Our "new" tiny travel trailer - Sunline Sunspot

[frank_a]

Chased the threads on the old spring u-bolts this a.m., one by one, and installed new steel lock nuts. Of the 8 nuts I removed, only one was a lock nut. This pic also shows clearly the new spring seat I tack welded on.



Now I have to figure out how to mount my license plate. I didn't realize you could buy an RV light set-up with a license plate light and plate bracket. I know now - I just ordered one. Sure wish I had thought about that when I ordered my two new lights.

Frank

[papmom35]

Looking good Frank! Nice clear pic of the spring!

[frank_a]

Thanks Pam. I think when I get a new axle with brake stuff maybe I should get new springs too. Or figure out how to put a torsion spring axle on. Never did that before, so somewhat unsure of doing it without help from someone who's installed one before.

Won't be back in touch till Sunday.

Frank

[frank_a]

O-D, could you tell me a bit more about that cover for the front window?



I'd like to build one, but need some idea of how it connects to the Sunspot, both for traveling, and what happens with it when you're parked/camping? what is it made of?

Thanks!

Frank

[frank_a]

Spot now has a key for all three openings, and a the two doors (entry and buckboard) open with the same key. The buckboard door knob was not easy to get off, but with the help of a hacksaw and 4 1/2" angle grinder (with a cut-off wheel), it came off easily. The new one mounts normally, with easy-to-see screws on the inside:



Also while at Tearup the ADKs this past weekend, I installed a junction box to work off for my wiring:





I've got to clean this up a bit, but more to come.

Have a great day all!

Frank

[JuneBug]

I am "almost certain" I have glimpsed one of these in a small RV park in Luling, TX. I'm always looking for TTTs as I drive along, and this one has never looked quite right from a distance (to be a full height trailer). Will check it out in the next few weeks when I head down to Cuero on Hwy 183.
If heading south on 183, you take a left in the center of Luling after you cross the rail road tracks.

The little park is visible on your right, but it is just off the highway as you are heading out of town.

[frank_a]

Well June bug, from what folks in the know tell me, these babies are pretty rare. Grab it if ya can!

Frank

[TheresaD]

[frank_a]

I went in to clean up the wiring last night after work, and decided to pull the carpet off the rear walls of the trailer. I knew I had some rot in the rear right, but was amazed at how much there was. All the wood on that corner, and 1/2 way across the top was rotted and fell out with not much assistance.







I'm going to have to remove the rear doors, and then the framework for the doors to be able to get at screws that hold the top wood and closest side piece in. I'm not sure how to attach the very corner piece that meets the adjacent side piece beside the door. Originally it was stapled (big long steel staples) from the siding, hidden by where it overlaps each piece. I'll figure something out. At least the left side was fine.



Once I get this done, I'll install luan over the walls. Time is a wasting here, need to get this done and get some stuff done with my boat before leaving on vacation July 12. I'll get some poplar today before I come home from work and this will be my weekend project. Hopefully it won't take that long, but I tend to overestimate stuff like this anymore!

Frank

[frank_a]

Trying to get ready to replace some rotted out wood. Whole right corner, entire top along back door frame, and portions of wood along bottom of door and very bottom of trailer directly under that. More could be done, but time is pressing, plus I'm learning a lot as I go. Next is acetone clean up of the butyl tape areas, then fashion some poplar for replacement.

Here's some current pics:

[PaPa Smurf]

Just asking..., you going to replace the top with rubber ??

[frank_a]

Hmmmm, not sure. Maybe that aluminum stuff they use on mobile homes? I gotta check some of this stuff out.

Frank

[Mukilteo]

Thanks for posting your progress. My Silver Shadow may be rebuilt with that design in mind some day.

[frank_a]

No problem Eric. I just go at stuff not really knowing what I'm doing. This stuff seems fairly simple though. I'm in the process right now of wiping all the contact surfaces with acetone to get them as clean as it can be. I'm also using a body hammer and dolly to straighten out areas that dimpled, mostly from removing small very rusty steel staples. Gail has run to Lowe's to get me some butyl tape. We'll see what she comes up with. There's an outside chance this may get wrapped up today.

Frank

[frank_a]

I'm almost set to out things back together. Got a little more work to do before trimming wood pieces for re-assembly.

Got an air stapler for the kind of staples used in the trailer.



Also today got a couple rolls of butyl tape at a local RV place.



Foam came today (mail order) in perfect size: 54" long (width of our full size bed). Each piece is 24" wide, so will need to be trimmed for that dimension, and is 3" thick hi density. Upholstery material on the foam is what it will be covered with, picked that up at a local fabric shop Sunday.



Looked at 3/4" plywood today for the bed/seat bases, probably use oak in AC grade. Once I get everything back together, I'll move to bed construction.

Frank