Got started on my slipcovers... got one done enough to test it out.

  Looks ok... I'm not happy about the wrinkles and puckers... but like I said... it's a work in progress.   Then I placed both cushions into the bed and found that they are 8" short of a complete bed.   What's with that???

So... according to the TCT... one member has a 1959 trailer that is the same way.  He says he has an 8" cushion section that fills in the space.  So... looks like I'm gonna have to get an 8" foam section to make into bolsters to fill in.  They cam be bolster pillows when not made into a bed. 

  I'm working on lace curtains that I plan to get finished this weekend.  I've decided my first campout will be on the 4th.  I'm going to head to Spokane again to the Bowl and Pitcher state park and camp out with the grandsons.  Their mother is welcome too.  Their father is working a double shift... so he won't be joining us.   We will have to plan a camp out for all of us together.   Maybe the gold mine over that way.

Tested out the propane gas... the stove top works... the oven works.  I should test the oven for baking... perhaps I'll bake some bisquits today.  I'm packing the essentials... trying to remember what all she will need.  She was totally empty, so I will need to purchase everthing to make a camping trip successful.  I don't want to rob from the Okanagan, The Beast needs to remain ready to take sale if the need/desire arrises.

Went shopping for fabric to make slipcovers for the cushions.  Even though they are in great shape, I wanted them to have some color.  Here is what I found....

It's soft salmon flowers, green and pink.   I have a wonderful Flamingo pillow that will accent it to the max.  I have enough enough fabric to make some throw pillows I'm sure... probably enough to make curtains too, but I think that would be too much.  We shall see.
   The sanding and sealing of the interior wood turned out good.  I've still got a drawer that looks shabby and is in need of some serious work, but that can be done later.
   Before and after pics of one corner....

Before and after of a couple of cupboards.... the one on the left is the before.

My kitchen cupboards over the counter & stove...

I've put the hinges back on the doors, handles on the drawers and re-enstalled them into the trailer.  I've put the back cushion back in and I'm ready for finishing decorating.  My Ice Box needs to be fixed yet, and I will get to that.  But I think I'm ready to start decorating.   I've also put aluminum backsplash up behind the stove.

   Lets talk potty.... this little treasure doesn't have one.  I've seen several revamps inside small trailers that the owners have created a space for their porta-potty tucked into the space under the stove.  I have a drawer there and it wouldn't take much to adjust it into a door and cubby for my PPotty.  

I went to a Tin Can Tourist Vintage Trailer Rally this past weekend, and a couple of small trailers also had this remodel in their trailers.  Here is one in a "Man Cave Trailer"...

I have my work cut out for me... it's not a high priority at the moment... so I've got time to "think about it".

:) Suzy

P.S.  I need to be thinking of a name for her.... I've thought of Myrtle May... Lily.... Star-something or Something-star.   Her colors are salmon, turquoise and now her covers are green/brown/salmon pink.  Must think on it.   :)

   I spent this past weekend shopping for and working on the trailer.  I headed down to the Tri-Cities to check out our RV Supply stores in the area.  I found one that is not large, but can order next day delivery things that I need.  I also went to the Home Depot and found some great trim.  It's about 1inch wide and with leaves etched into it.  I'm thinking the ends trim under the large windows.   I also ended up buying MinWax Danish Finishing oil in Golden Oak.
  Sunday, I sanded some more, wiped with the denatured alcohol.  I then rubbed the MinWax over all the wood surfaces in the trailer.  It ended up smoothing out some of the discoloration which happened from moisture.  It did not hide the dark water stains... I'm thinking tha they are her battlescars... she wears them proudly.   The interior wood does look good tho. 
   The drawers and doors got a good rubbing of MinWax as well.  Some of them absorbed the oil so much and will need to get a second coating.   Today, 24hrs later, the smell of Minwax still lingers, so I've opened the windows a bit more.  I checked the drawers/doors that need extra attention and the flaky varnish that was still there is not smooth.   So I scraped and resanded the pieces, then gave a good rubbing of Den. Alcohol again. 
   I also used the Den. Alcohol and cleaned all the hinges & latches to the doors & drawers.  They cleaned up nicely.  I will post pictures later.
:) Suzy

  It's been raining this week.  Monday the day was full of sprinkles.  I thought... good.. I'll find out if I have any leaks.  I got home from work and the little lady was quite dry.  Hmmmm.  Good.   The evening progressed to heavy pouring rain.  I went out several times and checked the insides.... the walls/ceiling were dry... no signs of moisture.  Good.  BUT.  The front and back stationary windows had slight moisture in one corner of the window framing.  The wood below was moist.   OK.  I've got a leak or two.  I can handle this.
  So... at 9:00 at night I'm out in the pouring rain, using tent poles and a tarp, covering the trailer, by my self.  I run from one side to the other... inching the tarp over the top one side at a time.  I finally get it all the way across the top and bungie her down.  She is now secure under a tarp.

  We also went Glamping this past weekend.  Unfortunately, Little Trailer was not ready for her maiden voyage.  I took my 1990 Ford Econoline Okanaga Conversion Van Moterhome.   She's a 19 foot and the kids call her "The Beast".  Her licence plate used to be SBY (Sweet Babe of Youth) is what I called her.  Since her new tabs this past year... her licence plad is different and I'm gonna have to think on it.
  We went to Spokane's Farm Chicks Antique show at the Fair Grounds.  It was a fun day.  There were 4 rooms full of Tiques, crafts and lots of stuff for sale.  I found for the trailer a Cute blue vintage electric fan, with 2 speeds and it works.   I also found a PikNik Cooler.  A silver aluminum ice chest with a drawer.  It is a hoot.

   The fan is the wrong shade of blue for my color scheme.... pink/turquoise.  But it will do.  I may repaint it. Maybe... maybe not.
   I have been sanding the woodwork on the interior.  I've even given her an denatured alcohol rub down which loosened up more of the varnish flakes.   My next step is to get a small hand sander with 180 grit sandpaper and get busy.  Then I've read to use Penofin Penetrating Oil on the wood.  According to "The Complete Vintage Travel Trailer Restoration Website: http://zoomcart.com/members/restoration/woodrefinishing.html

"Finish with Penofin Penetrating Oil.
One or two coats of this amazing product with a brush and your cabinets will look like new. It is a penetrating oil that will penetrate existing finishes which eliminates sanding the entire trailer. It comes with different tints if you need to match the original stain. And it looks great. " 
 This is my plan.
G'night Campers....
:) Suzy

I've spent the last couple of days working on little miss Aloha...

I removed the cushions in preparation for sanding the wood paneling inside.  I removed the drawers, cupboard doors and closet doors and started sanding the wood.  The old flaky varnish came off in big flakes... I had piles of it everywhere.

  I removed the cupboards hardware as it looks like it was also varithaned along with the wood.  I sanded the drawers & doors as well.   Some of the varithane did not want to come off that easily so I picked up some paint/varnish stripper to use on the wood that has tough varithane still stuck to it.

  I removed the curtain harware as well... and any little stray nails, hooks or tacks that will impead my sanding. 

   I have 5 wooden shelf units that are also screwed to the walls... on is going to be my library :).   I don't think I will remove them... I'll just finish the wood of them along with the wood around them.

 I am planning on removing the varnish on the hardware and restore them to their black finish. 

Here are some more inside pics...

This is some wood below the dinette table/window.  I need to do some repair on it... I'm planning on painting this section of the trailer.  But I will need to figure out how to prep it first.
   I found out that the left back light does not work... I replaced the bulb, but it still doesn't work.  I'm going to have to check the wiring I suppose.
   Went to Spokane and found some mirror extensions, some caulking and door foam weatherstripping. 

2nd week...
   I hitched up the trailer to the  Blazer all by myself on Monday, took me 20 minutes, which isn't bad since I had no help.  I decided I need to learn/figure out how to hitch up solo since I will probably being doing alot of that in the future, might as well get going.  
  First time towing... I towed it to my work (6miles away) to get the dry weight... 2,020 lbs.  I also took the opportunity to show it off to fellow workers who appreciate Vintage Travel Trailers.  I have a co-worker who also has one, a 1959 Shasta he is refinishing.  They all ooh'd and aw'd over her.
  I then drove her back to my home town and to the Tire Factory to check the tires and bearings.  She had to stay the night at the tire factory because they had only one seal and would get the second one the next morning.
  I picked her up on Tuesday morning.  $300sum later, New Bearings packed, New seals, New spare tire and wheel.  I feel much better in towing.   She is an easy tow, my only concern is that I can't see around her when I pull, so I am needing to get mirror extensions. 

   I towed her to a friends house and we pressure washed her to get rid of some of the house paint off the outsides.  Tiny flakes of white paint flew off her.  The scratched paint is now smoother, but not completely removed.  It will need a few more pressure wash sessions.   I also towed her to the local carwash and used their pressure hose on the front end and removed a LOT of the housepaint off the pink.  She is now more Salmon Pink than whitewashed pink.
:) Suzy

This is the little plaque next to the door.  You can also see how someone sratched the housepaint...it's like that all over the shell of the trailer..

  I wanted an Aloha, because I read that it was made here in the Pacific Northwest, Aloha, Oregon which moved to Beaverton, Oregon and it was made for Pacific Northwest weather in mind.  Mine has some evidence of water leakage, and I'm told it was due to it being in Idaho sitting with several inches of snow on it's roof.   It has since been sealed and should be dry.

  I looked at my electrical reciever on my tow vehicle and things don't look right.  It should have a male connection that hooks into the female adapter for the trailer.  But it looks like it has been "Bobbetized"...   :).   I'm missing parts.  I will have to check with an RV store tomorrow.  I had plans to take the trailer to the tire factory tomorrow and have the tires & underside checked.   It will have to wait now.  Gotta go shopping.

My stove/oven is a Princess.  I haven't checked the gas yet.  I've had a busy weekend with company.  I've got the week off and digging into the Aloha is heavy on my agenda.  The stove needs cleaning as all ovens do.

 
The Icebox.....


:) Suzy