Now I've done it...bought a Skyline Week-N-Der....

[ajricher]

For those of you who I am sure don't remember me, I was in about a year ago looking to build a mini-trailer on a salvaged pop-up frame. Well, that project dropped out, and one thing led to another and I stayed with the pop-up I was using despite physical difficulties setting it up.


Well, today I dragged home a mini-trailer - a Skyline Week-N-Der trailer in very much less than pristine condition. 1963 vintage, it's a 6 x 8 foot box on wheels (and I do mean BOX), with a stove and sink (or at least places for one) and two bunks with some storage underneath.

The good part is the outside is in good shape.

The inside is a horror show. All of the internal structure (and I mean ALL) is rotted from years of water leakage that got past its galvanized iron skin. The frame is fine, the exterior cladding is fine, but the insides are FUBAR.

I think I got my $400 worth, though, as this thing is built like a TANK underneath - the frame is 2 x 6 channel iron! It will need tires and wheel bearings, but nothing there I can't fix.

My appeal here is to the assemblage for ideas on how to strip and rebuild the interior of this damn thing w/o having it collapse on me! None of the interior woodwork is salvageable - i am just going to have to wade in with a wrecking bar and replace it all - but the sage advice of the assemblage would be most appreciated.

Yours, Al Richer - Chelmsford, MA

[kennyrayandersen]

There is one member who does a LOT of restorations and I have it book marked from work. If no one post's before I get in on Monday (we're half a day ahead of the rest of y'all then I'll try and post it. I'm sure he could at least offer some advice and moral support; plus is does REALLY nice work!!

[reiltear]

?...

[caseydog]

:pictures: ?...

Yes, you can't tell us you bought a camper and then leave us pictureless.

[Barry and Darby H.]

Ya, what's the big idea.......... where's the pics bub ?

[ajricher]

Photos? You want PHOTOS?

Guys, this thing is so scabby I'd be embarrassed to publish a photo of it - though I shot the hell out of it with my camera before I started to strip the walls out.

I will publish a few when i get home this evening - don't have them available here at present.

I do ask, however, that no one rank on me about the cleanliness of the area it is sitting in...it's my play area... and is the one part of the yard my wife hasn't made me mulch and plant on.

On a progress note, though, I started to strip the interior furniture and walls out of it last night. the 1960s paneling this thing was sheathed in internally had literally delaminated into strips of hand-shredding rotten veneer. The floor is rotten as are parts of the internal framing - it's not as bad as I thought it was for now at least.

The ceiling was completely gone - framing and all. This is because of the construction of the external skin - there were two seams where the roof met the side skins - which were oriented so that when the sealer failed it would channel the water RIGHT inside.

I am not impressed.

Once I get the ancient bugger cleaned out I'll be able to evaluate the framing and deal with the repairs.

One question that's come to mind is insulation - specifically the rigid 3/4" foam stuff. As the frame of the camper is all 1 x 2 it seems to me that I could easily insulate the silly thing, at least in the roof for sound deadening (metal roof + rain == noise). What is the opinion of the assemblage on the value of insulation in a camper that will get used for 3 seasons?

lastly - roof treatments. Once I open and reseal the seams it's occurring to me that a thorough coat of waterproofing on the presently rusty top panel would be a REALLY good idea, just to keep the heat down and give the sealant a bit of help in keeping the water out. Opinions and recommendations, please?

Yours, Al Richer

[xrover]

Al, I went to your gallery to see photo's of this beast and was pleasantly surprised to see a very nice bronze green Series IIA long wheelbase. I too am afflicted with the same disease, however have been able to reduce my dependency to only 1 rover at this time. I own a '97 NAS D90, but recently sold my '83 Series III exmod. My first foray into this seemingly prolific land of misery was with a '91 Range Rover. I moved quickly from there to a rust infested '72 Series III (entered the line in late Dec '71 as a IIA, but came out first week of Jan as a III, so had a bit of both), then picked up the '83, then an '83 D110, and finally a '68 SIIa.
Please do tell us more about your truck.
And I hope that the TD world does not afflict me of the same type of disease!

[ajricher]

Re: Rover:

THat is the legendary Mr. Churchill, famed in song and story (literally).

he is the reason i bought the trailer - one of the criteria I have for a camper is that it has to be able to be hauled by the modest horsepower of a 2.25 Land-Rover petrol engine. This beast weighs about 6-700 pounds, so it can be pulled by either the 109 or my 96 Disco I.

Daughter has a 95 Disco I, so the affliction is hereditary...

I've owned the 109 since the early 90s, so have done lots and lots of miles in it through 2 rebuilds (the second of which replaced a rotten chassis). It's originally a IIA (1964), but has had lots of S.III niceties like power brakes and an 8:1 engine added. Haul down the highway all day at 65, though when towing it's a bit more leisurely up hills.

PM me - love to get together for a beer if we're anywhere near the same bit of the country.. oops, Ontario...guess not, then! I will be up in Silver Lake in June, though...you anywhere near Silver Lake/Sharbot Lake?

[mitch1204]

Hi everyone! Is AJ still on the forum?
AJ are you out there?

I bought a Week-n-Der which I would assume is a Skyline. All I could find on them is they made truck campers.

I'm trying to find the VIN so I can get it titled and tagged.! I found all the normal Marvel hitch numbers but under it is WE-215. Could that possibly be the VIN? Is there another place I should be looking?
Thanks!

[Woodbutcher]

He has not signed in since 2011. My bet is he will never see your post. You might try the people over at http://www.tincantourists.com/

[mitch1204]

Okay, thank you woodbutcher. I'll be back! Plenty of good reads here. You can't get rid of me that easy, lol.

[ajricher]

Yawn....yes?



OK, the VIN number (which mine no longer has thanks to an overenthusiastic pothole in Moncton, Canada but that's another story).

If I recall correctly it was on the side of the tongue punched into the metal - in the actual ball mount itself. The rest of the tongue is nothing but sheet metal covering a bent C-channel, so no luck with a number there.

Just as a warning, do yourself a favor and inspect the chassis minutely. Mine had a rather spectacular failure of what looked like sound metal due to a nasty case of corroosion pitting causing stress risers.

Al