Ep. 2 - The RV Gut / demo

Dutchman Travel Trailer gut

We found her last year, and did nothing but take her on camping trip to see if everything worked.
We realized that the jack knife couch was awful and it was going to be the FIRST thing to go.

I swear to god, the couch that folded to a bed was terrible to the point that we drew straws as to who go stuck sleeping on the end... Well, if felt like I had to sleep with one hand on the floor so I would not roll off.

What turned out to be a "leak" in the roof above the couch turned out to be a complete renovation...

 

Well actually I did do something before putting her in storage for the winter...

I had to take a peak at the actual water leak...
I needed to know what I was dealing with.
Yuck, turns out the whole front is actually rotted!
Guess what I stewed on during the winter months...

So, to give you a condensed version of the gut, it took 2 1/2 months (36 hours).
A couple of trips to the dump, a couple of days of re-arranging the garage so as the cupboards, stove, microwave and everything else in between did not fall on top of the car, that now barely fits into the garage.

It just became difficult to find a good chunk of time to work on her, since I work during the day, and we head out to the lake on the weekends.

So, as the gut went on, and on, and on, I often stopped and thought... and thought... and thought. Which probably is the reason why it took longer. Not to mention, the pictures, measurements and more pictures, so I can put it back together correctly!

I got as far as the fridge one day, and suddenly realized why we had a new fridge in a '94 trailer...
IT CAUGHT FIRE! Nothing but black soot and charred wood behind that new paneling...
Sneaky buggers!

I had a fun time play Holmes on Holmes that night, as I gave the tour of the trailer and pointed out issues and problems.

No wonder our tank sensors did not register anything... Guess where the wires are run...

Along side the fridge! Those too were charred.

And since it is new, and big and heavy, I ain't going to fool with it. It is the only thing staying in the trailer, as I am going to have to paint and work around it. It is staying put!

So, I am now done the gut, and have plenty of ideas for her, but, will try to keep the cost low.

I realized paneling is now hard to find, since no one wants to panel a rec room anymore...

I will paint the cupboards, redo the cushions, new flooring, insulation, and maybe lights.

I pulled the tub out, we never use the tub, and it just leaked anyway. What a surprise...

A pie plate! That is what was under the tub to stop a leak! A pie plate!

So, makes sense that I have to replace the rotted flooring in the bathroom as well...

The only puzzling piece are the windows... There are no screws on the inside, and the paneling runs right up and under the lip. I am going to have to remove the windows from the outside just to put up new paneling?

I am cutting a swath, I have never done anything like this before. And my only thought is to get this complete by next summer... And my second only thought is to not hurt myself doing it.

Oh vey!