tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4360558097655544742024-03-06T12:01:19.943-08:00The Journey of the Redneck Express"There's alot more of America to find, when you leave the freeway far behind..."Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.comBlogger200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-438070739670104842020-08-19T23:46:00.002-07:002020-08-19T23:46:28.761-07:00We may be moving hosts for the Journey of the Redneck ExpressDue to the ever increasingly brokenness of the blogger platform, we're likely going to need to move the blog to a new host so that we can continue providing you with awesome camper updates :). <br /><br />Sadly, this will likely cause some delays in the new posts, but given we can't even make posts right now, because we can't even get a picture to upload, its not exactly any worse off. <br />
<br />
So, stay tuned, and we'll update you on where to move to continue this journey! :). <br />
<br />Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-55818694904187834752020-07-03T01:03:00.000-07:002020-08-03T01:05:31.051-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry” the Amerigo– And the Story of the Flimsy bed–Part 4During Part 3, I mentioned that other work was going on while the glue and fiberglass cured on Ms. Merry's new Snap-n-Nap Wings, so in Part 4, we'll cover the work going on inside Ms. Merry's Snap-N-Nap to prep for the installation of the new wing walls :).<br />
<br />
To start off, here's Merry's Snap-N-Nap Bed with the mattress finally removed! The pan wood is actually in better shape than I was expecting, given the mildew smell that this area had been hanging onto. Turns out the smell was actually coming from that nasty fabric wall covering they'd used. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLuh3udu0eTEy1J7QT68BgdqKCkfPe6t9nG3Fsu67h9TxI68GgXUio8UHFrOIRZyRNi41oSdjyycMgIJCKYxiJSXSFXTNYiMAgWABMoAWwTYU-ByuTMNP5ZHq_Zulrq8hBubZjC4N5Yg/s1600/P1090407.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLuh3udu0eTEy1J7QT68BgdqKCkfPe6t9nG3Fsu67h9TxI68GgXUio8UHFrOIRZyRNi41oSdjyycMgIJCKYxiJSXSFXTNYiMAgWABMoAWwTYU-ByuTMNP5ZHq_Zulrq8hBubZjC4N5Yg/s320/P1090407.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tn57VG8CX3NIgl1pL6srnaGLiCNJI-2qlJQ9vFl-erngrx1_UhIaABDvgooywGQdP7IC5eJhjSKlNnPNHJY_IT3iZncBp60bOUb-Z3iRcC_aSm_MWk8eWTvMgEPoddkbJntKrstdpeQ/s1600/P1090403.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tn57VG8CX3NIgl1pL6srnaGLiCNJI-2qlJQ9vFl-erngrx1_UhIaABDvgooywGQdP7IC5eJhjSKlNnPNHJY_IT3iZncBp60bOUb-Z3iRcC_aSm_MWk8eWTvMgEPoddkbJntKrstdpeQ/s320/P1090403.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
The paneling on these sides was held on with a couple small pan-head screws and a very minimal amount of adhesive, I basically just had to push a putty knife between the wood and the aluminum and popped right off.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6Q5r_sD_1rv1AOiNKYwjiQtb9UWAO1Yh3dZteaAgBlZeXSnj5JzEo78tH6Yqkba1uCQbzrAkWiMFHotjPCs19k4I2IfCQTv_kzDxSg_FcndE0h0SrYCpNUZarAIRWX3ESurZ5QHPb3w/s1600/P1090406.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6Q5r_sD_1rv1AOiNKYwjiQtb9UWAO1Yh3dZteaAgBlZeXSnj5JzEo78tH6Yqkba1uCQbzrAkWiMFHotjPCs19k4I2IfCQTv_kzDxSg_FcndE0h0SrYCpNUZarAIRWX3ESurZ5QHPb3w/s320/P1090406.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<br />
Time to start getting that nasty vinyl fabric wall mess out once and for all..... To remove it, I simply ran a box knife along the joints to cut it and pulled it out by hand. The vinyl is carpet foam backed type stuff and is only held on with spray adhesive. As I tore it off, I discovered that moisture had gotten in around the window at some point and had soaked into this nasty fabric as the back of it was stained with old mildew and mold spots.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJOy0sA2n_GKRqXWQ0CbkgtKKV6YNPsV7KwRBZXgl6RC0GkjBP9bMr-SU_NNus7T5fKD0GCp4dQ8xsz1BLaPcNOAJnTqPwr-6TOnp53E5eVIB6dMy3XfgL8SfUcdG0A3337bPqqQEjgI/s1600/P1090408.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJOy0sA2n_GKRqXWQ0CbkgtKKV6YNPsV7KwRBZXgl6RC0GkjBP9bMr-SU_NNus7T5fKD0GCp4dQ8xsz1BLaPcNOAJnTqPwr-6TOnp53E5eVIB6dMy3XfgL8SfUcdG0A3337bPqqQEjgI/s320/P1090408.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiaqr0oT3AWXMHnqWby0NuPEuuQhvOvG3HhUM3RKh5W6-h7epMTrG8rli5MvVc-jncMBmSIVtbdz8jLgMnl1L8Fvmt_1nQRM2Yng4s4o1CZWqSZG2gE5xN1Z7dyMn0FXzf6gAgIO2ehI/s1600/P1090409.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiaqr0oT3AWXMHnqWby0NuPEuuQhvOvG3HhUM3RKh5W6-h7epMTrG8rli5MvVc-jncMBmSIVtbdz8jLgMnl1L8Fvmt_1nQRM2Yng4s4o1CZWqSZG2gE5xN1Z7dyMn0FXzf6gAgIO2ehI/s320/P1090409.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<br />
Yay.... more spray foam.....That's all going to have be scrapped off so we can come back later and install some wooden framing along the perimeter for installing proper insulation board and wall paneling later. Mercifully, a rubber mallet and a putty knife pops it off the fiberglass in nice big chunks, leaving little residue behind. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpJ2lyfp3TrN_qh_ySwDs9fL2w3lv7TN-Y7arARLw_GqOqjSmcjpc8EFNqFE04K4Mq5zGWdxTYVHWeidItSZgHUWZ-iG-o9mEx_c1AWpa0vq2262-RddMpWolc1Q1bdn2bUk7ZWO5EqU/s1600/P1090411.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpJ2lyfp3TrN_qh_ySwDs9fL2w3lv7TN-Y7arARLw_GqOqjSmcjpc8EFNqFE04K4Mq5zGWdxTYVHWeidItSZgHUWZ-iG-o9mEx_c1AWpa0vq2262-RddMpWolc1Q1bdn2bUk7ZWO5EqU/s320/P1090411.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<br />
The wooden "floor", and I use that term loosely, was simply held in by two 1/4" headed hex head screws, with them removed it lifted right out. Sadly, I forgot to take a picture of the laughable 1/8" thick fiberglass insulation mat that was underneath the aluminum sheet that makes up the bed pan's outer skin and the wall paneling floor that was in place.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3phQciJ0x4InAi21HXE-lSmlNvrOZsfWLUgQgwSzfzZB1QYj5Vpcj0C5l0o6EqSRaRlmdZuwO22xh3JmojyBi-zRiqXIbgMSBEx0rci_Bi7-3nnuZ93ZTqHu5h1wd7nqd_Uz4z3xa5o/s1600/P1090412.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3phQciJ0x4InAi21HXE-lSmlNvrOZsfWLUgQgwSzfzZB1QYj5Vpcj0C5l0o6EqSRaRlmdZuwO22xh3JmojyBi-zRiqXIbgMSBEx0rci_Bi7-3nnuZ93ZTqHu5h1wd7nqd_Uz4z3xa5o/s320/P1090412.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<br />
So, my next discovery of stupid was the fact that they had glued the wiring for the tail lights on the inside.... to the foam.... Which makes zero sense, because there's a nice cavity specifically for pulling wires inside of, formed into the fiberglass wall!!!
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqR9u1C2aaaE6jLQKlGl565lJ9gZ8l-ZumEAcW3xHbetSyEeSVlPx_qheHVLP_wPaGM5mxTvoS7sxTbPfMdbCD0SLbvFGPUuji6LZESBB_RDiB9wxtvVekU_tM9YxtS4o_sVa2FQsnKc/s1600/P1090413.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqR9u1C2aaaE6jLQKlGl565lJ9gZ8l-ZumEAcW3xHbetSyEeSVlPx_qheHVLP_wPaGM5mxTvoS7sxTbPfMdbCD0SLbvFGPUuji6LZESBB_RDiB9wxtvVekU_tM9YxtS4o_sVa2FQsnKc/s320/P1090413.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<br />
Fixing this wasn't hard, just annoying, as I had to remove the new tail lights had I installed a couple years back so I could run my fish tape through the wiring cavity and re-pull the wires like they should have been done from the factory. Also took a moment to drill a new entry hole into the top edge of the cavity so that the wires going up to where they pass through the bulk head would be able to be placed behind the new wall insulation.
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_4kxYBVsu1TxHeupIgLGFwSlAZLS1ueCmDaOUMhyphenhyphenJDaGPYuBx8dhyLVsYCuIbOxZ-ABDaiNQmjApOT2OV-2MfSioLXfhwtBD444uxVmTkRuv80jGqF9JMgGbeBNkRyiXi7V-Vv_b_Yg/s1600/P1090414.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_4kxYBVsu1TxHeupIgLGFwSlAZLS1ueCmDaOUMhyphenhyphenJDaGPYuBx8dhyLVsYCuIbOxZ-ABDaiNQmjApOT2OV-2MfSioLXfhwtBD444uxVmTkRuv80jGqF9JMgGbeBNkRyiXi7V-Vv_b_Yg/s320/P1090414.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJ63Fh1G_3K7IXBzPFMc24fvMFpPI_q_w18Nj4zERNeW1kkXFQC4l8R7WoEOUoiO2lFUlnv9qCclFWGd9yKI6HFH1tztrPCkEq8B8pJR6u6mWGrXMznwT2St7y3UWbdycXpzevpN59b4/s1600/P1090416.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJ63Fh1G_3K7IXBzPFMc24fvMFpPI_q_w18Nj4zERNeW1kkXFQC4l8R7WoEOUoiO2lFUlnv9qCclFWGd9yKI6HFH1tztrPCkEq8B8pJR6u6mWGrXMznwT2St7y3UWbdycXpzevpN59b4/s320/P1090416.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<br />
This also gave us a moment to remove the original plastic license plate light/mount, which some tourist decided to help themselves to the original Washington License plate a couple years ago by breaking off the lower part of the mount. I'll return in a later chapter to show the new one installed after sealing the original holes and installing the new steel mount.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmY92_1zwftUhBEyMwkVC1HOTd9ItbKpqn76CWhvWdmNa5_cN-4jG7mP2ZEa-bNrDCfPMhj8RfQEnerUw7xMIi42O6pY2CCrtXWIZG4EHGZzmNhOxlPhKuMP_-kW88lOqLob-QHCHDrDs/s1600/P1090418.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmY92_1zwftUhBEyMwkVC1HOTd9ItbKpqn76CWhvWdmNa5_cN-4jG7mP2ZEa-bNrDCfPMhj8RfQEnerUw7xMIi42O6pY2CCrtXWIZG4EHGZzmNhOxlPhKuMP_-kW88lOqLob-QHCHDrDs/s320/P1090418.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<br />
Once the wiring was taken care of, I set about cutting 1/2" polyisocyanurate foam insulation to put in the voids in the bed pan frame (there was no insulation here from factory). As its wasn't practical to remove the aluminum skin that makes up the outer skin of the bed pan, and because there's nothing on the outside of the bed pan on the back section that's up in the clamshell, we'll push the insulation in place in those sections later.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfvNhSxztIel7YpwbwV_ItF93UQ_iahIgeLVhXwdzyq_NEq-4UTFHTboZCC2nCc3XhTEepzW8DLpvBEEcs-UEHausds41sGApjbd55NYBBVUxmESfFuTrKaX9n6Zstx6QWEwpvr3OUwA/s1600/P1090419.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfvNhSxztIel7YpwbwV_ItF93UQ_iahIgeLVhXwdzyq_NEq-4UTFHTboZCC2nCc3XhTEepzW8DLpvBEEcs-UEHausds41sGApjbd55NYBBVUxmESfFuTrKaX9n6Zstx6QWEwpvr3OUwA/s320/P1090419.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBQoXugTvqpyMMJWmhebcskhN7-lSVHbiDAe7v7NXt06rNJjMmQQLqPENEptD-ntFysUMK9t2Yw_F3LQCfCFb5Tdk33GMem6JSW-Z9yAiWhjb7B1oESjIkBvbyMhH16roOOimpYfIGPg/s1600/P1090420.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBQoXugTvqpyMMJWmhebcskhN7-lSVHbiDAe7v7NXt06rNJjMmQQLqPENEptD-ntFysUMK9t2Yw_F3LQCfCFb5Tdk33GMem6JSW-Z9yAiWhjb7B1oESjIkBvbyMhH16roOOimpYfIGPg/s320/P1090420.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<br />
Using the original pieces as patterns, I traced out new wall paneling and reinstalled in into place along the perimeter walls.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7JbLb2Y3_rJ2tHuepLdXUq3sK8je0FLzpFzi7WR_qgsso1EDO03uncmIHMLI-jo3mhOFNtdAKJ0A_1dQSW7QXl0xLALbkAj6jWHqNMgib8YV8H1ke6QbrrOZGRkQQe8tZnlpNSZzX4o/s1600/P1090421.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7JbLb2Y3_rJ2tHuepLdXUq3sK8je0FLzpFzi7WR_qgsso1EDO03uncmIHMLI-jo3mhOFNtdAKJ0A_1dQSW7QXl0xLALbkAj6jWHqNMgib8YV8H1ke6QbrrOZGRkQQe8tZnlpNSZzX4o/s320/P1090421.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mKDNthelPiWYpMjrisUGKMgFNGU85HC38JUu18Hw0u6fK9bnQtHRiWxRwLjfXtanSPFjpxB2hUKQAwapiYUNN2BWS8nny6BUFUvyYZOv77h_f6qHrEXe2Uu4K65_pV88l9nz2WZ8dXQ/s1600/P1090422.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mKDNthelPiWYpMjrisUGKMgFNGU85HC38JUu18Hw0u6fK9bnQtHRiWxRwLjfXtanSPFjpxB2hUKQAwapiYUNN2BWS8nny6BUFUvyYZOv77h_f6qHrEXe2Uu4K65_pV88l9nz2WZ8dXQ/s320/P1090422.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<br />
And this is the new bolstering floor frame that is being installed in the bed and and will be sandwich anchored to the original aluminum framed pan floor, which was way too thin to safely support an adult sleeping in this bed. This floor, which is based upon the design and materials used in the cabover floor of Mr. KIT, which supported two adults sleeping on it for years, will be more than durable enough for the single adult that will generally be using this bed. So far, its been weight tested up to 380lbs (AKA I crawled on it) without any bowing or buckling, and this was before the insulation or plywood floor was glued and anchored on top. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFdBfp0mPV3EMDWBH-JJHSE-K_nMVJPFxVmPlA7YuRE4Xl1scf66QsqtWakUg05U_K-D5c3Bm8RNhUa1zasjCcxjxKLjiz9jCqCk75Lq7OzSqQV63hzthF30ODgb_gAjX2hEnZ4BsYjg/s1600/P1090423.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFdBfp0mPV3EMDWBH-JJHSE-K_nMVJPFxVmPlA7YuRE4Xl1scf66QsqtWakUg05U_K-D5c3Bm8RNhUa1zasjCcxjxKLjiz9jCqCk75Lq7OzSqQV63hzthF30ODgb_gAjX2hEnZ4BsYjg/s320/P1090423.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanTsum3ITFNTYapGGV2w-gks31xWKffoPdlnlavGmTwKmNZ8OWP2D2kdUfrOaQdWtNnLsf0ekuHV6Fb0eWLDhLS_63zG12I88PbMzMgud7xfv80TL_TFCgx0VIAl4XPabjP0qvSFXXts/s1600/P1090425.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanTsum3ITFNTYapGGV2w-gks31xWKffoPdlnlavGmTwKmNZ8OWP2D2kdUfrOaQdWtNnLsf0ekuHV6Fb0eWLDhLS_63zG12I88PbMzMgud7xfv80TL_TFCgx0VIAl4XPabjP0qvSFXXts/s320/P1090425.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hkvemIDaArXwk4uAQD9CYjVvDJUD_36J89cQZCxy54YQY7xeSpSu2H5wBh8xNuTq-WtJVrqIOtl-1QFfEQ__rc-_snwVuAl3XJhPYLIqOhyAC6A_x0bxGAyI_nwx2L3eesWOF8QZgBU/s1600/P1090432.JPG"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hkvemIDaArXwk4uAQD9CYjVvDJUD_36J89cQZCxy54YQY7xeSpSu2H5wBh8xNuTq-WtJVrqIOtl-1QFfEQ__rc-_snwVuAl3XJhPYLIqOhyAC6A_x0bxGAyI_nwx2L3eesWOF8QZgBU/s320/P1090432.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<br />
More 3/4" polyisocyanurate foam board :). In case folks are wondering why I use this type of foam, its because unlike polystyrene foam found in most RVs, it has nearly double the RV value for equivalent thinkness. Most of Ms. Merry's walls are rated at at least R10 or higher, where the same thickness in polystyrene only yields R4 at best. Since we do alot of camping in cooler temps, bolstering the insulation factor of the walls will help keep the furnace from having to cycle on as much while dry camping or urban boondocking.
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincS22RZdiidJO-Kfh_DRU_p0KznV23M0lpaisNIEdMRgkIu6PD_DRLAmsO_QSe9UksNzG3Okvx_E1lXI2DGUxD4x6r5-z-jRLBn5ucMsBulCcgtAMctygWmQr43FLlFs7GOItqgnzIco/s1600/P1090427.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincS22RZdiidJO-Kfh_DRU_p0KznV23M0lpaisNIEdMRgkIu6PD_DRLAmsO_QSe9UksNzG3Okvx_E1lXI2DGUxD4x6r5-z-jRLBn5ucMsBulCcgtAMctygWmQr43FLlFs7GOItqgnzIco/s320/P1090427.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxK9fVnmSIx0R8PjEbPBN2FqFeVUg5hzU4K0Do0n_sMouWRZ2Cic0Pq9MrfigdzzvpvNEXhuEgtLsTJtxDfVRxyduRhyphenhyphen83yMlwdYyW5L0Pn3CQC98gMIWiEr1ik26d4bksisXSR-0zNc/s1600/P1090429.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxK9fVnmSIx0R8PjEbPBN2FqFeVUg5hzU4K0Do0n_sMouWRZ2Cic0Pq9MrfigdzzvpvNEXhuEgtLsTJtxDfVRxyduRhyphenhyphen83yMlwdYyW5L0Pn3CQC98gMIWiEr1ik26d4bksisXSR-0zNc/s320/P1090429.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<br />
And last, but not least, the new plywood floor is in :)
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJDc3SOHkVcFND9Us4OQokieS0rPBN8Z7cE50zYhqMvYaalIk8SHDbm6rfWnYnt-uNjey9X5bZEZ4_Q1w2OSs57e14s06sgumwHFX4TLiTsj0Qyv_EwU_n86WJOcTi87wcB3swgFSR2w/s1600/P1090430.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJDc3SOHkVcFND9Us4OQokieS0rPBN8Z7cE50zYhqMvYaalIk8SHDbm6rfWnYnt-uNjey9X5bZEZ4_Q1w2OSs57e14s06sgumwHFX4TLiTsj0Qyv_EwU_n86WJOcTi87wcB3swgFSR2w/s320/P1090430.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCcFOZ4f2otVjq-IcYn-6muuc-cwgD6yOSVCeaz80bSdzOzO83BJffeGXhSsYTJLvZOMTipNmSILIlkFP6-9PuXanM3p2037AUSw3iZ3jP0aAq9n-zwm4dalavVOIFm5QCSHUomJjdeo/s1600/P1090431.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCcFOZ4f2otVjq-IcYn-6muuc-cwgD6yOSVCeaz80bSdzOzO83BJffeGXhSsYTJLvZOMTipNmSILIlkFP6-9PuXanM3p2037AUSw3iZ3jP0aAq9n-zwm4dalavVOIFm5QCSHUomJjdeo/s320/P1090431.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<br />
<br />
This wraps up Part 4, but there's still much more to post! So stay tuned, I'll be adding more in the upcoming days. :)Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-89523968029075107712020-06-28T22:56:00.000-07:002020-08-03T01:47:15.337-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry” the Amerigo– And the Story of the Flimsy bed–Part 3 Alrighty! While the date on this reads June 28th, its actually been about a month since I last updated this blog! Lots of works been getting done, so let's get caught up! :)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCnhUFBM4w18A3g79l_6nW-rqmhtMVC6BfU5oJl8LuegN0o0GV9of6R-GMiEswVwhJIgkvPYCM_lnSMQPTNTvkpHBihZJbhk8xCtOVYTDgK6YP77uhUYxvIKykAa0ADXruu2TBn1hbl4/s1600/P1090391.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCnhUFBM4w18A3g79l_6nW-rqmhtMVC6BfU5oJl8LuegN0o0GV9of6R-GMiEswVwhJIgkvPYCM_lnSMQPTNTvkpHBihZJbhk8xCtOVYTDgK6YP77uhUYxvIKykAa0ADXruu2TBn1hbl4/s320/P1090391.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
When we left off, we were rebuilding Ms. Merry's Snap-N-Nap Wings, as the originals were a trash design that we've yet to figure out the logic of.<br />
<br />
<br />
So, we've been recreating them using proper laminated wood truss-type construction with a 1x3/1x4 inner frame, a thin plywood exterior.<br />
<br />
<br />
Now that we've got the body of these made, we've installed 3/4" Polyisocyancurate foam board in the center (Yes there is glue between the other side of the foam board and the outer plywood, and now we're laminating on the Finished RV wall board that will be the interior facing side of the wings :).<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi495KIvAbjwgjjcNmgXogtuZNaWZLZ0d5laTG_0k2PgE4wWVckyVx2PBtL4IZMmS0wzxSbE_tPf_-dK7hV92LM4BvEa-KAIVOQmbr2ZKq7dgly-qabT6enAeFwI3aUNaHgdUj0dSRY9Z0/s1600/P1090392.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi495KIvAbjwgjjcNmgXogtuZNaWZLZ0d5laTG_0k2PgE4wWVckyVx2PBtL4IZMmS0wzxSbE_tPf_-dK7hV92LM4BvEa-KAIVOQmbr2ZKq7dgly-qabT6enAeFwI3aUNaHgdUj0dSRY9Z0/s320/P1090392.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfXUbSo58EyI6NEJdvv3sn4TZq1kSFGljAf3p4qAzPvG1T1iXvpdUs2iQuDgHJXKUYaD48z_5WYFUKAeFzB3PsBbJlpmmoCfoATJCJT6v3K6EgrdUOiK21_M_NqC9Qzefhi7uYDNSUMQ/s1600/P1090394.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfXUbSo58EyI6NEJdvv3sn4TZq1kSFGljAf3p4qAzPvG1T1iXvpdUs2iQuDgHJXKUYaD48z_5WYFUKAeFzB3PsBbJlpmmoCfoATJCJT6v3K6EgrdUOiK21_M_NqC9Qzefhi7uYDNSUMQ/s320/P1090394.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<br />
Since we can't really hide the staples we use for anchoring the wall board in place while the adhesive cures for the inside, the solution has been to apply the adhesive to all the gluing surfaces, then temporarily clamp the panel on the mirror side of the section we're working on so that we can flip the inner wall sides facing each other and make a compression clamp sandwich of the two, using the wing pieces to give us a nice tight bond. <br />
<br />
These will be left to cure for about 24 hours in this state so that the glue properly sets up before removing the clamp sandwich.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEL62FL1t8FuUT4CKqrCYv-L0yg_i-2dln0UxdWgKmqZjji5u32cSTq3EUx-inrBSlqCuhqsC4LSZbknKgPRkbbc2OnifPjbMjpzrPKn83lOWG4SpITF2XBRE_5Euqw8aW2rznw6-ots/s1600/P1090398.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEL62FL1t8FuUT4CKqrCYv-L0yg_i-2dln0UxdWgKmqZjji5u32cSTq3EUx-inrBSlqCuhqsC4LSZbknKgPRkbbc2OnifPjbMjpzrPKn83lOWG4SpITF2XBRE_5Euqw8aW2rznw6-ots/s320/P1090398.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<br />
Because I'm working on a few different areas of Ms. Merry at the same time, the second sandwich got set up on the roof of Beasley the Bambi-Slayer's roof while the work bench got used for other tasks :p <br />
<br />
For those that haven't met Beasley, Beasley is my donor Suburban for my next vehicle project, the restoration and 4x4 conversion of Charlie Blue, my childhood family car that I grew up with.<br />
<br />
I bought Beasley off a neighbor who paid to have him brought back from Southern California sight unseen only to discover Beasley was going to be a bigger project than he was hoping for, so I bought Beasley off him to donate his 4x4 parts, and drive train components to finish getting Charlie Blue back to road worthy status.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-SFfHEkKRkkDNIszJHznad0O8VIQWypmD3Rue9CG7-NIPfUKHZvwhloIK9cs73vO4Ka-UldnaYPV3ixqvDZv7cF_ykpJzT3uGfdSKN00X9xASdHU_kW50vZrpJ70YDlHlY_h4c24m8M/s1600/P1090395.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-SFfHEkKRkkDNIszJHznad0O8VIQWypmD3Rue9CG7-NIPfUKHZvwhloIK9cs73vO4Ka-UldnaYPV3ixqvDZv7cF_ykpJzT3uGfdSKN00X9xASdHU_kW50vZrpJ70YDlHlY_h4c24m8M/s320/P1090395.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Now, that the panels have had a couple days to finish curing, we can tape up the corners of the RV wall panel side so that over run from the base coat of fiberglass resin won't get on the nice wall paper sides of the wings.<br />
<br />
We'll be removing the tape after the first coat has had enough time to setup to were it can be touched, but still soft enough that we can remove the excess by simply peeling the tape of.<br />
<br />
We'll be applying multiple layers of fiberglass resin, along with the cloth after this base coat, as the base coat is simply meant to seal the pores of the wood.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7_cTqQIw9OhnROoFLcbSIsdHSr9z9cU7MhITc6e3Q7Jm0EUbTkdC9D0p0ioIzQXt_AjNwM0WNDJD165uF9woj3G-9NMypPH4jnJq1eJEsgysH17cVNrePJFUWTkpCjKvcWIrv6IvA4U/s1600/P1090396.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7_cTqQIw9OhnROoFLcbSIsdHSr9z9cU7MhITc6e3Q7Jm0EUbTkdC9D0p0ioIzQXt_AjNwM0WNDJD165uF9woj3G-9NMypPH4jnJq1eJEsgysH17cVNrePJFUWTkpCjKvcWIrv6IvA4U/s320/P1090396.JPG" width="320" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUoljl0R0nvVGIZweZypJx3cFzYv4k0YgNYP3rGGuDDrwnQLRzL0_uZ0m4Ibe_DWa_Jap3RPEcNaQ75TmYeoT2nyw1aYIA2L2FMmY0IJTw93AqwldZtICx6hn5ec5fo_MzAcIF9wqUz4/s1600/P1090397.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUoljl0R0nvVGIZweZypJx3cFzYv4k0YgNYP3rGGuDDrwnQLRzL0_uZ0m4Ibe_DWa_Jap3RPEcNaQ75TmYeoT2nyw1aYIA2L2FMmY0IJTw93AqwldZtICx6hn5ec5fo_MzAcIF9wqUz4/s320/P1090397.JPG" width="320" /></a>The results of the first fiberglass coat, looking shiny! We'll fix that with some nice sanding to prep it for the application of coat number two, and the fiberglass cloth around the edges.<br />
<br />
<br />
And sanding is complete!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVFIYIUihQGrQk8RQTxlg2JfEKdDl9H5MArDAVjRF-t27NzJpa-BG0YNruB9QRdxpXRYjRoD2QfnY1XVkLzHHaL9omytbE4RzEm3yYUHpOO7QTsjBASGB0eKKYBB24bfEqKDTxO7k5DQ/s1600/P1090402.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVFIYIUihQGrQk8RQTxlg2JfEKdDl9H5MArDAVjRF-t27NzJpa-BG0YNruB9QRdxpXRYjRoD2QfnY1XVkLzHHaL9omytbE4RzEm3yYUHpOO7QTsjBASGB0eKKYBB24bfEqKDTxO7k5DQ/s320/P1090402.JPG" width="320" /></a>
Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-69788715068483812842020-06-21T23:04:00.001-07:002020-08-02T22:13:27.413-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry” the Amerigo– And the Story of the Flimsy bed–Part 2Part 2 of the ongoing rebuilding saga of Ms. Merry's Snap-N-Nap! When we left off yesterday, we'd discovered that the flimsy plastic of the accordion wings was all that was holding the bed pan to the outer clamshell of the Snap-N-Nap bed, which wasn't exactly a very strong setup.<br />
<br />
We'd hoped that after doing some more digging in the interior that we'd find another piece of wood fiberglassed into the wall of the outer clamshell that was supposed to have a piano hinge attached to it to bear the load of the bed, unfortunately, during today's investigations, what we thought was wood was actually just dirt inside in hollow cavity that was formed in the fiberglass to allow wiring to run for the tail lights, so sadly, we're going to need to rebuild the wings as they were.<br />
<br />
Since we can't change the design, I decided to go with rebuilding the wings from scratch and building them so that they're a proper structural piece made of a laminated truss.<br />
<br />
To start, I used the dismantled wings to trace out the pattern of the original design on some thinner door skin plywood I had on hand for this sort of thing, then cut out two new uppers and lowers.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoN73fWKAPpsma2EvhiwPe4q-yLF4EcZW_yt0VqhjJYIqdr2QnUK_c2EJHdyhUZcvvHNaTi3KBblSPwOcJMB0FbWPcFC89isZxB9OogfJsjEQ_aZLbq9-zC6sl32APjPzag7zBQ21Kts/s1600/P1090382.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoN73fWKAPpsma2EvhiwPe4q-yLF4EcZW_yt0VqhjJYIqdr2QnUK_c2EJHdyhUZcvvHNaTi3KBblSPwOcJMB0FbWPcFC89isZxB9OogfJsjEQ_aZLbq9-zC6sl32APjPzag7zBQ21Kts/s400/P1090382.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
The wings were made out of this sanded plywood because we'll be coming back once these are fully laminated together and finishing the exterior sides and frame edges with fiberglass resin and then painting it with a glossy polar white epoxy paint to match the sides of the Ms. Merry.<br />
<br />
Compared to pre-made filon, these are thicker and much more structural stout. The center of the Uppers and Lowers will be filled with foil-sided Polyisocyanurate insulation foam which will be glued and laminated in as part of the wing structure. <br />
<br />
For the main structure, I used 1x4 and 1x3 lumber to make the frame, with 1x4s used along the edges that would be getting clamped in place when the bed is deployed so that latched could be attached to the wings allowing me to remove the hinged clamp boards that were used originally in the camper. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_yv3cgANjy-XuabzVg75Yf3S8Wc04zugnurV4383naKlM_8MK02p3lClopsrFG5-fBMRVq8V6_UsRH1b6MyiZzkNiCVxfmPz69mWOCG_ALeA3mgZrHc16bW-I4RCMkV-HPv7ZPxevys/s1600/P1090384.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_yv3cgANjy-XuabzVg75Yf3S8Wc04zugnurV4383naKlM_8MK02p3lClopsrFG5-fBMRVq8V6_UsRH1b6MyiZzkNiCVxfmPz69mWOCG_ALeA3mgZrHc16bW-I4RCMkV-HPv7ZPxevys/s400/P1090384.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
A quick side by side of the new lower and the original with its non-structural loose wooden interior pieces. That wood is only attached loosely to the outside plastic, and what was bearing all the load of the deployed bed pan and carrying the load into the outer clamshell structure. <br />
<br />
The only thing carrying all that weight is that disintegrating plastic, it literally was crumbling under my fingers, I am truthfully amazed the bed didn't drop out, when the Snap-N-Nap was used for storing building materials in the past couple years.<br />
<br />
Another side by side, and yes, the new wing is built the right direction. Gardner Industries used the same wing piece for both sides, so on one side the seam of the overlapping plastic faced inwards, on the other it faced outward. With the thin fiberglass insulation removed, you can see the original color of the Snap-N-Nap wings, and how much they've yellowed in the last forty-five years!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE63MyMKAkEH9PizeHRbOjiOFQnaATcDHs-YQrZM-po7sY6vSW0yVet5LLrBxwUWrSAQV1itZUheu0BKp-JsJIUkHuv_uQeZ9GOTLmXVtNB0OrCVX6VEKTVOX8-_KzlgjAFuqh1E_zJ2w/s1600/P1090385.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE63MyMKAkEH9PizeHRbOjiOFQnaATcDHs-YQrZM-po7sY6vSW0yVet5LLrBxwUWrSAQV1itZUheu0BKp-JsJIUkHuv_uQeZ9GOTLmXVtNB0OrCVX6VEKTVOX8-_KzlgjAFuqh1E_zJ2w/s320/P1090385.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
Ran out of time today to get the last upper assembled, but all the
pieces were cut, and tomorrow I'll be able to finish the assembly and
start cutting the new insulation and trace out the inner skins.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmKM4DreTbn5APAs0CFHWHh4duIWDh2UvTyWIWYKI4jM_94NbDLuuhIBVJTyB2a73SIfjLoH7jF3rGcFG_Q07MAlmeHdNRsR3uSfgeMOBd-ikqqN2IxBPYtG9olFCNyM31-aeP25-vqw/s1600/P1090387.JPG"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmKM4DreTbn5APAs0CFHWHh4duIWDh2UvTyWIWYKI4jM_94NbDLuuhIBVJTyB2a73SIfjLoH7jF3rGcFG_Q07MAlmeHdNRsR3uSfgeMOBd-ikqqN2IxBPYtG9olFCNyM31-aeP25-vqw/s320/P1090387.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNk55g2hpz6n_BqazKCyLALK9DZEHMJvwUQKvyvDnEfd1Ygoc4G058WY35P8wXU6B9Z0HT6Trdw8IHaQ1knmO3PbA2Owd9hRRduYpGiffuDC-W8CWQq4pgT9Ula0Qbbc3UwJJcV1BQHI/s320/P1090389.JPG" width="320" /><br />
And
here's one of the new sides test laid out on the workbench :). I'll
likely trim the little corner on the upper so that it ends flush with
the lower (This is an exact trace of the sides, and they're not the same
size, and there's no real purpose to one being half an inch longer than
the other). <br />
<br />
These should be a tad stronger than the flimsy
plastic originals and I won't have to worry about them catastrophically
failing while on a trip. <br />
<br />Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-91359988928803960112020-06-21T00:45:00.001-07:002020-08-02T22:12:23.871-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry” the Amerigo– And the Story of the Flimsy bed–Part 1So, once again, Ms. Merry and Jake the Pickup have slumbered through another soggy miserable Oregon winter, hoping that this year, THIS year, the Fat Man in the Orange Dodge hat with the power tools will finally be finished rebuilding Merry so that they can all escape from the Madness that has been 2020 and go to the more important places, the places where there’s more fish than there is people, because the Fat Man has grown extremely tired of people and their stupidity and would prefer the company of his wife, their cats, their camper, and a lot of fish and very few people. <br />
<br />
This brings us to today <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="file:///C:/Users/Matthew%20T.%20Rivard/AppData/Local/Temp/OpenLiveWriter809473521/supfiles2A8C2BDF/wlEmoticon-smile[2].png" />. For the past few weeks, the Fat Man in the orange hat has been collecting supplies again to make sure that they have enough materials to work on Merry for the next couple months without needing to deal with crowds of people. In the years past, The Fat man wouldn’t be bothered by them, but with the world darkened by a new sickness from China, the Fat Man has been spending many tiring months working and doing little else than walk from bed to the work computer, sit there for twelve hours, then go back to bed, with food sometimes mixed in between. The never ceasing rain has not helped the Fat man much, so any sliver of it not being a dreary, drippy day on the weekend (The weather has been doing a fine job of being nice on those long days when he’s trapped inside working, and returning to absolute piss when the weekend finally arrives for the last two months), he grabs. <br />
<br />
Today, he decided to finally start tackling Ms. Merry’s Snap-N-Nap rear bed, the very last piece of Ms. Merry that hadn’t been changed since he brought her home several years ago. It is still “resplendent” in its spray glued vinyl covering that at one time was white, but has yellowed and aged, and tacky 70s paneling. He has many plans, plans to remove the original accordion sides and replace them with a single hinged fold down side that latches in place on the rear shell, allow the bed to have a thicker mattress and to fix the design flaws that rely on the rubber rain covers for the hinges to close gigantic holes in the corners of the snap-n-nap when its folded open. <br />
<br />
Little did he know what new madness he would discover……<br />
<br />
------<br />
<br />
Hello, again, everyone! Its been a long time since I last worked on Jake and Merry, and as I dramatized above, its been a rather poor winter and the world’s been a festering disaster since February, and I’m looking forward to trying to actually get them finished this year. With me working from home part of the week and part on, being able to dive into work on Merry as the weather stabilizes will be a nice change. <br />
<br />
So, the story of the Flimsy Bed (AKA the Who-thought-this-was-a-good-idea! Bed). <br />
<br />
I call it this, because I’ve either found a ludicrous design choice that Gardner Industries made to cut corners and pinch pennies that could of potentially led to a lawsuit, or the last missing part in the Oil Embargo special that seems to have highlighted Merry’s original construction from day one of this restoration project. <br />
<br />
Since I was starting back into the home stretch on Merry, I decided that I would start the year by completing some of the last big lift items that still needed doing, the Snap-N-Nap being a big one that’s still as it was when I bought the camper. I had always planned to remove the nasty, tacky vinyl and reinforce the bed pan because my earliest observations were the aluminum frame and door skin were really not strong enough to handle an adult sleeping in that bed much before things started to break. Part of that plan involved reinforcing the floor by adding additional support structure as much as reasonable without making the bed too heavy, a proper plywood floor, and changing the accordion wings to a properly sealing design. <br />
<br />
Most Amerigo owners pride themselves on that rear bed with its automatically opening and closing wings, however, in almost all cases, the thin thermoformed plastic shells are almost always disintegrating by the time any of us get ahold of them and while they can be glued and patched, that plastic is still brittle and forty years or more old. So, my plan was to completely remove them, and make a solid single hinged wing that would fold up against the “ceiling” of the Snap N Nap and be held in place by a sliding latch, one of the same ones that would later be used to latch the wall in the down position after the bed was opened so that it compressed tightly to the new sealing surfaces and make the snap-n-nap airtight and water tight to the elements, something the original design was lacking and tried to make up for with large amounts of vinyl. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, like everything else in Ms. Merry, the wooden anchor bar at the top of the snap and nap sides was installed with those damnable double inward crescent security screws. Since said screws just went through a piece of one by one cheap yellow pine, I just drilled holes in the wood near the screw heads through the piece and then wedged a flat head screw driver in the hole to split the wood and separate it from the screws, allowing me to pull the side down, so I could then use a 1/4” socket on my drill to disassemble the rest of the accordion for removal. <br />
<br />
What I wasn’t anticipating to find was that the only thing attaching the bed pan to the outer clam shell of the snap-n-nap was these flimsy plastic accordion sides that have no structural frames at all inside them. I expected there to be a second piano hinge along the top far edge of bed pan that attached it where it met the clamshell so that the bed was hanging from the rear wall and the clamshell at two points with the sides just being attached so that they would automatically open and close.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrO0gGcoyc67BNx9qXeo2xgIpHoBSkDW0D-S4bDLfzOBxdzNTsp4IPAcb_e9bME1rhzNL0OxKxPogjWBAzQHobvALsDCBaYqBzTMprE8t4WZ3dBa1RobTnKtLFflVmkIgjzGgWBsU_2Ro/s1600/P1090374.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrO0gGcoyc67BNx9qXeo2xgIpHoBSkDW0D-S4bDLfzOBxdzNTsp4IPAcb_e9bME1rhzNL0OxKxPogjWBAzQHobvALsDCBaYqBzTMprE8t4WZ3dBa1RobTnKtLFflVmkIgjzGgWBsU_2Ro/s320/P1090374.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9U3vmLBsVHdOjYRaTOJld5m_XaDrOJ08a2_RjUHfE_YbT_L8ARf_pxbhSBaELPzQjkPolk47zbs14Yfuzo25zWG_vpO7nvnOe2QXvTeexLG8TbTVahu9zIIFuxkF7TDbr14ICcKfw4h4/s1600/P1090377.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9U3vmLBsVHdOjYRaTOJld5m_XaDrOJ08a2_RjUHfE_YbT_L8ARf_pxbhSBaELPzQjkPolk47zbs14Yfuzo25zWG_vpO7nvnOe2QXvTeexLG8TbTVahu9zIIFuxkF7TDbr14ICcKfw4h4/s320/P1090377.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
Investigating behind the rotten vinyl I can even feel what appears to be a 1x4 piece of wood embedded into the fiberglass of the clam shell at the height where that piano hinge should be. I don’t know, as these pictures are the first I’ve ever seen of the inside of an Amerigo’s Snap-N-Nap accordion sides, if this was by design, which makes little sense, given the wood you see in the pictures isn’t even attached to one another, they simply line the edges and are held inside the clam shell by a couple staples through the plastic. There is absolutely no way these were mean to the load of that bed and its occupant, there’s simply not enough structural integrity to them to do that.<br />
I might have believe it possibly the case, had these been welded aluminum frames or the wood was actually attached to one another, but there is literally nothing structural to these, and I seriously cannot believe a company would think a thin strip of Vinyl would be enough for a load baring hinge. <br />
<br />
My only conclusions I can draw are, there was a hinge that was supposed to have been installed, it never was. Some previous owner removed it and never reinstalled it, but there’s no evidence of one ever having been installed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6IkP78F06Sn5p0PGCJXuIPnMPByydUNIYv1N1fg_hxD9yIQ_gJ003BFqmPZ8OkpX4r4Qh9m9mNIcIkx5RfzTZMBvnM6P44m7sr5LYbqOa2xBLX9XYFlGFkAHmsRJo4S7N-JuOjpH4zY/s1600/P1090379.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6IkP78F06Sn5p0PGCJXuIPnMPByydUNIYv1N1fg_hxD9yIQ_gJ003BFqmPZ8OkpX4r4Qh9m9mNIcIkx5RfzTZMBvnM6P44m7sr5LYbqOa2xBLX9XYFlGFkAHmsRJo4S7N-JuOjpH4zY/s640/P1090379.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Directly behind that vinyl below that screw strip is that "potential" 1x4 piece of embedded wood. The bed pan is currently hanging low on this corner because the side has been removed. I’ll be setting up a cradle tomorrow to support the bed pan so I can fully detach the clam shell from it and set about installing the missing hinge. <br />
<br />
From what I’ve peaked behind the vinyl I’ve pulled free, its a very real possibility I may need to glue a 1x2 frame onto the fiberglass to give me a surface to anchor the RV wall paneling to to install it. <br />
<br />
So, welcome back to the restoration adventure, I’ll try to post updates as often as I can, so stay tuned! <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="file:///C:/Users/Matthew%20T.%20Rivard/AppData/Local/Temp/OpenLiveWriter809473521/supfiles2A8C2BDF/wlEmoticon-smile[2].png" />. Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-33863432965891946002019-08-31T02:10:00.001-07:002019-08-31T02:17:22.453-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry” the Amerigo–The new Loo–Part 2<p>Ms. Merry is continuing to look more like a usable camper with each update <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/wlEmoticon-smile.png">. This time around, we’ve been working on getting the sewer plumbing in place, allow for at last, the installation of Merry’s new holding tank and the sewer and vent lines that go into Merry’s new bathroom <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/wlEmoticon-smile.png">!</p><p><br><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190829_175130.jpg"><img width="139" height="244" title="20190829_175130" align="left" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190829_175130" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190829_175130_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a>The first step we had to tackle was getting Merry’s new holding tank in its final position and the inlet flanges located for the new toilet and the vent line that would be going up through the shower (Painted white like a column, similar to how we did it in Mr. KIT in <a href="http://redneckexpress.blogspot.com/2010/05/great-bathroom-remodel-day-3.html" target="_blank">The Great Bathroom Remodel</a>. The difference in Merry being her vent pipe will go from floor to ceiling, where-as in Mr. KIT, it only had to go from counter top to ceiling. </p><p>One thing I love about Ms. Merry’s new holding tank is unlike Mr. KIT’s whose was made of polypropylene and required spin welding to attach anything, Ms. Merry’s is ABS plastic, which simply requires cutting the holes for the flange and then gluing it in place, much much easier! </p><p>You’re likely wondering what the white compound is around the outer dump valve, that is water proof (below water line) epoxy putty, which was used to pack in the remaining gap between the flange the T- fitting between the two main valves. I had hoped when I removed the studs and glued the valve on that it would be a tight enough fitting that it would be water tight, sadly, it still leaked a little bit, which the epoxy took care of. </p><p>The valves are currently in the wrong alignment in the picture, they’re going to all be repositioned so that the pull handles point down so that the handles can extend through the floor of the heated compartment and are accessible underneath so they can be accessed without having to add a second hatch to the compartment floor that might come open during travel. The main valve bodies will be up in the heated and insulated tank compartment, allowing them to remain warm during winter use. </p><p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190829_180930.jpg"><img width="139" height="244" title="20190829_180930" align="right" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190829_180930" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190829_180930_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a>Once we got the flanges in place, the next step was to install the floor insulation, cut out the pass through holes for the pipes and install the spacer ring to the underside of the floor that the tank would be anchored to. The spacer was necessary to give the flange on the top of the tank and the bottom of the offset flange enough room to be able to fully join, as the flange extends down an additional inch and a half below the floor. </p><p>The offset flange was needed to allow the toilet to be fully situated back near the wall in the bathroom, and keep the whole valve and dump connection assembly to remain inside the tank compartment and kept warm. During winter use, we’ll likely need to make a water proof packing ring to stuff in around the sewer hose as it comes out through the compartment hatch so that the warm air being suppled by the furnace isn’t lost to the outside entirely. </p><p>In the picture, only the initial screws were installed to hold the spacer in place while the tank was being positioned for flange installation. Once the flange work was done, the tank was removed and additional 3” screws were drive in all around the spacer to fully anchor it into the floor. The tank was then later reinstalled to this spacer ring with lag screws and wide fender washers all around its perimeter to permanently anchor it into place securely enough to handle the liquid movement force of a full holding tank while the camper is moving. <br><br>Once the toilet flange and other pipes are in place, the tank will then be filled completely and left full for 24-48 hours to check for leaks an anchor failure. </p><p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_220302.jpg"><img width="139" height="244" title="20190830_220302" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190830_220302" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_220302_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_220052.jpg"><img width="244" height="139" title="20190830_220052" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190830_220052" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_220052_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a></p><p>With the tank finally in its permanent home, we started plumbing the lines going into the tank, starting first with the grey water lines going up through the floor, where the first T connects the pipe to the drain line come from the shower before going up to a second T that takes the feed coming from the bathroom sink and then later traveling on to the kitchen sink at the front of the camper. </p><p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_215922.jpg"><img width="244" height="139" title="20190830_215922" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190830_215922" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_215922_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_205807.jpg"><img width="139" height="244" title="20190830_205807" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190830_205807" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_205807_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_205940.jpg"><img width="139" height="244" title="20190830_205940" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190830_205940" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_205940_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_205851.jpg"><img width="244" height="139" title="20190830_205851" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190830_205851" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_205851_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a></p><p>Originally, I had planned to use a HepVo valve instead of a standard P or U trap on the shower’s drain line, however, after unpacking the HepVo valve, it was very clear that the membrane in it would end up slowing the shower flow too much to work properly and with the spacer ring providing additional space between the floor and the tank, there was more than sufficient room to simply cut an additional hole in the floor for the U Trap to drop into above the tank, allowing for the use of standard plumbing practices instead of the rubber membrane HepVO valve. A Inlet valve or “Cheater Valve” was installed at the top of the drain line, though the access hole still needs to be cut so that it can be serviced if at some point in the future it fails. <br><br>The use of a inlet valve in this space, allows for the air inlet to be inside the camper, a second one will be installed on the line going to the kitchen sink, allowing for the complete removal of one of the roof vent holes in the roof, allowing me to permanently patch that spot in the camper’s roof and reduce the number of potential leak points on the camper’s roof. Ms. Merry’s original ceiling showed the signs of water entry around the original vent when we were demolishing the original interior. </p><p>As the pipes were installed, standing full pipe water tests have been performed to ensure that none of the joints in the new system leak. A final full system standing water test will be done once I pick up some test plugs to make sure that the there are zero leak locations. </p><p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_205807_3.jpg"><img width="139" height="244" title="20190830_205807" align="left" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190830_205807" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_205807_thumb_3.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190829_175130_3.jpg"><img width="139" height="244" title="20190829_175130" align="left" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190829_175130" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190829_175130_thumb_3.jpg" border="0"></a>The pipe coming up through the floor on the left is the tank vent, which the tank inlet can be seen in the picture of the unmounted tank. </p><p>You can see more clearly why the offset toilet flange assembly had to be used in order to connect the toilet to the tank without losing vast amounts of precious bathroom floor space. </p><p>The white piece of pipe on the end of the long pipe running across the floor on the right, is a piece from the Hepvo valve kit that I reused, as it fits the threads of the new stainless steel shower drain and threads right into a standard inch and a half FPT connection. The Valterra drain unfortunately will not directly thread into a FPT connection and a comparable match from the hardware store has the same issue, neither is designed for direct threaded connection, unlike the original flanges the camper had (The shower flange broke into pieces during removal as all the original flanges were made of plastic), necessitating the use of the elbow assembly from the hepvo as a normal slip fitting with a regular elbow is too tall to fit in the narrow confines below the shower floor. </p><p>You can see the elbow more clearly in the second picture below. I will be building a little access hatch into the bottom of the front walls of the shower so that I can easily access the shower drain flange for servicing in the future. </p><p>I ended up needing to add a 3/4” spacer to the floor frame to lift it up even with this so that the drain line going the shower had a proper downhill slope to ensure proper drainage. Like the other fittings, this too, was standing water tested and fed water as fast as I could pour it in to make sure that the drain did not slow. The water on the floor underneath it is due to the fact that the fittings on the drain were not fully tightened at the time of testing as I did not want to weaken the seal on the rubber O-ring that seals the elbow to the drain by fully tightening it until it was time for final permanent installation. </p><p>The shower floor will need to be removed at least a couple times more to allow for the installation of the heater vent line and wiring for the “See-Level” tank sensor system for the holding tank. Once those two parts have been completed, the holes for the carriage bolts that will permanent clamp the shower floor in place will be installed, and the aluminum flashing installed around the perimeter so that the floor and side walls can be fiberglass sealed in place. The final floor finish will be made of a sheet of FRP “orange peel” texture which will be epoxied into place over the top of the underlying fiberglass coating. </p><p>I will also be working the floor area in the front section with a grinder to properly slope the pan down to the drain so that all water is directed into the drain. The pan as a whole is sloped already via the underlying floor framing, however a low point needs to be still made to help the final water direction into the drain. The opening was already recessed for the drain flange and will be sloped down to that. </p><p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_211850.jpg"><img width="139" height="244" title="20190830_211850" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190830_211850" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_211850_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_212418.jpg"><img width="244" height="139" title="20190830_212418" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="20190830_212418" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/20190830_212418_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a></p><p>A 2x2 support lip will be glued and screwed to the underside of the front of the floor once all under floor work is done, this will then be anchored into the remaining bathroom walls so that the floor is fully supported and strong enough to take my weight. As I wasn’t able to completely eliminate the rear butt sag, the shower pan’s support structure was designed to compensate for the sag in the rear so that the bathroom toilet sits level, but has just enough slope to allow for water to be directed properly to the drain. I modeled the slope degree and direction after the original shower pan that had come with the camper. </p><p>And that’s it for “The New Loo – Part 2!” <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Rebu.-Merry-the-AmerigoThe-new-LooPart-2_10C4/wlEmoticon-smile.png"></p>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-33668562093539561032019-08-14T23:49:00.001-07:002019-08-14T23:49:13.231-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry” the Amerigo–Merry goes to the wall! – Part 2<p>We’re back for Part 2 of wall building in Ms. Merry! In our last chapter, we’d just gotten the main cabinet wall in place, now, we’re back with the rest of the inner bathroom wall put together!</p><p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080858.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080858" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080858" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080858_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080859.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080859" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080859" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080859_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080863.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080863" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080863" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080863_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a></p><p>Since we’re only reusing a small section of the original bathroom, I had to build an upper wall to house our medicine cabinet. Like everything, its made of a combination of 2x2 and 2x3 lumber, the 2x3 at the bottom there to add a couple sections of 2x3 ledge to go under the bottom of the sink frame so that the fiberglass is fully supported since it no longer has the rigidity that came from the full clamshell enclosure. </p><p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080870.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1080870" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080870" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080870_thumb.jpg" border="0"><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080872.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1080872" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080872" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080872_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a></p><p>Ms. Merry’s medicine cabinet is another donation from Mr. KIT, a new medicine cabinet was bought that was the original smaller size I had originally installed in Mr. KIT back when the bathroom was first remodeled. This larger, somewhat nicer medicine cabinet with adjustable shelves was the replacement I ended up later getting due to me being a moron and not making a shower curtain that went in front of the cabinet to keep the water from soaking the cardboard backer. Another thing we’re doing differently is in Merry, the cabinet is recessed into the wall, giving us a better line of access to the sink and making it easier to hopefully get a spring loaded latch to keep it shut vs the bungee cord job I was using with Mr. KIT. </p><p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080861.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080861" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080861" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080861_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080866.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080866" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080866" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080866_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080867.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080867" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080867" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080867_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080868.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080868" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080868" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080868_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080869.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080869" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080869" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/088ddc607c84_14691/P1080869_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a></p><p>We’re later on going to use the grinder to taper the fiberglass on the back edges of the section being reused so that they more easily slip under the FRP board that will make the walls and floor of the wet bath. </p><p>You can also see the faucet assembly we’re using temporarily installed for visualization purposes and pipe planning. We’re going to be using two faucets in the bathroom, the original sink faucet is going to be replaced with a nice standard bathroom faucet. The shower head will be attached to this nice chromed solid brass outdoor shower assembly we picked up. </p><p>I haven’t decided on if I’m going to go with galvanized pipe painted with chrome paint to go between the faucet and the point on the sink where they’ll pass through and connect to the camper’s pex plumbing, or use stainless steel braided water lines and simply use brass connection points coming up through the sink top. </p><p><br></p><p>Sadly, there’s going to be a bit of a delay before the next post, I’m going to be out of town this weekend, so sadly, no additional work will be done till the following monday. </p><p><br></p><p>When we come back, we’ll be resuming work on the waste tank and ABS sewer plumbing work, as we now have enough of the bathroom walls in place to route the pipes that are going to the holding tank in the rear, allowing us to finally get the tank compartment done. Since the summer doesn’t last forever, I’ll be working on jobs that will allow me to get all exterior related work finished before we lose the weather again, but allow for Merry to be finished over the winter if we can’t get her done by the time the weather turns south. </p>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-18716173778952152722019-08-11T23:25:00.001-07:002019-08-12T00:09:03.177-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry” the Amerigo–Merry goes to the wall – Part 1<p><br></p><p>Progress has been a bit slow on Merry in the last couple weeks, partly due to the ER visit a couple weeks ago, due a nose bleed that wouldn’t stop.</p><p><br></p><p>But, its good progress that is being made!</p><p><br></p><p>Already, we have the first of the inner bathroom walls in, plus the main cabinet wall frame is now in as well! </p><p>I pulled the sink during this, as it still needs the bottom edge trimmed to match the slope of the new bathroom floor (It slopes down to the drain point), once its trimmed I can start building the rest of the inner wall frame that will get tied into that open large gap on the left. </p><p>We ended up building the cabinet wall to be a bit extra sturdy because it will be carrying a big hunk of the Air Conditioner load on the roof down to the floor of the camper, helping to keep the roof crowned and from sagging under the weight of the unit as time passes. </p><p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080834.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080834" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080834" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080834_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080835.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080835" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080835" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080835_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080836.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080836" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080836" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080836_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080839.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080839" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080839" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080839_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a></p><p>The small framed in openings in the lower section are for a Cadet Com-Pak 1000watt in-wall electric heater (Our secondary heat system, borrowed from <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20151002090957/http://home.comcast.net/~netboy/#ElecHeat">NetBoy’s design</a> that they did so many years ago, been waiting years to use that one <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-winkingsmile" alt="Winking smile" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/wlEmoticon-winkingsmile.png">) on the left and the new Progressive Dynamics dist ribution panel on the right.<br><br>The notch out in the wall behind it is so that there is path for the air moving through the 3-stage converter to travel (I actually ended up cutting the plastic back section off the panel near the board and heat sinks so that the air could travel trough that tunnel space, there’s going to be a little grate in the corner wall near the kitchen for the air movement so the blower can properly cool the converter). </p><p><br></p><p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080843.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1080843" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080843" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080843_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080844.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1080844" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080844" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080844_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080845.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1080845" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080845" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080845_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a></p><p>With the wall panel installed <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/wlEmoticon-smile.png">. The upper section will have the finished maple frame installed on it covering over the framing. One thing we’re doing different is I’m getting rid of the two drawers below the main wardrobe cabinet in favor of another cabinet space, in which we plan to store the towels. This cabinet will have a removable false bottom to sit above the wires and pipes that will be running underneath which can be easily lifted out if service work needs to be done. </p><p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080846.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1080846" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080846" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080846_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080847.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1080847" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080847" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080847_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a></p><p>With the Progressive Dynamics Power Panel and the can for the heater temporarily installed in place. </p><p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080848.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1080848" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080848" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080848_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080852.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080852" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080852" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080852_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a></p><p>You can see that our heater has ample clearance around it and a bit more clearly on how the indent works for the back of the distribution panel. Soon, we’ll be able to take that giant spaghetti of wires and bundle them together and finally tie them into something! </p><p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080849.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1080849" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080849" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080849_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080851.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1080851" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080851" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_13EDD/P1080851_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a></p>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-30675463308236238582019-08-06T00:08:00.000-07:002019-08-06T02:40:46.283-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry” the Amerigo–Oh, the Progress we have Made!<p>So, I’ve once again fallen down on the job of telling the story of Ms. Merry! </p> <p>We’re now in Summer number four, can you believe it? Will we actually make it to the finish line this year? I’m thinking we will, but the world has already tried to knock us down a couple times this year, first with kidney stones in April and then a blown blood vessel in my nose a couple weeks ago! <br> <br>Since I got a late start this year, I ended up taking a full week off in July and marathon working on Merry during that week. My goodness, we got so much done when we were able to work twelve hours a day, every day on Merry! </p> <p>When you last saw her, she looked like this on the inside:</p> <p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1150676.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1150676" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1150676" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1150676_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a></p> <p>Since then, she now looks like this!</p> <p><strong><u>Bathroom</u></strong></p> <p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080812.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080812" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080812" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080812_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080822.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080822" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080822" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080822_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080820.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080820" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080820" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080820_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080821.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080821" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080821" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080821_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080818.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080818" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080818" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080818_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080817.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080817" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080817" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080817_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a></p> <p>You can see all we ended up keeping of Ms. Merry’s original shower, though I have the pan in the garage for reference. We’ll be fiberglass in aluminum joints along all the corners between the pan floor and walls before the finished fiberglass panels are glued into place to form the new wet bath. </p> <p>The hole in the back left corner of the floor is actually where the tank vent pipe will be coming up through the bathroom, painted white, similar to how I redid the vent pipe in Mr. KIT. </p> <p><strong><u>Looking towards the Rear</u></strong></p> <p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080825.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080825" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080825" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080825_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080826.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1080826" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080826" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080826_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a> <br><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080827.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1080827" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080827" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080827_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080828.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080828" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080828" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080828_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a></p> <p>The 2x4 near the door and the 2x2 near the edge of the bathroom are actually the starting beams for two walls, in the case of the bathroom, its part of the door front bathroom wall frame. </p> <p>In case of the dinette, its part of the back wall of the dinette (I’m putting in a full floor to ceiling wall, as that area needed some extra strength as its a part of the rear jack mount). </p> <p>You can see how much larger the new bathroom is versus the original by how much more of the snap-n-nap opening is blocked off, now. </p> <p>We’ve also finished rebuilding the crank mechanisms on the big jalousie window and unbending the drive shafts. The windows all need a good application of white lithium grease at all the pivot points to loosen them back up, the last owners sadly, just used more force to get the windows to open instead of relubricating them and broke all of the crank mechanisms on the larger windows and twisted the drive shaft out of shape. </p> <p><strong><u>Looking toward the Kitchen</u></strong></p> <p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080833.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1080833" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080833" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080833_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080814.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1080814" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080814" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080814_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a></p> <p>All of the walls are now paneled, with the exception of the front wall below the cabover, it simply doesn’t need to be paneled until its time to start building in the lower kitchen cabinet area. All of the upper cabinet frames and interior walls can be put in with the camper as it is now. Getting the walls paneled in was a major milestone in the completion of Ms. Merry, as it was the first time the entirety of the interior was starting to look like a camper again, instead of an assemblage of structural timbers. </p> <p><strong><u>Looking forward</u></strong></p> <p><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080815.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1080815" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080815" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080815_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080816.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1080816" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080816" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080816_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080829.jpg"><img width="244" height="184" title="P1080829" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080829" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080829_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080830.jpg"><img width="184" height="244" title="P1080830" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" alt="P1080830" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/P1080830_thumb.jpg" border="0"></a></p> <p>Yes, that is fiberglass insulation peaking out from the underside of the cabover bed. In the end, I ended up pulling out what foam board I had put in and going with pink bat insulation as it filled the full void under the bed far better than I was getting with the foam board for a higher R Value than I was going to get stacking in the more expensive foam board. </p> <p>The removed foam board was reused in the walls and ceiling after being pulled from the cabover floor. </p> <p>It’s almost time to do the fridge swap between Ms. Merry and Mr. KIT. Both fridges are functional, but Mr. KIT’s fridge is in a lot better shape physically, plus it already has all of my boosted cooling modifications done on it. </p> <p>Fortunately, with the door removed from Mr. KIT, and the front lip ring removed from the fridge, the door opening is just wide enough to get the fridge in and out of on Mr. KIT! </p> <p>We will have to make a custom duct for the roof vent, on Ms. Merry its set inwards from the wall further than it was on Mr. KIT and the distance between the ceiling and the fridge is a lot shorter! So, we’re going to get a sheet metal bending press to make a custom duct to go from the fins on the top of the fridge up into the vent where our fans will be to help pull air up and out the vent.</p> <p>I’ll be lining the compartment and wall with sheet metal to help protect the camper walls and encase the fridge in a blanket of rockwool insulation. </p> <p>The front cabover wall still needs to be installed, its been postponed till I get up there with the cabover window curtain track as its one big piece and it won’t be possible to get it up into the cabover after the walls are in place without damaging it. </p> <p>The propane tank compartment still needs it insulation panels installed on the sides and the insulation bat installed on the rear, as well as the gas line for the fridge routed through the gap under the fridge platform floor. </p> <p>The main black pipe gas line will run from the cabinet compartment down across the top of the fresh water tank and then down the left side of the camper where it will terminate at the feed fitting for the furnace at the rear. </p> <p><strong><u>Current Project</u></strong></p> <p>I’m currently constructing the wall frames for the bathroom and the floor to ceiling cabinet and drawers on the driver’s side so I can get the lower wall framed in and install the electrical distribution panel, allowing me to finally start connecting up all the circuits in the camper. </p> <p>And, now you’re up to date <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://truckcampers.fanworks.org/blog/Reb.-Merry-the-AmerigoOh-the-Progress-we_1442C/wlEmoticon-smile.png">. </p>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-86239034411027800622018-07-17T21:37:00.000-07:002018-07-17T21:42:10.407-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry” the Amerigo–On all four feet again<p>Another major hurdle has finally been completed on Ms. Merry’s restoration!</p> <p>After three years of basically being deprived of jacks, Merry at last has all four of her jack brackets installed and all four of her jacks attached.    </p> <p>The Atwood brothers are still without power, so I have to get them up and down, I still need to stand there and spin the crank, but for the first time since I started restoring Merry, she’s on her feet again, and this time, with proper framing and mounts to do the job <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="style" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X7PYjT1LEGg/W07Eo5xwpWI/AAAAAAAAEjk/0K-1Vl8421IM1n56KcZ_K5zm4GC_ZvgbQCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.  </p> <p>Since I did the driver’s side corner during the off season and didn’t document any of the process, we’ll be looking at Merry’s passenger side, as the process was fairly identical.   Again, I ended up focusing more on the end product, and not so much the blog, so some parts were left unphotographed.</p> <p>To start off with, we had to remove Merry’s propane compartment, it had been temporarily reinstalled back in 2016 after the wall’s framing and wing had been replaced to keep water from getting into the camper during the rainy season.   </p> <p>At the time, I had wanted to redo Merry’s compartment design some, as it was one of the major leak points, but we were out time and warm weather.   Once the late fall, early October rains set in, working outside becomes nigh on impossible.   </p> <p>Now, that we’re at a point where removing the compartment and eventually the main door again is entirely feasible, I pulled the screws and had Merry’s propane compartment pulled within a few minutes.   </p> <p>Once it was out, I set about adding a couple extra stiffeners to help give the 1/4” plywood a couple extra spots anchor in well to remove and bow from the wall framing when I jacked it up before installation to stretch the frame back into shape.   </p> <p>With the stiffeners in, I cut the insulation boards that would go in around the propane compartment and the lower wall below the window back to the point where the full sheet that would be put in for the door would meet.   </p> <p>With the insulation in place, I cut the section of plywood….</p> <p>Discovered I’d inverted the digits on one of the measurements and then recut a new piece.   After dry fitting, I applied adhesive to all the wall framing and then screwed the plywood to the wall using 1-1/4” coated deck screws.   </p> <p>I left Merry with her rear jacked up for about thirty-six hours before I returned her to normal resting position and then using my router and the Dremel Multi-tool, cut out the propane compartment opening.   I left the refrigerator door section for later. </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E5-wh3de2QE/W07EqzlUTJI/AAAAAAAAEjo/RKN199SwIC4IjbuZsLc1Y8XSKQX5F3dmgCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150741%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150741" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150741" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-evT4yL_Wbso/W07EsnAcLFI/AAAAAAAAEjs/c2lsaDTcUvc3W9ppOiEJOzGeO6jIbCExwCHMYCw/P1150741_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A7e20r0azq4/W07EudiaL7I/AAAAAAAAEjw/4AecL5pK3gI55X769iSjw7kDCfVCf_JZACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150742%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150742" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150742" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c1HUGVWiIw8/W07Ev_jncMI/AAAAAAAAEj0/x3biiKq5GcIG6cIt2d6cpgxRXISN53jNgCHMYCw/P1150742_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zlHRDSi_FDo/W07ExJK2VUI/AAAAAAAAEj4/rvPeMcOVEYEW3DaAE5rypLEHx-LyHZuHgCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150744%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150744" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150744" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cV44ER49qUE/W07EyixtDBI/AAAAAAAAEj8/TJz2odl0e5MteM7RXQ4t9asKihMhb0dqQCHMYCw/P1150744_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Wc6jkvQM55o/W07E0JEPS6I/AAAAAAAAEkA/xYPlb0BJgN8l2lLgyLMGglan0-1C0SzcQCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150745%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150745" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150745" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Gn2wQH8jQ2M/W07E1jBOMkI/AAAAAAAAEkE/zAmmC9HgJcEthfcNC7n0ncRF87sd7Y7KACHMYCw/P1150745_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>With the new plywood for the lower wall section in place, I went through my collection of scrap sections of plywood to make the sandwich up that would go between the framing in the front wall beneath the cabover and the fiberglass skin on the outside.   </p> <p>On all Amerigo campers, the front wall slopes slightly away from the frame as it goes up to meet the floor of the cabover.   The framing inside is usually somewhere between five millimeters and half inch offset from the fiberglass in this area, making it a poor spot to attach a jack bracket, unless you build up the framing to be flush with the back of the fiberglass skin.  </p> <p>To accomplish this, I used sections of 1/4” plywood and five millimeter plywood to create a laminated slope piece that was tapped into place and glued.  </p> <p>Once these bracing boards were in place, I anchored the 1/4” angle iron inner reinforcement plates in the corner and then temporarily anchored the jack bracket in place on the outside using a couple of tec head screws so I could drill through the bolt holes on the frame and the backing plate.   </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z6O1WfIpgl8/W07E24r0NDI/AAAAAAAAEkI/I4xxo7tpHsIv3vdo3PmJzRcN60qIqOAZgCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150743%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150743" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150743" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZtmakYI3vyQ/W07E4U0T7PI/AAAAAAAAEkM/8MPVnvJU7UMPTDXZXSI_0Rh_J2YYNm9zQCHMYCw/P1150743_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>I do these in place as its easier to drill the inner plate later than hope that you mathed your measurements for where the holes may line up, and discover they’re off.    Once the pilot points are set in the metal and the initial 1/4” holes drilled, I bump them up to take the 5/16” bolt holes plus a tiny amount of play so that I can compensate for the extra thickness of the sealant going on the back of the plates.  </p> <p>The new brackets sandwich bolt through the corner’s massive 2x6 beams, plus have a plate on the underside that lifts up on the camper’s whole corner, so that the through bolts aren’t taking the load just by themselves.   </p> <p>With the holes done, I applied the butyl tape to the back of the plates, and began the process of threading bolts into place.   </p> <p>I gradually worked my way across all the bolts tightening them until I had even clamping pressure on all surfaces and the jack bracket was snug tight to the camper.  </p> <p>Once the jack bracket was on, I redrilled out the original hole for the last owner had made for the electric jack plug, opting to reuse the one he’d installed so I didn’t have to fill his screw holes and make new ones for that corner.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yv-Emg7_lFc/W07E5xjE-HI/AAAAAAAAEkU/BP0iGBzVUlYcf1kZFyiaLl5xyzOxszYbACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150740%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150740" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150740" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SQ9Y87XwDO4/W07E7JImBPI/AAAAAAAAEkY/XQ8V6okBWLU1-t94Lf5qiudQIKX_txfYACHMYCw/P1150740_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jmLyj7OW_NU/W07E8uyQ1TI/AAAAAAAAEkc/xwDCegyosiwuGzYoObIN13nvx3IQFKHgACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150739%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150739" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150739" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uUd3Yb20q2w/W07E-FG0K-I/AAAAAAAAEkg/mQQYFZd6HzgpLLVUI9oyge7KeVh0aRsmQCHMYCw/P1150739_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>As you can see in the picture below, I had to offset the path the wires take through the wall to clear the new inner backing plate.   Once the wires are connected, they’ll be encased in chaff guard and a rubber gromett will secure the bundle so it doesn’t move around or get easily snagged on pots and pans that will later be stored in the lower cabinet on that side of the propane tank.   </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R30wjxrmZtE/W07E_6GHhFI/AAAAAAAAEko/NiXAlyScn1UJOeAqnbzycn3z-RA86yHNgCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150743%255B7%255D"><img title="P1150743" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150743" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_Yvj1IqkC6Q/W07FBVh-2cI/AAAAAAAAEks/wtscv95DtMs2fZ_FGWdRMmhJj56YeNaGwCHMYCw/P1150743_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>With both brackets now fully installed (caulking to be done later when I start doing all of the camper’s seams), I returned to the garage where Mr. KIT has been sleeping since 2012, and removed the last of the electric jacks I had bought for him so many years ago to give to Merry so that she could continue where he couldn’t.   </p> <p>Mr. KIT will be returned his original hydraulic jacks, the seals redone so that he will be ready when the time comes to sail off one last time with his next captain.   </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E4n9m4euF8c/W07FC7au8jI/AAAAAAAAEkw/UYJzDJYoxl80HCWCIgllmA4dm9Ux3YK3wCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150746%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150746" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150746" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qSnXrmf3Jp8/W07FEPjS8OI/AAAAAAAAEk0/Y7UxAjid8TEr3B2coLL0rvrqlOS0JqPuwCHMYCw/P1150746_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-veypi7o5K80/W07FF5bzT_I/AAAAAAAAEk8/1uo_ZwiqzVUMtgvP3y_3IOEFYHd8rUi_wCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150747%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150747" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150747" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9sNvutx2SHU/W07FHhsvnAI/AAAAAAAAElA/iLjOV8ylm-0nvxM35i2Q2e1jpyAncf9sQCHMYCw/P1150747_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>As an extra bonus, we discovered that Mr. KIT’s swing out brackets had enough adjustability to completely compensate for the slight angle that Merry’s new front corner brackets lean at, bring the jacks up perfectly straight.  </p> <p>Because Ms. Merry is a little narrower than Mr. KIT, we’ll need to get a couple of wider pieces of plate steel to replace the original widener plates to give Red enough space to get his wide hips through so Ms. Merry can rest on her own feet.   </p> <p>In case you’re wondering where Ms. Merry’s front tie downs go, look closely at the pictures of the front jack mounts, you’ll see a large hole near the bottom, that hole is for the eye of a tie down to pass through to anchor her snugly to the tie down ear below on Red’s bed.   </p> <p>This wraps up our work on Merry’s jacks, other than the electrical work to come, and the wider offset plates, Merry is now officially redesigned to use modern corner jacks and can safely be used off truck while standing on them alone, if wanted.   </p> <p>Thanks for reading!   We’ll be back soon with the reassembly of Merry’s propane compartment and the first piece of interior cabinet framing to be installed!</p>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-26615262342002117632018-06-30T23:16:00.000-07:002018-07-09T23:22:03.149-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry” the Amerigo–The new Loo–Part 1<p>Time for another chapter in the rebuilding of Ms. Merry the Amerigo! </p> <p>This time around, we’re doing the platform for the new raised bathroom floor and cutting the holes through Merry’s new floor for the plumbing and heating ducts to go <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="style" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QEZCzGnprow/W0RP_kZ5mOI/AAAAAAAAEhE/fx4LzmIFUYMFcUmse0KS_N55woQ01Vr4ACHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.  </p> <p>First off, we had to haul out Merry’s new <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQEKGB6/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Dometic 320 Series Standard Height Toilet</a> from storage in the barn and dig out the installation instructions for the rough-in dimensions for the toilet itself.   </p> <p>It took a bit to locate the instructions, as they weren’t sitting with the toilet in the box or any of the packing cardboard surrounding the toilet to protect the china bowl from damage.   In the end, I had to pull the toielt out of the box and open the lid before I found the owner’s manual, plus a free sample of TPS tank treatment chemicals included, hidden in the bowl.   </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fx-aPlwk_zA/W0RQBWosMkI/AAAAAAAAEhI/wTvpy1I2NxYsSL98tOT4GRnXEnxFqQFnACHMYCw/s1600-h/toilet_install_guide%255B4%255D"><img title="toilet_install_guide" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="toilet_install_guide" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-elu6GSeOseY/W0RQDBjCr6I/AAAAAAAAEhM/QQNIYinnR0gic2Qeqc8QZMu9FaaEwY6OQCHMYCw/toilet_install_guide_thumb%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" width="336" height="652" /></a></p> <p>With the installation guide in hand, we now had the offset from the back wall that we needed to locate the center of the toilet flange through the floor.  </p> <p>Since the new tank has our diversion valve setup on it, it offsets the tank back from the wall further than a normal straight down flange connection would allow for and still have it dumping into the tank.</p> <p>The fix was to take a page from my bathroom remodel project I did on Mr. KIT back in 2009.</p> <p>Using these two parts, I made an offset flange to shift the inlet into the tank far enough forward in the floor to allow to connect into the tank.   </p> <p><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CBIQG34/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Canplas 113628SS 45-Degree ABS Discharge Closet Flange with Stainless Steel Ring, 4-Inch by 3-Inch</a></p> <p> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QwA1rTUOeig/W0RQEh0l_lI/AAAAAAAAEhQ/ICNStM7lBbw2erOABVwE7Cyp1YDihHAdwCHMYCw/s1600-h/toilet_flange%255B2%255D"><img title="toilet_flange" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="toilet_flange" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IpdW3I6DwAM/W0RQGFPDTBI/AAAAAAAAEhU/bVYI8j3E_-wqx1CEUrv40ngrCJy6fKLnQCHMYCw/toilet_flange_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="193" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MDEOTY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Lasalle Bristol 632403 3X45 ABS 45 degree Elbow</a></p> <p> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GcxQmKVqwyc/W0RQHiKtKPI/AAAAAAAAEhY/hcfOeRdJY6wp_a3saSA1BMpXOLDtu6Q5ACHMYCw/s1600-h/45_degree_elbow%255B2%255D"><img title="45_degree_elbow" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="45_degree_elbow" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EmJhwr_fPyo/W0RQJWuYGWI/AAAAAAAAEhc/ZYnCbdjtPKc0Nyj2XKifxHxrMdgUv8nMACHMYCw/45_degree_elbow_thumb?imgmax=800" width="194" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Glued together they shift the intlet into the toilet perfectly, and from using the same setup in the past on my KIT, I know that this angle of offset does not interfere with the operation of a standard Gravity fed RV toilet.   </p> <p>A small piece of 3” ABS pipe will be glued into the end of the elbow which will be glued into the inlet on the tank when the shower floor is permanently installed.   If we have to replace the tank at some future point, the elbow can be cut through using a reciprocating saw from the access hatch that will be at the front under the bathroom door.  </p> <p>With the flange made, I temporarily installed a couple pieces of plywood representing the thicknesses of the rear and side walls and then snapped the dimensions of our expanded bathroom and cut a sheet of 5/8” plywood from the piece of temporary floor we had originally used in Ms. Merry when we were finishing up installing the raised ceiling and skylight dome.   </p> <p>I like to call that floor section the “temporary floor” but the real reason I call it that is the initial piece I had somehow screwed up one of the measurements on and it didn’t snugly fit in the space at all the joints and had to be replaced.   Rather than waste a perfectly good piece of plywood, it got reused as a temporary work bench and when pieces of 5/8” plywood were needed that were within the dimenions of that incorrectly cut piece, I cut them from it vs cutting a piece out of a whole new sheet.  </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jWgZRq_Rrv8/W0RQLxV2C2I/AAAAAAAAEhg/M5W4I1MW3SEHjQ1sKESDntYBy7tm_OhkgCHMYCw/s1600-h/20180701_183035%255B3%255D"><img title="20180701_183035" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180701_183035" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ChFpyXPdpP8/W0RQNb9AD7I/AAAAAAAAEhk/LDzsZmVvjCA8w38RmoOA52i5JQpfNYJGwCHMYCw/20180701_183035_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uhg0yMuyvaI/W0RQOxKqXxI/AAAAAAAAEho/ddC2IaFRNb0AwztWEhBq0b4NWNUnRwk7QCHMYCw/s1600-h/20180701_183050%255B2%255D"><img title="20180701_183050" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180701_183050" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xH2f-XroXQo/W0RQQtx1V4I/AAAAAAAAEhs/Lr4-b4o2Te8GF1R4c9TY1R0Qvv056au5wCHMYCw/20180701_183050_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QDsKIZGj_20/W0RQSISm1_I/AAAAAAAAEhw/jPUcfLn8jbg7buzrpFlU21yNdspOMWyzQCHMYCw/s1600-h/20180701_183104%255B3%255D"><img title="20180701_183104" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180701_183104" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sl2bpRZjVsg/W0RQT9FmqWI/AAAAAAAAEh0/-xNU1twaYxEG89RMBqm3njUjZauGN45KACHMYCw/20180701_183104_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>After making the initial cutout, which was still just a rectangle at the time, I laid it back in place to make sure it fit correctly (it did!) and then marked out where the flange opening needed to be.  I added an extra little bit to the original eleven inch offset from the rear wall, using my wall representing board to simulate the walls being in place, to accomodate for cleaning behind the toilet and to take account for the extra 1/16” of an inch or so that a sheet of FRP board will add.  </p> <p>Once check and rechecked, I used the largest diablo hole saw blade I had and cut the inital hole, then used my jig saw to widen the hole to allow for the forty-five degree offset on the bottom of the flange.  </p> <p>I temporarily anchored the flange through the hole then aligned the pipe and then cut and installed the support board that would be going under the plywood to raise the floor and to help give it slope toward where I planed to locate the drain in the front right hand corner.   </p> <p>The small hole you see is actually not the drain pipe opening, but the hole for the vent pipe that will be coming up from the tank, its pipe running from the tank under the floor and then out through the roof.  It will be visible inside the bathroom, but like the vent pipe in Mr. KIT, will be painted bright white to match the bathroom and then used like a support bar to hang washcloth rings and what not from.   </p> <p>One of the things we do plan to do is use a dedicated faucet knob for the shower controls separate from the sink so we can use higher quality parts in its plumbing than the fairly cheap plastic parts that come with standard RV fixtures.   </p> <p>Out of the entirety of the original shower stall, we plan to salvage the wall section with the sink and the corner to reuse in the new bathroom, and maybe the flange portion from the floor to glass into the new shower pan, the majority of the new floor will be made from FRP board, same as the bathroom walls.   The rest of the shower unit will end up in the dumpster, as its not worth trying to reuse.   </p> <p>With the floor ready, it was time to test fit our new floor in place.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-szurK1A9HlA/W0RQVIfc9QI/AAAAAAAAEh4/_k1QxmTZLH88QbT21pbH7KWoDSo27MGoACHMYCw/s1600-h/20180701_185026%255B3%255D"><img title="20180701_185026" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180701_185026" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QoBjIFXYgVU/W0RQWtJfCNI/AAAAAAAAEh8/umnkC9Z9XCMWsz2GIrpcnbcV3UTjk7v8wCHMYCw/20180701_185026_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Fits like a glove!  </p> <p>As you can see, there’s a diagonal corner in the front, this is to accomodate for a walking path from the door to the forward end of the camper.   The angle starts where the original fiberglass shower stall originally ended when installed and angles back to the minimum size bathroom door opening I thought prudent for me to fit through (I’m far from small).   </p> <p>The 2x2 that goes on the right hand side will have one side of it tapered to match that angle so that all fits well.   The wall in the corner will actually be made of a piece of five millimeter plywood with FRP on the inside and wall paneling board on the outside.   </p> <p>Unlike the original Amerigo bathroom door wall design, the new one will not look like a cabinet, but instead will have matching wall paneling installed similar to the rest of the camper.  </p> <p>The new door will be hinged on the left side and the handle will be on the right, this will allow for the door knob to swing into the Snap-N-Nap opening and for the door to open flush to the rear wall.  </p> <p>The dinette seat nearest to the bathroom will be angled on the outside, going to the minimum width for the battery compartment it will house to the normal seat width that it originally was to provide ample passage space past the new, larger bathroom.  </p> <p>We plan to make the wall along the back of the dinette by the door solid, to help act as a framing member to prevent the rear walls on the tub from sagging like they originally did as the camper aged.  This wall will be built like a truss on the inside to help keep it square.   The switches for the patio light and light above the entrance will be in this wall.   </p> <p>In addition to helping with the tub sag, it will also act as a lateral brace for the side to side strains coming from the rear jack mount attached next to the door.   A similar, smaller wall will be built along the back of the bathroom sink to perform a similar function on the driver’s side.  </p> <p>Ah… we seem to have side-tracked a bit, time to get back on topic!</p> <p>After test fitting the floor, I took it out once more and then after measuring the offset distance on the new flange, repeated the flange hole process on the main floor itself taking into account the offset of the flange pipe.   </p> <p>Once again, I cut the initial hole with the same hole saw, then cut a second directly next to it and squared the opening off with the jig saw once more.   The extra opening space is allow for the flange pipe coming through the floor on its way down to the tank.  </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aEHB537VySE/W0RQYMtfQ7I/AAAAAAAAEiE/WXWSf1f6-DMFa8oCbbXeYGYhdi-WYllbwCHMYCw/s1600-h/20180701_184711%255B3%255D"><img title="20180701_184711" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180701_184711" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cJLhUDfcvQA/W0RQZzG3hgI/AAAAAAAAEiM/X1-37JdifEE7eCKNN6NXISEYOkGPrHcDQCHMYCw/20180701_184711_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Once the main floor opening was cut, I reattached the flange to the floor and tested it again (forgot to take a picture!), it fits perfectly, with enough space around it to allow for flexing of the camper without putting strain on the pipe.  </p> <p>With the main hole done, I calculated the offset for the grey water plumbing’s passage through the floor, and widened the hole to allow space for the flexible heater duct line to enter into the tank compartment near the valves.  </p> <p>Last I cut the hole for where the vent pipe will come up from the tank before doing its horizontal run between the main floor and the raised shower floor before coming up through the shower floor in the corner.  </p> <p>The vent pipe will be going into the tank at the deepest end near the drain valves.   </p> <p>This wraps up all that’s going to be done at this time for the bathroom, I mainly wanted to get the holes done in the floor so that when we shift to cutting insulation for the ceiling and walls, that the openings were already in place to cut out the matching holes in the insulation while its easy to do.  </p> <p>Just for fun, I set the remainder of the original bathroom back in place on top of the new one to give you an idea of the size difference.  </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oZ9oLqlTFVg/W0RQbXjXXvI/AAAAAAAAEiQ/b30C-qG-1x4rcTF1eVfmPBmsG-Hqi9eqwCHMYCw/s1600-h/20180701_185240%255B3%255D"><img title="20180701_185240" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180701_185240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xb0SicBw6Mg/W0RQdL7YS5I/AAAAAAAAEiU/oil-dzAeWMAr9Gb2IKnTmd_EGqdC8CJAACHMYCw/20180701_185240_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AlOEk8DfE_0/W0RQep6kAhI/AAAAAAAAEiY/Y2CkLi3kGgkmVlb3llELXvL5OPnxhF00QCHMYCw/s1600-h/20180701_190045%255B3%255D"><img title="20180701_190045" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180701_190045" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gMgvdZhhbT4/W0RQgU7ZCmI/AAAAAAAAEic/0J-FpW8y3C4XbL6nkBJc1ILGv950Z1UgACHMYCw/20180701_190045_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>P.S. Yes, I know the slope is off on the shower floor, I didn’t have the sloping shims in place on part of the floor, it was just sitting in their loose <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smilewithtongueout" style="style" alt="Smile with tongue out" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ywOil6kEzoo/W0RQhdaDcZI/AAAAAAAAEig/aGqIHO7qx1U1H6A7gAyTHsqqooR5gXI7QCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smilewithtongueout%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.  </p> <p>Thanks again for reading!</p>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-11168406173875233082018-05-19T01:50:00.001-07:002018-07-08T01:56:11.942-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry” the Amerigo–Merry Glues it Up!<p>Since we’re back in the full swing of working on Merry for another summer, its time to keep up the pace and if all the stars align, we might actually get to something resembling done, or at least to a stage where we no longer have to stop in the winter <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="style" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bnqW0PsU9RU/W0HQdQtHdNI/AAAAAAAAEe4/NttmDOfIbdU1gjod0PdB5xXUvL8bIal4wCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.  </p> <p>When we were planning out how to upgrade Merry’s tanks, I decided to look over how some other folks had done theirs.   </p> <p>From <em>2cknights</em> <a href="https://forums.goodsamclub.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26362225/srt/pa/pging/1/page/6.cfm" target="_blank">Amerigo restoration</a>, he examined how Bob Whalen converted his to use two tanks:</p> <p> <br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dSK3E4B2gUw/W0HRXh6L7fI/AAAAAAAAEfs/eSBCWru7F6w9MnGhV-X6qCeq-A7iHOBfwCHMYCw/s1600-h/bth_011%255B2%255D"><img title="bth_011" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="bth_011" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-29-s2FZe9JA/W0HRZzm34cI/AAAAAAAAEfw/7RrO-G3rHyIE3TQME7xRcsrIKHIefkpPwCHMYCw/bth_011_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-koXPvszbb94/W0HRbJ9wvRI/AAAAAAAAEf0/z8hmKs7v3W0oI-k6IrAm0wojekQrfMHsQCHMYCw/s1600-h/bth_012%255B2%255D"><img title="bth_012" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="bth_012" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1u7Pe1sLVzM/W0HRc-qtQCI/AAAAAAAAEf4/MEUrzxQmHzM9xT8FrWiNvThqp1Ou1VGQgCHMYCw/bth_012_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EZWM03pEol4/W0HReKns-JI/AAAAAAAAEf8/uF5pafkhLcQJ0DLUTSn3h4PrDks1qlemACHMYCw/s1600-h/bth_013%255B2%255D"><img title="bth_013" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="bth_013" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TzkjJmhkU4w/W0HRf5CLgxI/AAAAAAAAEgA/vSYNeQOoYhYBPcwGTGBP1MWwvc_IF5mPgCHMYCw/bth_013_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Mw5qCXfjqw4/W0HRhSBg3DI/AAAAAAAAEgE/r0S3na1BdvgwfQ8lhWECk7oUW1FKhOU3QCHMYCw/s1600-h/bth_014%255B2%255D"><img title="bth_014" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="bth_014" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-erp6a3cjmTA/W0HRjBXWY2I/AAAAAAAAEgI/5DGakdCwJzAahE4hlqfbaRCSI3RL83GEQCHMYCw/bth_014_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CxIk7sG7pQk/W0HRkUu6HWI/AAAAAAAAEgM/DDkPiJpShWASaKF0yTHZXz1pf4Z0qdnDACHMYCw/s1600-h/bth_015%255B2%255D"><img title="bth_015" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="bth_015" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JJG20Qug5wk/W0HRmFOJPUI/AAAAAAAAEgQ/vLf4BJNnw5czEKoPDie4n7x0ffDPxES3gCHMYCw/bth_015_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QM7iW0ArgTc/W0HRnrPdHkI/AAAAAAAAEgU/adcctm0jdqMMNGBwndeL3wvE-yx5snzywCHMYCw/s1600-h/bth_016%255B2%255D"><img title="bth_016" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="bth_016" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--T5eecPwrFk/W0HRppaiuvI/AAAAAAAAEgY/be9OTFG5P7sP1Z7VWbsCnhRl-O2bmcOKwCHMYCw/bth_016_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <br />Below is Bob's quote from email about the setup. <br /></p> <p>As described by Bob Whalen:</p> <p><em><font face="Times New Roman">“The pics show the 2 new tanks installed . the black water is a17 gal and the gray water is a 23 gal. <br /> <br />The new black water tank discharge does not center on the factory cutout , but I will reshape it. <br />The gray water discharge is just behind the bracket for the stairs. <br /></font></em></p> <p><em><font face="Times New Roman">The inlet for the gray water does go through the side of the tank so you will not get the full capacity of the tank. <br /> <br />I also installed a fiberglass sheet over the plywood before installing the tanks as this area is exposed to the weather when driving.</font></em></p> <p> <br /><em><font face="Times New Roman">It took longer to put the toilet back in than it took to re-plumb the tanks.”</font></em></p> <p> <br />While the idea of having separated Grey and Black tanks sounded appealing, their low capacities and their two separate dump valve locations for the capacity achieved was a turn off.   </p> <p>So, I decided to take a page from Mr. KIT. </p> <p>Mr. KIT, much like Ms. Merry, had a single holding tank.   Mr. KIT was different in that the tank had a diversion valve setup using two three-inch gate valves.   When the outer valve is open and the inner is closed, the grey water is diverted off, either into a portable waste tank, or down the sewer hook up, leaving the holding tank for just the toilet.   </p> <p>If you closed the outer valve and opened the inner, then the grey water mixed with the black in the tank.   Now, you could fill the tank all the way up by accident, but unless you were especially gifted, this would happen from showering, and would just be shower water that had filled the run of pipe.   </p> <p> <br />Since nothing drained directly into the tank without going through this diverter valve setup, filling the black tank up didn’t risk an overflow through a shower drain.   </p> <p>So, I decided to recreate the diverter valve setup that Mr. KIT had with a new 40 gallon waste tank.  <br /> <br />Two years ago, when I first bought the tank and parts, I talked about putting an inlet in the side of the tank for the grey water and spoke of the tank and drain being exposed.   This was when I was still trying to make an impossible deadline for a Rally I was not able to make.  </p> <p>Since that deadline had passed, I revised how I was going to build the bathroom its its entirety, and decided to fully enclose the holding tank into a heated compartment, with all of the main drain plumbing up above in the main cabin underneath a raised bathroom floor.   </p> <p>So, with that revision, I bought an extra 3” valve that has the tangs for the hose on it and proceeded to grind the original tangs off the two valve assembly that I had bought back in 2016.   This allowed me to glue the new valve onto the end of the original, doing like a previous owner did to Mr. KIT and created the diversion valve setup.   </p> <p>The one big difference on Ms. Merry’s is that unlike Mr. KIT, there’s a gate valve for the inlet pipe as well.  </p> <p> <br /></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KnrdQGC9Z0I/W0HQfbPQkmI/AAAAAAAAEe8/jh4Jh3y4AvI6PHhiEXcneR0NIPiZXDw8ACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150731%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150731" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150731" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8Frn346QfJc/W0HQgvMiULI/AAAAAAAAEfA/dUQgYbzj320X_VN8Y00kHzzty75SzpMOACHMYCw/P1150731_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8oqiGwoyyKY/W0HQiClvlGI/AAAAAAAAEfE/cSIcugkFlY0eejDtgrswusDfqgnO8UEWgCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150732%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150732" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150732" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a1cR8BNHDl8/W0HQj9pJJNI/AAAAAAAAEfI/_wA0c5VLbtktg3BjZF9S9bITRl_EM2o6QCHMYCw/P1150732_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dMYXicsrHSI/W0HQlJlUpZI/AAAAAAAAEfM/V8DLZ9ATCIwWE4s7btbKiesk32s9BvM-wCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150733%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150733" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150733" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WvU8yVvzyrA/W0HQmpWAsHI/AAAAAAAAEfQ/tt649lW3n1EQeQHv0gi9gXWEfTo4Hm2qACHMYCw/P1150733_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Unfortunately, the new outlet doesn’t line up with the old opening, so we’ll likely close that in and then put some aluminum diamond plate along the bottom edge of Ms. Merry to hide that change and make a nice clean point for the compartment hatch that the hose will go through.   There’ll be another hatch on the underside, which you’ll reach through to pull the dump valves.   </p> <p>We still need to visit the RV salvage company in the area to see if we can find the perfect compartment door to use for the new holding tank compartment to make all of this as easy as possible.   </p>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-30017354070480987832018-05-07T23:55:00.000-07:002018-07-07T23:59:16.746-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry” the Amerigo–Merry gets a step up!<p>This is post is likely going to be fairly short, compared to the previous chapters.   Sadly, I don’t have many photos handy of Miss Merry’s new steps  from when their installation was finished, so I’m going to have to try and please you with this meager offering, for now <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="style" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lP1PT62S-pU/W0G2G3rg-lI/AAAAAAAAEeI/PS69nqFxe6MjHGdOrFFONE0w3EwWUNgCgCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.   <br />    <br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0ezDlQaMEU8/W0G2IkEPPmI/AAAAAAAAEeM/-LTZlejFGI8ND1E1JbAo3HQTAe58P9SpACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150736%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150736" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150736" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MHIjPQMhHFE/W0G2KalLTCI/AAAAAAAAEeQ/5JMteA-HuEQ5GuazXi5ZW4iTXL40uOPXgCHMYCw/P1150736_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>When you last saw Merry’s stairs, they were being test fitted into place.   Sadly they had to spend a winter in storage before they could at last be installed in April.   Sadly, even though I got an early start in March to close up some stuff on Merry due to a strange turn of warm weather, my progress has been fairly poor, due to either long bouts of sickness brought on by Oysters from the Oregon coast that for years have never given me grief, but now seem to be my baine.   </p> <p>Since last August, the underfloor paneling was installed after painting, then the spray skirt that protects the stiffener beam under Merry’s rear wall, then all the joints were caulked and the underside area received two more coats of flat black paint to ensure everything was well weather proofed.   </p> <p>The result is this.   </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M9GndnXiK0Y/WwUWZPqQY3I/AAAAAAAAEYA/hppLsZqnrB4b3ggS0ruyShtKAzS5mfIbwCHMYCw/s1600-h/new_stairs%255B2%255D"><img title="new_stairs" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="new_stairs" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I-LyhRHxrkI/WwUWaL3ff7I/AAAAAAAAEYE/a7RKDToRnZU0DBIpUA9ZL27EF3IWM7HfwCHMYCw/new_stairs_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Merry’s stairs hang down a good deal lower than the originals did, so traveling with the hitch extension in is a definite must to act as a drag guard for the rear of the truck.    We’re already planning a rear cargo basket setup, which will use a dual receiver setup similar to the one on the front, for loading the generator and some other light gear onto for traveling, which will have a set of drag casters on it, similar to the rear end of a motorhome.   </p> <p>With the new steps, you can now climb up into Miss Merry, when on flat ground (Our driveway is sloped, as its made from a berm that we were not allowed to flatten as it is part of the levy, so I still need a set of cinder blocks to step up to the stairs)  without needing a step stool to reach the first step.   </p> <p>One of the large swing away style stair handles will be installed to help give climbers more stability than the smaller grab handle can by itself.   </p> <p>Finding this particular folding stair set was actually rather difficult, as the Amerigo uses a fairly narrow stair, and most folding steps of this kind are designed for trailers, so they generally come with a wider tread, all of which were far too wide to fit in the space available on the underside of an Amerigo.  </p> <p>In the end, I wound up at <a href="https://www.rvpartsnation.com/" target="_blank">RV Parts Nation</a>, who was the only place online I’d managed to locate these narrow, triple step folding stairs.  </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C0BH2ZvphHA/W0G2Lpb2E9I/AAAAAAAAEeU/SkgtyjCyyospX_6bypfOXv9QuwrjpPiHQCHMYCw/s1600-h/1224-triple-manual-step-2-page-001%255B3%255D"><img title="1224-triple-manual-step-2-page-001" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="1224-triple-manual-step-2-page-001" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1q4jqIKFzdY/W0G2NTS86nI/AAAAAAAAEeY/TAjNq8EH8g81vtcwFd3qAntrKTgas3FJQCHMYCw/1224-triple-manual-step-2-page-001_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="549" height="424" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q7V8WZOgYnc/W0G2O7BaHEI/AAAAAAAAEec/Hca5ddMyKGYHPt7PgCvDA_agK7zKrbiCACHMYCw/s1600-h/1224-triple-manual-step-page-001%255B3%255D"><img title="1224-triple-manual-step-page-001" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="1224-triple-manual-step-page-001" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gpcQmKYNgRo/W0G2QZX5hYI/AAAAAAAAEeg/c4uwATXZtbIicIhy3_MvCzKrRaVjVFMsACHMYCw/1224-triple-manual-step-page-001_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="549" height="424" /></a></p> <p>The diagram is for the second SKU, which is 24” wide, but other than the tread width difference and subsequent housing width, different, the stairs are constructed the same.   </p> <p>For the stairs I used, the SKU is 1220 and you can find them here: <a href="https://www.rvpartsnation.com/rv-exterior/rv-steps/rv-manual-steps/rv-triple-manual-entry-step-leisure-step/?src=prn#write_review" target="_blank">RV Triple Manual Entry Step</a> </p> <p>Thanks for Reading! <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="style" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lP1PT62S-pU/W0G2G3rg-lI/AAAAAAAAEeI/PS69nqFxe6MjHGdOrFFONE0w3EwWUNgCgCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" /></p>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-10923418174327031202017-08-26T23:22:00.000-07:002018-07-07T23:25:52.000-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry”, the Amerigo–And The Mystery of the Trampoline Floor–Part 3<p>When we left off in Part 2, we’d just finished busting our Merry’s old rear floor.   </p> <p>Now, we’re building in her new floor frame <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-036Y9eaXeBo/W0Gt5lIx4WI/AAAAAAAAEb8/8X_j4fNNKBE0L7_Cyg3L3RFiJ1H06gs3ACHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile2?imgmax=800" />.  </p> <p>Because we wanted to try and eliminate as much floor sag as possible from Miss Merry’s rump and make it strong enough to support the new, larger holding tank, we beefed up alot of her floor with new 2x4s and 2x6s to take the strain.  <br /> <br />We also needed to beef up her floor frame to take the strain from her new three step folding staircase that was going in as well <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-036Y9eaXeBo/W0Gt5lIx4WI/AAAAAAAAEb8/8X_j4fNNKBE0L7_Cyg3L3RFiJ1H06gs3ACHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile2?imgmax=800" />.  </p> <p>Sadly, we’ve apparently lost some of the photos, likely when Mr. Tabs had a bad case of the busted operating systems and had to undergo emergency overhauling to get him back into functional condition <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Dw2Kgeeo4qs/W0Gt66Ri-8I/AAAAAAAAEcA/4cY9FMdUd94TA7uaeTjNyRiYaPhsytOIQCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-sadsmile2?imgmax=800" />.   </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BG3328doqMo/W0Gt8nVyPKI/AAAAAAAAEcE/GmX36_DgGk0FFhBPOcqO-F5ffgIBpfGLACHMYCw/s1600-h/P11507303"><img title="P1150730" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150730" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qah3VPX0BiU/W0Gt-SFAD_I/AAAAAAAAEcI/FJ3TZh5Kcekm3SZuQXW6VCcVwsJScH_5gCHMYCw/P1150730_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EjQTuYGgg7c/W0Gt_-ZgfFI/AAAAAAAAEcM/mRNKUe15jGkEtubuNDjEaypMbyQTa8xMQCHMYCw/s1600-h/P11507353"><img title="P1150735" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150735" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hgaM_9_3slk/W0GuBbMQ4WI/AAAAAAAAEcQ/LNjU-VV0OvMBLvsVeLP5MsTu3n5Li0SNQCHMYCw/P1150735_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>As part of our process to eliminate the rump sag, we put in some diagonal bracing at the bottom of wing wall on Miss Merry’s driver side and extended the 2x6 load bearing timber clear up to the main carrier beam at the top of the wall.  <br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X8Fyy_9o50g/W0GuCv6uzAI/AAAAAAAAEcU/pxj9BvP0BO0QRTY_HSX3WUGFACGXA6OcQCHMYCw/s1600-h/20180312_1711323"><img title="20180312_171132" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180312_171132" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NNIIE_ZV22s/W0GuEfLC5JI/AAAAAAAAEcY/J_jw0bXxVNAOhX0Hjr0wE7rHO-BIttdKQCHMYCw/20180312_171132_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>You can see Mr. Pumps the bottle jack where he came to rest on the floor when our cribbing blocks gave way and popped me in the face with a 2x3 we’d been using to stretch the framing in the rear of the driver’s side wall back into shape and remove the bend in the lumber before we secured the new 2x6 in place to carry the load from one of the Atwood Jacks.   </p> <p>Miss Merry’s temporary floor can also be seen that was used while we stretched the wall.   </p> <p>From underneath, you can see the new front 2x5 (We had to cut off some in order for the beam to clear the bumper) that took the place of the original 2x6 that ran the width of the floor when Merry was first built and had been cut away by the last owner and replaced with a chunk of angle iron in order to fit Miss Merry on his much newer pickup.  <br /></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RvMG-N0Tm-E/W0GuF4nqTeI/AAAAAAAAEcc/XDEVbEF3KyI5KvSzJ1VLptmmgxoVXixOACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150737%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150737" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150737" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5tnIWECj3xc/W0GuHXJFV7I/AAAAAAAAEcg/N1gn_At_cWovje-W54gQvFG4fk1QfrSOQCHMYCw/P1150737_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sbWFz_-_VB0/W0GuIhCsTiI/AAAAAAAAEck/95TyWoKbZd82n-jJJu_K8SqYGxqlAyH3ACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150738_edited%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150738_edited" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150738_edited" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VAs_gohYKeM/W0GuKPV5wDI/AAAAAAAAEco/QntbSLLpEHIb06gu6fhGhFxelGHZzjwbQCHMYCw/P1150738_edited_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <br />A second, full 2x6 was installed and through bolted through the base of Merry’s rear wall to help remove the side to side sag that the rear end was having.   The last bit of the sag won’t be completely gone until we reinstall the interior walls that helped support Merry’s rear weight, since these bolts are accessible even after completion, we can adjust their tightness over time to take up any slack that may form in the wood as Miss Merry flexes from traveling.  </p> <p>The photos of this were sadly part of what was lost, so we’ll have to take new ones later one when we show the under side work for the new mixed waste tank and the enclosed compartment.  For now, you’ll just have to go by our description <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Dw2Kgeeo4qs/W0Gt66Ri-8I/AAAAAAAAEcA/4cY9FMdUd94TA7uaeTjNyRiYaPhsytOIQCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-sadsmile2?imgmax=800" />.  </p> <p>The rear wall 2x6 takes the place of the piece of 5/8” plywood that originally was part of the over hang skirt that goes around the underside of an Amerigo’s overhang.   We had to temporarily stretch Merry’s fiberglass rear skin back just enough to allow for us to drive twelve inch carriage bolts through the bottom of the rear wall frame, 5/8” of plywood and the 2x6” stiffening beam.   A total of ten of these bolts go through the frame and the beam, with 2x3s glued and anchored over their heads.   <br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yleoE0XG28U/W0GuLrKEKlI/AAAAAAAAEcw/nVJ01GUgF_Y0B1I1Ov7W3CbOML8vNhLIgCHMYCw/s1600-h/20180325_1342103"><img title="20180325_134210" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180325_134210" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jwv-i_x8dqo/W0GuM-xY0WI/AAAAAAAAEc0/Oo4Crx9q_V8TmD77pQK1MRUMsNwcjRTfgCHMYCw/20180325_134210_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />Why didn’t we go through those 2x3s and well?   There was no way to get a straight on angle to drive the bolts in with the extra thickness, it was barely doable with the original beams and we wanted to be able to retighten these bolts later when the wood dries and shrinks (Causing the bolts to loosen), something that wouldn’t be possible if we flipped them over and put the nuts on the inside of the wall.   So, our compromise was going through the original beam and then laminating the two, bolt heads and all together.   </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Itt3Bo3XLp4/W0GuORdvXsI/AAAAAAAAEc4/EyLy1yf7_bgoj_QUsbZttmS7SphCkS1XwCHMYCw/s1600-h/P11507363"><img title="P1150736" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150736" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eubqJ7ur4I0/W0GuPwEf7BI/AAAAAAAAEdA/JSMPhtkHWPg5MQ2Yk-ad9t_KUhnIwqpEwCHMYCw/P1150736_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Before the finished floor was put in (all once piece of plywood, now), we temporarily fitted the new stairs in place so we could drill the holes through the frame, that way we could easily punch through the plywood later to make the counter sink holes for the nuts, unlike the wall, the floor in Miss Merry will be floating, so all we have to do to tighten those bolts is to remove a couple pieces of trim and lift up the vinyl flooring.  </p> <p>Once that was done, we were able to cut the finish sheet of plywood and permanently install it in place <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-036Y9eaXeBo/W0Gt5lIx4WI/AAAAAAAAEb8/8X_j4fNNKBE0L7_Cyg3L3RFiJ1H06gs3ACHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile2?imgmax=800" />.  </p> <p>Again, the photo after it was installed was lost, so we’re using one of the later photos to show you the new floor in place as best we can.   </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EekzlYQppq8/W0GuRa_wSHI/AAAAAAAAEdE/5C8Wjgg0cNA9qEa7-LMPTHn5fNpB9YImQCHMYCw/s1600-h/20180701_1900453"><img title="20180701_190045" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180701_190045" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NX6N79_b1AI/W0GuS6PNFFI/AAAAAAAAEdM/iw6QXq8bipAKy6uew5A78-sGe-3ABj5JwCHMYCw/20180701_190045_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Once the new floor was finished, we turned our energy towards installing the extra framing being added to help support the load from the much larger three-step folding steps that were taking the place of the original two step.   </p> <p>To help accomodate this, an extra 2x4 was installed in the floor frame and then from underneath, a lamination of a notched 2x6 and a 2x4 were attached and then through bolted through the floor and clear through the beam.   A section of 5/8” plywood was cut to match and then laminated onto the front to give the beam coverage as a nice clean solid surface.   </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z_yD5pA7Dx0/W0GuURbRjcI/AAAAAAAAEdQ/dcjf_a_pLUoo1xJMEwk2yRIJqa3LmvoPQCHMYCw/s1600-h/20180507_1927463"><img title="20180507_192746" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180507_192746" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8kFWpqrL9nc/W0GuVq9zUxI/AAAAAAAAEdU/w9a6kjKi6mQT8LjL3PeB6CN8dTj8Oo1qQCHMYCw/20180507_192746_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>In the shot below its still in its gray primer, the finished area with its spray skirting to protect the stiffening beam of the rear wall were given four coats of flat black oil based enamel paint to finish them once in place (missing some photos here as well, we’ll include some finished ones in “Miss Merry gets a Step up!”).   The stiffening beam was also painted before the skirting board was installed.   All screw heads were counter sunk slightly and the holes sealed over with black elastomeric caulk.   </p> <p>The opposite side will receive a similar treatment but with a longer board made of 1/2” plywood to match the sides of the tank compartment, which hangs down to the bottom of the bumper.  </p> <p>The reason the step compartment skirt is shorter is due to the lack of a similar piece near the bumper due to lack of space, the new step unit takes up all of the space available with its clearances needed to allow it to hinge in and out.  </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GbTrTxKX6xU/W0GuXMWE3qI/AAAAAAAAEdc/L560ZY44SUshYEd5fUQOJiMJxfOeNsLtQCHMYCw/s1600-h/20180507_1927303"><img title="20180507_192730" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180507_192730" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iFyReAKIYzg/W0GuYZuStpI/AAAAAAAAEdg/9e-pOoNLWfMA2b-jN1H3fD3A-csFI05IACHMYCw/20180507_192730_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NPhj4dDH7qg/W0GuZ7ivK3I/AAAAAAAAEdk/ntotwWLL9f0gJVv39KN_ipHOWsugbUjmACHMYCw/s1600-h/20180507_1927363"><img title="20180507_192736" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="20180507_192736" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uK_Pq1JwBnk/W0GubDhlpII/AAAAAAAAEdo/qEmq4GZiEdIuq-IOK4BVO-EKyZqVUwB_gCHMYCw/20180507_192736_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p>   <p>That wraps up Part 3 of the Trampoline floor Mystery and brings the bouncy floor to its end.   Merry’s floor is now solid as a rock and durable enough to take regular long period use off the truck without failing or being spongy.   </p> <p>Next up, we’re going start into some initial work for the plumbing for the new shower and bathroom, so that we can get all the holes cut in the floor <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="style" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-036Y9eaXeBo/W0Gt5lIx4WI/AAAAAAAAEb8/8X_j4fNNKBE0L7_Cyg3L3RFiJ1H06gs3ACHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile2?imgmax=800" />.   </p> <p>See you soon!</p>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-86625782877986558402017-08-25T23:08:00.000-07:002018-07-07T22:52:10.512-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry”, the Amerigo–And The Mystery of the Trampoline Floor–Part 2<p>Once again, the Gang and I have had to change gears <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Vj5kMvc9i_w/Wz8IRCfjJvI/AAAAAAAAEZM/dDP8jpntWOw8x7ARh1zO-5jUYyrDCkY_gCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-sadsmile2?imgmax=800" />.   We discovered that when we went up on the ladder that we couldn’t reach the entirity of the roof area that needed to be sanded and re-fiberglassed.  </p> <p>So, that leaves us with the only other option at the moment since Ms. Merry can’t be dismounted from Red’s back until she’s fully put back together.   </p> <p>Standing on a step ladder inside and doing it from the middle of the skylight opening.   </p> <p>Yay <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Vj5kMvc9i_w/Wz8IRCfjJvI/AAAAAAAAEZM/dDP8jpntWOw8x7ARh1zO-5jUYyrDCkY_gCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-sadsmile2?imgmax=800" />…….</p> <p>In order to that, we will need to come back and finish one of Ms. Merry’s earlier work areas, the <strong><em>Trampoline Floor</em></strong>.   </p> <p>Last year, we rebuilt the front portion of the floor as we explored to discover why Merry’s floor was so bouncy.  The rear portion of the floor was left undone do to the need to remove the bathroom, which we admit, we tried to put off as much as possible, because we knew what kind of nightmare it was going to become once we got that shower out and started tearing into the rear floor  </p> <p>Unfortunately, with the need to basically stand in the middle of the toilet and the old shower pan, removing the shower could no longer be put off any longer.  </p> <p>The upside is once its done, Ms. Merry’s floor will be fully enclosed at last and we’ll only be a short step away from hanging the rear section of ceiling in place so that the rear wall board can go in place <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6bh-Si8V7jk/Wz8IShosJmI/AAAAAAAAEZQ/yO9xhSmhSjoyBLoFxnEU12uZn9vJ5iNlwCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile2?imgmax=800" />.  </p> <p>The first challenge was getting out the old Aqua Magic Galaxy Toilet.   </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IONgdksg1dU/WYlgv6vS5NI/AAAAAAAAEPw/79eX1Wps7Xowe8tLwtO3IQyVs59fD3ecgCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150683%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150683" border="0" alt="P1150683" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GIBP48GQdhU/WYlgwqMeabI/AAAAAAAAEP0/q7qNhW9KhP45J1Mc4GDBaPBx-uyWQAZ3QCHMYCw/P1150683_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Out of all of Thetford’s designs, this one seems to be the one designed to be the greatest pain in the rear to remove.  </p> <p>Removal requires removing a plug in the top and using eighteen inches of extensions, a universal joint adapter and a deep well 1/2” socket in order to back off the rear flange bolt.  </p> <p>Removing the front bolt requires keeping the foot pedal depressed so you can use a ratcheting box end wrench to back the front flange bolt out.  </p> <p>This went okay until the johnny bolt in the rear broke loose in the closet flange and started spinning, making it impossible to finish backing the nut off.  </p> <p>Mercifully, the front bolt came out without any problems.  </p> <p>In the end, Big Joe had to come to the rescue and with a lot of swearing, Ms. Merry’s old water closet flange gave way and the toilet went airborne, flying up high enough to clear the shower walls before crashing back onto the floor.  </p> <p>At last the stubborn old toilet was out!</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m1BWzyFoPzM/Wz8IUALahXI/AAAAAAAAEZU/3ZQ4VPYqVNscXbtyfHSAnKN3IGQA_oe2ACHMYCw/s1600-h/P11507163"><img title="P1150716" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150716" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eGYVB9_tKlU/Wz8IWC2hN5I/AAAAAAAAEZY/sQgrIElUC3MmGeW_e3D0c3h4oLspcXUjACHMYCw/P1150716_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k_0OEBT62R0/Wz8IXkddmdI/AAAAAAAAEZc/vCxk1MU0PZ8dCZzocAGIX3eMpDFjSNA-wCHMYCw/s1600-h/P11507173"><img title="P1150717" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150717" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X_vmaJ4CXQ8/Wz8IZDTpENI/AAAAAAAAEZg/zyFeVV4QmCg7eUzGpLTbAqnnYsm9qM51ACHMYCw/P1150717_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Only to discover it was anchored to the floor with those damn blasted Security Screws from hell…… <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-cryingface" alt="Crying face" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qA0c99lGO4M/Wz8Iapn54xI/AAAAAAAAEZk/ue0CeJ0b7u43JTT4qn_Wdo4m-BdShDamACHMYCw/wlEmoticon-cryingface2?imgmax=800" /></p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YCfB0q3xhCY/Wz8IcNIO0aI/AAAAAAAAEZo/i-vYJwjXLNQRKwpZ6m2WfLtClgdPycpaACHMYCw/s1600-h/closet_flange2"><img title="closet_flange" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="closet_flange" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aNA8_LDmBs8/Wz8Id5I5y5I/AAAAAAAAEZs/huaVFkYMVKwIc9gVJ4ngNE38A54R-EFAACHMYCw/closet_flange_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="197" /></a></p> <p>Come on Big Joe, Five Pound, we’ve got more screws to pull out….. <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Vj5kMvc9i_w/Wz8IRCfjJvI/AAAAAAAAEZM/dDP8jpntWOw8x7ARh1zO-5jUYyrDCkY_gCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-sadsmile2?imgmax=800" /></p> <p>Once we had popped and pulled all of the tooth grinding screws out, we were blessed with a small mercy, the flange was threaded into the tank, a couple minutes with lil’ Joe and Five Pound, and we had the flange loose and we used the remaining johnny bolt to spin it out.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-OfCFkB8h_z2NXg8YxOdQ1blCsZ3owR8kHGrwfQMRRwT6BPZS6ATeyc82DDy5urS5YUdG1RElEfxft1rDgt1cXGwKjJe8ZxrRKtbl9KZeSdmcheHIWZjawC7UNAqsWavmCMv71fFg5g/s1600-h/P11507183"><img title="P1150718" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150718" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jmHNfadzBmQ/Wz8IgitqAkI/AAAAAAAAEZ0/IuvEpRE88bAOTbn0Q1oHFKh2ZQJhgVgqACHMYCw/P1150718_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>At last!  </p> <p>Now, to get that drain out….. Dang it…. it’s inner cross piece broke off….. Where’s my big flat head screw driver….. </p> <p>The shower drain, which I at one time thought of saving and reusing ended up having to be shattered with a flat head screw driver as the inner tree broke off when we tried to back it out.  Once it’s flange was out, I left the remaining thread in the pipe, as all of the remaining plumbing plus the old tank were on their way to the dumpster.  </p> <p>At last, we were able to pull the old shower out and expose the last of the floor, untouched and unseen since Merry rolled off the assembly line in 1975.   </p> <p>It was really…. really dirty……</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2ZYg2jRIkWw/Wz8IiCCAnRI/AAAAAAAAEZ4/7__R-oij700b3NQ33x5veZEcZ46VIrzEQCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150719%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150719" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150719" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5Az0zwrBHyg/Wz8Ijz7aAJI/AAAAAAAAEaA/UgoBJJPaApYAiBQn6AKkdBq0zkmHzyDVACHMYCw/P1150719_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bzjh3OKU1T4/Wz8Il4HSPNI/AAAAAAAAEaE/WpygRmRwW6Ux3TGbYut9Xl184yolPlmNACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150720%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150720" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150720" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5FbhmqMA7CM/Wz8IncXDA1I/AAAAAAAAEaI/89aC9fmmj6AKmimwSeqeN_EYSLscW30SgCHMYCw/P1150720_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>That’s all road dirt that had blown up into Miss Merry’s undercarriage in all the years she’d traveled, coming up around the gap in the floor around the shower drain pipe that went straight through the floor and hung underneath, fully exposed to the elements and road spray.   </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oKSiaQ-YsNY/Wz8Io2smwhI/AAAAAAAAEaM/nve6wCjZ5DIMTAc19WTOgKKC_1xlwX9EACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150721%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150721" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150721" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Zep3s02Dh5k/Wz8IqjKRMmI/AAAAAAAAEaQ/COpm27LhkokYrp95kO3KzsLwX3BLp2KewCHMYCw/P1150721_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>The debris is from the removal of the old shower, and the wood, ironically enough, has only surface discoloring, no dry rot was found.   </p> <p>With the shower out, it was time to remove the last of the original wall paneling so that the old floor could at last be removed.</p> <p>While preparing to remove the last of the old wall paneling, we found another time capsule from when Merry was originally built.   </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tzq2J4CW-E0/Wz8IsJxfQvI/AAAAAAAAEaU/Ehvqu--J6_QH8Ut0_9CCsUnYI1Ek7ZeIACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150722%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150722" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150722" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gJEH2FaFJhI/Wz8It71gSEI/AAAAAAAAEaY/aEW_L90tUpUMmiruYLDa68W-rcJNy1-QQCHMYCw/P1150722_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3DeckwmXNG0/Wz8Ivfx0qDI/AAAAAAAAEag/W9ULF23WvJwYW_uPTmSQDBkzbN8FLmZEQCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150723%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150723" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150723" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-79A13aX_9XM/Wz8Iw0QjS1I/AAAAAAAAEak/A6yMbJj8II879t0Wz5XfU4djX7Ra8gxoQCHMYCw/P1150723_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zFNgsGaSI80/Wz8IypUNAkI/AAAAAAAAEao/6NM-Q7Ur7eYMvh7XxZoomc_O661hzWz8QCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150724%255B7%255D"><img title="P1150724" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150724" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MJ8-kp06uTU/Wz8I0AHqbPI/AAAAAAAAEas/U8MoHeCHKcUeNncV6-AsEDzUWBW47annACHMYCw/P1150724_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Still afixed to the vent stack for the holding tank, was a piece of scotch tape with notes listing its use and its source.    Much like the “Ken Smith” written on the side of Merry’s fridge, we’ve found a number of notes left behind by the folks who built Merry forty-two years ago <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6bh-Si8V7jk/Wz8IShosJmI/AAAAAAAAEZQ/yO9xhSmhSjoyBLoFxnEU12uZn9vJ5iNlwCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile2?imgmax=800" />. </p> <p>If we can find a way, we may preserve a few of these tid bits in Merry’s table top when we get to that stage, so they can continue to travel on with Merry.   </p> <p>With Merry’s new shower, the new vent stack will be painted and visible within it, and sadly, we won’t be able to reuse the original Bristol, Indiana made vent pipes as they’re too short to make the run from where the vent pipe elbow will be to reach the vent cap on the roof.   </p> <p>Once we cut off the vent pipe, it took some work with Big Joe the crowbar to break Merry’s old holding tank loose from the floor.   We had to remove it in this fashion due to the use of those dang blasted crescent moon screws that were used in every facet of Merry’s construction, backing them out was not possible.   </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9XnB0vOYdT0/Wz8I1oHh5zI/AAAAAAAAEaw/ncAsqix2Y5wu86NRQbEDl8zNzsNn3W6RwCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150728%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150728" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150728" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uFUcWw1WJiU/Wz8I3WOlSaI/AAAAAAAAEa4/o4AoWKZOXMgH_aMwXI1kb0E0uxgUJBAYwCHMYCw/P1150728_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>As you can see in the photo, the original toilet flange was off center of the tank due to the bathroom being off center to accomodate for the vent pipe.   With the new tank and bathroom, the flange is now direct dead center on the deepest point of the tank.   We’ll go over this in a later chapter covering the cutting of the floor holes for the new plumbing and ducting for Merry’s heated tank compartment that will go under the floor.   </p> <p>With the tank finally out, we were able to begin the demolition of the rear floor.</p> <p>Sadly, one of the main members we had left in place broke at a large knot in the board as we were prying up the old 5/8” three section plywood that made up the original floor.  </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aJ2JWRChfzE/Wz8I5YUbN5I/AAAAAAAAEa8/44SLvDovyXoHmd4sBtfBdUsgmkHBN_b3gCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150726%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150726" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150726" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ffmUO1M2mKc/Wz8I7HVx5CI/AAAAAAAAEbA/yUG4Y_rXFCEwsIYZilOpsG1tprPAiOOkACHMYCw/P1150726_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lQCHdQz66os/Wz8I9HhcXPI/AAAAAAAAEbI/Ko77rxHdey8awJMkMgtqg7F1vPDY81s-wCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150727%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150727" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150727" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5TY22FpNzSs/Wz8I-ofzrjI/AAAAAAAAEbQ/uWW4ZF-L4VIloyCL4DhAawQLZtiuQjx7ACHMYCw/P1150727_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>You can see the flimsy door skin material that was used on the underside of Miss Merry, we simply punched through it with a few blows of our feet and Big Joe.   </p> <p>Looks like we’ve got some clean up to do, so stay tuned, we’ll continue the floor rebuild in Part 3 <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6bh-Si8V7jk/Wz8IShosJmI/AAAAAAAAEZQ/yO9xhSmhSjoyBLoFxnEU12uZn9vJ5iNlwCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile2?imgmax=800" />.</p>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-77625336309475317872017-08-12T21:13:00.000-07:002017-08-17T21:16:01.422-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry” the Amerigo–Merry Raises the Roof–Part 2<p>When we last left you off, we were just getting the new rear roof framing in place for Ms. Merry’s bathroom.  </p> <p>We’re starting off in part 2, gluing in the five millimeter plywood cut to give the roof a crown around where the raised ceiling and vents are going to go.  We’ve also framed in the last vent opening, for where Old Mr. Kit’s fantastic fan is going to be installed, replacing the original rear roof vent of Ms. Merry’s <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f6DxfJeQ22Q/WZZpjYr2v_I/AAAAAAAAESU/VZCsbuEqX6Eur6sWga-mLE2fz2rUfj2GACHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.  </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m_p8Twc6BUs/WZZpl_JcZCI/AAAAAAAAESY/InKqmBYl--85IaOTIL2ZOeukEM83YO4zACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150696%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150696" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150696" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EYJFBn7GJXk/WZZpobAOuSI/AAAAAAAAESc/jt8sh7u9MrYaurT9ZxY9I2h1ChaT9aEDQCHMYCw/P1150696_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K5RNLRSsA9g/WZZprLGmBdI/AAAAAAAAESg/l1iEjaHQO1sEj4168tolpL5suzCJ1l4jQCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150697%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150697" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150697" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sL4bgvsG8Iw/WZZptFmx-ZI/AAAAAAAAESk/N0PPHnn8X1EF_hUfZrwG39_WVP3aCpQbgCHMYCw/P1150697_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <br />Poor Mr. Dremel worked his heart out cutting out those openings, his little blades are all worn down to nubs, now <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" alt="Sad smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tli0DpYHvSM/WZZpuGN895I/AAAAAAAAESo/hXIrVhnRZNYE2a6Iua7U4q0I2Ol7z_6igCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-sadsmile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" /> and my poor arms were jelly by the time we got done.  Mr. Dremel’s going to have to take a break soon until we make a run to Home Depot to get him some more!</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wZcl2W_w9mk/WZZpvKGBpSI/AAAAAAAAESs/5zu2PcenGccJ6APsoKvrcCPlLN6ALS35ACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150700%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150700" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150700" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GNT-B78MEuw/WZZpv0jOJrI/AAAAAAAAESw/sX7b6YjmTMcZwoGaOp8gqcYJOqJNmSpkwCHMYCw/P1150700_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Once the holes were all done, we started fastening the pieces of old fiberglass roof in to the odd shaped holes and Mr. Dremel struggled on a little more to cut them flush to the new openings.  </p> <p>I think it came out pretty good, and once we clean and sand it, we’ll be putting some new fiberglass on to seal the roof all back up into once piece again <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f6DxfJeQ22Q/WZZpjYr2v_I/AAAAAAAAESU/VZCsbuEqX6Eur6sWga-mLE2fz2rUfj2GACHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.  </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0X870L66THU/WZZpxHFYJTI/AAAAAAAAES0/6PfC4L4NZTAkAHxd_WtLmoKpJGQzjFmfgCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150698%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150698" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150698" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5V5PtceD2KA/WZZpx0LbdJI/AAAAAAAAES4/xuSYKeDiON8VJv1agFofV6SKqxKZ5EalwCHMYCw/P1150698_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PN06EG2423o/WZZpzPfUSQI/AAAAAAAAES8/xTq9pbf8ItQXX3RM45bfZOzD79OZ_NaZgCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150699%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150699" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150699" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LltGvJgZus4/WZZp0C9e3kI/AAAAAAAAETA/U9qzIAhhChM-NLY_EPU7Z4mMwNGp3wRmgCHMYCw/P1150699_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Thanks to the new Park Manager, Mr. Willy, we were able to get a ladder tall enough to get up topside of Ms. Merry and start the cleaning.  For now, we just cleaned around the bathroom’s new vent opening so we could get it installed, there’s rain on the way and we need to get Ms. Merry battened down before it hits!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9MJCJ3ucTrzbiYIPLgULnHWD0ZRQrQKhR0mz9k43yxmW14WT5eEJYr7n2WRzgwfZYM4Yq6PW9m020u3Cat7pIlcuYbb0-CcHUJOBsq93tQuT_IBbJGGXVA0RhLJVDBejmreUoBZ3zvS0/s1600-h/P1150702%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150702" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150702" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rf1OwWIViGk/WZZp2kbogWI/AAAAAAAAETI/mqIrGRAlqggs4S0n7IhCWolQ-NzU3DOuQCHMYCw/P1150702_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" align="left" height="244" /></a>For Ms. Merry’s new bathroom vent, we went with a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GGKG8WG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Ventline RV Roof Vent White w/ 12 Volt Fan</a>.   <br /> <br />The Gang and I really like really liked this vent because it unlike most of the classic Elxir and Jensen vents, the screen doesn’t require you to remove the interior trim ring to remove the screen for cleaning.  <br /> <br />Just unclip and rinse, much easier than having to remove the knob, the anchor screws for the bezel, then the outer trim ring just to clean the screen!</p> <p>We’re going to install a Camco vent cover over that vent later once the roof work is all done.   </p> <p>Can you believe it?  We’re almost done with the roof!   </p> <p>Here’s our remaining work list, and then we can close it in!</p> <blockquote> <ul> <li>Pull the light wiring for the light above the dinette</li> <li>Pull the light wiring for the interior entrace area light</li> <li>Pull the speaker wire for the stereo speakers going on the underside of the dinette cabinet</li> <li>Pull the wire for the TV Antenna</li> <li>Pull the wire for the Radio Antenna (In theory we should be able to connect to the Winnegard antenna, but we’re not sure yet)  <br />Pull the wiring for the bathroom light and bathroom fan</li> <li>Pull the wiring for the Air Conditioner (First 110volt wire to be installed!)</li> <li>Pull the wiring for the porch light</li> </ul> </blockquote> <p> Still looks like alot to do, but its all small things, a number of which can be done in a single day <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="style" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f6DxfJeQ22Q/WZZpjYr2v_I/AAAAAAAAESU/VZCsbuEqX6Eur6sWga-mLE2fz2rUfj2GACHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.  The slow one will be pull the TV wire, as we need to get some more parts to make more coax cables.  </p> <p>In the interim, we’ve gotten the holes drilled out for pull the light wires.   Found the bit used for the Kreg Jig for the dimensional lumber is big and long enough to work great as an auger for drilling deep wire holes into bigger boards <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="style" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f6DxfJeQ22Q/WZZpjYr2v_I/AAAAAAAAESU/VZCsbuEqX6Eur6sWga-mLE2fz2rUfj2GACHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.   <br /> <br />Drills Milwaukee was able to bore clean through a 2x2 and a 2x4 without any trouble!</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eqF_aiEsmHk/WZZp3-thEKI/AAAAAAAAETM/DkKQ7hgMXDIK9rL3JVxD0K-mzjsH0U6mQCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150704%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150704" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150704" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AgeR5LhCrIQ/WZZp4lFe6nI/AAAAAAAAETQ/L0HJTbHT8ao8eoSIg1S9wd1EwTp9X5YLACHMYCw/P1150704_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Pk4OYrx5OeM/WZZp5tCV9MI/AAAAAAAAETU/oULqfx-g1aIL5crucgwdyL5_rN4C5s0hwCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150705%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150705" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150705" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B25nBZ-k_U4/WZZp6RV63CI/AAAAAAAAETY/G4XMnG-umDIkRkXX2dI4p6xMcRv24pQhACHMYCw/P1150705_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1ZkYFijH1AI/WZZp7Er_qiI/AAAAAAAAETc/N0VsSC6d_UA-UzcpcW6nis1es42yRGglQCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150703%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150703" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150703" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_4ePxjxodeo/WZZp7zK4n7I/AAAAAAAAETg/JuQqOp7E13MqMWV1CwsHB1wGco5vO9akQCHMYCw/P1150703_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <br /></p> <p>Our last piece for this chapter, we’ve cleaned the roof above where the raised roof frame goes in and glued and screwed it into place.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wOmL5qXGYxg/WZZp82vwLBI/AAAAAAAAETk/9Um5lIdBE3kmZrEPrQZmTjhmbuYSYN8lgCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150710%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150710" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150710" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j4oAyKmu5A8/WZZp9yxzV2I/AAAAAAAAETo/cqYwLCRvyaglyPsk3CVFjXl-dmyWH_7SgCHMYCw/P1150710_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-On8C_HVOcCw/WZZp-z7thcI/AAAAAAAAETs/7nFNVbFnKRowXTHa9FR4_TCdX8Bwfu8WwCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150709%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150709" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150709" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mAH0HJd9Upo/WZZp_zeJfMI/AAAAAAAAETw/qu6NkborFzcSDhYvNjK4V2baIVz8E54uACHMYCw/P1150709_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Next up, fiberglassing the roof in Part 3 <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="style" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f6DxfJeQ22Q/WZZpjYr2v_I/AAAAAAAAESU/VZCsbuEqX6Eur6sWga-mLE2fz2rUfj2GACHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.  </p>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-72044033756310492522017-08-10T23:37:00.000-07:002017-08-11T00:05:58.572-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry”, the Amerigo–Merry Raises the Roof–Part 1<p>Well, we just keep jumping around to different tales, now don’t we?  </p> <p>This is really because in order to get to a larger end goal on Ms. Merry, we have to do a little of one thing so we can do alot of another.  </p> <p>In this case, we had to do the first half of the bathroom demolition in order to get to the rest of the roof.</p> <p>As you saw in the Last Demo chapter, the roof framing above Ms. Merry’s bathroom was in pretty rough shape.   </p> <p>Since the gang and I are going to change the bathroom a bit anyway, we decided to change how the roof vents and everything were as well.   This is going to add a little work for us, but the end result will be a bathroom big enough for Big Matt to stick his big round tuchus comfortably for a shower or a quite bit of contemplation with a book <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smilewithtongueout" style="style" alt="Smile with tongue out" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ppxiz7p1dRU/WY1XFQLQBzI/AAAAAAAAEQY/86EAuVdYoqEGLBj9wLWSzIyWePqks_XSwCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smilewithtongueout%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.  </p> <p>The bathroom isn’t the only reason we’re reframing alot of the rear third of the Ms. Merry’s roof.  </p> <p>A big reason is the original open for Ms. Merry’s Air Conditioner was turned into a nice skylight by her last owner, which is wonderful because it gives Big Matt a nice place to stick his head when he’s working in the kitchen and wants to stand up good and tall, but now we needed a new home for Merry’s new A/C unit.  </p> <p>So, we first removed the first two roof joists directly behind the original area where the skylight was: <br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LW54hT5xCNM/WY1XGSZgrbI/AAAAAAAAEQc/0UyNIgYOXj8MbAWi3UrN8yOgwvdqkadSgCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150686%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150686" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150686" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cVue0UCvzf4/WY1XHdLWOCI/AAAAAAAAEQg/sPdlaml_4PoQVpBXElvCVvEj42z3zrRSgCHMYCw/P1150686_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Then we built a new frame using 2x4s (Merry’s original A/C vent roof rafters were just 2x2s glued together, basically making a 2x4), so we used a couple 2x4s for the main load bearing area, then laminated the two 2x2 roof joists we’d removed (there was nothing wrong with them) and put them back into place and anchored them back into the top wall beam.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pDfSUl3bShc/WY1XIOmjLXI/AAAAAAAAEQk/hqPgIi6WpLYFOIKz9wm00ayptyWPa2QIACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150687%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150687" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150687" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RcEw7dPgkf8/WY1XI8ntwXI/AAAAAAAAEQo/PFnbeTEkl0A8zaEflINsRrA1Rub7vZh-ACHMYCw/P1150687_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Once the glue had set on those new joists, we started removing the last couple in the rear that were in really bad shape from where water had gotten to them, enough so that it left a permanent outline on the inside of the fiberglass ceiling from where they were.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h0KUh5-Wd40/WY1XJkK7JqI/AAAAAAAAEQs/qrLqf_wupu0ma3xRhElsosz7bq_YnBq3QCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150688%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150688" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150688" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d8CE2bWRbIA/WY1XKuE1QdI/AAAAAAAAEQw/pqNABKaNdgcaxjz0UwpHUuE-Tjh3PGQUQCHMYCw/P1150688_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Before we took out the last beam, we cut the new five millimeter plywood to glue in on top of the new roof joists for the A/C so that there’s an even platform for the A/C to sit on and to give the roof a little slope so that water runs away from the A/C unit.  </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R-EfAGx7-Cs/WY1XLRfshqI/AAAAAAAAEQ0/eT820eL6ANYkcowaA_0o0I7JCzOX_75SACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150689%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150689" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150689" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6BHMM-qQfIQ/WY1XMTINiSI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/DGZQHTqQ2PE1tc8eHEIM_BYrSA5qJJKFwCHMYCw/P1150689_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>We left it like for the night so that the pressure from the fiberglass could act like a clamp on the plywood to secure it via the glue we had squeezed in between the frame and it to bond the two together.  </p> <p>When we cut the opening out for the new A/C, we’ll drive some flush fasteners in around the perimeter of the open to help secure the layers together.  </p> <p>Once the glue had dried on the plywood, we went about framing in the new roof joists for the raised skylight area and the new 14x14 Vent-line Power vent that was also going into the bathroom and would be situated above the sink.  </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-93l0i53NZgM/WY1XNAgKOZI/AAAAAAAAEQ8/uB2t-0o0TGoj7pKhDUCGHMM8F63P-iIpwCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150695%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150695" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150695" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wq7FQRLwCgk/WY1XN1zBGXI/AAAAAAAAERA/RrPTyhJcwIE4SEbxH-6ix16LW3xxL3umACHMYCw/P1150695_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YO9sMrWrEmo/WY1XO-HGJcI/AAAAAAAAERE/INocZksdiGMY6ILcGD9ZB_0Exl2gdVjQwCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150696%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150696" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150696" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2wIm5rvPbHM/WY1XPvgdUfI/AAAAAAAAERI/OUMIydF7J_cRAg7-UfT4pQyKguSN8lvxACHMYCw/P1150696_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>We plan to reuse the section of roof where the new roof vent is going to fill in the original rear vent’s hole.   More five millimeter plywood is going to be installed across the areas where the old vent openings and new vent opens are to give us something to help re-glass the altered areas.</p> <p>Once the holes are fully edged with roof material, the new vent frame will be installed on top of the roof and then made into a water proof permanent component onto which the skylight dome will go.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wz3TTRQcEjM/WY1XQQGjrlI/AAAAAAAAERM/BMudpPpOmSMuIhbIpCXvhgRwvFEYKEPfwCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150692%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150692" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150692" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DIq65C8IcCQ/WY1XRDzvonI/AAAAAAAAERQ/HXqHWOlb4eUPAuSa1U9VdGSEyQlk3QMpACHMYCw/P1150692_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2Itx6uhhf-s/WY1XSLfrqQI/AAAAAAAAERU/nEf3PU0VFpQvwe3qHvcLlRiskkRZ3zr5ACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150693%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150693" style="margin: 0px; display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150693" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hthi137g2M0/WY1XS76-p9I/AAAAAAAAERY/m_gtlRYIqk4zoJqSSL6HvwZJPF2_cX2JACHMYCw/P1150693_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mFtLFa2Pt5s/WY1XTqWEvVI/AAAAAAAAERc/Viwoc1xX_x4bKESitQ5Ns4S-X2tpkfDmACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150694%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150694" style="display: inline; background-image: none;" border="0" alt="P1150694" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YIE8VYfr24A/WY1XUWyd-vI/AAAAAAAAERg/2__gO-WZ83UIC0m_HG5NOTXvaieIkC9RwCHMYCw/P1150694_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>We’ve got one more vent open to frame in to replace the original 14x14 rear vent that’s being shifted towards the door a little to accomodate the expansion of the bathroom.</p> <p>We’ll cover its installation and the plywood install in part 2 <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="style" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BGewwPeEW48/WY1XVJaathI/AAAAAAAAERk/9lxGhTJ4Z0AEmMX4xH3dRxvR4xIc6f4ogCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.</p>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-25930478773315368502017-07-23T23:56:00.000-07:002017-08-07T23:57:18.523-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry”, the Amerigo–The last Demo, Clearing the Bathroom–Part 1<p>Now, you’re all probably wondering, as I said in my last post “We’re on a Roll!”, and now we’ve moved away from finishing the cabover and moved on to other parts of the Ms. Merry.</p> <p>Well, the answer is pretty simple.   In the process of completing what you’ve seen in the cabover, I successfully hurt my knee, and since I couldn’t crawl around until it healed up, I decided rather than waste time, the Gang and I would go and work on other parts of Ms. Merry that needed doing.  </p> <p>So, we figured we’d move on to finish the side walls and roof, and to tackle that, we had to finish doing the last Demolition that we’d been putting off, the bathroom.</p> <p>We’d put off the bathroom as long as we did because when I first started on Ms. Merry, we were racing to try and get done as fast as possible to try and make the Glacier National Park Rally with the other Truck Campers.   So, we weren’t certain if we were going to do anything with Ms. Merry’s bathroom or not, other than shove it out of the way to finish the wall behind it.</p> <p>Now, that we’ve got more time and making sure we’re doing everything right, I decided that I would take a page from Old Mr. Kit and completely rebuild the bathroom.</p> <p>With that decision made, the next big one was, “What do we want to save?”   Ms. Merry did have a nice one-piece fiberglass bathroom, problem was, it was just a hair too short front to back and a couple inches too narrow.  </p> <p>We guess Gardner did this so that one bathroom mould could be used for all their RV models, vs having different sized ones for different models.  </p> <p>So, I decided that we’d keep the bottom half of the bathroom (It was two pieces glued together), and junk the top, as the medicine cabinet wasn’t worth keeping and the roof vent was going to be redone anyway.</p> <p>Now, that was decided, it was time to take the proverbial to it.</p> <p>One last look at the old bathroom.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d1jklZn-Lv0/WYlgqLLueyI/AAAAAAAAEPQ/NhtG_DZsYwk1R1AaUnQ7s2NurB4VRXWbACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150677%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150677" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150677" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-epOcSmIjgbs/WYlgq5XNdsI/AAAAAAAAEPU/fxPovM3ppPYKKyv6PvFHKI8NAXZ9jq--wCHMYCw/P1150677_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Then off came the door wall and the door:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTB5NDCJmL2H0QWof1Ed3Fj3uqJbPeJsBO1OP6joTCiiD-gVUXKF7vSa9IVBWahkhuc8UVQa6zeEILiPpa5aNOg_VaKKAI85gdR2IkcZTkcQrSFNfISbiXkX0Cw01XB2aidgksZo2sBM4/s1600-h/P1150678%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150678" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150678" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UKKEMv6vhGU/WYlgsfi6iKI/AAAAAAAAEPc/k_tFPhwl4McN9LuE5EKLrCkguXRfclndACHMYCw/P1150678_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Then Mr. Dremel really got to work, cutting out the upper bathroom walls in pieces:</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aJU-XMKPrjQ/WYlgtCg2WSI/AAAAAAAAEPg/YqSE-wfvalouB9roLUfetUIq_xgVSVNJACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150679%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150679" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150679" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1rguSdb3_jk/WYlgt8kLwuI/AAAAAAAAEPk/klJ75d1DdNcXvOb3KPwHAIWCjrPMwmkjACHMYCw/P1150679_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Oakvhd40E78/WYlguUOI3DI/AAAAAAAAEPo/Z4OS1DzAzHwess_rMsaTz1cVtlUeteJ-wCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150680%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150680" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150680" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wTmqixEYL60/WYlgvHMzoVI/AAAAAAAAEPs/_eYKlXUvEc4F1f6g2mdPoV27yyiqMclTQCHMYCw/P1150680_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> <p>You can see the water damage where it got in around the junk roof vent above the bathroom.  </p> <p>It was too long before we had half a bathroom and the rest was pieces thrown out in the dumpster.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IONgdksg1dU/WYlgv6vS5NI/AAAAAAAAEPw/79eX1Wps7Xowe8tLwtO3IQyVs59fD3ecgCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150683%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150683" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150683" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GIBP48GQdhU/WYlgwqMeabI/AAAAAAAAEP0/q7qNhW9KhP45J1Mc4GDBaPBx-uyWQAZ3QCHMYCw/P1150683_thumb?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rlMeGEWTR1E/WYlgxuLEUkI/AAAAAAAAEP4/DNXOY0Uor9IWT9YS7tMj2s7G_L2Ez0D8ACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150684%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150684" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150684" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fti0zqs9ZIQ/WYlgyalvOrI/AAAAAAAAEP8/WQD1m6pFm9UT5JS8FqYl4NM8-1GEIOmpQCHMYCw/P1150684_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Most of the roof above the bathroom we were able to just pull out with our fingers, it just crumbled into thousands of tiny pieces.   </p> <p>Now, that the upper half of Ms. Merry’s bathroom has been cleared away, we can hold off on working on the bottom half until we get the roof and ceiling done so we can start planning out the new walls.  </p> <p>First up, we’re going to start reframing the roof and remove those old vents, but that’s a story for another chapter <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O7pKi1MaR9M/WYlgzP31ydI/AAAAAAAAEQA/qC7qSXyjUe0AVWhvehmrIkQ_zX3oHQt9gCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.  </p>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-27080319886065193862017-07-10T00:49:00.000-07:002017-07-30T00:49:48.985-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry”, the Amerigo–Completing the Cabover, Part 2<p>We’re on a roll, now! <br /> <br />Soon, as we finished getting Ms. Merry’s new plywood walls done, we couldn’t wait to get to the next  step, installing the first of the new finished wall board that would adorn all of the inside walls inside of Ms. Merry <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-85QNMJSOX2s/WX2OgmHSXfI/AAAAAAAAENI/NMKIGvg1vU8l_-P1ECULGnbxnS_Ri3m2gCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile2?imgmax=800" /> ! <br /> <br />Since our plywood boards fit so well, we decided to trace them onto their finish wall boards before we had glued them into place.  <br /> <br />So, other than troweling on the flexible wall-board adhesive we’d selected and putting in the perimeter staples to keep everything nice and tight, it took very little time at all to really make Merry’s new walls look wonderful <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-85QNMJSOX2s/WX2OgmHSXfI/AAAAAAAAENI/NMKIGvg1vU8l_-P1ECULGnbxnS_Ri3m2gCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile2?imgmax=800" />.  <br /> <br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-piVkrhQyc0U/WX2OhSaXB9I/AAAAAAAAENM/nOVOVNIOZMc4rNrE2n5VgXIRgqIfaXF1wCHMYCw/s1600-h/P11506653"><img title="P1150665" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150665" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Kzpnu2WTaLM/WX2Ohyge82I/AAAAAAAAENQ/cNQIjQXxtrYlKjdZ2_rBoZRIwRtOzG_5wCHMYCw/P1150665_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Kj-a8j7RELM/WX2OilDOpBI/AAAAAAAAENU/FMMghpIvtkEOMHuO58URSbPJWIui-OfiwCHMYCw/s1600-h/P11506703"><img title="P1150670" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150670" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cAvc0mc20nQ/WX2OjdgpwUI/AAAAAAAAENY/rvvUYq3VhWof9NNswzYUyqDWNcJRu5ArACHMYCw/P1150670_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <br />The pattern on the finished wall board is called “Sea Mist”, though we’re not entirely sure where it comes from, as we’ve never seen a sea mist that looked anything like it. <br /> <br />For our friends that own Ms. Merry’s brothers and sisters, you may or may not have noticed, but as part of our redesign of Ms. Merry’s interior, we did away with the little wing shelf-thingies that were under the bottom edge of the wrap-around front window.   <br /> <br />Given one of our main goals was to fit a full queen size mattress in Ms. Merry’s cabover, we saw no use to the little wings since our front ledge is anchored in place using a custom cut 2x6 and is securely attached to the cabover frame which supports it instead of the ledge trying to support the floor, as it was when we first brought Ms. Merry home.  <br /> <br />The remaining void between the fiberglass body and the frame will be later filled with expanding foam, the low pressure variety so that it doesn’t accidentally deform the fiberglass body, this will insulate and remove any cold air voids near the front.  <br /> <br />Once the main cabover walls were finished, the next part was to close back in the top front corners and install the insulation.  <br /> <br />Yes, the gang and I decided to use pink bat insulation, we don’t have the tools to use expanding spray foam, which would have been ideal and the canned stuff wouldn’t have ensured an even insulation layer.  Plus, if we ever need to replace the clearance lights, not embedding the wiring in expanding foam was a good idea <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-85QNMJSOX2s/WX2OgmHSXfI/AAAAAAAAENI/NMKIGvg1vU8l_-P1ECULGnbxnS_Ri3m2gCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile2?imgmax=800" />.  <br /> <br />First we temporarily installed the corner boards to help hold the ceiling up while we removed the front board that had been temporarily screwed in place, then installed the fiberglass <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-85QNMJSOX2s/WX2OgmHSXfI/AAAAAAAAENI/NMKIGvg1vU8l_-P1ECULGnbxnS_Ri3m2gCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile2?imgmax=800" />.    <br /> <br />The temporary bracing is to straighten the upper plywood ledge back out, the staples that held the bottom ledge for the front plywood had pulled out over the winter and had caused a bow to form in the shelf. <br /> <br />We glued and screwed the ledge back in place this time, so we’re going to leave it wedged up for a while to get the bow out.  <br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Wly5zk-xOzI/WX2OkZJLCLI/AAAAAAAAENc/_zOtqHd-S0QxRlJ0nVb_IeJfRTJgB9xkACHMYCw/s1600-h/P11506723"><img title="P1150672" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150672" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K-81ysCTfp4/WX2OlE_ioWI/AAAAAAAAENg/qQU399SLji0M2yWaL6w1iVvoQynBqx9KACHMYCw/P1150672_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Sc192_df86I/WX2Olx3ePaI/AAAAAAAAENk/_Jw-bts44PU9CgB_F3ZEvqeu1_N8XsMZwCHMYCw/s1600-h/P11506733"><img title="P1150673" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150673" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7zHo7jXmKlA/WX2Omm1C9xI/AAAAAAAAENo/GMWhSUGzp2wGKmcHW8dUYeZBSh2jxKXKQCHMYCw/P1150673_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cTZmgUlOTho/WX2OnNy0WaI/AAAAAAAAENs/_e097okwuzA2-eSgDzWKHU26Fo98Iv8UwCHMYCw/s1600-h/P11506753"><img title="P1150675" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150675" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_1uCWWkLJv8/WX2OoKOAeXI/AAAAAAAAENw/peUz4oxJ9mQRVwTD7UqzUXfxM2_ykrdjgCHMYCw/P1150675_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ScDpG-sO6Cc/WX2OozoOo-I/AAAAAAAAEN0/ZPjhbe3nldUkV9SDDIGlq0wqMUyGQNnHwCHMYCw/s1600-h/P11506743"><img title="P1150674" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150674" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3Nof-xYUX0g/WX2OpivRTpI/AAAAAAAAEN4/ohg0NzER3EgIVHg1Vcy7JyeGCopuZkLWwCHMYCw/P1150674_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <br />Once that was glued and screwed into place, we next removed the driver’s side corner board, installed the insulation, then reinstalled the plywood. <br /> <br />You can see the extra piece we glued on the back to give us extra thickness to later attach the reading light fixture for Mrs. Dawn and the hole for the wires to come through. <br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i2awuWIADRk/WX2OqWKiRfI/AAAAAAAAEN8/P1qUNxUC--ckQ3XFXWKD0AZnR1kWzkDowCHMYCw/s1600-h/P11506673"><img title="P1150667" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150667" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R19NAEVzTYI/WX2OrEGVyBI/AAAAAAAAEOA/K4wUcJuxLkQUkfi4FSlVEE4Gcmzp4JeggCHMYCw/P1150667_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EZebreQatME/WX2Or7teCiI/AAAAAAAAEOE/GfPM_CLISLo920VFP4W5xnWhPgiDpyhVQCHMYCw/s1600-h/P11506663"><img title="P1150666" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150666" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nOZn3uuSk44/WX2Ot8HGWnI/AAAAAAAAEOI/A4xrgeFtp2QMk0Il3E0mi-2OIs0CUcTlQCHMYCw/P1150666_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VSaKnHsQrso/WX2OyuL_Q0I/AAAAAAAAEOM/wuzw09pVwWIL6q6OJm3K81ZPHddSudkcACHMYCw/s1600-h/P11506683"><img title="P1150668" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150668" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tIvnuk1tUNo/WX2OzvYFVlI/AAAAAAAAEOQ/rOSHvLESMksh6Re8Jv4dbeX5KUlLKpoBwCHMYCw/P1150668_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <br /></p> <p>Then we did the same (minus the wiring) on the other side. <br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Inczf3DfS84/WX2O04rBrnI/AAAAAAAAEOU/rBs10r4y6AA6aHR7rHm3d1dWRUm-GwuyACHMYCw/s1600-h/P11506707"><img title="P1150670" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150670" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oDcCem35H3c/WX2O2Ee_XfI/AAAAAAAAEOY/pm961ha4yJEu26nZiQFPKxoFq5ls_xUKwCHMYCw/P1150670_thumb1?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--3oMphxCWmA/WX2O3XsajaI/AAAAAAAAEOc/DlL46KDfq1sSCh30HI-TMjv-kKeExOzHwCHMYCw/s1600-h/P11506737"><img title="P1150673" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150673" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bn-ZP7_cJBE/WX2O33ufNSI/AAAAAAAAEOg/SWHDMRsdBV0yjgDVY5jndlZI4jzQegtOgCHMYCw/P1150673_thumb1?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-47531667912354052272017-07-09T00:15:00.000-07:002017-07-30T00:18:56.581-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry”, the Amerigo–Completing the Cabover, Part 1<p>Poor Ms. merry, she’s sat waiting patiently for almost a year before the I got the gang back together again.   </p> <p>She’s even had to suffer through the indignity of her Cabover Escape Hatch giving way under a snow load in January and it not being noticed for quite some time, leaving us alot of clean-up work to repair the damage to the brand new inside.</p> <p>We’ll have a picture soon of Ms. Merry’s better than new escape hatch and her nifty-new Winnegard Batwing antenna (Just as soon as we clear the two inches of fir needles off the rest of poor Merry’s roof).  </p> <p>When we stopped last year on Ms. Merry, we’d just gotten the brand new ceiling in, and were insulating the cabover walls and trying to cut the plywood to close in the side walls.  </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yQWnKcaQkYY/WX2INRxzr3I/AAAAAAAAEME/EY0jvdeDrcIZaDDY1FGIEVJOpJUF2BoZwCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150657%255B7%255D"><img title="P1150657" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150657" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-33L4dkCsVn0/WX2IN5hJUkI/AAAAAAAAEMI/cjrjn1ymqFEPQECMyWwtqV2o4pyLzq1CQCHMYCw/P1150657_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CFOqGw5D7QE/WX2IO1yC4kI/AAAAAAAAEMM/sXgaHhSMNEk1GZilTD3hFt6tVnUlwSKLwCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150658%255B7%255D"><img title="P1150658" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150658" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fdm_bk32ewA/WX2IPnt_xII/AAAAAAAAEMQ/rjkbNqa1nlEQFnmVOJo5JJegH2adVXyfgCHMYCw/P1150658_thumb%255B1%255D?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>We’d gotten the insulation down pat, but we’d made a miserable mess of trying to make new cabover sidewalls, attempting to reuse the old wall paneling to trace out the new panels, but they would never line up properly.  </p> <p>Finally, Mrs. Dawn said, “Why don’t you just staple some cardboard on the wall and make a template of what you need and then trace that out on the wood instead?”  </p> <p>The Milwaukee brothers and I looked at each other and had to scratch our heads to ponder why that idea hadn’t come to us in the first place.  Good thing we’ve got Mrs. Dawn to keep us blunderheads from wasting anymore expensive wood!  <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UH2rDQbU2fI/WX2IQMRvSRI/AAAAAAAAEMU/xwqSFUY7nVgV0Ve6bzFJe3jVb-Q5AdMKgCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />  </p> <p>Sure enough, we made a perfectly fitting template on our first try and it worked so well that it even fit on both sides!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdKzi4S_E-yOdbRMCzhrfnG3z6z9c74CTUaufSWMheddy7NHVdB_6DjIyZ5OwUcYvQysTV3-_uCtRd0BSRphQd4CiZNLbrarx5LSPz7VKLM-0qYLc7Yy-vUKyf3AGkcTor0dSflzKOek/s1600-h/P1150659%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150659" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150659" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D5TiwWtMoeE/WX2IRsXeDFI/AAAAAAAAEMc/9JivCBFxqPcXFHIv6SvYoIJpn5MkTgk6QCHMYCw/P1150659_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ET2E295ECjc/WX2IShy6xUI/AAAAAAAAEMg/8E6awet3ud8xcvnCdvsJnze_92uZT6n2gCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150660%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150660" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150660" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CXH-JQ2iWWQ/WX2ITf5sTXI/AAAAAAAAEMk/KUyTZWZxRIEO0tQDw_6thC3ILX6teKzPwCHMYCw/P1150660_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>In case you’re wondering, the floor is just sitting in place, the wall panel goes all the way down to the cabover floor frame.  <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UH2rDQbU2fI/WX2IQMRvSRI/AAAAAAAAEMU/xwqSFUY7nVgV0Ve6bzFJe3jVb-Q5AdMKgCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" /></p> <p>A quick zip with Mr. Router, and we’ve got side windows again <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UH2rDQbU2fI/WX2IQMRvSRI/AAAAAAAAEMU/xwqSFUY7nVgV0Ve6bzFJe3jVb-Q5AdMKgCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.  </p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bRqptrZRZWA/WX2IUA4hUnI/AAAAAAAAEMo/QZ6IgczhQcU8pZUpZ3xbFFEjUk71oqxVACHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150663%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150663" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150663" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDzTr8x6-3psbazHpApr6G47KPwaxNnmPC4X9swPhwVw4CAhe2eKL_LBrkM9P5qCf_2scp5ekj_QbhMN04G3f33sUQVbH8N7tov58MmIGTympQatprtMmjS1ttG6AfNNp37yHHsxkjj8/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_TbxL-McSNk/WX2IVutrcHI/AAAAAAAAEMw/cRwYS80HpZsVg8ADu_SlRCTQywPeiE7YwCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150664%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150664" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150664" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3ge-2sVSOwE/WX2IWJqoCRI/AAAAAAAAEM0/rXMKlOT26ps-Be6QD1mt4C9Yx3RTPzkTQCHMYCw/P1150664_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>We liked how it was looking so much, we decided we wanted to show you how the frames for the inside cabover wall looked sitting in place <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UH2rDQbU2fI/WX2IQMRvSRI/AAAAAAAAEMU/xwqSFUY7nVgV0Ve6bzFJe3jVb-Q5AdMKgCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.</p> <p><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_O4El56hHDk/WX2IXGxqd6I/AAAAAAAAEM4/gCfxmzcF5hIRUp1V6_2EiKOEAkkl_XrjgCHMYCw/s1600-h/P1150661%255B3%255D"><img title="P1150661" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="P1150661" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C_RgzDP9lWA/WX2IXsMGnpI/AAAAAAAAEM8/16aHERg4b6MJNI5XE8LhubE3BkuyScyGgCHMYCw/P1150661_thumb?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>You can kind of guess where the opening to the caboverr will be <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UH2rDQbU2fI/WX2IQMRvSRI/AAAAAAAAEMU/xwqSFUY7nVgV0Ve6bzFJe3jVb-Q5AdMKgCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.   Some cross pieces to support the cabinets in the kitchen and where the TV cabinet in the cabover still need to be added, but it’s coming together <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UH2rDQbU2fI/WX2IQMRvSRI/AAAAAAAAEMU/xwqSFUY7nVgV0Ve6bzFJe3jVb-Q5AdMKgCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.  </p>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-40592901935596964852017-07-08T23:36:00.000-07:002017-07-29T23:52:33.855-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry”, the Amerigo–Dusting of the Tools<p>*Gets out the broom and dusts Mr. BadAxe’s keyboard off* </p> <p>My goodness, its been almost a year to the day since I last wrote an update on poor Ms. Merry and all the gang!</p> <p>Sadly, shortly after I wrote “Ms. Merry Lights up the Night”, I was informed that we would have to break down the workshop needed to do the day to day work on Ms. Merry for the annual investors walk through (Investors don’t like seeing work benches full of tools and stacks of wood, puts them right off!) for the park where I, Dawn, Ms. Merry and all the gang live.   </p> <p>Given the amount of time it would take to get the workshop set back up and the lack of a definitive date for when the Investors were going to visit, and how badly I was hurting from trying to rebuild Ms. Merry in time for the Glacier National Natcoa Rally, we were forced to the conclusion that it was time to pack it away and take our time after the Investors were done with their visit.</p> <p>Unfortunately, I never ended up picking the tools back up, as work got busy and I never really got my energy back.   By the time I finally got back to Ms. Merry, it was already going into October and the season for doing structural building was lost.  </p> <p>So, why so late a start this year?</p> <p>Same thing that killed me the rest of the year, last year.   </p> <p>Work.  </p> <p>The worst of all the evil four letter words known in the English Language.  Nothing destroys dreams of working on your loving restoration projects than working 50-60 hour weeks and watching the sun set and then rise again from the windows of your work place without having gone home in between <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smilewithtongueout" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile with tongue out" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QBFDTBP-R_s/WX2CI7BgMhI/AAAAAAAAEL0/cg5EN12aJSEg8DLQ-GYth8cHtDYGCGE-QCHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smilewithtongueout%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />.  </p> <p> </p> <p>I’ve finally been able to resume, thanks to things falling into place at long last, and the time invested into improving things at work so that they don’t need me to spend all night caretaking them anymore (I’d call it Idiot-Proofing, but that would be an insult to my fellow lab denizens, they’re all very hard workers, but they’ve got the Devil’s luck at finding every weakeness in my designs and making them fail in catastrophic and time-consuming ways).  </p> <p>So, I thank everyone whose patiently waited, Rebuilding Ms. Merry, is back <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none" alt="Smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4D0tVs1lsoQ/WX2CLlonqZI/AAAAAAAAEL4/-rT4jI61tNooE3zY1fgtcZHc6TPdcr_4ACHMYCw/wlEmoticon-smile%255B2%255D?imgmax=800" />!</p>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-43696058993089650772016-07-17T23:08:00.000-07:002016-07-28T23:15:47.476-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry”, the Amerigo– Ms. Merry Lights up the Night!The gang and I, rather sore from all the crawling around and balancing that was needed to put in Ms. Merry’s new cabover floor, plus, getting the first part of the ceiling in (You’ll see the new ceiling in an upcoming post, Mr. Lumix said it didn’t look right with only one piece of ceiling in at the time), we decided it was time to do some outside work where we I could stretch my back. <br />
<br />
<div class="a-size-large a-spacing-none" id="title">
Once again, Grote and Amazon came through for locating as close a replica of the original clearance lights as Ms. Merry originally came with. For her amber forward lights, we used <b><span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle">"<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CMD8FA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Grote 45263 Two-Bulb Oval Pigtail-Type Clearance Marker Light (Optic Lens)</a> </span></b><span class="a-size-large" id="productTitle">and for the red rear marker lights, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CMD8F0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank"><b>Grote 45262 Two-Bulb Oval Pigtail-Type Clearance Marker Light (Optic Lens)</b></a>."
</span></div>
<br />
<br />
So, I set about removing all of Ms. Merry’s old front clearance lights, you can see the mess that made on Red’s hood. <br />
<br />
Using the old wires, I was able to pull the new twelve-gauge white and brown wires for the running lights, which were as close to a match to the originals as I could find. On the upside, all of the original lenses are still in good shape and fit the new bases, so we could change them all out of if we decide that they just don’t look right.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ilH7ohATYUw/V5ry-IH_4PI/AAAAAAAAEIQ/apQNWsNLJjg/s1600-h/P1150463%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150463" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m7bQiJBnVrI/V5ry-7MFn9I/AAAAAAAAEIU/LztMKiZzKI4/P1150463_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150463" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p7ew28cDi1U/V5rzAM06MzI/AAAAAAAAEIY/P_niJoYRvbE/s1600-h/P1150465%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150465" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8cq3-35elZk/V5rzAovsOyI/AAAAAAAAEIc/_xuhbQuMfl4/P1150465_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150465" width="244" /></a><br />
“My! They’re so bright and pretty, and they work so well, now!” Ms. Merry loves how well her new lights work compared to the state they were in when we made the journey home from Washington. <br />
<br />
Both of us remember having to pull off more than once for me to go up on Red’s hood and fiddle with the lights to get them to stay on as we drove home that evening. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wtpOR9Ow_Ww/V5rzBuNlGpI/AAAAAAAAEIg/fkSRdje-3iM/s1600-h/P1150468%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150468" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pKQGwhhm2_E/V5rzCbeYygI/AAAAAAAAEIk/xGvs7aAkctw/P1150468_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150468" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_qbjqNZgaUQ/V5rzDNv0hzI/AAAAAAAAEIo/EZOP7budoFI/s1600-h/P1150469%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150469" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T4RjGB_bob0/V5rzDoEt1gI/AAAAAAAAEIs/HfDEEQBwMx0/P1150469_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150469" width="244" /></a><br />
<br />
Now, all of the junky old wiring is gone, replaced with much heavier better installed wire. No more faltering running lights for Merry!Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-38039930607818628122016-07-12T22:41:00.000-07:002016-07-28T22:45:31.821-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry”, the Amerigo– Taking the bow out of the caboverNow, that the gang and I can safely access Ms. Merry’s cabover, it was finally time to bring in the new cab-over floor frame and resolve the issue of the major sagging problem that the original floor frame had. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, there was no good way to bring the whole frame in in one piece, so it was dismantled and brought in in sections, then reassembled on to of the old frame after the polyurethane adhesive had been liberally applied to all the joining areas.<br />
<br />
Before the new frame could be fully assembled, the center section’s new foam board had to first be installed, as an additional 2x4 was added to the floor at approximately where our hips and waist would roughly rest, as this was a point of sag in old Mr. Kit and caused an annoying bowl effect that tended to cause us to both slide toward the center as we slept in his cabover. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0pLd2Wv-FRc/V5rstmBeAwI/AAAAAAAAEHE/sEBvBs4qy5M/s1600-h/P11504553.jpg"><img alt="P1150455" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M5N6-Zs0Iys/V5rsuSbhLmI/AAAAAAAAEHI/6hwLbr3cmNo/P1150455_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150455" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_HvIemRDbus/V5rsvd9khuI/AAAAAAAAEHM/vyK8evdw_Wc/s1600-h/P11504563.jpg"><img alt="P1150456" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zfNYLcosX5I/V5rsvziN78I/AAAAAAAAEHQ/unKs3v4J3xQ/P1150456_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150456" width="244" /></a><br />
<br />
To take the bow out of the front middle of the cabover floor, the new frame was built with a 2x4 header beam that attached directly behind the edge of the original floor frame. Once a the new frame was all reassembled in place and the edge boards fully secured, a ratcheting clamp was then used under the edge of the original floor’s center and the stiffening 2x4 to gradually suck the old floor back up into a nice straight shape. <br />
<br />
At this point, screws were driven through the original 2x2 header into the 2x4 header to secure it into its new shape and allow for the glue to achieve maximum adhession. Additional screws were then driven through the new 2x2s in the upper frame into the lower frame after making sure the boards were as aligned as possible. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KGPD8Of_LEU/V5rswwxdZgI/AAAAAAAAEHU/VjrKLeWy5gc/s1600-h/P11504593.jpg"><img alt="P1150459" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a7dp9kzgoaI/V5rsxuzKLBI/AAAAAAAAEHY/V7wQtcdomXI/P1150459_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150459" width="244" /></a><br />
<br />
As you can see, additional framing was added to the side walls to give the new bed frame extra support. A second tapered board was cut to fill the void on the passenger side so that side wall support framing for the cabover floor went as far forward as possible. <br />
<br />
Once the old edge board is removed from the underside the lower window shelf/platform, a 2x6 will be cut, tapered and notched to fit on the front most edge of the floor frame to attach the last small portion of the cabover floor between the new header and the front edge of the cabover. <br />
<br />
After that, the two layers of foam insulation will be installed in the floor, however, the floor decking will not be able to be permanently installed until the side wall plywood and wall paneling is installed. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-R79efwHyjoc/V5rsyxFjqtI/AAAAAAAAEHc/nolKd9nfpPo/s1600-h/P11504543.jpg"><img alt="P1150454" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i5jkLIOz9mU/V5rszo8tBwI/AAAAAAAAEHg/82fXk3sMIRo/P1150454_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150454" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hC_4Oo0BXWg/V5rs0bgWwLI/AAAAAAAAEHk/K95AByIbB8c/s1600-h/P11504573.jpg"><img alt="P1150457" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j-9um27udSI/V5rs0x1pGrI/AAAAAAAAEHo/KB_R5eNUJFg/P1150457_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150457" width="244" /></a><br />
<br />
For the moment, Ms. Merry’s new 3/4” Plywood cabover deck temporarily dry fitted into place to allow for me to begin removal of the last section of the old ceiling.<br />
<br />
Once the ceiling has been opened up, I can pull the new wiring for the reading lights, cut the new insulation board to fill the whole roof in with, and then start installing the new ceiling paneling. <br />
<br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fIxvlFju5jY/V5rs1lHPhlI/AAAAAAAAEHs/5KPy0S7vCN8/s1600-h/P11504603.jpg"><img alt="P1150460" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-amuu2-iJ4FE/V5rs2VBnH2I/AAAAAAAAEHw/_aTUmS9wCz0/P1150460_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150460" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QGi7KhHVxbw/V5rs3UHw5xI/AAAAAAAAEH0/9DqfuMOwYjc/s1600-h/P11504613.jpg"><img alt="P1150461" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2z3O-UCNudU/V5rs39n9FuI/AAAAAAAAEH4/I1r4NiEQ6yE/P1150461_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150461" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5zjdcbyuToU/V5rs47gMKXI/AAAAAAAAEH8/9GyAhbAsdYA/s1600-h/P11504623.jpg"><img alt="P1150462" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c-4B-qaBv0w/V5rs5Y_gyyI/AAAAAAAAEIA/Zmvm60uUTbo/P1150462_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150462" width="244" /></a>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-63538282908283292612016-07-03T00:37:00.000-07:002016-07-14T00:41:20.915-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry”, the Amerigo–Merry get’s a step up!Now, that Ms. Merry’s front wall was all done, the gang and I wasted no time in getting straight to building some side frames for Ms. Merry’s tub so that we could install insulation along her tub sides, which were little more than 5/8” pieces of plywood standing on end, not very warm in the winter!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P4Yx2mJaEi8/V4dBe1xwV0I/AAAAAAAAEFM/m1xj_WmMHMs/s1600-h/P1150439%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150439" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-usyfq9t44BM/V4dBfUsgS2I/AAAAAAAAEFQ/Z1JBU0rc8R4/P1150439_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150439" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o87K5qQ3MP8/V4dBgfUBgaI/AAAAAAAAEFU/BPpAVIVIJ7c/s1600-h/P1150440%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150440" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v06butsd6BI/V4dBg9JYV_I/AAAAAAAAEFY/qFNk37RNsuM/P1150440_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150440" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Gr7HjaG-Zss/V4dBh2SVoEI/AAAAAAAAEFc/4S8dUv1xtps/s1600-h/P1150441%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150441" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mtdGJmTUSGc/V4dBialEIVI/AAAAAAAAEFg/qJd0hwLPQDk/P1150441_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150441" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TfC5dDZ1XnE/V4dBjP4abmI/AAAAAAAAEFk/2gwBkl75tzw/s1600-h/P1150442%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150442" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_iVK94betTA/V4dBju_kMZI/AAAAAAAAEFo/sjKYVBOOwmU/P1150442_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150442" width="244" /></a><br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JS82rAIHD8E/V4dBlWZ2BgI/AAAAAAAAEFs/_mNrIcizSNM/s1600-h/P1150443%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150443" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g9SsdPRJmrE/V4dBlwmWKrI/AAAAAAAAEFw/Fxkr-65NqaQ/P1150443_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150443" width="244" /></a><br />
<br />
These new tub walls, not only will help keep Ms. Merry warmer during the winter, but they also give us a nice strong spot to tie in the wall that will help hold her new 42 gallon fresh water tank <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sOa_rbJ5VeI/V4dBmXvtlLI/AAAAAAAAEF0/bWOeIAcRbSM/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" />. <br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-txcF11xHhNA/V4dBnKIeNSI/AAAAAAAAEF4/7WDAdzNtpfA/s1600-h/P1150448%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150448" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SBFFqkc_4Jg/V4dBntcB3_I/AAAAAAAAEF8/8qeglyJGXbI/P1150448_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150448" width="244" /></a><br />
<br />
Ooops…. need to make a little notch so that we can fill the tank!<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BNghJArIm9o/V4dBoV0aQeI/AAAAAAAAEGA/1kgyLhYBwt0/s1600-h/P1150449%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150449" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ydcAuJG5JLM/V4dBpD0xzJI/AAAAAAAAEGE/tBPDrqAoZDI/P1150449_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150449" width="244" /></a><br />
<br />
Trying old Ms. Merry’s old tank step top <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sOa_rbJ5VeI/V4dBmXvtlLI/AAAAAAAAEF0/bWOeIAcRbSM/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" />.<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RuWpJX-26PE/V4dBptMs-fI/AAAAAAAAEGI/gKn74qhYs5s/s1600-h/P1150450%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150450" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VQXyH6zm_tA/V4dBqeX92_I/AAAAAAAAEGM/Ri69qa_e-f4/P1150450_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150450" width="244" /></a><br />
<br />
There we go! Ms. Merry’s new fresh water tank has been plumbed for the pump, and given a pressure test to make sure none of the fittings leak before we close it up in her front step. <br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bBywVabg49U/V4dBq8HddoI/AAAAAAAAEGQ/YyjACdsucKw/s1600-h/P1150453%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150453" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-m7FCTCTh4Ww/V4dBrpXjKuI/AAAAAAAAEGU/jU2vHhpstBo/P1150453_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150453" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Zz-SWLsdWIs/V4dBsEw6FsI/AAAAAAAAEGY/a9vy2IKjKUU/s1600-h/P1150451%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150451" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h_EVAPnKQ8I/V4dBs4qYklI/AAAAAAAAEGc/UaFSjQoy6MQ/P1150451_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150451" width="244" /></a><br />
<br />
The plywood on the top on the left is the new bottom for the kitchen cabinet that goes over the top of the tank. We’ve stuck a piece of pipe in the elbow for now to keep saw dust and other stuff out of Ms. Merry’s new fresh water tank until we’re done plumbing in the fill pipe. <br />
<br />
One more wall still needs to be built for the tank step, this one will be lightweight, creating a storage compartment in front of Ms. Merry’s fresh water tank inside the step where we can store all of Ms. Merry’s spare water hoses and cords and what not that Mr. Kit is giving her. <br />
<br />
Even got the rest of the cabinet bottom in on the driver’s side wing, lots of glue and screws to make it good and strong <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sOa_rbJ5VeI/V4dBmXvtlLI/AAAAAAAAEF0/bWOeIAcRbSM/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" />. <br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vtrkxpHSZ_k/V4dBt-lt06I/AAAAAAAAEGg/bFzL_m63Qn8/s1600-h/P1150452%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150452" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qIitO0WFfw0/V4dBuRYgNRI/AAAAAAAAEGk/OSsCAzjOBfU/P1150452_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150452" width="244" /></a>Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-436055809765554474.post-91127411634438133852016-07-01T00:15:00.000-07:002016-07-14T00:37:51.125-07:00Rebuilding “Ms. Merry”, the Amerigo– Enclosing our first wall!In our last adventure, the gang and I had set about solving the mystery of Ms. Merry’s trampoline floor, now that that is taken care of, it’s time to start closing up some walls so we can get Ms. Merry’s new fresh water tank installed <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bXUoq7RtxUE/V4c8Oly0xpI/AAAAAAAAEDY/Z7nWbgXOwQU/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" /> and then I can get back up to finish her cabover floor.<br />
<br />
First thing that needed doing was to finish up the frame in Ms. Merry’s front wall, it was missing a lot of wood both from be taking stuff out to fix her floor, and because Merry’s original builders cut a lot of corners.<br />
<br />
To get started, we had to take poor Ms. Merry’s other front jack off and remove all the new plugs we’d installed last fall, they were coming through a part of the wall where some new framing needed to go.<br />
<br />
Once all the new wood was cut, and glued and screwed in place, we made short work of cutting all the new insulation panels for Ms. Merry’s new front wall.<br />
<br />
<b>Before w/new right corner</b><br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ohw9ERYmAiU/V4c8PhNrSjI/AAAAAAAAEDc/6kbG8V0Gu3g/s1600-h/P1150363%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150363" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kJF9XivKB34/V4c8QID7HxI/AAAAAAAAEDg/frq4VWRK0tQ/P1150363_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150363" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9L2Vq-uN9Ts/V4c8Q3-kEAI/AAAAAAAAEDk/-vho1fj9GGc/s1600-h/P1150367%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150367" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HXaz13aCq2w/V4c8RXprllI/AAAAAAAAEDo/8tYstlD4NrA/P1150367_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150367" width="244" /></a><br />
<br />
<b>After w/all of the insulation installed</b><br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5Gfaa80DAqQ/V4c8R1XhPZI/AAAAAAAAEDs/cIRg8CyW7f4/s1600-h/P1150429%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150429" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-juP5ejK_nJw/V4c8SlyhxsI/AAAAAAAAEDw/bKy87chg7CU/P1150429_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150429" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t8L6X2MNYpU/V4c8TVn0zLI/AAAAAAAAED0/ZSSmwCtiIzU/s1600-h/P1150430%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150430" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U3JyomkBpgo/V4c8UEeCEHI/AAAAAAAAED4/v4XK1pmFK-o/P1150430_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150430" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4IWy-YUX6R4/V4c8UxWVJrI/AAAAAAAAED8/ETbKA52iMaM/s1600-h/P1150431%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150431" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y2sWdfPgpJo/V4c8VQJ2s5I/AAAAAAAAEEA/eREcu5K9wXw/P1150431_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150431" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BMlhHtkSfJI/V4c8XhY43lI/AAAAAAAAEEE/1Oc4m_rFPn0/s1600-h/P1150432%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150432" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w4_KXT2xFcw/V4c8YP_H55I/AAAAAAAAEEI/ftQQoe7XlTw/P1150432_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150432" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MulJWw-SHA0/V4c8ZJ0FwaI/AAAAAAAAEEM/O3ua0PrzwHw/s1600-h/P1150433%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150433" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w_Q97zpfaNQ/V4c8ZiiNqoI/AAAAAAAAEEQ/ivh7NPSYNKs/P1150433_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150433" width="244" /></a><br />
<br />
“My, that’s much better!”, exclaimed Ms. Merry after I tapped in the last piece of foam board.<br />
<br />
I don’t know if you noticed, by Ms. Merry’s window opening in her front wall has changed a little as well, its been reshaped to take a spare window off Old Mr. Kit, who hasn’t needed it since he got his wall air conditioner several years ago.<br />
<br />
How nice it is that Mr. KIT has yet another of his old pieces that Ms. Merry can use <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bXUoq7RtxUE/V4c8Oly0xpI/AAAAAAAAEDY/Z7nWbgXOwQU/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" />.<br />
<br />
You’re probably also wondering, “Matt, why does Ms. Merry have an extra 2x4 in her left corner?” <br />
<br />
Well, that’s for when I go to reinstall those connectors for Ms. Merry’s batteries and her lights, I wanted something solid I could cut holes through to anchor those outlets into good and solid so the seal would stay good and tight, before, those plugs were only held on by some caulk and a couple screws through the fiberglass. <br />
<br />
With a fresh sheet of 3/8” Plywood, it didn’t take long to cut Ms. Merry’s new front wall plywood to shape, and then glue and screw it into place <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bXUoq7RtxUE/V4c8Oly0xpI/AAAAAAAAEDY/Z7nWbgXOwQU/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" />. <br />
<br />
I also got to try out our newest member of the gang, the younger Milwaukee Brother, Router. Mr. Router Milwaukee made short work of cutting out the opening in the new plywood for Ms. Merry’s pass-through window.<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zg1KL9x1axs/V4c8atV7uLI/AAAAAAAAEEU/ZgOSUZRNF2s/s1600-h/P1150434%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150434" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dt5tJiFTbeU/V4c8bTJGxhI/AAAAAAAAEEY/C0g_g8IlyN8/P1150434_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150434" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_I4BR5jXd6M/V4c8cF5rAuI/AAAAAAAAEEc/yJUXcAhuuzw/s1600-h/P1150435%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150435" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lkFtVUk3SmE/V4c8ciCCjiI/AAAAAAAAEEg/wqhPRmmHbhs/P1150435_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150435" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--OF-GH_uxZ0/V4c8dUXw7rI/AAAAAAAAEEk/o00ciQW3x3k/s1600-h/P1150436%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150436" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JSNNtdVNBh8/V4c8d4p-EEI/AAAAAAAAEEo/hF-N5gr-6sI/P1150436_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150436" width="244" /></a><br />
<br />
And there’s old Mr. Kit’s spare window, stuck in the opening for a moment on the wrong side to make sure it fights right <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bXUoq7RtxUE/V4c8Oly0xpI/AAAAAAAAEDY/Z7nWbgXOwQU/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" />. <br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UYO8rOmxWL0/V4c8fwf3K_I/AAAAAAAAEEs/-gWPFNbtO3I/s1600-h/P1150437%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150437" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HekGvpK_dX4/V4c8gvtWVlI/AAAAAAAAEEw/i2NU4vUahAQ/P1150437_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150437" width="244" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Num9wz1_htg/V4c8hMB9ALI/AAAAAAAAEE0/h-hBthTNZAk/s1600-h/P1150438%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="P1150438" border="0" height="184" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Dplw5XM1PGI/V4c8h9snrAI/AAAAAAAAEE4/JTqJlVp-XK0/P1150438_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P1150438" width="244" /></a><br />
<br />
And now, Ms. Merry’s front wall is done till its time to install the finish paneling to make it look pretty <img alt="Smile" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bXUoq7RtxUE/V4c8Oly0xpI/AAAAAAAAEDY/Z7nWbgXOwQU/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none;" />. Big Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11972364897169819241noreply@blogger.com0