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Hi Pippi,
I saw one of your videos for the first time the other day. And I was really inspired by what all you’ve done.
My fiance and I have a 1985 Class C motorhome we totally gutted it out and now I feel I’m way in over my head with this project. It’s not that I don’t want to do it, it’s I don’t know what and how to do it. ERICA my fiance, has great ideas for the camper and all I wanna do is make her happy and comfortable in the RV.
I NEED HELP!
anything you can suggest or share with me will be a great deal of help. here’s my email. renemaldonado11@gmail.com and Here are some pics, we’re gonna be heading somewhere in Southern California for the winter. We hope to have it done by then.
Please let me know what you think. Thanks for your time.Sincerely,
AndyFeeling way over your head is the best part because it’s so satisfying to work your way out of that 😀
Just take it step by step. If it’s totally gutted and you’re not changing and wiring or plumbing, get the walls painted then do the floors. I bet you’ll start feeling better after that. Then step by step. You never attached the pics. I’d love to see the current state of it.
Best of luck with the project!
hi renerica:
feeling over your head is simply an opportunity to learn and enjoy (really.) It’s difficult to know what advice to give as you didn’t say what the extent of your renovation will be.
However, you can demystify much of it by breaking up the work into sections; sort of like slicing a pizza; you don’t try to eat all of a pizza at the same time. As with any project of size I have ever embarked on, I first divide it into managable portions.
For example, I am about to begin renovating a 1971 Airstream Caravel. When I say renovate , I mean all of it from the removal of walls, as well the door and windows in order to replace aged seals, ripping out the way outdated elecrical and plumbing systems, in fact right down to the belly pan once I have ripped up the floor.
In this rebuild, because I am starting from the ground up (literally,) I can break it down into mechanical rebuild, electrical systems, plumbing system, PV (solar) outfitting etc., etc.
But any rebuild simply requires a logical approach. I find making lists VERY useful. I tape my various lists to the interior shell of the Caravel, along with a rough timeframe for completion. This really helps to keep me on task, and reminds me if I have forgotten something (which is frequent.)
Also, there is the Internet. With all it’s faults. it’s a wonderful font of knowledge with forums on about anything you can think of. If youv’e never used a forum before, you are in for a pleasant surprise. People are generally friendly, knowledgeable, and have no problem sharing their expertise and experience.
I know it sounds a little odd, but what I am doing is probably easier than the task you have embarked upon simply because I don’t have try to attach the new to the existing. Have heart! You can do this!
If I can be of any help with specifics, please don’t hesitate to e-mail me at:
will52dreamsea@gmail.com
Fair skys and a following wind,
WillYou can check out my 5th wheel rebuild for some inspiration: https://www.pippenings.com/rv-living/rv-motorhome-life-forum/topic/1993-wilderness-rebuild/#post-2368
Search Youtube for camper restorations and RV repairs and you’ll see a lot of similarities in how they are all put together. At the factories all of the walls are built on tables and attached to the finished sub-floor. They are almost all 2×2 pine construction stapled together with Luan (thin plywood with a vinyl wallpaper) stapled to the interior, and fiberglass or aluminum sheets on the exterior.
The good news is there is no wrong way to put it together so long as it is structurally sound and fits how you intend to use the RV. Remember, one step at a time and scour the internet for inspiration!
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