[a/s] Great week

[Khstar@xxxxxxx]

I suppose I would be what has affectionately, I hope, termed lurking.  Trying 
to maintain home, children and work seems to consume all of my time, but I 
love reading all of the letters, etc; I just rarely take the time to join in 
the day to day conversation.  And especially love living through the journal 
updates from Hunter.

Anyway, just returned from our 3rd and last week long vacation this summer in 
the camper.  Whew! What an exhausting, but fun week.  First, the hot water 
heater would not stay lit.  I had some problems back in March with it, which 
George Tripp responded with some advice, then it worked fine, and this time, 
forget it, as soon as I released the red button the light would start fading 
on the pilot.  Press it again before it completely went out, and it would 
flare back up.  Long story short, I replaced the lighing mechanism (formal 
name I do not know) and the thermocoupler (that one I knew).  $200, parts and 
labor.  Not too bad after 27 years.

Then, I worked on my annual wash and wax ---hmm.  There has been a lot of 
discussion in the past on what waxes etc to use.  This trailer is 27 years 
old, and has 27 coats of plain old turtle paste wax on it.  Looks like it's 
brand new, even in high combination of sea and salt air.  But, as usual, as I 
began washing and waxing, I couldnt believe how great it looked and didnt 
realize how the dust and grime had accumulated.
With all the rain this past week in the southeast, getting enough time to get 
the waxing completed was a challenge!  Seems we got a couple inches daily.  
Some all day.

Then, with all the rain, I thought I should probably take a good look at the 
27 year old weatherstipping... Well, I found that the screen door had a total 
of about 18 inches left in tact.  The outside door had most of it.  But the 
crud and the gunk was incredible.  So, another 3-4 hours putting paint 
thinner on it and scraping like heck.  It cleaned up remarkably well.  I RAN 
to the nearest Lowes with threatening clouds and got there and had no clue 
what to buy.  Got two types.  The standard grey stuff and then this black 
rubber stuff that looked heavy duty.  Bought a bunch more stuff like more 
rivets, a drill to keep at the camper, and blinds cut to order for each of 
the windows, and the total was another $250.  Got back and starting putting 
the weatherstripping on and it would not stick.  No matter what I tried, it 
would not stick.  Then it started raining, I stuffed some stuff in the cracks 
and closed the doors....Started putting up the blinds.  Pulled the old 
original pull down shades out.  These matched the interior skin finish on the 
inside.  This trailer has been kept imaculate through the years, but I pulled 
these blinds down and could not believe the mold behind the blind.  And the 
dust!  So, by the time it stopped raining, I had 3 window blinds up including 
the hook things at the bottom so they dont flap around.

Went back out to the door and pulled the receipt out...the black heavy duty 
stuff had been 18 dollars a roll!  and it was the wrong stuff!  Went back to 
Lowes and got the black sponge rubber stripping.  Also got some P profile 
rubber stuff.  Put the black on all around both and it held good.  at first.  
Closed the door, looked like a tight seal.  then applied to the inside of the 
screen door.  Closed the door and ...it wouldnt close.  Was too thick.  So 
took it off, and put the P rubber stuff on.  Closed the door, and it worked 
perfectly.  The P stuff held tight with the adhesive on it.  Little by little 
the black sponge rubber started falling off.  :-(   So, getting frustrated, 
and this probably wasnt very smart, but it worked for now anyway,  I got out 
the super glue.  :-)  It held.  and after the next storm a few minutes later 
there was no moisture at all.  

Then I spent the next 4 hours finishing the remaining blinds.  They are done 
and look great.  

Then I decided to make the beds that had not been made yet, since I had been 
occupied on other activities.  Pulled one mattress out further to tuck in 
really well behind it, and gosh, both of the hinged areas that the plywood 
support has are just sitting there not hinged to anything any longer...and 
one of them had sunk below the frame I guess from the weight and time.  So, I 
tried to begin working on that, but really didnt get to far.  Last night 
there and just as I began working on it, I noticed the lights looked really 
dim.  10 minutes later there was no battery juice left at all.  So, The two 
plug in lamps there sufficed for all of our light.  

It WAS a wonderful week. I have had this trailer for about 18 months now and 
slowly it is being updated.  It has always been in good shape, but it is old 
and needs just some good old fashioned maintenance and updating.  Last summer 
I recovered the couch, redid the panels in tapestry beside the beds, and more 
cosmetic changes, sewed coordinating bedspreads, etc.  Next summer, I want a 
new awning.

I do have a couple of questions I would love some advice on:

Flooring.  Like many on the list, I want to remove the carpeting and put in 
solid surface.  The guy that does repairs and work in my campground 
recommended the vinyl squares as they were easy to work with.  He said he put 
a top layer of plywood down on the existing floor.  Put down a really good 
adhesive and then apply the squares.  He said he can give a warrantee against 
them popping up based on his surface and the adhesive.....Has anyone had any 
experience or issues with these squares?  (I must admit I am a bit leary of 
the squares because of all the seams----areas for moisture to enter.....)

I see some cracks in the channel that the shower door travels in back and 
forth.  In addition, the tub surface was damaged years ago when the former 
owner tried to soak out some stains with clorox.  Well, the clorox ate 
through the finish.  Any recommendations?  

Keeping my fingers crossed, everything else in this 1973 beauty is perfect.  
And getting more perfect with each trip out.  :-)

Karen
Charlotte NC
31' International Soverign