Franken-Popup?

[Camping Coxes]

Okay. I have a serious dilemma. It's the ongoing saga of fixing my camper and my husband having lame-brained ideas.
 
I've researched ways to fix the deck lid of our trailer that is cracking and to fix the hole that happened on the way home in the wind after the '07 Halloween rally. Everytime we come up with a viable solution, I get "yeah, that might work." And there it sits.
 
Now Paul came home the other day and said he wants to CUT THE WHOLE STORAGE BOX OFF!!!!  :yikes:
 
His plan is to cut it off, close it up by resurfacing it with diamond plate, and then attach a storage box of some sort where the old one is.  He says he used to build airplanes (worked on every MD-11 McDonnell Douglas/Boeing made), so he can handle some diamond plate.  I say the brittle plastic won't be able to handle it, plus he'll cut it off, and there it will sit, for years, neglected, until I finally have him tow it off to the junkyard.  I'm thinking that might be his plan.  
 
I ran it by Em -- she was on my side.  I ran it by David -- he said it would be like Todd and Kevin's tricked out pop-up.  ARGH!  
 
So am I in big trouble here, or what?  Or maybe I can use this to my advantage -- when he ruins the pop-up, I'll make him feel so guilty he'll finally let me buy a hybrid.   MUWAHAHAHAHA.  

[oreo57]

Well..!!! you could always remove the box and install aluminum diamond plate on the front then get a pre-made aluminum diamond plate box for trailers (pepboy's have them ) and attach that to the frame rails and it could be very nice. But I'm only thinking out loud, Best of luck !!!:cool:

[Dee4j]

I am sooo staying outta this one.....ok not..Trina I'm with you!!

at least Paul know how to do this stuff.

My extra fridge in the garage broke. I think it's the fan from the freezer to the fridge. Since we can't afford to fix it, Dan was going to tear it apart and "fix" it  :yikes:

I have learned to drop the subject as dan eventually sticks his head back in the computer games and doesn't get ANYTHING done

eventually we will spend more on groceries than what it would cost to fix it but try getting Dan to understand that...It drives me nuts to pay more at the store for stuff because I can't buy the stuff at Costco

[Freedom_5]

Ok Trina, what to do, is the question?

 I am going with Paul on this one. But see if this will help make that decision. Paul needs to have all the material to do the job first. Then he needs the time to the job, no distractions, and take away his truck keys. If he needs something from the store, have David go get what he needs. Have plenty of refreshments available for him and tell him that as soon as the project is done and done right to your satisfaction, that he gets some play time with you and no kids!
  By your post, it seems to me that Paul is really ready to do this and he does realize the consequences if his plan fails. You get a hybrid trailer. It's a win-win deal!

[Recumbentman]

Trina
If Paul is able to handle diamond plate. Why doesn't he just re-skin the whole box with it and rebuild the top using 3/4 thick plywood with the surfaces covered in diamond plate.
or
sell as is and get your HTT that you always wanted. Then you guys could join us for some camp outs

[Camping Coxes]

Bob -- your planning in advance is spot on.  He's good at starting things; not so good at finishing them.  Plus with our schedule (Em is now playing water polo AND softball) we're not home a lot.  But I like your incentive idea.  Hmmmmm.
 
Brad -- it's a matter of having weekends free for camping.  Em plays just about every weekend, and when she's not playing, she's got practice.  It's taken over our life, but Paul just keeps saying "it's just a season.  When the kids are grown, we'll get a 19 foot hard-side and be gone all the time."  Yeah, right.  
 
Dee -- yeah, he talks a lot, and I usually will just let it ride because it's never going to happen.  But when he and his brother get a lame-brained idea, watch out!  
 
I just have this fear of my trailer being one of those you see on the redneck trailer postings, along with the hillbilly houseboat and all that!

[Camping Coxes]

Update -- Paul and his brother took off the front end of our PU today.  Yikes!  They have a plan, and I'm trying to have faith in them.  Can't be any worse than having the damaged wood on there and the leaking.  The wood rot was pretty bad.
 
If I can figure out how, I'll post pics of the process.

[cjpoppin]

Just think about all the bagging rights( Dieter talk) you'll have when he gets the job done or the fun you'll have picking out the new Hybrid......Hang in there can't be worse than some of the projects Jim gets himself into around here.  We still have a project sitting in a box waiting to find ten strong men to finish......Hahaaa long story....good luck and waiting for those pictures....

[Camping Coxes]

Progress is actually happening.  Paul purchases some scrap from a local yard to make a frame to cover the exposed part of the pop-up, and we picked up a diamond plate box this weekend from Craigslist to replace the box.
 
On the ARGH! side, when Paul dismantled the front end, he left the vent door from the water heater on the planter next to the pop-up, which is in our driveway at the top, blocked in by the Suburban.  He then left those scrap pieces of metal on the pop-up frame.  They were just small pieces he bought to bring home and see if they would actually work, not the actual pieces he'll use.  Anyway, either the neighbor's lawn man who was working on our shared section of the planter, or the roaming trash goons, felt since he left these out, he must not need them, and they took them.  I am beyond ticked.  So now I'm trying to find a new door on the salvage trailer sites.  Thinking it might just be easier and cheaper for Paul to fab one out of diamond plate, and would even match better.  
 
Lesson learned:  put your crap away, or the recycling trucks roaming your neighborhood will take it!

[boncrab]

On the ARGH! side, when Paul dismantled the front end, he left the vent door from the water heater on the planter next to the pop-up, which is in our driveway at the top, blocked in by the Suburban.

Trina, If you can't find a used vent door, I should think your local trailer parts store or even one online would have a replacement door. We once had to replace the vent door on our refrig, it was easy to get.
 
Hoping the project gets done and you can go camping.
 
Bonnie

[Camping Coxes]

Time to eat crow, humble myself, and admit I was wrong.
 
My bro-in-law came over this afternoon to help start building the frame for the front of the PU, and when we told him about the door missing, he informed us he had opened up the access door to the trunk part, which is now exposed, and put everything in there as he left the other night.  So I'm happy to report my faith in humanity is restored (as I watch the trucks roam my neighborhood looking for scrap metal as I write this).
 
My PU is partially popped right now, and I so excited!  Haven't seen it popped up in so long!  I get easily excited.

[Freedom_5]

[SIZE="5"]Trina,[/SIZE]

 It sounds like Pauls plan is coming together! Keep your fingers crossed!

 You know what would be even better!!!......

  Paul and BIL' get the job done by let's say two weeks from now and Paul says now  that the popup is fixed we need to go camping! You say, That's a great idea honey; Let's go to this year's Halloween Rally, Oct. 2-4, 2009!

 Im sure you could "motivate" your honey with your charm and ____________!:-()

 It would be like old times and you guys would have so much fun camping with the SCCampers again!

[Camping Coxes]

Bob --
 
That might be a little ambitious!  It's taken this long to figure out what we're going to do, much less get it done in two weeks!  
 
TOT - Trina

[Freedom_5]

Trina,

  That may the case but getting back to camping with all your SCCampers buddies is priceless!

 Remember the motivation part! Think of all the good camping memories you guys have had. Time again to make some new ones!

[Freedom_5]

Ok T.O.T. we need a progress report please! Any pictures yet?