RV Project

[gregfender]

Since I didn't have enough to do this winter...

My wife found a 1983 Terry Taurus camper on Craigslist and talked me into going with her to look at it. You can guess how this ended. I found myself dragging it home the next day. Truth is, for a 31 year old camper it was in exceptional shape. No water damage, plumbing and electrical is good, all the appliances work, the only issues were some yellowing plastic and the hideous interior design from the 80s. The plan is to completely redo the interior (with the exception of the appliances). I parked it by the shop Thursday morning and by this afternoon, I had made pretty good progress. Tomorrow I am going to sand down the paneling and then paint. After that I'm gonna get to work building the sectional sofa/bed. Add a new cabinet/shelf unit and some exterior painting when it warms up, and we'll be in business. Wish me luck!

 

[Bird]

Looks like a 21 foot trailer and a popular design back then and earlier.

 

[SIMassey]

Had an 81 Wilderness 17 ft. that had an identical layout. Really liked the front couch / pullout bed design because we would normally leave the bed pulled out since we had the separate dinette.

Doe's it have a small stand up shower to the right, stool on the left and vanity across back under the window? Brings back a lot of good memories. Spent many weekends and vacations in it.

Mine had the 13 inch tires on it. The brakes never seemed to work very well since the drums are smaller. Wish I went with the 21 foot and got the 15 inch tires.

Looks like a nice unit. Enjoy!

SIMassey

 

[MacLawn]

Great project! Those older trailers still have a long life ahead, with that kind of TLC.

 

[Bird]

Wish I went with the 21 foot and got the 15 inch tires.

A little hard to imagine in this day and age, but my parents retired in Anchorage, AK, in the Fall of 1971 and lived full time for 4 years in a 21' Nomad trailer (bought it used in Anchorage) that they first pulled with a 1966 Buick sedan, later with an Oldsmobile. They spent the Winters in Port Aransas, TX, and went back to Anchorage for the Summers.

 

[SPIKER]

Sounds like fun, I been contemplating retirement with a RV or pull behind w a nice 4door type tow vehicle to see USA. I seen a lot while in Military & want more but other half has only 1 time left Ohio so she is game. Problem is what to do with all the other stuff we have... I said sell it all and buy a good RV, keep a weeks worth of clothing each and nothing more than some skeeter tents and fishing poles for the times we find a nice stream/lake or ocean

(Best plan would be to have a floating house boat RV combination


Mark

 

[Bird]

Mark, my Mother said when they retired and got that 21' trailer, she asked my Dad how in the world they were going to decide what to take and what to leave (they sold their house in Anchorage, furniture and all, to one of my brothers). She said he told her to put all his fishing gear and whatever she needed to cook meals in the trailer, and if there was any room left, she could put in some clothes.

When I retired, we had a 32' fifth-wheel, closed on the sale of the house 3 days later, gave our daughters all the contents of the house that we couldn't take in the trailer. But after a bit more than 3 years in that trailer and we traded for a new 40' Bounder motorhome and towed a Ford Escort behind it.

 

[SPIKER]

Mark, my Mother said when they retired and got that 21' trailer, she asked my Dad how in the world they were going to decide what to take and what to leave (they sold their house in Anchorage, furniture and all, to one of my brothers). She said he told her to put all his fishing gear and whatever she needed to cook meals in the trailer, and if there was any room left, she could put in some clothes.

When I retired, we had a 32' fifth-wheel, closed on the sale of the house 3 days later, gave our daughters all the contents of the house that we couldn't take in the trailer. But after a bit more than 3 years in that trailer and we traded for a new 40' Bounder motorhome and towed a Ford Escort behind it.

:thumbsup: that is my plan Where did ya like it the best/worst for RVing??

M

 

[Bird]

:thumbsup: that is my plan Where did ya like it the best/worst for RVing??

M

It's a little hard to say where the best is, partly because I'm sure it's changed since we quit the RV lifestyle the first of 1995, and partly because the things you like and the things I like might be different. We got into 4 provinces of Canada and at least some part of every state except California, and of course Hawaii. But we barely got into Maine and only across the northern part of Florida.

Generally speaking, the west has wider roads, wider shoulders if you should need to stop, and less traffic. Much easier driving in the west than in the east. If I were going to live in a state other than Texas, I'd prefer Arizona. Besides passing through Arizona at other times, we spent the month of January, 1990, in Tucson and February in Phoenix. I enjoy museums and western history. West Virginia's Pipestem State Park is, in my opinion, the finest state park in the country. The Oregon coast around Canon Beach and on a bit south is beautiful. I worked some doing gas leakage surveys and the people in northern Pennsylvania, around Sayre, PA, were the friendliest I've found anywhere in the country. The fishing was best around Port Aransas, TX, and in Alaska. The Air Force Museum in Ohio and the Naval Aviation Museum in Florida were fascinating, but then so was the Pima County Air Museum and Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson. Of course, the Fall foliage was prettiest in the northeast.

So it just depends on your personal preferences.

 

[PAGUY]

the people in northern Pennsylvania, around Sayre, PA, were the friendliest I've found anywhere in the country.

the Fall foliage was prettiest in the northeast.

Bird - Thanks for those compliments. That is why I think Pennsylvania is the best place on this earth. :thumbsup:

PAGUY