Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: My remodel

Print | Close

Topic: My remodel

Posted By: TheBreu on 02/20/16 08:17pm

This is our first camper, bought last April and used the bejeesus out of it and love it. We are not new to camping by any means, did all tent camping up until now including 2 weeks out in Glacier, Yellowstone, Tetons etc. Posting for others as inspiration for a complete remodel. Plans are to paint all cabinets and woodwork, new vinyl flooring, new carpet, new upholstery and adding a rotating TV wall like in the new campers. When looking for our camper we had a wish list: slide, bunk house, good foundation to start with and we must be able to pay cash. Even though there are 2 of us currently, we wanted a larger camper to hopefully someday have kids and grow into it. We settled on a 33' Fleetwood Mallard, sleeps 9 (ish, because of the small dinette and one smaller rear bunk). We have had as many as 6 in there comfortably for a couple weekends.

Living in S.E. Michigan doesn't allow you to work on it throughout the winter so we took advantage of one of the first nicer day of the year to pull it out of storage and strip the wall paper boarder and start taping off for paint.

[image]

The day we looked at it

[image]

Rustic reclaimed oak vinyl plank flooring

[image]

Sample of the new upholstery. Bottom is a "Greige" (grayish-beige)
top is the floral that has yellows, oranges, grays and white.

[image]

Looks cleaner without the boarder already!

[image]

Smaller rectangle is the TV size, Larger is the "frame" around the TV that will be trimmed out after the hole is put in the wall

2000 F350
2000 Fleetwood Mallard

Posted By: nineoaks2004 on 02/20/16 08:21pm

Looks like you are about to "make it yours" Going to look good from the pics.

By the time you learn the rules of life
You're to old to play the game

Posted By: gregrc75 on 02/20/16 09:25pm

Please post lots of photos along the way!

Greg and J
Ben - Yellow Lab. Charley - Red Lab
2018 Keystone Bullet Premier 30RIPR
2016 Nissan Titan XD SL 5.0

Posted By: Anmacc2 on 02/21/16 02:20am

I'm looking forward to your posts and progress. It has a good floor plan and will be really nice when you're done. The first TT my wife and I bought was an older model. My parents (now deceased) reaphulstered all the cushions and made all new curtains. Pop did all the cutting and pinning and Mom did all the sewing. DW and I painted and caulked the outside and then scrubbed and polyurethaned the interior. New Linoleum on the floor and we were ready to go. We kept that unit for 15 years and had a blast with it! Windows started breaking, cabinet doors were opening and screws were popping out and we realized that it was bending and twisting too much as we were going down the road. We retired it to a group of guys who put it up on blocks and used it as a hunting cabin.

Me & Her since 1977
TV 2014 Ford E350 Superduty
TT 2015 keystone Passport Elite 23RB
Boat 20' TriumphDC

Posted By: lots2seeinmyrv on 02/21/16 06:20am

Like the planned update choices. Please post "after" pictures. Will look great when finished.

Posted By: icanon on 02/21/16 06:23am

Are you removing the wallpaper on the walls if so will you replace with new or paint? If painting could you tell us how and what you did? Thanks a million.

Loving wife and 2 beautiful daughters.
Chocolate Lab, Lily
2014 Dodge Ram Laramie Hemi 5.7 with 3.92
2014 Dutchmen Kodiak 290BHSL
ProPride 3P Hitch
Progressive Industries EMS-PT30C
Love my Weber Q1200
Me a Happy man on retirement!!!

Posted By: Kennedy64 on 02/21/16 06:28am

Can't wait to see the finish pictures.
Hopefully the last two days were not teasers and we'll see spring soon

Posted By: TheBreu on 02/21/16 07:05am

icanon wrote:

Are you removing the wallpaper on the walls if so will you replace with new or paint? If painting could you tell us how and what you did? Thanks a million.

We are not planning on removing the entire wall paper because it is white and gray and is still pretty good. The boarder was fruits and was horrible looking an peeling and really looked dated. Over all the interior is in great shape, just need our personal touch/updating. The TV is only being installed for the purpose of rainy days/morning coffee/breakfast news watching, but still wanting it to be like the newer models instead of putting it on the limited counter space.

Posted By: icanon on 02/21/16 07:44am

TheBreu wrote:

icanon wrote:

Are you removing the wallpaper on the walls if so will you replace with new or paint? If painting could you tell us how and what you did? Thanks a million.

Thanks for replying. oh I forgot to mention in my first post can't wait to see the out come.

Posted By: ddndoug on 02/21/16 10:21am

gregrc75 wrote:

Please post lots of photos along the way!

X2

Doug

2009 Four Winds Hurricane 33T
F53 Ford Chassis w/Triton V-10

Posted By: my toys on 02/23/16 08:48am

Love the flooring you chose. Look forward to seeing more pics.

2014 Jayco Jayflight Swift 264BH
2008 Nissan Pathfinder

Nancy-USAF Veteran; Dear Hubby Joe-USAF Retired

Why do we have to push 1 for English?

Posted By: RVcircus on 02/24/16 07:52am

Keep us posted for sure. I love seeing these projects take shape.

2000 KZ Sportsman 2505 (overhauled & upgraded 2014)
2016 Chevy Express 3500 15 passanger van
6 humans, 2 cats, and a dog
Visit our blog at www.ROWLESmade.com
Our trailer re-build thread

Posted By: TheBreu on 02/24/16 09:57am

I'll for sure post updates, unfortunately the foot of snow they are calling for today will hinder that for a minute! lol

Posted By: TheBreu on 03/14/16 08:07pm

Weather hasn't cooperated for us to be able to paint the inside, so I took advantage of the crummy weather an pushed forward to finish the dinette cushions. I need to buy foam to be able to re-do the couch. Traveling for work over the next few weeks will throw a wrench in the spokes for getting as much done as I would like, but, that's life.

[image]

Laying out the material and making a pattern.

[image]

Backed the old cushions up with some 1/4" wood to wrap the fabric around

[image]

Finished product

[image]

Seal of approval from my boy!

I also bought a TV for my rotating wall.

Posted By: Anmacc2 on 03/14/16 09:34pm

Very nice! Excellent the way you centered the pattern! Thanks for sharing!

Posted By: Happy Prospector on 03/16/16 02:04pm

Your mods look great, I'm getting some ideas.

Kevin
Retired, Fulltime RV'er, 1999.5 F350 4X4 CC Diesel Flatbed
2007 Alpenlite Defender Toyhauler, 2019 Polaris Ranger
Bob, the Yorkie Terrier helping me prospect til the money runs out

Posted By: TheBreu on 04/03/16 05:49pm

The weather is still not cooperating and I want to get this done before the camping season, so I improvised and brought the outside in. Tight fit getting inside at work, but I squeezed it in. [image]

Found some rot that was attempted to be repaired. I will be repairing this again. I can only guess that at certain winds/rain that the door leaks. There appears to be no damage to the surrounding walls and seeing that it only is around the door opening I will seal around the outside of the door frame and a new seal for the door. It wasn't wet when I peeled the floor up after a few days of rain, which leads me to believe it has to do with the way it faced while parked from previous owner.

[image]

Pulled out the dinette and jack knife sofa because there will be new carpet going in the slide and got a fresh coat of primer and paint on about 90% of the woodwork and cabinets in the trailer. The doors and drawer fronts are going to be sprayed at work after hours over the course of a few nights during the next couple weeks. It'll be tough fitting it in since I will be traveling to Mexico to do a sign install at the end of the week.

[image]

Upper and lower cabinets are the same color, lighting makes them look different for some reason.

[image]

I painted the front of the fridge for now but I will get a piece of brushed aluminum from work to give the fridge a stainless look.

[image]

I need some suggestions for this here. I work at a sign shop and I can print up anything I want and need ideas on what to do to get rid of the mirrors. These are for the upper cabinets in the front bedroom. I could get new blank mirrors to put in there and use some etched vinyl to put a design on them. Don't know yet.

* This post was edited 04/03/16 05:58pm by TheBreu *

Posted By: JWRoberts on 04/03/16 07:46pm

WOW!!! Great job!!!!

Posted By: STEVEO496 on 04/03/16 08:25pm

Looks great so far! You could remove the glass panes from the cabinet doors and just replace them with oak beadboard, then just paint to match your other cabinets.

2012 Keystone Cougar 30RLS
2005 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 8.1
Reese Titan receiver and Equalizer WDH

Posted By: stfnwuf on 04/11/16 10:30am

Great work!

2016 Reflection 337RLS
2016 Ram 2500 Big Horn
Food source for one very ornery cat

Posted By: leadknee on 04/12/16 03:54pm

Looks super

Steve an Barb
2015 Itasca Solei 340hp cummins
2012 ford fiesta tow

Posted By: RVcircus on 04/12/16 05:45pm

Looking great, keep it up!

Posted By: TheBreu on 04/13/16 06:39pm

Thanks guys!

This weekend the weather looks to maybe cooperate so I can try to finish painting the cabinets inside the camper. I should also be able to get my door and drawer fonts in the paint booth and prime and paint those. Hoping to get the cabinet and stuff put back together and finish ripping out the rest of the flooring and repair the rot.

As stated earlier, I work of a sign shop and our shop does a lot of work for a local tier one supplier. I built a sign for a new plant of theirs in Monterrey Mexico. Last weekend I had the pleasure of going to install said sign. We flew into Texas and drove across the boarder to install the sign on their building. It was a major pain as they didn't have a lift on site for me to do the work and had to stay a couple extra days for them to get one since it was a weekend and they couldn't get one on site for Saturday or Sunday. Long story short, someone from that company probably won't have a job too much longer once the CEO finds out about the whole ordeal.

I got back to work this morning and the boss pulled me into the office for a "chat". When instructed to remove a sheet placed over a box it revealed this for payment: [image]

I was blown away. He even got me the remote start option. Now I can't wait to boondock, which will ironically be on his property in northern MI. Needless to say, I am quite a happy boy and can't wait for camping season!

Posted By: qtla9111 on 04/13/16 08:04pm

How cool is that! Congratulations. What a great gift! You must have a great boss.

2005 Dodge Durango Hemi
2008 Funfinder 230DS
Living and Boondocking Mexico Blog

Posted By: TheBreu on 04/13/16 08:11pm

qtla9111 wrote:

How cool is that! Congratulations. What a great gift! You must have a great boss.

I do have a great boss and I am very greatful to work for him! I should have come visit you while I was in Monterrey! I was right by the airport at the new Airport Technology Park

Posted By: qtla9111 on 04/14/16 04:57am

TheBreu wrote:

qtla9111 wrote:

How cool is that! Congratulations. What a great gift! You must have a great boss.

I do have a great boss and I am very greatful to work for him! I should have come visit you while I was in Monterrey! I was right by the airport at the new Airport Technology Park

I hope you got to see some of the city.

Posted By: John&Betty on 04/16/16 02:46pm

Looks fantastic. Can't wait to see the finished project.

John & Betty
2007 Dodge Ram 1500
2010 Keystone Bullet 246RBS

Posted By: TheBreu on 04/16/16 03:07pm

Got some more done today. I laid out all the doors and drawer fronts, primed them yesterday and painted this morning.

[image]

I got some paint to be able to paint the hinges, drawer pulls and light fixtures. We do want to get new ones, just figured we'd save the couple hundred for now since there is a lot of cash going out for this project as it is.

[image]

We also started to put some of it back together today!

[image]

Posted By: ddndoug on 04/16/16 09:28pm

Nice! Keep up the good work.

Doug

Posted By: TheBreu on 04/17/16 07:10pm

Pretty productive weekend on the trailer. Got all the cabinet doors/drawer fronts painted and re-installed, painted all the pulls/hinges and pulled all the old flooring up. I will be out of town for most of the week/weekend so I won't get flooring installed until the last weekend on April. After that it will be finishing touches.

[image]

Posted By: dannytas on 04/18/16 09:43am

Bravo on your ability to tackle such a job. It is very appealing to have your camper just the way you want it!!!

2014 Keystone Springdale 202QBWE
1998 Dodge 1500 Club Cab, 4x4, 5.9 magnum
DW-Lynn
BigDog-Kelley
LittleDog-Kroozer
LittleCats-Pokie and Dottie

Posted By: TheBreu on 05/02/16 05:38pm

Starting to really take shape. Got the flooring installed this weekend, the slide out piece of carpet I had to take to get the front edge bound and should have it back tomorrow and I should be able to put the couch and dinette back in. I will be able to use it to camp and do the finishing touches here and there.

[image]

The piece in front of the sink is extra. I had it backed with rubber and bound like the slide out and will use it for a matching runner. I figured it would end up in the trash if I didn't and would need to buy other runner carpet anyway, so kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Plus, it matches.

[image]

The start of the framing for the TV wall

[image]

The wood blocks are spacers for the TV and to openings are for plugs/wiring

[image]

I'll find a picture to print and put on this side. Thought of going the mirror route, but it's a bit too low on the wall and I would have to stoop down to look in it.

[image]

I'll get some small crown molding and trim/paint to finish it off

[image]

View from laying in my side of the bed.

Posted By: qtla9111 on 05/02/16 06:53pm

Very custom! I had wondered what that taped square was going to be. Great job. Keep posting. You are a motivator to others who want to do remodeling and some DIY.

Posted By: TheBreu on 05/16/16 07:15pm

Got the trailer to a usable state, still have some trim work to do/paint and new blinds/curtains etc. We went camping this past weekend and had a lot of rain. Enough to not bother with a fire, so the TV got some use! We used the fireplace as our source of heat since we had no propane. The fireplace had no problem keeping the temp in the trailer, even with temps in the low 30's at night.

[image]

Theft deterrent with the slide closed

[image]

Posted By: qtla9111 on 05/16/16 07:23pm

Looks very good. Too bad the manufacturers can't be as creative and make rvs livable. The television frame turned out really well.

Posted By: TheBreu on 05/16/16 07:28pm

Thank you! I can't wait to wrap up this project. Now that it is usable, I'll probably throttle back on it. I have a ton of weekends booked already and don't want to spend my camp weekends working on it. Limited time to use it up here in the north (more-so than Mexico lol)

Posted By: DrewE on 05/16/16 09:42pm

Great work! Although the overall style isn't exactly my first choice, the workmanship looks to be very good and the results are cohesive and attractive and functional. I hope you get lots of use and enjoyment out of your renovated trailer.

Posted By: gregrc75 on 05/17/16 07:22pm

It looks terrific. Great job making it your own.

Posted By: TNGW1500SE on 05/18/16 07:13am

Nice work!

Posted By: TNGW1500SE on 05/18/16 07:13am

Nice work!

Posted By: tomthyme on 05/21/16 07:56am

really looks great! Well done!

2015 F350 King Ranch Dually 4x4, 22k Reese hitch
2011 Carriage Cameo 37cksls
Sarah (most beautiful creature in the world)
Mickey (105lb golden - good thing he's pretty)
Ashlee (85lb lab - spectacular pal)
Dutch (120lb lab - young one in training)

Posted By: captainkirk1856 on 05/30/16 11:39pm

I like the fabric choice, it looks great. I really love the TV box you made. How do the cords not get tangled up when you swivel it? Also, does it have a way to lock in so it doesn't move and bump the TV against the slide when traveling?

Posted By: TheBreu on 06/01/16 06:05pm

captainkirk1856 wrote:

Thanks! Since it's only my wife and I we just be sure to turn it one way. If it's facing the living side, it rotates counter clockwise and clockwise if it's facing the bedroom side. I drilled a hole through the outer box and frame around the TV to drop a detent pin in it to stop from spinning while traveling. So far, no problems.

Posted By: TheBreu on 06/29/16 08:31pm

Made valances and curtains and now it looks much more finished off

[image]

I added a couple receivers on the back of my frame to put a storage box

[image]

I also started painting the frame, lots to go in this department

[image]

Posted By: BoonHauler on 06/29/16 11:17pm

Nice welds, looking good.

05 RAM 3500 CTD 4x4 Q/C Laramie DRW/NV5600/3.73, B&W Gooseneck, MaxBrake, PacBrake PRXB, Brite Box Fogster, BD steering Box Brace
2014 BoonHauler 3614

Posted By: westend on 06/29/16 11:53pm

BoonHauler wrote:

Nice welds, looking good.

X2 Nice work!

'03 F-250 4x4 CC
'71 Starcraft Wanderstar -- The Cowboy/Hilton

Posted By: qtla9111 on 06/30/16 06:51am

Are you using a rust remover first or painting with Rustoleum? Also, did you add some plates to the front of the frame for support for the LP tanks?

Back bumper looks great. I want that to move my batteries back there.

Posted By: RollandB on 06/30/16 07:08am

Nice progress and work

2013 Yukon

2021 Coachmen Spirit 1943RB

Posted By: nma33 on 06/30/16 07:36am

Looks fantastic! Nice work.

Posted By: TheBreu on 06/30/16 07:55pm

qtla9111 wrote:

Just hitting with a wire wheel and painting with rustoleum . The tanks are the same setup from the factory, I did no changes there. I did however move the battery to behind the front cross member. Out of sight, out of mind for sticky fingers that may try to walk off with it. Currently, I carry the spare tire in the bed of my truck, I plan to make a tire carrier and put it between the frame rails under the camper near the front to help offset the weight of the box on the back.

Posted By: mdprowash on 07/13/16 04:42pm

Everything looks really nice... What paint did you use to do cabinets and other wood grain finishes. Did you do a light sanding on everything to scuff it up so paint will stick and not peel later?

Posted By: TheBreu on 07/13/16 07:29pm

I cleaned all the cabinets and walls and then primed with Zinsser bulls eye 123 sold at Home Depot. Surprisingly it only took a gallon to coat everything. I have camped in it 10 weekends so far without issue. Reading a lot of blogs and other remodel hints pointed to using this primer first so I went with it

Zinsser

Posted By: TheBreu on 04/02/17 06:44pm

Pulled the camper out to take advantage of the weather here this weekend and complete a couple more projects. I took the old cobbled together shelves that the previous owner put in our pantry and built new that are more suited to us.
[image]

Old stuff

We used it this way for a couple years, but it just didn't work.

[image]

I like this setup better already and we haven't even used it. Next is to put a light in there to see better for grabbing midnight snacks.

I also put a storage compartment under one of the bunks in the back. It is about 2 ft cubed made to fit above the water heater.

[image]

Made the cut out and framed it to drop in like the dinette storage

[image]

Posted By: westend on 04/02/17 07:02pm

Nicely done.
Evidently, the previous owner had limited carpentry skills. Your arrangement seems much better.

What the heck is that old circular saw? Some of the old worm drive saws are impossible to kill, looks like you have one.

Posted By: TheBreu on 04/02/17 07:10pm

westend wrote:

It is a old worm gear saw. It was my grandpa's that I claimed when he passed years ago. Sometimes you can't beat old technology

Posted By: Vvvv1010 on 04/08/17 05:03pm

What brand or paint type is the black gallon used on the trailer tongue? Amazing work!

* This post was edited 04/08/17 06:56pm by Vvvv1010 *

2011 Jayco Jay Flight G2 32BHDS
2011 Ford F250 6.7L Turbo Diesel
Two 10'0 Kayaks

Posted By: SteveB on 04/08/17 05:46pm

Nice work.

2015 RAM 3500 CTD Auto 4X4 CC Dually, Reese 20K
SOLD 8/2015 '01 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD HO 6sp, Reese 15K Pro w/ Kwik Slide, Prodigy
'04 Jayco Jayflight 28.5RKS

Posted By: TheBreu on 04/13/17 08:06pm

Vvvv1010 wrote:

What brand or paint type is the black gallon used on the trailer tongue? Amazing work!

Thanks! The paint is just some good old fashion Rustoleum that was brushed on.

Posted By: Firelime on 04/15/17 08:12pm

Very nice work.

2015 Silverado 3500HD Duramax LTZ Z71
2016 Keystone Cougar 337FLS, Trimetric 2030, SC 2030, 340 watts, 4 GC2's, Xantrex Freedom XC 1000 inverter/charger.
Curt Q20 w/R20

Posted By: TheBreu on 06/06/17 07:24pm

I added a composite material in place of the panels on my fridge. The new panels are plastic with a thin aluminum overlay that is brushed. It gives the fridge the look of a stainless one. [image]

Posted By: TheBreu on 07/18/17 06:52pm

I decided to change our flip down bunk in the back into a cabinet for bulky items. I have a screen tent that spends it's time on the lower bunk along with a few other items. I want a cabinet to hide these things, so I decided to build a wall for the front of the bunk with a door. I will skin both sides with luan and add brackets to the trailer wall to hold the cabinet face. If it doesn't work out, or I want it removed in the future, it'll just be a handful of screws to remove.

[image]

Posted By: Traveler7 on 07/19/17 08:19pm

Looks good, very nice!

"We are not defined by our limitations, we are defined by our potential"

Posted By: Graycat on 07/22/17 08:35am

TheBreu wrote:

I added a composite material in place of the panels on my fridge. The new panels are plastic with a thin aluminum overlay that is brushed. It gives the fridge the look of a stainless one. [image]

Where did you get the composite panels? They look really nice. Great tv work too.

Marti, Lee, and an old gray cat

Posted By: Lenny K on 07/22/17 11:51am

Really nice. You should be really proud of all the work you have done so far.

Lenny and Ros
2009 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 LTZ Duramax 4x4 CC Dually, Banks Speed Brake
2012 Montana 3400 RL 680 Watts Solar, 440 Amps of Batteries, GP-ISW2000-12 Inverter, Trimetric 2020, EMSHW50C, Sailun Tires

Posted By: TheBreu on 07/25/17 06:45pm

Graycat wrote:

Where did you get the composite panels? They look really nice. Great tv work too.

I work at a sign shop and we use this stuff all the time. I'm not sure you can source retail, you will probably have to go to a sign shop and have them order it for you. It comes in a 4x8 sheet. It has multiple names varying by manufacturer, usually called Dibond, Maxmetal, or alupanel.

Here is a detail description of it:

Alupanel is an internationally recognised product providing pioneering solutions to the Sign, Advertising and Construction markets. In a highly crowded business environment it is vital to get noticed. From eye-catching signage, innovative point of sale displays to highly effective way finding solutions, there is only one all round solution – Alupanel.

Alupanel is a premium quality composite panel made from aluminium composite materials featuring two 0.30mm aluminium sheets, sandwiching a polyethylene core. Available in one of the widest colour ranges on the market, all standard PE colours come with a 5 year external guarantee.*

(*Brushed and mirror finishes have a 5 year guarantee for INTERNAL application only.)

Print | Close