Thursday, October 25, 2012

Retired, ready to go, replacement parts acquired...!

Well; I am officially retired (as of Oct. 19), overslept this AM, missing the 5:10 AM gym departure with my still-working wife.  Awakening about 5:45, I briefly could not remember which day of the week it was!  All days are Saturdays, so it seems. 

Yesterday, my "trailer buddy", Gary Pierce, and I journeyed up to Sacramento to see RV Doctor George, a fine company specializing in retro and newer trailer parts (lots and lots of retro trailer parts!).  The Good News: Found a Jalousey replacement window for my Scotty door, and a 12 volt electric fan for installation in the interior.  The Bad News, that Jalousey window ($52), while complete and a good find, is about one inch narrower than the broken/pieces-missing window I took out of the trailer (yes, I should have taken the existing one with me, though, not sure they had one an inch wider).  Below, new window on top, old shell below, with the fan that I also bought):

So, the question - do I go with the new window, and cover the gap, outside and in, with trim, or keep looking for that "dead-on replacement"?  Guess I will have to sleep on that question, and, soon to visit my favorite window/glass shop, with a couple windows that need new glass, I can explore the idea of trimming it out.

In last two weeks, I have picked up all new "teardrop running lites" for sides and roof line, a replacement Bargman L66B lockset for the broken-handled one that came with Scotty ($100, Ebay, with key, solid though weather-pitted), an almost new Humphrey's gas lamp for the interior ($39, Ebay), along with the window and the fan.  Later today, I'll pull most of the windows out, then it's a matter of removing the side and top aluminum skins to determine just how much water damage/dry rot I have to deal with. Should get interesting, real quickly!

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Inspiration and continued reconnoitering...!

Two weeks to retirement, and, readying for the serious "tear-down phase" of the Scotty project.  Yesterday, Susan I traveled to Petaluma, CA, to wander the trailers at the Tin Can Tourists vintage trailer rally; lots of great examples of fine 1950, 1960 and 1970s trailers, some near perfect, others in between, some pretty rough.  Found only one Scotty, an early 70s Hilander, a bit rough and musty, but owner quite proud of her.  I'll post some of the better examples on a following blog.

Today, with weather finally cooled, sitting in our little Scotty, finishing the inventory and "close inspection" of our trailer.  The dry rot in right rear, noted earlier, is extensive, and, likely similar at bottom of rear of trailer where light spills through (that shouldn't).  Also, lesser dry rot above door (under the other roof seam), and along some of the Scotty's outside, bottom edges.  It would appear I won't know extent of additional rot or structural needs until I pull off the aluminum skin, which will start in two weeks.  Here are pictures of the dry rot, both right rear (what's left of the 1/2" plywood pulls apart by hand, revealing the blue exterior aluminum skin, result of years of water leakage), and less-extensive rot above door:
I have also realized, touring those vintage trailers, that our Scotty is blessed with fairly decent original interior, including appliances, cabinets and fixtures.  Here's exterior and interior of the ice box (below), which I am kind of happy to have.  There may come a time when we want to replace it with a refrigerator, but for now we'll clean it up and see just how long a block of ice will work inside!  Looks to me like a bit of paint and a new gasket, and it's good to go!  I also am keeping my eyes open for a vintage interior gas lamp, a Humpries, that this trailer once had.
Now about to order three rolls of butyl tape, for the future seam repairs, and, discovered that Vintage Trailer Supply also sells the missing table hinge-apparatus, that allows the Scotty table to hinge down to make the front bed.  Will probably also purchase a new roof vent - with 12V fan - which several Tin Can Tourist rally owners told us yesterday is a huge asset (the fan).   Also need to soon plot out my interior lighting schematic, and purchase new LED lights (I just received 10 new teardrop exterior running lights, half in red, half in amber, for use on roof and sides of the Scotty).  Hence, hoping to have most of the immediate materials needed to get a good start on my first day of real retirement, Monday, Oct. 22!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Reconnoitering, and collecting my wits!

It's been about 95 degrees lately, and my garaged Scotty is all that at 4 PM when I get off work, so, not much work but trying to prep for my retirement (Oct. 19), order parts, and wait for cooler temps.  A post on the national Serro Scotty web site has confirmed that my Scotty's interior drawer pulls are "original", and, cute (see picture below), and I am trying to figure just "how original" I want to keep this cute little bugger.  I have a broken Bargman door lock, pictured, and have discovered that a variety of Bargman locks apparently are rather interchangable, and available on Ebay and Craig's List for $80 to about $225 - but, do I want to seek only the original Bargman L 66 B-1?  The other models, while similar, are not identical.  Decisions, decisions.

Then there is the decision as to how "original" to keep the overall exterior.  The lower front of my Scotty has two massive dents, and I just saw a Scotty that has added "diamond plate" to the front (see picture below) which could cover my "beauty marks"; the question is, do I want to change the appearance that much?  I do kind of like the look, and practical, but, not original.  Another question, the original jalousie window in the door is pretty much "toast", and can I find another, or replace with a more modern substitute?  Again, such a move would not be "original".

And, of course, I am a few weeks from having time to probe the extent of dry rot on the trailer.  Pictured below, the right rear interior above the bed - and, yes, that "yellow object" is a screw driver that easily pushed through the dry rotted side wall.  Wondering how extensive, beyond that area and the area under the back window, that the dry rot will extend.  Hence, busy trying to both predict the future, and line up parts and replacement items needed.  Fortunately, the Serro Scotty web site is a trove of good advice and rebuild information, and the two Scotty Facebook sites allow one to reach out to dozens of other Scotty owners.  Soon, retired and time to find all that out!  Yikes.


Let's hope a positive attitude and my sense of humor survive the next few months! And, the question lingers; how original a rebuild schematic do I want to adhere to?