Tub/Shower Unit Purchase

     In rebuilding the camping trailer, we wanted to replace the bunkbeds in the back left corner with a tub/shower unit.  The original tub unit was so small that when sitting in it, your chin was on your knees.  And someone had to pull you up out of it ... impossible to get out on your own.

     Anyway, yesterday on the way to pay the utility bill, my wifes says that she wants to go to some yards sales to get some things.  I pass a yard sale sign.  Then a little further down the street, I turn and backtrack to connect up with the yard sale signs.  It didn't look like your typical yard sale ... almost no clothes, no toys, etc.  There were light fixtures, switches, door stops, a bay window, refrigerators ... It was like somebody had been remodeling and had all the leftover parts for sale.
     The prize for us was a tub/shower unit.  Brand new.  And for sale for way less than 1/3 the normal price.  We bought it.  And they delivered it to our place while we continued on to pay the utility bill.
     This was so fortuitous, I give praise to the Lord.  This had nothing to do with my normal lack of brilliance ... I'm usually quite bad at heeding promptings of the spirit.  But in this case, I overcame my normal rebellious nature and just went with it ... and the result was so fantastic!  Thanks Lord.
     The first thing after building the floor/base ... we will need this tub/shower unit so we can plumb to the waste water tank ... before the floor/base becomes a closed immoveable unit.  Then we'll have to build the walls up around the tub/shower unit ... because there would be no way to get it inside through the doorway or a window.
     I am so excited that things are ever so slowly coming together.  Framing and walls can go up pretty quickly.  It's the foundation work and the detail work that take so much time.

Leveled?!

I leveled the frame ... side-to-side and front-to-back.
A few more 2 x 4's and I can build the floor base.

Well ... uhhh

The front axle has a weird bump in it near the left side ... it HAS to be replaced.  But the measurements I'm recording of the bearing seats and axle are different from what is available online.  Nuts.  Well, I may as well by some flashing, 12- 2x4's, and a few sheets of plywood and at least make a base.

Monetarily Broke = Slow Progress

 

This is the front axle.

You see the dent (arch) in the axle towards the left side.

Bad news.

My wife wants me to replace both axles with new Reliable 3500 lb. axles.  

Reliable 3500-lb Trailer Axle

May be a delay getting around to that due to money shortage.  In the meantime, I need to put jackstands or scissor jacks under at least 3 points on each side and level the frame to construct the sub-floor/ foundation.

 

I've removed the springs and shackles.

Due to rust, just attempting to unbolt them didn't work.  I used the wire wheel in the drill to clean out the threads, then oiled them, and after that it wasn't so difficult to get them off.  I need to totally wire brush them and paint them. 

Brakes & Hubs

 

There was spider egg-sack and cockroach casings inside.

I brushed all that out.

The brake shoes still had plenty of lining on them

and the drums didn't show any signs of wear. 

 

After it was all brushed out ...

here's a view of the spindle.

Notice that the inner and out bearings are different sizes.

1-1/4" & 1-1/16"  respectively.

New axles have 1-3/8" on the inner bearing ... 

which is 1/8" larger than mine, so my hub won't work on them.

although new axles would be nice, I don't want to have to replace everything.

Tanks Back In

 

The support pieces have been fitted and bolted back in place.

The tanks are back in. 

 

Tanks viewed from the rear.

Next up are the axles ...

Just cooking in this heat ... nearly 100°F

very exhausting.

After this was done, I took the steps rod to the shop

and spent the remainder of the afternoon watching O.C.C.

(Orange County Choppers - NY) 

Camping Trailer - For Sale

I saw this recently and it is still for sale ...

 

I think that is in area code 334 ... 

call 334-405-9247 

They may have plugged all the leaks, but not before the damage was done to the frame ... believe me, there is wood rot ... but a 21 ft metal trailer with 18 feet of usable space for a tiny home (3 feet of the trailer is the tongue). 

 

front view 

 

rear view 

 

This was the bed area ... just around the corner to the right is a water heater 

 

I'm just showing one pic from the bathroom ...

Notice the rotted ceiling coming down over the toilet? 

 

The front dining area that can also be made into a bed.

ripple-warped paneling is also a sign of wood rot. 

 

They ripped out the kitchen sink and plumbing.

But hey, they left the stove.

And all the knobs are on it (those knobs are hard to come by) 

 

Yeah, the refrigerator is missing ...

but the dining table is still there. 

You can save the windows, dining area, the stove, the water heater tank, and whatever you want to keep from the bathroom.  There is one tank under the trailer.  And the metal frame needs wire-brushing or sanding or sandblasting before you re-paint it.