PUP withdrawls....

I'm seriously gonna go crazy if I can't make time to get out there and work on the camper! Work and school are keeping us from starting on the top. I'm hoping to get started on it in a week or so.... wish me luck!

A few scrapes, and a couple broken finger nails later... I'm ready to talk girl stuff!!

As much fun as it is to tear this camper apart and talk about rebuilding and restoration... as a woman, decorating and color schemes have been running through my head! I'm really excited to get this thing rebuilt so I can start prettying her up!!!

I'm in love with this wall panel. I wish the PUP could take the weight of raw cut cedar... guess this panel is as good as it gets! I'm buying these beautiful panels from my local Lowes. It runs roughly $15 a panel (4'x8')

I think this is the vinyl I'm going to use on the floors. I'm kinda back and forth on it. I love the slate look.. very natural. And the dark colors should hide dirt well. If this is what I go with I'm grabbing it at Lowes as well for $0.88 a square foot.

I love this material!! Marine vinyl in Sierra Buckskin. Right now I'm finding it for $9.98 a yard, 54" width. Kinda pricey, hoping I can find it cheaper with a little more searching. But for commercial grade marine vinyl it's not that bad. Maybe my upholstery guy can find me some cheaper. I'm using this to cover my dinette cushions and beds.

Step 3..... Gut It! (continued from previous post)

Finally finished gutting the trailer (well... still need to remove the floor)! I'm so excited... most everything is reusable. Cabinets are great, just need new counter tops. The frames for the benches are perfect! All the wiring seems to be in good shape (DH will have to check that out for me). Found a soft spot in the floor under the water tank but we were going to replace it anyway while we have it gutted. We'll have her at the campgrounds in no time!!

Definitely need new counter tops

The tank had a hole in the bottom that caused the wet spot in the floor

Not sure if you can see the water damage in the picture above

I can save this frame. The drawers need a little work... but not much

The water damage on that panel is also from that water tank

My mess... everything on the tarp and in front of it can be reused :)

Except for the wall panel of course... I kinda ripped those to shreds lol!

My DH is outta town for a week.. and I'll need his help to lay the new floor, inspect the wiring and take off the top. So I guess I'll have to take a break from the restoration. Which is gonna drive me crazy because I'm completely obsessed! I guess I can spend this time researching and finding parts that I need.

To the Arvee folks reading this, if you have any advice or helpful hints please comment on the blog or find me in the forum. 

To everyone else, I'll be posting again soon! Happy camping!!

Step 3.... Gut It!!!!

I'm only about halfway done... but the floor is looking good so far and I'm excited! Here are some more pics of my progress today.

What is that in the picture above? I found it laying in the floor and I have no clue where it goes.

Step 2 .... Open her up!

No crank handle so a pair a vise grips and about 50 million turns later and she's up! Note to self ... buy a crank handle ASAP!

Yea... I need a new canvas!! It's bad... major holes and dry rotted. There's no saving it :)

Here's a look at the inside...

I have a lot of work ahead.. for now, bye bye canvas!!

From what I can see.. the roof needs rebuilt, new canvas, and I'll need to build new cabinets. I'm pulling them out next. I'm hoping the floor is perfect. Is that too much to ask? ;)

Step 1... get the camper!

For years my family and I have tent camped and loved it! There's nothing better than loading the truck and taking off to spend the weekend or a week at the campgrounds. This year I decided I wanted to buy a camper. But more than anything, I wanted to restore an old camper. That way we could modify it to fit our needs. So step 1... get the camper! After weeks of searching craigslist, ebay, local newspaper ads, etc. I found one! She won't win any beauty pageants... but maybe when I'm done, she'll at least get 1st runner up lol!!

Thankfully I have a super handy husband... we definitely have A LOT of work ahead of us! When we picked her up... we only raised the top about half way. I'm opening her up for the first time today. I know she needs a completely new canvas and roof repair. Other than that.. who knows what I'm going to find. Well, here I go! Step 2... open her up!