Fiberglass Large Openings & Gelcoat matching on a Budget, Step-by-Step DIY on your RV Camper Trailer
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- Опубліковано 15 жов 2024
- (EP08) Part of our restoration series. Our new tankless water heater is narrower than the old one and we show how to fiberglass & gel coat the camper shell to accommodate it. Likewise, we also sealed up the exhaust rectangular hole on the roof since our new 12 volt refrigerator does not require exhaust venting, plus we need the space for our future solar panels. We take a step by step approach so that viewers can see the process of how to prepare, fiberglass, sand, layer, Gel coat tinting process for color matching to the existing color of the camper gel coat, and buffing to a brilliant shine for a seamless look in the body work.
We love our 1985 Bigfoot B19 trailer, it has the awesome 80's vibe and we hope to make further videos showing our progress! If you are just a tuning in there are other episodes that show our progress and some good visual tips for those Bigfoot and RV Trailer lovers!
Little background, we bought the camper last year and it was essentially sitting for 16 years under a dirt carport in Oregon and it was being swallowed by thorny vines back into the earth!
== HERE ARE THE PRODUCTS ==
✧ RV Refrigerator: www.recpro.com...
★ USE DISCOUNT CODE: BIGFOOTB19 ★ at RecPro website.
✧ Water heater: amzn.to/3BYNCsI
✧ Wool Pads: amzn.to/43C76yF
✧ Mequiars fiberglass polish 1 gal: amzn.to/43xne4R
✧ Gel Coat with pigments: amzn.to/3IJo4DD
✧ Makita Orbit Sander, -amzn.to/43bWXZa
✧ Sandpaper 80 grit - amzn.to/3O6jYbE
✧ Sandpaper 150 grit - amzn.to/46IWm4j
✧ Sandpaper 220 grit - amzn.to/3PKwuyT
✧ Sandpaper 320 grit- amzn.to/3rnfwMP
✧ Sandpaper 800 grit - amzn.to/44U7Osb
✧ Acetone (1 gallon) - amzn.to/46E7mzO
✧ Heat Gun - amzn.to/3NIl3VQ
✧ Hand Sander - amzn.to/3JTEQAn
✧ Rotary Buffer Polisher- amzn.to/3NN2qQi
Above are affiliate links which means we receive a percentage of the revenue made from purchasing products via those links.
If you have any comments, please share them with the group and we can learn some cool stuff. The more the merrier! Thanks for tuning in!
We will continue to record ourselves in giving the camper some TLC to preserve this cool lightweight fiberglass travel trailer from the 80's.
➡️ Follow us on our journey! @b19sleeper
direct.me/b19s...
That take a lot of patience, good work. Do not know if you have kids but if you can do that you will be a great Father.
That's such a kind thing to say, one day, thank you! 😊
This bad boy is going to be the bomb when you finish it! Great work!!
Its coming along well and getting nicer looking in its vintage appeal. Thanks! ✌
Looking good.
I'm fixing my B17, a couple of things, gorilla glue original, seems to work better than the no nails.
I know you've had the frame off, the trailer is bolted through the top of the frame rails, if any water gets into the frame, it doesn't have any drain holes to let the water out. I drilled 1/8 holes front and back, condensation etc allowed the water to pool, got a good cup or so pouring out.
Thanks! And that's another great option to try. That's interesting yours didn't have a way for the water to get out of the frame. Luckily our chassis frame rails have openings in the front and at the rear bumper for water to weep out. That's good you call it out because that's important!👍
@b19sleeper9 The former fridge vent area would be a great spot to install your solar entry gland. Some heavier wire, 10 or 6ga, mc4 connectors outside, you can run the wires down and behind the cabinet to the breaker box, I installed my solar charge controller there. If you get a Renogy one, you can get the optional Bluetooth, and monitor with your phone, instead of needing to look at the display. You can also install an electric boat motor electric port with flap below your shore power input, and splice in additional ground based solar there. Comes in handy when tree cover blocks the roof panels.
Gonna be a great rig when your done...
Great content thanks for taking the time to create!
Thanks, we like to share our journey in this restoration as much as we can!
GOOD JOB
Thanks!
And all these years I thought I was OCD.....YIKES!!!😅
I pick up a B17 next week and it needs a little love. Your content is phenomenal and is getting me excited to work on mine. Where did you lwarn all this stuff!?!?!?!
That sounds super exciting! Make sure your camper doesn’t have water damage around the windows, doors, and penetrations from the inside so that you don’t have demo anything. Nevertheless, It really is a fun process. I have always been tinkering and taking things apart growing up. Its why a pursed a career in mechanical engineering. Don’t hesitate to reach out for any help! Do you have a top place where you want to take the camper already? Lol
Are you using unwaxed or waxed resin for these patches? And why?
Hey guys, so I’m using waxed resin. It cures after I apply the hardener without spraying it on manually. The unwaxed method you can layer it on quickly and boat repair people probably go this route for time schedule. But I found it’s simpler to use the waxed version in our cases because you just brush it on heavy and let it cure 24 hours before sanding again for another layer(slow and steady for my unskilled gelcoat experience gain). Tip, once you layer the gelcoat heavy don’t disturb it by touching it with the brush again. Ambient temperatures have to be taken seriously or the chemical cure won’t happen. It’s why is used the heat gun to seal the surface so it cures when it was cold outside but not too much heat or it bubbles. Don’t hesitate to reach out for any assistance!
Ypu can put a little wax on the foil to stop it from sticking.