They are the original metal cabinets, just repainted. The tops I made from scratch, cut them out of particle board, glued and trimmed the formica, grooved the edges and added the plastic trim.
Dan
harvest gold appliances ftw
This = win
I love random builds. Especially when it’s done right
More progress. Actually we did a TON last year before our second camping trip, but I failed to get pics. Ill do that once we get it opened up again.
Last night we finally got the exterior painted. It turned out decent. A few runs we need to wet sand and buff but whatever. Its SOOO much better than the vintage '73 paint. Obviously I still need to clean up the tongue and get that painted. I also have some aluminum strips that Im going to paint a dark grey and glue/rivet into the groove there where the old woodgrain sticker was.
Dan
Have you taken it anyplace fun?
We’ve been on a couple trips. None this year unfortunately as we went to Disney instead.
I still havent had a chance to open it up and get more pics, but I have made some small progress on the outside. I pulled the original tongue jack all apart and had it blasted and powder coated. Tonight I reassembled it. (sorry, no before pics, but it was old and rusty).
Pieces
I cut out a thin SS washer to protect the top of the body from being all scratched up when raising and lowering the jack and replaced the handle riveted stud with a ss cap head bolt and nyloc nut.
The original plastic handle was basically gone so I made up a new one from a piece of grey conduit. Drilled and tapped the end of the metal part and added a bolt and washer to keep the conduit from slipping off
Reinstalled the original spring with a new ss washer and pin
Completed assembly
I also tackled the original tail lights. When I got the camper the lenses were completely faded near white. As a quick fix I tossed some tail light repair tape on which worked for a while. Eventually it cracked and looked awful. Finally I stripped that, sanded them down smooth, removing all of the dot markings and wrapped them with some red Lamin-x film. They should last a long time now.
Old vs. new
I have a few other things to post soon, I just need to get some pics in daylight.
Dan
As someone who recently slept in a camper much like this one, I can totally appreciate this build!
Last week when I was off I took some time to work on the tongue. I cut off the old propane tank mounts b/c we dont use them anymore, stripped most of the old paint and crap off, primed and painted the tongue. I think it came out great for using a brush.
Primed with propane tank mounts gone
Painted
Paint up close
I finally stripped the last of the old vinyl off of the step, stripped the paint off the step frame, primed, painted and installed some short runner type carpet on it. It was a real “Treat” drilling out all the rivets that held the front skin onto the rest of the door frame but it was necessary to get the paint right and to put the trim around the lock (next update)
I had the license plate light housing powder coated along with the plate bracket itself. Much better than the old rusty chrome cover and horribly rusty bracket.
Last week I also fitted the aluminum strips to go along the side to cover where the original woodgrain sticker was. So far I only have a pic of them in primer.
More to come.
Dan
Love it, dude!
I always love your attention to detail and that you take the time to photograph and share it with us 
on a side note what do you tow it with?
09 Chevy Silverado
Dan
More progress.
Plate light / holder mounted.
The shaft for the top crank handle was pretty crappy. So I pulled the roll pin out, cleaned it up, wrapped the shaft in some aluminum tape, and made a nice abs ring for around the shaft so it doesnt look off centered. Did the same thing with the shaft for the lift stop. I also bent up a new catch out of some stainless steel rod I had lying around.
I didnt have a long enough SS roll pin in stock, so for now im using a ss caphead bolt, which might just stay since it works.
I also wanted to redo the wiring plug since it was so crappy. Turns out Im REALLY glad I did. When I pulled the wire out of the frame I found someone had been chewing on the wiring… a good lenght of the green wire was bare. SO all thats gone now and I have a nice molded wire harness with cover. SOO much better.
Nice and new.
Jack installed
Reinstalled the old heater vent thing after paint, and adding some black metal mesh to the inside of to keep bees from nesting inside.
Finally installed all of the painted aluminum strips into the groove around the whole camper. Along with new LED side markers, the Lamin-x’d tail lights and new reflectors front and rear. I also painted the crank handle so hopefully its not as easy to misplace (as I did recently)
More to come…
EDIT: I also swapped out the OE 7pin harness on the truck for a combo 7pin and 4 flat plug - which plugged right into the OE wiring. I used a piece of 1/16" abs to cover the original hole in the metal part of the bumper. So no more stupid 7 to 4 pin adapter for this guy.
Dan
fantastic job bringing the old camper up to current times man, I really like what you’ve done with it.
Awesome job!
:tup:
What would you say was your total investment in ALL materials, including trailer, ballpark.
2,500 - 5,000
5,000 - 7,500
7,500 - 10,000
> 10,000
I got the trailer for free, so that helps.
I cant imagine I even have $1000 into it. The most expensive thing I bought was the canvas, which was only $250.
Dan
Very cool.
Soooo many questions on different things…but with your step by step progress I think I have a good starting point. Not, just the trailer; I admire your counter tops, make shift paint room, aluminum trimmings, etc…
Where can you source new canvas for pop ups? I’m considering picking up one for some love this winter, but starting a touch better off you than you did.
Actually I got it from a lady that owned a wholesale place near Darien. KLM or something. They were a pretty huge operation 20 years ago from what I gather. Anyway, at the time they had a shit pile of new old stock canvas for sale. Someone on the popup forum gave me the tip. I recall looking a few months ago for kicks and didnt find a listing. Maybe they are all sold out or closed down now.
The next “cheapest” option is to have something totally new made for like 800-1k bux.
Dan
Had an hour to spare today so I worked on the rear bumper a bit (plus I want it out of the garage and back on the camper).
The original bumper had these stupid little doors on each end. I wanted a smooth look so I ground off the doors, hinges, latches etc. and welded a plate in place and smoothed it out nice. Tonight Im going to box in the bumper mounts so bees cant nest inside them or the frame of the camper.
Dan
I just love this project so much, I don’t even know why. It’s the cat’s pajamas…
Let me know if/when you want to sell this please…I want to get one for my dad and I…