Winterizing the camper

Using the last dry weeks in the year, I painted the roof of the camper, using an elastic type of roof paint that worked pretty well but rendered the brushes I've used to a useless punky hairstyle. Now we hope the winter rains won't leak through anymore, like they'd been able to do in the back and shower before.
The broken shower roof window is replaced, also are the two vent caps. They're pretty cheap online and easy to screw in. I've helped many people with their campers to their comfort. This way, I know how to do this job, with which materials, and how much time each little part of the job will cost.

Inside, the back of the camper was pretty much rotten wood. I took all the rot out, and replaced it with new wood that I first protected against rot, to not have the same problem again. I took out the old battery and checked the electric wiring, which still is functional.

Ilene painted the interior white, so we don't have to look at plastic 'woodprint' and ugly blue kitchen 'tiles'. White makes it look a bit bigger.
Since Ilene's Toyota Natoma had to go to the garage, where the check engine light was checked with all codes, and many new parts had to be installed, we didn't have much money left for the Travette. So she's still waiting for her smog check, and we already know there is an Evap problem. Please wish us luck on that, since we don't have much financial reserves.

At least, we can be sure now that we'll stay dry during our sleeps in our beloved camper!

Update: we call her 'Lucille'

For those that Instagram: Ilene has her own blog there, about our camper: https://www.instagram.com/p/ByMGZHSj05v/

The last few days we spent on painting the interior white (Ilene) and getting the old decomposing glassfiber off of the roof (Bas). Ilene tried to smog her after Bas had put in a new fuel filler hose, but again, EVAP failed.
It would be nice if the smog places would be more helpful in overcoming smog problems, instead of turning this legally obliged obstacle into an eternal subsidy...

Before the smog hell opened up, we invested $780 in brand new, 6 ply tires.

To get the title, Ilene had to go to the registration of deceased people.

The cop station where the freak works who impounded our vehicle, a proven scam. He and a towing company have a deal in which the tow club calls in this cop, to take the vehicle in, for just anything.

Notice that the towing company uses a white board to claim their prices. We had to give them $480 of our hard earned money. I see this as theft with help of the strong arm of the law. It makes me puke!

A remote junkyard in Lincoln is being used for this scam. The camper wouldn't start anymore, so the tow driver -now he has received his Judas pennies- was so nice as to tow it to the street, where he left us. We tried to find a tow to Sacramento via our AAA but all tow companies work together and would not help us. So far for this AAA 'service'. The entire night Ilene tried to get us out of there, but eventually, I unscrewed the carburetor, repaired it in Sacramento and we came back the next day; luckily, it ran!

If it's hard to remember where all wires and hoses go, make a picture (or more)

This junk inside the carb was the reason it stalled. After removing, Lucille ran again!

First work on our Travette camper

Yesterday was the first day without rain so we could work on the motorhome. PS. http://rvsandohvs.blogspot.com/ is a great blog about motorhomes and has a review on the Travette. We're always interested in more information about this Bakersfield company, and personal experiences from everyone who owns, or owned a Travette.

Here are some pics of our work yesterday.

this is how we first found it. Via craigslist ad. Flat tire and paneling coming down. What else?

As you can see, the extra layer of glass fiber that was put on later, is coming off. We have to get it all off, or put new bondo on it so that it sticks, and then repaint it. The back looks even worse:

But the underside will be okay with some surface rust sanded off and a layer of Rustoleum.

Ilene was already busy cleaning up the interior and checking the upholstery, which needs total renewal.

And meanwhile I was busy trying to get the lights working, which means to inspect all connections, light fixtures, switches et cetera.

We bought a Toyota motorhome

To be more mobile and see more of this great nation, Ilene and I have bought a camper. It's a Travette from 1979 and needs tons of work, but we got it for a good price. The engine, R20, is famous for it's durability and economy. Which we need, since now we got to get new tires. The old ones are from 1995 and WILL pop on any hiway trip.

We'll keep you posted!!

FreewheelersCelloBand - Jackyl&Hyde [celloblues] (2018)

TheFreewheelersCelloBand Jackyl&Hyde