I complete the full rebuild of the other Tiny Trailer my mom gave me, then I will set it back off in the woods on my property to be a guest house for people who want to come by and hang out by the fire pit but not have to drive home. The other tiny trailer my mom gave me will be the next one I rebuild and it will be a full frame up rebuild.

The Ad pic:


I towed it home using my bumper hitch which looked incredibly silly! I got a new trailer hitch last week and now it sits level. Took it to the car wash too and luckily the colors are begin to pop and the white is fading off to bare aluminum! Yeah! (this is pre-car wash)


The roof panel isn’t too bad, although it is rotten underneath I am sure.


I like the front kitchen design


Cleaned up the counter top, painted the stove and removed the “curtain”… It’s all gonna get ripped out anyway, but I might want to camp in it once or twice first!


The original rear section..


The front kitchen leaves the entire rear to be turned into a King size bed! It is going to stay that way from now on. I pulled out the bed, swept off and disinfected the pads and put sheets and pillows up and I am tempted to go camping in it! The ratty curtains even match now!


I scored this used RV shower on CraigsL for $100! It is going to go where the little closet is near the front.


Then the guy who was gutting the RV to remodel and live in it, said I could have whatever I wanted, so I got a nice clean chair, a couple of closet doors and the AC and heat and a bunch of other knick knacks!

[2bits]

Painted the wheels, pulled out the old fridge, and took it to the car wash!

[KCStudly]

Nice deal. That is a great starting point for what you have planned. I like it.

[aggie79]

Hey Thomas,

I saw your BB post about The Prowler but didn't know what you meant until I found this thread.

Linda and I are wanting something similar like your objectives - good bed, good shower, minimal interior cooking facilities - and probably a cassette style toilet. We may go with a dinette but only if it is separate - don't want the hassle of taking it down and setting up.

I'll be keeping my eyes on this build.

Take care,
Tom

[2bits]

Tom, my idea for a bathroom is to use the park facilities, I can deal with those, I just hate a cold walk to the shower in the winter and a humid yucky shower on the warm days. If I am rural camping or have an "emergency" I have my trusty 5 gallon bucket with. Trash bag and toilet seat which works great. I am looking forward to it and am planning to take this to LCG!

[harleykamper]

Oh yeah, Reminds me of our old 58 Santa Fe back when.... Great start! I'll bet you're right about the dry rot. Hard to avoid that in an old trailer. But at that price there's lots of room for improvements and still keep the costs under control! Go for it!

[donnan]

I love how people can see past the wreck and able to restore it to usable condition again.

Can't wait to see more of what you are going to do.

Cheers
Paul

[DMcCam]

Hey Thomas, I got to see your LT at the Dam Gathering Buddy!!! She has been redecorated a bit but still shines as a very impressive Teardrop trailer you proud papa.

All the Best,

Dave

[2bits]

Thank you Dave! that is awesome to hear!

Did a little work to it yesterday with the help of my girlfriend! Gutted the front section and test fitted the shower pan:


Gutted the rest of the camper, walls are coming down next and we will see what I am going to be dealing with

[KCStudly]

Follow the yellow brick road. The journey has begun.

[2bits]

I gutted all I felt was needed. There was so much of it that was good, I didn't need to take all the walls down, I will just panel over the existing. The floor is solid throughout and there is minimal framing repair except for the rear section. Even the roof vent never leaked There is a fridge vent area on the roof that did get some damage that I will rebuild and probably seal the hole since there is a side vent right there for the AC anyway. The curb side wall is almost perfect and the driver's side wall needs a window frame replacement, but otherwise good...Here's the roof vent area and the back section which needs the most work...

Next is removing the rear bunk and the linoleum and start reframing!