build or restore

[sr5bidder]

I have a shot at buying a tear drop that needs some work for 500 bucks ( it has 2 batteries and an inverter that comes with)
I originally wanted to build one but it would probably end up like the one i could buy.

all i am wondering is what to use to reskin the camper or if I even have to reskin? can I just seal it up with fiberglass resin or would I have to use the cloth with the resin
what is the stuff they put on the modern campers the white stuff and is it available

[Shadow Catcher]

The white stuff is for the most part Filon and yes it is available e.g. http://www.factoryrvsurplus.com/categor ... ory_id=164
http://www.craneco.com/Profile/73/Filon.html

[sr5bidder]

so in looking at the link and the pricing it would cost me about 84 bucks plus shipping for each 4x8.5 ft piece.
I have not seen this used on any teardrop here or maybe I have not look around enough.

[doug hodder]

What is the age of the camper? Restore to most of us means an original (old school)that probably has plenty of years on it. Something that you would scrounge the parts from and then do a rebuild in the original profile using the original parts. It would probably have a vintage title and VIN on it.

In my opinion, a recently built camper that didn't hold up, and is a home built non-descript profile and is falling apart, isn't a restore...it's just a rebuild. At 500$, if you have a decent rolling frame and some batteries (not old) and an inverter, that's not that bad, but I'd beat them up on the price. At that point you can either do a patch up/ rebuild or scrape it and start anew and get what you want. While it may not have been advertised as such, words like "antique/rare/classic/vintage" cause me to take a 2nd look. Just my opinion. Doug

[sr5bidder]

Doug

maybe a wrong choice of words maybe instead of restore it should have been reskin.

This was not advertised it was discovered by a friend of mine and was not for sale but we asked to see it, tenasked if they wanted to be rid of it.

I may drive my garden tractor around the corner and pick her up this weekend.

As far as poor constuction it made a trip from Georgia to Alaska and back and did not fall apart so I think it would be fine for going 200-300 miles north and back.

I need to research exterior sealing, skinning and covering. I am looking for something to go over the rough plywood to make it smooth and waterproof in the cheapest way so we can start camping and see if it is for us. we tent camp all the time but I have grown sick of pitching and packing the tent

[Gage]

Can you get any pictures of it? That would help answer your question and give you a better direction as to which way to go.

[Shadow Catcher]

Ours has a Filon skin.

[sr5bidder]

Can you get any pictures of it? That would help answer your question and give you a better direction as to which way to go.

Ill get some pics when I tote it home later this week

[sr5bidder]

I think will hold my cash and pull it out of the hole it is buried in to take a good walk around on saturday. I have only seen it from cramped quarters, . Besides the threat of rooten wood what else should I keep an eye open for?

From what I remember:

it is wired for shore power
it has a 2 battery system in the hatch
it looks to have a beefy dc to ac inverter (what is a useful watts rating?)
it has some 2x4 construction
It has no doors ( MIA )
it is not rounded but rather squared off but still tear shaped
it is occupied with water bugs (huge roaches for ya'll not in the south)
it looks like there is not much tounge left at the front (maybe 2 foot)

Maybe I should just try to find a 5x8 frame and build my own but this one I could slap some doors on and seal her up and go, but I would be hanging my head inshame at the camp site and on the road.

If the trailer base is not long enough for a tear down and build without using into the tonge space maybe I should pass????

[sr5bidder]

well I have got my camper but need to figure out how to post pics of it now heere is one link

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo19 ... 0_0540.jpg

[sr5bidder]

[sr5bidder]

I thinks I found the easy way to shre my project with y'all... she used to have luan on the outside the PO had torn most of it off $500 bucks...now I need to finish my barn to store my motorcycles so I can put hr in the garage.

[jdarkoregon]

Frame alone is almost worth $500. It wouldn't take much and you would be camping.

John

[sr5bidder]

It came with an ATWOOD 45 amp power converter nd 2 batteries I am trying to recharge
Anyone know where I can fin a manual on the converter??

[doug hodder]

Did you just check on line?