flatspin

Made a lot of progress last weekend getting cabinet doors painted and reinstalled, finishing up the carpeting around the coach door and the overhead supports. Lots of bits and pieces left to go, but it is starting to look like the end is in reach. Good thing, too because we're supposed to do a shakedown run in the next week or two...then drive down to So Cal to watch the Tour of California at the end of May. Gettin close. Posted a bunch of new pictures on the blog -- www.sunrader.blogspot.com

YES... after a bunch of web surfing and speaking with my local upholstery guru, the carpet kit was the right choice. The upside is that it really conforms to the floor perfectly and the work required is just a little bit of final trimming. He also recommended just using regular jute padding vs. dynamat based on the cost-weight-value. You'll want to order some matching yardage to cover the exposed back wall of the cab. Not a big deal, but something to plan for. A little bit of contact adhesive works great to hold it in place. DAP (the solvent based stuff) is what we used. In terms of degree of difficulty, I'd say installation of the new carpet is significantly easier than removal of the original. Once the seats and seatabelts are out, the carpet goes in really easily. AND YES... there was grit everywhere, even in the overhead pieces of carpet. At first i had the sinking feeling that my rig had been buried in the desert at some point in its life. If you really wanna feel grossed out, our friend who restores old muscle cars said that it was mostly dead skin. I don't want to believe him!

Thanks Brad... sounds like a fun project! There is one word. Staples. As with all the other carpet in my rig, it was wrapped on and stapled. Removing it is a chore -- I wound up using a flat pry bar and a big flat screwdriver and a pair of flat nosed pliers to pull out the staples. I wound up removing the latch hardware and loosening the door frame in a couple of places where they'd tucked in the original carpet -- nothing too complicated. In addition, my rig had a plywood panel above the door that was covered in shag. Once i pulled off the shag I could get to the screws that held it to the door frame, etc. I'm going to start recovering everything in black carpet tomorrow, so I'll try to get some pictures that show it a little bit better.

We're planning to hit the road for the first time in May with five of us on board. Hopefully since 3/5 of the crew are under 13, we'll be aok. I've had a couple weekends off, but got back to work yesterday and today on putting in more carpet and some other little bits and pieces. http://sunrader.blogspot.com/2010/04/bunch-of-bunk.html

Thanks Maineah. I have to say i really like the idea of replacing the oven with a simple stove -- especially looking at something like you've done where it is so cleanly done. More storage, more counter space, etc. It may happen when I do the countertop swap out. Then again, the stove does run on propane which is a big positive... We'll have to see this season how often we use the gas option.

Could have been an old tube, most certainly. I wound up using silicone instead. It seems to have adhered well so far. The whole thing is pretty Mickey Mouse. If I were going to keep this countertop long term, I think i'd cut a whole new rim of plywood that was one piece, instead of the strips they used. And I may wind up putting a couple of low-profile screws down through the fiberglass into the plywood just to make it as strong as possible. Not cosmetically perfect, but it might keep things from bouncing around too much...

Just got back from the upholstery shop. The seats and door panels are in. It is hard to see in the photos (hey, it is dark out) but Mike also covered the back plastic panels that go against the wall of the cab behind the seatbelts. Originally, the shag was just screwed into those. Now they've been recovered in carpet so all the ugly screw holes are gone and everything looks tidy. http://sunrader.blog.../new-seats.html

Couple of new blog posts on the carpet installation this weekend. Slow progress, but I think it is looking good. I have such a good time working on the restoration that I'd love to take a week or two off just to work on it full time. But between kids baseball and the occasional bike ride, the weekends are full and I'm only getting a few hours a week in on the project. I can't complain though, it's still a blast. http://sunrader.blog...f-patterns.html

New carpet is in...posted a few photos to the blog. More progress this week. http://sunrader.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-carpet.html

A quick google search will find you a good fit kit for a modern radio and the install is easy. I'd say it would be very worthwhile (and inexpensive) to replace the speakers in the cab (especially if they are the original factory units in the underside of the dash). I just did this on an 89 Sunrader, and it really is a piece of cake. I put in a newer Pioneer, replaced both the cab and coach speakers and it sounds fabulous. I also found a spot for a subwoofer behind the driver's seat, but that may be more of an adventure than you're looking for. And I'd absolutely second the vote for a unit with a remote. Even as I'm restoring the rig it is fabulous to have control from the coach. Now i just need to figure out a remote that would work on my iPhone and i'll be all set! A nice head unit can be had for $125 bucks or even less online. Even the recognized brands have some nice inexpensive systems, and in that price range there are many that come with a remote and will connect to your phone or MP3. And if you shop around, there are crazy bargains on speakers. Anything to replace the old paper cones... Have fun!

Yeah, I talked with the interior guy a lot about Dynamat and ended up scratching it from my budget (yeah, i have a budget)... How much improvement have you seen from the intake?

Definitely start a blog. I learn so much about this stuff from the experiences of others, it is absolutely invaluable. They did indeed build these things from the outside in. SO many days I thought about just peeling everything back to the fiberglass. Maybe next time. Between staples, shag carpet and particleboard i may need some time at Betty Ford before this whole thing is done. I can't say enough (so far) about the textured spraypaint. We'll have to see how it fares after a few trips, but I'm really impressed with its adhesion to metal and plastic so far. I did actually consider getting some laminate and resurfacing the cabinets, but ultimately decided on paint because it was so much less of an investment in the particleboard. A few areas of my existing cabinets got soaked by a crack in the water heater, so they've mushed. I think within a few years I'll redo at least the kitchen side of the rig in new plywood cabinetry... By the boombox, are you referring to the subwoofer? Omg, what a difference that makes and i swear that speaker was 10 bucks on Amazon. Even if it only lasts one season I'll be a happy guy.

I looked around a lot for carpet kits online. there are a few major vendors, and you can find a setup in OEM colors for around 200 bucks. It all depends on quality, whether you want heavier backing (sound, insulation, etc.). I wound up opting to go with a local custom shop who is doing the work for me. I haven't got all the estimates in, but it will be a bit more with his markup and since he's doing the installation. I expect seats to be in the 300-350 range each including new foam, better bolstering and completely new fabric. I priced out some already re-done seats at the local Toyota pickup salvage place and they were the same price (asking) and not nearly as nice as what we can do custom. And since I can't do metal fabrication myself, putting in seats from a different vehicle was pricing out at about the same -- and they wouldn't match. I need to be home in the daytime to get photos done, but I will. Here's an iPhone shot of the new carpet.

Well lenses plus your wiring mods might make a heap of difference. That and some elbow grease on the old metal reflectors... I have some aux. backup lights already.... Thanks so much!

Well first off I appreciate all the info. Second, I look forward to an index when you can get to it because this (and the info on your converter conversion) is extremely helpful. Lastly, I can't find the dual 1400 anywhere on the bargman site. Do i need to troll the web and ebay, or do you know a source with some... Thanks so much.

Apologies if this has been covered fully before but I've been unable to find the answer. The tail lights on my Sunrader (the 1400s) are fully functional, but between the lenses and the oxidation on the reflectors, just not as bright (nor as quick to light) as more contemporary units. I've been considering a full replacement to a modern LED light set from Bargman---perhaps doing some fabrication in aluminum to fit the smaller modern set into the larger opening in my rig. I've also seen LED bulb replacements and I expect I could find some new lenses with some online effort. Anyone have a great answer/approach to an upgrade or, alternately, ways to get the most out of the existing assemblies? I've tried polishing the reflectors, for example, but with minimal success. thanks!

Thanks for the feedback on the stove! I'll put it on the scale this weekend. Just dropped the rig off for new carpet and upholstery... photos soon!

Thanks for the kind words about the floor. Aside from a lot of little cuts, the laminate stuff is easy to put in. As for the metal bracing: You bet. The supports attach along the outside ridge with what appear to be carriage bolts right through the fiberglass. I'm sure i should probably loosen them and put some new sealant in there at some point, but i'm not quite ready for it yet. As for the radius, hmmmm...that's a tough one. If anyone has a great idea on how to measure it, I'll give it a shot. You may notice in the background some tearing on the luan surface. Pulling the old carpet out from behind it is a chore and i got a little impatient.

It was pretty easy for me to lift out and move around. There's not much to it. I'd guess around 30lbs. Better yet, I'll try to remember to plop it on the bathroom scale at some point. Do folks use those ovens much? Ours, after 20 years, is immaculate, which tells me that it wasn't used all that much. As I mentioned, I'm trying to decide whether to reinstall it (along with new countertop) or just ditch it and go with a stovetop and reclaim the space underneath.

Thanks! I have to say your project was a huge inspiration to take mine on. That boombox has served me well... And it is the right era for the rig too The hammered metal paint is amazing -- it really sticks well to just about anything and the texture eliminates any noticeable user introduced flaws. Hopefully it holds up just as well. As for storage space, I'm just trying to be prudent. We're a 5-pack with the kids so things get a little snug -- and with the restoration i want to make things as functional as possible. So once I pulled out the oven and had that gaping cavern of inside-outside accessible storage my mind got to thinking. Plus, we do so much in the way of cycling trips that we wind up with big awkward shaped things like pumps and wheels and such. This rig was manufactured in 89 but listed as a 90 on all the literature I have. So I'm not sure about the dates of transition on the front windows. Speaking of windows, I'm probably going to have to reseal the wraparounds again. Somehow they've got a little dribble coming through. Grumble.

Well I sure hope to post more trips that occur entirely in the Sunrader! While I do love the train, six or seven hours to travel 90 miles is more what I would expect from a great bike ride. I'm hoping to get the rig into the upholstery shop by mid-week this week. Carpet in the cab and rebuilding of the seats and all the cushions is on tap.

Hey all. I'm a few weeks into the restoration of our 21' 1990 Sunrader. I've got a blog up on the progress so far. Would love any comments or suggestions! www.sunrader.blogspot.com Thanks!