Paneling Trim

Two weeks ago I installed the paneling trim in the camper.

I also installed the fridge, it's a 1946 Westinghouse that works great!

I painted it with Gloss White Enamel spray paint. We had to bring it in through the front window as that was the only opening wide enough for it. The fridge is 25 3/4" deep, the door is only 24 3/4" wide but the window is 26" high.

I also tried to get the couch in through the front window but as it turns out the window was about an 1 inch too narrow. After doing a bunch more measuring and calculating I think I can actually get it in through the door. If not then I will need to find another couch.

Trailer lights

Yesterday I worked on the trailer lights, they were in really bad shape but I have both original tail lights and three out of the four original KD-540 running lights.

As you can see the bases are completely rusted out. There are reproduction bases for the KD-540 but I cant afford them right now so I decided to make my own.

First I had to find some light sockets that would work, I got these for $2 each.

Then I traced the pattern from the trim piece.

Then I put the cutout up to the side of the camper to locate the holes I needed to drill into it.

Then I rivited the bulb socket to the cutout.

Not as elegant as the reproductions but it works.

Next I screwed the new bases to the camper using stainless screws then attached the lenses.

Once I find some flathead stainless screws I will replace the phillips head ones.

I ran all new trailer wiring to all the lights. I didn't get a chance to finish installing the Bargman no. 2 tail lights but I did get them and the new center license plate stop light wired up.

I also finished up on the tongue. First I sanded it down with a wire wheel.

Then I sprayed it with a rust inhibiting sandable primer.

Then I sprayed it with a high strength enamel gloss black paint.

New Trailer Coupler

The original trailer jack was in bad shape and missing the crank. I decided to go ahead and replace the jack and the coupler.

First I removed the propane rack, the bolts were frozen solid so I cut them off. Then I cut the rivits off that hold the jack on. I had to free up the jack to remove it because the jack has to come out the bottom.

I was able to remove the eight bolts holding the coupler on.

and then remove the coupler.

The new coupler did not have any holes so I had to set it in place and trace the holes out from the inside. Then I drilled the holes into the coupler and installed it and the jack.

Tomorrow I will take the coupler back off, sand the tongue down with a wire wheel, then Primer it with a rust inhibitor, and then paint it.