Recent content by Jim S

Tom, Thanks. Very useful info. Interesting approach on the subfloor. I will have to look into that. My current plan was to use extruded aluminum decking. I found one company that makes an interesting interlocking waterproof design. As you noted: Pricey! It would cost around $1,200-$1,400 to...

Tom, Your project sounds even more extensive than mine. I am very interested in your use of aluminum, as I am considering an aluminum floor as well. In addition is the possible replacement of the Filon skin and roof with an aluminum skin. Thanks in advance for any information regarding...

Back in October 2015 I posted about the planned rebuilding of my newly purchased basketcase,  a 1999 Fleetwood 721c Prowler Hybrid trailer. The entire floor had rotted out and needed replacing. It took a year and a half of weekends and then a bunch of weekdays after my retirement last January. I...

Gregg - Get this: I am 6'3" and 212 pounds, so we are fighting pretty much the same amount of gravity! Frankly, it still amazes me that the Styrofoam/plywood laminate supported anything, let alone beasts like us. Last evening I spent some time under the steel frame looking at the support...

One of the first things I learned in my reading is that the interiors are installed before the walls go up! You know that means a lot of what the manufacturer did will not be accessible to us mere mortals. So, yeah, there will definitely be a certain amount of 'making this up as I go along'...

Gregg - Confirmed. I was trying to figure out what was supporting the exposed foam, so cut out a small section. The dense styrofoam layer is about 1.5" thick and underlayed by another (rotted) layer of 1/8" plywood. under that is the very tough rubber bottom layer (hypolon?) which is completely...

That sounds a practical way to go. Liquid nails is readily available, too. Thanks!

Gregg, That is pretty much my approach on this project. I bought a partial basketcase with 'good bones' so I wouldn't feel bad about pulling it apart to make it my own. I'm not worried about the cost  - within reason - so much as learning and ending up with something fun built to our needs. I...

Gregg, I've run across several comments about foam/glue compatibility issues, so point taken. I will test first. I am well familiar with West System epoxy products, having owned and lived on a custom racing sailboat of cold molded cedar construction. An excellent line of products, if a bit...

Interesting suggestion. Weight is a concern and I want to keep the thickness to a maximum of 1/2". I'll check this out. - Thanks! I understand the motivation re: weight/strength concerns. Cheap wasn't my first thought, as I am familiar with wood as an excellent engineering material. I may be...

Yup, my first fallback if a synthetic option doesn't present itself. No workable ideas on that front yet. Thanks.

Yes, the marine rotary is one I am well familiar with and will likely go in that direction when I install my own. Thanks!

I would expect an older meter like this to be suspect. It gives level reports for all the tanks, too. I hope those are accurate. I intend to get a good quality meter as part of the solar power system I will be putting together soon. Thanks!

Very good starting list - Thanks! I had my suspicions about the detectors and the fridge - a Dometic RM2332 - definitely got the evil eye from me as a very likely suspect. None of these devices have off switches that I could find. Steps are manual, so no worry there. the converter was...

One of the weekend projects was firing up the Prowler's DC electrics. Found the single deep cycle battery was stone dead, so replaced it. When hooking up the new battery, I noticed that there was already a draw on it. I did a few system checks to find out what works, such as lights, water pump, ...