Taking off the compressor and coils made the AC light enough for Craig and I to get it off ourselves today.  I was very happy to see it on the ground.

The view of the yard from the top of the trailer!

Yes, I’m still trying to fix leaks.  I know of several around the vents and the olympic rivets securing the air conditioner.  So I took a slide down a slippery slope…

Instead of trying to seal the vents, I decided last weekend to go ahead and replace them with fantastic fans since that was in the plans anyway.  And I would just get rid of the air conditioner and replace it with a sky light for now.  Unfortunately, the AC installer did a horrible job cutting out the hole.  I don’t think I can use a standard 14 inch sky light on this, check out the edges of the aluminum cuts.  Will do more research on options.

For some reason, I started on the air conditioner first.  I read the air forums and blogs and watched some videos on removing the air conditioner.  First off, the DIY guy had a nice mini-bulldozer bucket to work from and didn’t try doing this hanging off a ladder.  Secondly, most folks said they got it off in an afternoon.  Being a “girl”, I hate to admit when I can’t do something or do it well, but I will confess to just spending yet a third day working on getting this blasted thing off.

The shroud was already cracked so I didn’t worry about getting it off intact.  I drilled out the belt rivets, then the rivets holding the top on.  I found gobs, and I mean gobs of old hard caulk.

It took me all afternoon to get through the caulk to find the olympic rivets.  Removing those turned out to be the easy part.  A couple people said that you can just slide a scraper under edges to loosen the air conditioner.  HA!  It was grey caulk, but felt like cement.  I used the scraper, plastic knife, heat gun, mineral spirits, acetone, vice grips, screw driver, and a hammer.  Just before supper, the temperature dropped quickly, the wind picked up and dark clouds rolled in as I finally got the AC released from it’s bondage.  Tomorrow I’ll see if I can talk Craig into helping me get it off the trailer or continue to dismantle it piece by piece.

I read somewhere that C’World would only install an AC if you took off the old one yourself.  I can see why.

I camped in the trailer at Robert H. Treman State Park with a couple other trailer folks this weekend.  Robin, Mark, and I took a field trip to Fletch’s and then spent a quiet afternoon hanging out with Robin and mom.  On Sunday, the crew took a hike up the gorge to the upper falls. There was a nice campfire thanks to Mick.  It was such a joy to talk trailers with kindred souls.

I was waiting for Mark's photos since his are so wonderful, but I'll post my crappy one for now.

Last weekend, I finished cleaning off the inside of the exterior walls.  I also finished sorting out the wires so now the only ones running across the ceiling are the exterior lights.  The 12 volt is all removed and the gauge wires are all wrapped up in a bag.  I feel badly that I did not do this before taking it down to Frank, he should not have had to fight with my tangled mess.

I sealed up the front window and I’m still working on the window gaskets for the side windows and adding the fuzzy weatherstripping to the screens as I go.

It’s been great being off work this week.  It’s been warm and sunny, but with cool sleeping weather.  I haven’t gotten as much done as I had hoped.  It seemed that every job required a missing tool or supply or my back wouldn’t hold up.  So I have several started, unfinished jobs.

• I documented and ripped out the wires for the four main 12 volt circuits.  I’m still trying to sort out the monitoring/console wires.
• Scraped and scrubbed the inside of exterior walls in the back third of the trailer, removing residual pink and broken wire holders in preparation for reflective insulation installation.
• Jig sawed 4 feet of insulation foam board into 1 inch strips (Thanks for the loan on the jig saw Marc).
• Removed and replaced the rubber seal on the back window and did a test run of reflective film on the glass.  Having trouble getting the window back on the trailer.  We need a third person to push in the lip or more finesse on the angle.
• Prepped and sealed two thirds of the exterior seams and lights with Acryl-R (Thanks for info Frank!).  The other third is prepped.

Left to do before I start insulating:

• Four new window latch replacements and the fuzzy weather stripping for the window screens arrived, need to take them back off and apply that.
• Finish removing wires, cleaning up inside of exterior walls, sealing seams, attach window.
• Seal the interior seams with automotive undercoating or Sikaflex® 221?
• Leak test

Fred watching me strip the back window.

I started on the top to practice sealing the seams as Frank suggested, but I didn’t get much better by the time I moved down.

Jade would like to thank Frank for putting on the new axles and making the trailer high enough that she can hang out under it now while I work.

I picked up Mom in Endicott late yesterday afternoon and we drove down and stayed over night in Hunt Valley.  This morning we drove over and met Frank to pick up Rosie. It was great to talk with Frank and get the tour in person:  new plywood floor, axles, and belly pan; re-welded, POR’d, and painted frame; fabricated wheel wells, new hot water heater, and more.  He did a great job and is a great guy to work with!

Frank took pics of Rosie leaving - click pic for his post

It was a grey, rainy, and foggy ride home, but she towed straight and easy. With the old axles, I felt like I was towing a sled. She rides MUCH higher and feels very solid. Welcome home pics:

Had a great time at the Birthday Bash in Plymouth, NY at the home of Rob Baker last weekend.  Thanks to Rob&Zoey, Frank&Beth, Steve, Ace, Deborah, Ansty&Grant, Michael, and all the other folks who helped make this a wonderful event.  I didn’t mind being in my truck tent, but hopefully the next time I go camping, it will be with Rosie (see latest post from Frank).  I really enjoyed seeing old friends and making new ones, some two legged, some four.   I met people I had been following on AirForums and got lots of good ideas wandering into people’s trailers.  Craig, Sue, Mom, K&N came for the open house and seemed to contract the Airstream bug.  Sitting in the field Saturday night, watching the fireworks, then listening to Antsy and Michael was a most memorable time  (Rob’s Bash post with links to pictures).

Even though Rosie is not ready to leave Frank camp yet, the majority of work is completed and she will return soon (no date set).  So I ordered the reflective insulation (Prodex) and have been designing the new electric system with the idea of solar in the future when my budget recovers in a year or two.  For now, I’ll be thrilled to have a replacement for the old Univolt inverter and looking at using my gift certificate from Cay at Vintage Trailer Supply for a new converter/charger.  Before I do either of those things, I need to be sure Rosie is as water tight as possible, need to talk to Frank about leaks and seam sealers next time we connect.

Takin it to 11… Eleven Man May 23rd, 2010
Frank won points with Craig making a great analogy to “Spinal Tap”, one of his cult favorites. Stripping down Rosie’s chasis and welding on new outriggers and a crossmember.

Pour on the Por…  fifteen that is May 31, 2010
Lovely pictures of Rosie’s frame showing 2-3 coats of POR-15.  In other words, “Paint Over Rust”, I wonder if that might be where POR comes from.

Batten down the hatches and the plywood June 11, 2010
It’s great to see Rosie starting to come back together!  She won’t be done in time for the Bash in Plymouth, NY, but I am reconciled to that and have plans to camp in a truck tent with a comfy mattress.