Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: bjrogg on March 21, 2017, 11:00:43 am
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I bought the camper I took to Marshall from my brother. He sold it to me cheap but the roof needs work. I kinda wanted to replace the whole rubber roof and some spots where I know the plywood is poor underneath but my son got some epdm liqiud roof. It's not cheap stuff I think it was something like $425 with the shipping. It has a ten year warranty. Anyone use this stuff? I'd appreciate any feedback
Bjrogg
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Cant speak for that product, BJ. I and a friend have used roll-on truck bed liner with great results. Its cheap and effective.
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Thanks for the reply Pearl. This stuff is supposed to be good stuff. It bonds right to the original roof and I believe is actually the same material but liquid. It is a two part product and once catalysts is mixed in has to be applied in 4 hours
Bjrogg
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Its probably a better product, but depending on how long that trailer goes down the road it may not be worth it. If its a 3-5 year camper a 10-15 year roof might not be worth the investment. Just food for thought.
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It's a pretty old camper, other than the roof it seems to be in good shape and I sure can't buy a new one. Got the stuff here unless someone tells me a horror story I'll probably use it. I just don't like that there's a spot with poor plywood underneath
Bjrogg
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Yah, you might want to cut the bad plywood out and fill it in with fresh stuff, if possible.
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If enough water got in to rot the roof you have to wonder what kind of shape the rafters are in.
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Yup DC I just stripped everything off. I'm going to replace plywood and also some rafters. I could be a idiot but I'll be a busy idiot. Hopefully when I'm done I'll be a idiot with a really nice roof on a 1999 24' Cherokee travel trailer. Might have to make it to a lot of PA meets to make this all worthwhile. ::)
Bjrogg
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You will be glad you are doing the repairs the next time you are camping during a down pour.
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You will be glad you are doing the repairs the next time you are camping during a down pour.
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Yup and this is a good excuse to go on more PA trips
Bjrogg
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Yup DC I just stripped everything off. I'm going to replace plywood and also some rafters. I could be a idiot but I'll be a busy idiot. Hopefully when I'm done I'll be a idiot with a really nice roof on a 1999 24' Cherokee travel trailer. Might have to make it to a lot of PA meets to make this all worthwhile. ::)
Bjrogg
They build those things so dern tight. If the water gets in, it can't get out. Just sits in there and feeds decay. Are you going to use the liquid EPDM right on the new plywood?
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No D.C. My brother decided to use the liquid on his camper it's still in good shape. I got a epdm film rubber roof kit. Supposed to have the rubber sheet. Sealer to glue it down and 4 tubes of caulk.
Bjrogg
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I got everything off the roof and trim all off yesterday. It's
Ready to pull old rubber off now and it obviously needs attention. I'm hoping I can pull off all the OSB, wet insulation, replace board above plate and sister scabs on any truss that need help today. That could be overly optimistic but if I got that far I'd be thrilled. Wasted to much time yesterday preparing surface for the liquid epdm. Most of it had to be done except scrapping off the dicor from the membrane I'm going to throw out anyway. I might try to take a few pictures and kinda do a build along. I'm sure others will have this problem someday. They might not be as big of idiots as me though.lol. I'm committed now or else I'm camperless.
Bjrogg
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I'd like to see pictures of your progress. Sounds like you are fixing it the right way.
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Well Clint, I'm sure you already know. To go forward on a project like this first you gotta go backwards. So here's some ugly pictures of my "progress" all in reverse so far.lol.
Got everything off top of roof and trim holding membrane on off.
Bjrogg
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Exposed one rafter in one of the worst spots, also board over plate. Might be hard to see but I'm pinching them between my fingers. It seems like there might be good wood just a foot or so in from the edge, at least the optimistic part of me thinks so
Bjrogg
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From inside camper no obvious damage just a few very small stains. Hopefully won't have to do anything in there.
Bjrogg
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Once that danged OSB starts getting wet it's a rot sponge. Good luck with your repair job.
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Dig a hole and bury that poor thing, Paul! :)
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I got the membrane off and it doesn't look as bad as I thought it would actually. I think if I can get the OSB off without to much trouble I can remove wet insulation and sister scabs on rafters. Pearl I'm used to working on old junk like this. I think I can have it ready for the membrane in 3 days but I'm very optimistic until I'm pessimistic.lol. Gotta be less work than Clint's RRII. A few more pictures. Not as ugly as I thought they would be.
Bjrogg
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I've got faith in you BJ. That doesn't look as bad as I expected.
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Thanks Clint it looks better than I expected to. So far everything is coming apart good to. I was worried about removing OSB figured it would be glued down but has come off good so far. I just remove it from section I want to replace outside board and scab sisters on rafters for now.
A few more pictures removed rotted wood and wet insulation. Will replace outside board and scab two plywood sisters on poor rafters.
Bjrogg
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Are you going to airbrush some cool graphics on it once you get it all repaired?
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Lol Clint, I was thinking since it's a Cherokee I might put a native on horseback drawing a bow to shoot all the idiots passing me up. The back would be cool to have same thing but rear view. Passenger side a teepee and village. God my brain gets carried away sometimes.lol
Bjrogg
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Put that NA on the back drawing a bow and saying "BACK OFF" for the tailgaters. :OK
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Like your thinking Pat. We gotta get one of those computer wizards to get us a emowhateveryoucallthem of a NA on horseback. That'd be real cool. I gotta get my project fix first I'm full speed reverse right now
Bjrogg
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Following along because I should be doing this with mine. I am sure I will pick up some pointers. Having a roof to work under like you do would help out so much.
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Rps3 I feel your pain. For probably half my life we fixed everything outside in the snow, mud, rain and hot sun. I am so fortunate to have a nice shop to work in. This project is going to have to move along though cause it can't stay in here for long.
I made a cardboard template of the rafters and marked it out on plywood. I went to my neighbors and used his bandsaw to cut them out. He was in the mood for company so I had to visit with him for a bit.
I notched out the sisters for wire and drilled holes for bolts. Also made some spacers for where rafters were rotted away. I glued, bolted and clamped the scabbed sisters to the rafters. 3 down 3 to go in this area. I have a bad spot in the front to. I think what happened was that previous owners changed fabric on awning and attached rafters for it in different spot leaving old hole open. Once a little moisture gets in it's like D.C. Said it never dries then OSB soaks it up membrane becomes lose and starts to flap wearing holes and well you know. I didn't get quite as far as I wanted to but still made pretty good progress and have a working plan. All in all I'm happy
Bjrogg
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Rps3 I can see that as soon as you see it needs this done it should be done. The longer it's not fixed the worst the rafters and ceiling will get. Good Luck and if you have any questions fill free to PM me.
Bjrogg
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Thanks. I appreciate it. I have a hybrid where water got in and rotted the fold out beds. I took them off and did rebuild those, but I also had some roof leakage that I patched and just braced the spongy floor from underneath. My floor is just Styrofoam sandwiched between 2 thin sheets of luan. There really is no easy fix. I just need to decide weather to put the work into it, or just use it as long as I can as is.
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You see the finish line light through the tunnel of construction though bjrogg.A little time/money/and effort will be worth it.
There's no doubt in my mind sooner or later your air brush will be used....lol.It's good you got time to put exactly on there what you would like.
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Thanks Ed. Better than seeing light through the trailer roof.lol. I just pulled off a section of OSB by bad spot in front. Just 2 bad trusses but there pretty bad. I get em fixed though. Sometimes you gotta see the end before you start or you'll never start. Like I said before used to fixing old junk. Don't know if this one will make it but it could be my retirement home some day. Just the right size for the wife and I. Sure be nice to have a fancy airbrush painting on the outside for all those PA meets we'll be attending
Bjrogg
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Here's where I've been little more to do There Yet than here's where I'm going. After I fix trusses I'll take all of OSB off and replace.
Bjrogg
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A friend of mine had an old,old trailer, All rotted out. He'd put pieces of plywood on the soft spot on the floor and glued a blue tarp on the roof. When he got to where he was going to camp he drove stakes in the ground and then tied ropes from the trailer to the stakes. Then he adjusted the ropes until the door didn't bind any more. Poured himself a rum and sat back. he enjoyed camping as much if not more than the guys with the $100,000 motor homes.
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Maybe that'll be my retirement home DC.lol.
Bjrogg
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You have made a lot of progress in a short amount of time BJ. That thing will be good as new in no time.
I saw my first attempt at a camper build on craigslist tonight. It looks like its in rough shape. The guy I traded it to must not have taken good care of it.
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Thanks Clint, I think I'm on schedule to be ready for putting membrane on in two more days. Not going to put it on till it's ready though. Lots of little things you can do to make them last longer
Bjrogg
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Had to get some supplies this morning. Picked up six sheets of 3/8 plywood. I was going to get thieir cheaper sheeting but didn't think it was smooth enough. It might have worked there was just OSB on before but I decided to spend the extra $12 a sheet for some really nice smooth stuff. I also got some liquid nail, thought it would probably work better than tight bond II. Also some screws.
I finished up the 3 rotted trusses in poor back section. Very back one I had to do a little different. I couldn't sister back of truss so I made rotted out part from a 2x6. Then I used liquid nail to scab sister on front of old truss and piece I made to replace rotted part. I temporarily put a plywood pad on back of trailer to keep from making marks on dents when I clamped it. Now to the front.
Bjrogg
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The front two trusses where in really bad shape. I decided to make complete trusses for them. I made them from a 2x6 and the one needed a hole for air conditioning duct. I finished removing all the rotted wood. I cleaned and vacuumed the top and put a fan on it to dry it up better. Hopefully tomorrow I will put last two trusses in fasten them all down and then I'll remove the rest of OSB. I think I might wait to get everything completely dry before I put insulation and new plywood on. The really hard messy work is done now. Now I don't have to go backwards anymore. These pictures are before I removed rotted wood and vacuumed
Bjrogg
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Here's back section rafters all repaired
Bjrogg
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Looking good.
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Your gaining.Does'nt look near the mess it did.I love that liquid nails.It stays.
Now does a person test all the lighting and things electric before buttoning it all up?
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Thanks Clint and Ed, I should have taken picture after vacuumed. It's good to have all the rotted stuff off and camper top and shop cleaned up. Ed I'll check as much as I can but lots of stuff unhooked right now. Everything worked before so I think it should when I'm done. I do think I'm going to eliminate the crank up tv antenna. I don't have a digital converter anyhow. I'll still have external hook up. I wouldn't need any but my son and grandkids would. Not putting it back up top would eliminate two holes in membrane. I suppose it might hurt resale but probably not going to sell it. Never know though. Wife and I personally like this size, really don't want bigger one.
Bjrogg
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I think I have all the rotted wood replaced now. Maybe one small round shaped one that transitions front to top but real close now. I'm gonna need a helper for sheets of plywood and putting membrane on. Hopefully my son will pop in this afternoon.
Here's the front section. Looks much better than when I started and I can walk on all the trusses now.
Bjrogg
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Looks pretty good.To seal the edges good of the membrane I went to an RV dealer to get trim that virtually sealed things forever on some of my builds of this nature.A edging screwed on that left a channel to slide a vinyl covering over the screws that hold the channel on.Same edging a lot of campers and RV's have.You might have your own remedy for this already thought through though.
Seems that's where the initial water damage was on yours around the edges.
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You petty much wrote my next post Ed. I didn't have a helper so I didn't put any sheets of plywood up. That's ok I needed a little break anyway and wife got some bleach or something to spray the wet spots to keep mold from growing. I worked on a bow for a little. My son went to RV dealer and got trim pieces for all the way around top and also sealer. I was thinking the same way you where. I took back sheet of old OSB down and marked out any cut outs on new plywood. I cut everything out and hopefully it's right and ready to go on. I decided to leave next old sheet on so I could butt new sheet against it. Should get me running true or at least the same as from factory.
Bjrogg
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I added $32 worth of insulation and got all the plywood sheeting on. Everything went really good. I took one sheet at a time off. Traced any cut outs onto new sheet and pinned new sheet in place before removing next old one. I can't make my photo bucket work right now.
Bjrogg
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That'll be worth it when the chilly weather comes.
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Having some trouble with photo bucket not sure these will post but I'll try
Bjrogg
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Had to give it a break yesterday and do something else. Knapped a point, steamed in some tips and heat treated a belly. Felt good
Bjrogg
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Your rebuild is looking great! Having worked on several camper reroofing projects, I will be covering each plywood seam with gorilla tape before installing the rubber membrane on the next one I repair. The plywood wants to shrink some after installation and leaves gaps under the rubber with time. Just like taping sheetrock, I think covering the seams will take care of the possibility of sharp edges developing under the rubber. Just an idea I came up with.
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Thanks Jimmie that is my plan. I may even put tile tape over the gorilla tape. It's kinda like electrical tape but wider and should stick good to the gorilla tape. I also plan on rounding off all the sharp edges on plywood and putting tape on them. Also cleanup and service AC unit. It worked great but I'm sure it could use some TLC
Bjrogg
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Beautiful thin point bjrogg.That's a good precaution about those edges on that plywood.Sorta like tape used on the outside over the edges of the window frames before siding is put on.That kind of tape stuff used for that is very strong sticky thicker stuff.
Your roof looks great bjrogg.Bow too.
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Thanks Ed, I'll see if I can post some more pictures. I used angle grinder and floppy disk sander blade to round off corners and then tapped them up with one layer of gorilla tape and a layer of tile tape over that.
Bjrogg
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Next I needed some help. My son and brother helped me get rubber membrane on top of roof. We spread it out gave it a dry fit and cut it to length leaving about 6" extra. Then we rolled it back from the back to just past the middle and I used paint roller to apply the water base advise. Then we had to wait 20 minutes
Bjrogg
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That is looking really good. It will be back on the road in no time.
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Boy yea that roof and seams look nice.She's gonna be buttoned up good.Part of the decay of anything out in the weather is a combo of that darn sun breaking things down too.People with equipment like you know this first hand.Tires,paint,belts,and you name it camper roofs too.That's one reason why I love my out buildings so much to preserve things,and I'm sure you do too.
One reason I bet why this campers' roof went south in the first place besides maybe some mishap done to it but mainly neglect.Your putting right back to like new it looks like.
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Then we put membrane in place on rear half and I applied adhesive to front half. Then we waited another 20 minutes and put membrane in place on front half. Then we tried to get as many ripples out as we could, we didn't get all of them out but pretty good and people I've talked to that did this before said they couldn't get them all out but they came out after a few days. Then we put side trimon to pin it in place. Next we pinned the front and then the back. Cut X's in vent holes and pulled radio coax through membrane. It's getting closer sure was glad to have some help today, all went smoothly.
Bjrogg
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Boy yea that roof and seams look nice.She's gonna be buttoned up good.Part of the decay of anything out in the weather is a combo of that darn sun breaking things down too.People with equipment like you know this first hand.Tires,paint,belts,and you name it camper roofs too.That's one reason why I love my out buildings so much to preserve things,and I'm sure you do too.
One reason I bet why this campers' roof went south in the first place besides maybe some mishap done to it but mainly neglect.Your putting right back to like new it looks like.
You sure got that right Ed. It all wears out and turns into junk fast enough even when you do store it inside. Always the more equipment you got the more equipment you have to fix. This was a pretty big job but really it went better than I expected and I believe it's better roof than new. Now hopefully the rest of the trailer holds together for me. I think it will but you never know. Everything seems to be in good mechanical shape.
Bjrogg
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Good job! You should send some of these pictures to the manufacturer to show them how it should be done ;D ;D
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Thanks DC, Thanks Clint, I was talking with Clint and he was wondering if I screwed into the plywood sisters I scabed on rotted rafters. The answer is no. I cut 2x4's to fit in between scabbed on sisters where rafters where rotted out. I fastened plywood to these and the original rafters. I also didn't screw I used 1 1/2 staples. Original roof was stapled only on seems no staples in center of plywood just perimeter and around vent holes. I did it the same way.
Bjrogg
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I got everything installed on roof again and all the trim on. Electric all hooked up again everything seems to be working. I still have to seal with the self leveling dicor and put the awning back on. Sure glad to have it to this point.
Bjrogg
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Darn good job BJ.....
DBar
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Thanks Dbar, man just thinking its less than two months till Marshall. I really hoping not to test the roof there though.
Bjrogg
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Nice work bj
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Thanks Aaron I'm glad I fixed it this way. I'm hoping it will last me awhile this way. I really don't think it would have lasted long with just liquid roof. Anybody thinking of trying this. It's a pretty big job but it's not that bad. It sure is nice to have it inside but I've seen guys on YouTube do it outside. Probably want a good tarp though
Bjrogg
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You got that thing fixed up very quickly BJ. Great job on it. Thanks for posting the pictures of your progress.
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Mr bj, what a well thought out rescue ya pulled off. And so quickly. Congrats!! Look forward to seein' ya at Marshall, and good luck with the spring planting.
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Spanking brand new with air conditoning to boot.Right uptown!!!Didnt think it got that hot up in Minnesota....lol.
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Very nice! Dicor self leveling caulk is the cat's meow for finishing those screw heads and edges of roof "holes". Another product I have used successfully for many years is "NP-1" caulk. It will stick to just about anything. (Wrote an article about its many uses published in PA some time back)
Living in HAIL country, I have replaced the sewage vent pipe covers with metal instead of plastic. I also build 2" X 6" boxes covered with 3/4" plywood to fit over all of the "skylights/vents" to protect them from the "hard rain". Sure has saved many replacement costs over the years. Just have to remember to remove them from the roof before going down the road! :o
A metal vent cover replaced the plastic "skylight" on my pickup camper which has saved it over the years.
Nice job. It will be well worth it for many years to come.
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Thanks Clint, if I had started this job a month or two ago like I wanted to it probably would have taken me twice as long. I didn't have time to dally around now and really needed to stay at it. Guess it worked out good this way.
Thanks Knoll I'm really looking forward to seeing you all at Marshall can't believe how fast it's coming and these are two really busy months for me. Thanks for the good luck wish for getting the crops in. I just hope I only have to plant them once and they do good. Prices are absolutely terrible now I sure can't afford to do it over.
Thanks Ed, it turned out nice I'm happy with it. Yup wife has to have AC or I'd be sleeping alone. I'm actually in Michigan right in the thumb if you know how Michigan is shaped like a mitten. We live about 1/2 mile from Lake Huron which is a pretty big air conditioner already. We do get some 90 degrees plus days with humidity but I think it's more that we're just not that use to hot weather. Anything above 80 and we're sweeting. It's even a huge difference just driving 4 or 5 miles west away from the lake.
Thanks Jimmi, I can see you know your way around a camper. Thanks for the tips and I'm glad my job has been been given your stamp of approval. Time to finish this puppy up and start seriously working on getting all the equipment put together for spring planting.
Thanks for looking guys and gals. And Happy Camping
Bjrogg
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Sorry for the misconception of where you live.Must of thought M meant Minnesota...lol.Beautiful area I'm sure.Southern Minnesota grows a heck of a lot of sweet corn I know.Land of the Jolly Green Giant sign....lol.Birds' Eye brand maybe?It's good you took before and after pics of your camper to refer to.
I know a few coonhunters up in the thumb too.Never been there though.Used to meet them at the national U.K.C. breed hunts in Illinois.
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That's quite alright Ed, I've got a cousin in Minnesota. He grew up a mile away from me, we use to do everything together. I might PM you about those coon hunters. Pretty good chance I know who they are. If you ever get this way Ed I'd love to show you around.
Bjrogg
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I went up through Saul St. Marie once into Ontario exchangng dogs in Palmerston,Onatario.
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I went up through Saul St. Marie once into Ontario exchangng dogs in Palmerston,Onatario.
That's quite a drive Ed. About 30 years ago we would go up there and then head east in Ontario to a town called Blind River. From there we took a road that turned into gravel and took us to the Log Chateau. It was on a big Lake Matanida. We camped down the hill from there on a smaller lake bear head. It was very primitive, just a artisan well and outhouse. Sometimes the grass would still be 5' tall in the small cleaning we camped at. There were small lakes all around the area and we just use small aluminum 14' boats we carried in by hand. Beautiful country except for the black flies and skeeters. Amazing really. Place was all rock and lakes. Hard to believe any plants could grow there but was a tree growing from every crack. Really miss going there. We were told they were going to build condos there and we couldn't camp there anymore. Really wonder what the place looks looks like now. If anyone knows I'd love to hear.
Bjrogg
Bjrogg