1968 Pathfinder. Needs a little bit of TLC, but the floor is solid, as are the walls. I'm in the process of getting her ready for a cheap spray job, then a little bit of love to the interior (cover paneling with bath board) and some new linoleum.

It was purchased for $400.

Not the prettiest looking thing, but it's perfect for us.

 

Good score!

 

Thanks. Today I added a battery box, and repaired the 12VAC system, as well as the 110VDC system. Tomorrow I'll add a receptacle behind the fridge to allow it to run on 110VDC, as well as propane.

The propane lines all checked out good, so we're good there.

It's amazing how dirty the stove top was. Looked as if they hadn't lifted it to clean under it in many years.

 

Fixed the 110 V AC for you.. and the 12VDC.I doubt if you wanted to say 110DC
and 120AC

 

Thanks...that's what happens after a few beers in the afternoon! LMAO

 

Buddy - I tell yez what:

I'd rather have an old classic than a new RV with all the bells and whistles any day.

Back then they were built better, and with a lot of pride of workmanship/craftsmanship. They didn't have washer and drier stacks, microwave ovens, surround sound (to frighten ALL the wildlife away), cable or satelite hookups, most didn't even have a TV set in them - they were all about real camping, and what made it better rather than what made it more like a house in town that you could haul along with you...

Those windows are fabulous! They might leak a little in high winds with rain, but they can also be half opened when the rain is coming down without letting it into the cabin! I remember windows like that on older houses especially along shore places where you want to let the clean air breeze right on through and enjoy it rain or shine. If you cherry that little jewel right down to the bone, you'll have a time machine that can carry you right out of the 21st century and back to simpler times...

It looks like you've got a straight LPG water heater there - check the LPG bottle connection and make sure it is double regulated

DANGER WILL ROBINSON! SINGLE REGULATED LPG IS PROBABLY NOT EVEN LEGAL ANYMORE, because if you have a regulator failure, the first warning you'll have is when the flames on your cook stove suddenly jump up three feet...

(see hints and tips: Single LPG regulators safety hazard. Or something like that - I know I warned everyone about it) On a trailer that age, yep! That's exactly how it was plumbed from the factory.
Modern gas feeds use a double regulator, so that if the first one fails, the second prevents the coach from becoming a fuel/air bomb.

Cherish those side marker lights by the way - they don't make 'Art Deco Tear-Drop' light covers anymore...

It is possible to upgrade anything on it that you want to - You could even add roof-air conditioning if you want, but I just did a roof air R&R for one of my long standing pals, and the unit set him back $760.oo just for the top unit (and that was at a discount because we went to a place I'm favorably thought of at).

Every roof-air consists of the roof unit, ducting or plenum, and/or adapter/trim piece inside. They have to be a matched set, and also have to have 12V and 115V (AC) run to them somehow. The good news is that you can drop one in anywhere that you have a crank-up vent in the roof. (The hole is the same size for a reason)

GET EXCITED!
Most oldtime RV design was done in the owners garage and yard in their spare time, your new "TOY" has unlimited possibilities, you can make it exactly the way you want it to be, and it was built to last by people who were ALSO enthusiasts at it - not just salesman and "Profit&Loss" oriented yuppie punks...

May I suggest that you explore the wonderful world of automotive paint spray guns?

If you have a compressor, all you need is a touch-up gun and some general know-how that you can get in the paint forum here at FTE (as always). My BIG guns cost me less than a kennedy bill, the T/U gun was $20 at "anyautoparts"...

If you try it - you'll find a whole new world open to you, and your new toy will become beautiful.

I love that thing - it has "STYLE"

~Wolfie sendez

PS: I sincerely hope you ran self-tapping screws through the bottom of the battery box down into the frame of the trailer, instead of relying on a cheap strap to hold it down (that's a common short-cut at dealers). Roads have bumps, boxes can fly, and you don't want your battery to get under your axles. Also drill battery acid drain holes in the center bottom of the case, cleaning the battery gets simpler if you do that - just flush it good with a hose, scrubbing where necessary.

 

Well, we started painting the interior tonight. We decided on an off-white for the walls and cabinets, then a navy blue for the cabinet doors and trim.

I used a can of appliance touch-up paint to cover the ungodly avocado green stove top and oven door. I'll be hitting the fridge panel with the navy blue. When the paint is done, I'll pull the old carpet, touch-up the spots near the floor, and put new carpeting in. I found some new carpet for a buck a square, AND it's in the same shade of navy blue the wife wants.

It will be a little while before I hit the outside with paint, as there are quite a few spots that need repair from over 40 years of bumps and bruises. The main color will be bright white, with the black panels being painted a dark blue...perhaps the same shad that the truck is going to be painted.

The pull out sofa bed will need new padding, as the original is missing and it was covered with a futon mattress that doesn't work too well.

The wife will be the seamstress on the new curtains and padding covers...unless we can find someone cheap to do it.

Wolfie...did this come with a roof membrane on the outside?? There isn't any evidence of it, but I'm thinking it may be a good idea...Thoughts??

 

Just a word of warning if you decide to paint the outside, its likely aluminum, you may have trouble getting the paint to stick. I was told that to paint aluminum it takes a special kind of paint, something about having acid that etches itself in the aluminum.

Now, I don't claim to know anything about any of this, I was just warned when I mentioned to someone I was going to paint my aluminum trailer, that the paint wouldn't stick. I don't know if this is true.. but I do know this.
I painted my 1967 Yellowstone camper with rustoleum, which only stuck for a short while. Maybe I should have done more research, but I couldn't justify spending alot of time, effort and work into a unit that was just going to be used for one summer, then basically give it away to get rid of it.

 

Thanks...

When I lived in Ohio, my brother and I owned a painting business. There is a secret to painting aluminum...it's all in the prep work and the weather of the day that you apply the paint.

1. Wash in trisodiumphosphate (TSP) which can be found in any paint store.
2. Hose it with muriatic acid, which etches the aluminum, allowing the paint to adhere.
3. Rinse with clean water
4. Allow to dry VERY well...if it takes 3 days, so be it

With those 4 easy steps, I have been able to apply 30 year exterior LATEX paint to aluminum siding and guarantee it for 15 years.

Now, when you paint it, make sure that it is a very LOW humidity day and anywhere between 60-70 degrees...don't do it in direct sunlight either.

I'm not going to use latex on the trailer, I'll be going with whatever the auto paint store suggests...

 

See there ya go, you already know way more about it more than I do, sounds like you should be fine.

I just didn't want ya to go to alot of work, and watch it fall off later.

 

Sorry for the delay in updates, but I've been kinda busy on this.

The wife and I decided to update the interior of the TT with some paint. She chose the colors, and I think they work together fairly decent.

Gone is the avocado green stove and hood...appliance paint is great, aint it?


And the outdated dark paneling...




We pulled the indoor/outdoor carpeting up and found the original linoleum, which was promptly covered up!




We purchased some inexpensive peel and stick...





And I started installing it. I have yet to get new pictures of the flooring after installation, but it looks a helluvalot better than it did!

 

Look'in Good.

 

They really don't make em like they used to that's for sure. Looks like a great score and a fun project!