I’ve been wanting to build another one of these. AND now I’ll be needing one.. I’m planing to change my quad for a side by side. And the only way to carry it properly is on a wider .. lower … trailer. If it tilts for loading.. then better yet.
This old trailer was out on the farm.. it’s free.. BUT.. the only part that’s good is the 6 x 8 ft. deck frame and the tilting lock. The old rear end from a car is toast.. And the hitch part is just not the way I would like it to be..
But I love this lock for the tilt. so I carefully cut it off.. The small hitch frame I will use latter for a yard wagon. Hear is a chance to use the axle and new 10″ wheels I have from the Colman Tent Trailer I took apart a year ago. At 64″ hub face to hub face it’s perfect.
So I carefully rebuilt it. And painted it.. The 10 inch wheels will be lower to the ground. And I have 2 new never used wheels and two good spares. I will need new springs, but i have all the other new bits… so the running gear will be new… Put aside and ready to install .
So time for a new frame. I bought new 2-1/2 ” box steel. Then welded an H shape that’s a bit wider than what you see above. The old frame and the front piece of angle were cut out.. ( in red) . That old frame was all bent up..and too tall.. that added extra height, which I did not want. And the front piece was also bent..
After new notches were cut in the two cross pieces the old deck and the new frame fit together nicely. I should mention that the new frame where the springs will mount to is the same as the wheel base on a RZR side by side. That means the weight is held on the strongest part of the deck.
This cross piece is where the trailer tongue will attach with a hinge for tilting the trailer. But I need to add a few more bits… two more cross supports , and some shims so the decking is level. One of the issues with this kind of trailer is … where do you put lights? Well they need to be tucked under the deck. Same with the license plate.
So I’ll be using these pieces I cut out for a different trailer and did not use. But they will work nicely.
And there ya go.. As well you can see the shim pieces tacked on top of the frame to level off for the wood deck. Time to flip the whole thing over..
UpSideDown !
Several things are happening here.. The welding is finished on the underside… and I’m working on the tongue. The hinge , latch and hitch are all done.. Even a rest hoop that doubles as a safety chain mount.
The latching mechanism has been resized and should work great.. spring loaded so when the deck comes down…click! Not sure if I’ll be happy with this.. will see.
Spring is Here !
Not really… Today I went to Kelowna for some supplies.. includes two new 3 leaf springs. Now I will know how much clearance the 10 inch wheels will have under the deck..
Well look at that.. I’m needing to ad 2 1/2 inch tube to the frame to give the tire 3 inches of clearance under the deck… So we’ll have to see what the tilt angle ends up being.. Ends up to be 28 degrees.
I’ll need this left over piece cut in half… more welding.. Good thing I have the extra pieces.
I tacked them in place and attached the springs.. put the axle on top.. and the wheel.. and whadya know three inches of clearance.
Took it all apart and finished up the welds with the big welder.. got to be strong. Ready for the paint ! I randomly choose a brown.. witch turned out more like tan..
It’s like the base coat for a camo paint job.. good enough. And it took two days to dry ! The next step for me is to do the wiring while it’s easy.
All the wires are inside the main frame tubes as much as possible. The side marker lights are LED’s I’ve recessed them a bit to better protect them.
The taillights are not LED.. but they are bright.. and they too are recessed in a rubber grommet. In the past I and others have broken too many trailer lights.. So now I’m careful how and where I mount them.
I am now ready to flip the trailer over on to it’s wheels… and finish the top side.. Time for a new page.. cause there’s much more work to do…
And I’m getting out lots ATV ing… It’s now a tradition to go camping 56 kms up the Granby Rd.. Hunting season ! I don’t hunt but the boys aren’t all that serious about it either. It’s a chance for camp fires … bad food.. and exploring on our ATV’s My camping rig worked out good..
I had my own cozy place… Unfortunately it rained more that we would have liked.. which dampened the fire and I got cold & wet every time I went for a ride. Then in the second week I got the chance to try a Side by side ATV.. A Polaris RZR 800.
And yes it has a roof and a windscreen ! Wish I had that the week before.. In trade for using this I fixed the bush guard seen above..
Here you can see that it’s bent down and it’s loose too.. I removed it for the rides I went on.. put on about 120 kms of mixed riding.. and I even took a friend along one of the rides.. I really like the protection and the safe feeling …. not to mention the dry / not cold feeling. It goes everywhere the quads went.. It’s only 4 inches wider.
You can see a bit of snow.. yup it’s cold. But I was warm.. and it’s comfy too.. In the spring my friend will be selling this RZR.. and I may just want it.. After all it’s got a new and improved bush guard !
Also lot’s of storage in the rear tray too..
I like it.. So we’ll see next spring if I make a deal… and ATVing will never be the same..
Jan 2019 : NOT Spring.
I did a lot of research on RZR’s since that ride. Looking at used ones.. The prices, the features and the condition. One of them got my attention since early December.. And it was at the dealer where I bought my 400 quad. So naturally they are willing to trade. This one is a 2014 Polaris RZR 570.. with all the goodies I want.. So without further ado… I’ll make another post… Oh and The 800 got sold to someone..
The trailer frame is almost finished.. The decking is on !
And today I was working on the cradle for the camper. The decking is 2×8 treated wood bolted to the frame with galvanized bolts. Very strong and should out last me.
Here’s the cradle for the camper to sit on.. Also 2×8 treated wood.
This morning I got the brakes adjusted and wired up.. and the wheels back on.. Then Dave & I rolled the trailer under the camper.. PERFECT FIT..
Wow.. I’m getting better with the tape measure. The balance is spot on too.. About 300 ibs tongue weight. So it should tow really nice… And look at the room up front for a quad.
Still a bit more work to do.. but the new Scooby will be ready for Hunting this October.
Update : Sept 11. 2018
I have built the folding stairs and installed a hand rail too.
They turned out very nice.. Fold up nice too….
Perfect ! But I didn’t like the way the bottom step flexed… sooo I installed threaded feet to the under side and .. no more flex.. nice and solid.
They are very adjustable .. I will cut a couple of wood squares to place under the feet..
It’s a simple thing .. but it’s sturdy.. and can be removed if the camper was taken off the trailer. Amazing how it gives you comfort when entering and exiting the camper.
The roof is all sealed up and vent covers are installed. Ready for what ever weather comes our way.
October 2018:
I will be taking the Frontier (scooby) up the valley on the annual hunting trip.. So I’ve outfitted it all up .. tested out the front deck..
A full size ATV fits perfectly. And I remembered I’ve never looked at the canopy…
Well … it’s in perfect condition.. I expect that since it’s stored in the zippered bag. This will be handy for any bad weather..
I know I’ve said this before.. at some point.. but this one fell into my lap.. not literally that would hurt.. but I was looking but not very hard for another Boler style trailer to restore. I so enjoyed the 73 Boler project that I said (loudly) that I would love to do another.. Well the little trailer god was listening. The ad for this one popped up on my phone while I was in Vancouver.. Someone had gotten in over their head trying to fix the leaks in their Acorn trailer.. and just wanted it gone BUT to someone who would love it and fix it …and that understood these little trailers. Hey THAT’S ME. and he agreed.. So I had to plan a long drive .. to get it .. the next week. 7 hrs to Vancouver then a ferry ride.. then another hour up the coast . But most fortunately the Acorn was just down the road from my Bother’s place.. So he went and had a look for me. Big job to fix this one he said.. Don’t care I said. So here it is home with me .. intact.. and with BC registration too !
Yes I did remember to take a photo just after loading it on the trailer. The fella behind the trailer is / was the owner. It’s making the trip home on a trailer because …. the body is barely attached to the frame.. and there is no lights .. AND it’s a long trip. Funny the other project Boler had to be ferried home too.. but it was the frame that was toast.. this frame looks good.
Interior ! not so much. This is where the work will happen.. So… the story as I understand it .. This trailer came from Arizona.. dry climate. When brought back to the BC coast .. wet climate. All the rivets leaked and damaged the Thinsulate wall covering.. and the plywood floor. A good argument for using bolts not rivets to attach the cabinets to the walls. Too bad about the wall finish.. now I will have to glue carpet. And build a new floor.
The first thing I did was to pull all the parts out from inside .. so I could see what I had. It’s all there ! and in good condition.. And as a bonus the cupboard doors are oak ! Perfect ! So i put things back.. sorta in the places where they go.
Because the body is loose from the floor.. there is nothing holding the door up. so it’s sagging .. and it cracked the fiberglass over the door..
The boler had a similar crack over the rear window because the frame had sagged. So aside from that the body is great.
I’ve tarped the trailer now to keep the rain out.. and this will be a great project to start in the fall.
IT’S TIME !
Now it’s November.. And I need to get started on the Acorn. I’ve been thinking and planning how to fix the floor. How do I support the trailer and make everything true and level. IT’s ROUND ! Then it came to me.. The one thing that’s level is the joint between the top and bottom… and the aluminum trim the covers it. So I build a cradle that supports the whole trailer on that rim. As a bonus we can lift the body off of the frame,
Here you can see we are doing just that.. and have the frame half way out the front. This was also made easy by the fact that there is NO floor.. no wheel wells.. The body was attached to the left front corner by a few feet of floor.. That was all.. Sooo looks like I’m building a whole new floor. I sorta knew that from the start.
Meet the frame ! A lot like the 73’s frame.. but without the repairs. And there’s a bump out up front for a potty.. Interesting.. There is still a very slight sag in the left rear frame tube. We are going to see if we can tweak it with chains and a porta power ram. I’m going to clean the frame good and check for rust holes and cracks.. but it looks ok. So maybe just a few extra pieces of steel and new axles.
It’s time to divide the post up into the different stages of work. This trailer will have 6 more pages..
Well it’s late March.. and I’ve done the house reno’s . The snow is gone.. So it’s time to get the Boler done..
I emptied the trailer out …everything back in the shop. These are the yucky cushions.. Off the landfill. But I have to keep the plywood base for the upper bunk.
In good condition too ! New upholstery is being made as I write here.. The table … apparently it will remain red for now. So I don’t need to work on that..
Update: It’s taken awhile to rework the cabinets.. So the stove fits.. The fridge fits.. And I managed to get a drawer to fit in there too. New wood glued inside for strength as well. They are all filled and primed now..
The interior ( that’s visible) is painted grey.. I had to make two new hatch covers.. and two more door fronts too..
Here’s the door fronts.. We decided to go with the harvest gold to match the sink and stove. I like it. And I got the color SOOOO close.
The stove top is two tone.. so we went to the DARK SIDE.. With the wood floor and the blue cushions.. this trailer will look sweet !
Here is the primed kitchen with it’s new features. Extra shelf on the left.. and a drawer under the stove. Also extra wood added to make it more ridgit. I’m painting the high gloss off white tonight..
May 1 st week… Last push.
Before the Boler goes home to Edomonton. The Cabinets are all ready .. And I’ve installed them back in the trailer.. The water tank and lines and the hand pump is in and working good.
I’ve got the wiring all done too.. The Coleman Power panel is working good.. It couldn’t go where I wanted.. so it’s below where you sit.
But that’s ok.. I could not get the speakers working good for the stereo.. so I’m leaving that for Dallas to fix..
Still to do this week is the fridge, Bunk supports, a drawer for under the stove.. Today we install the hitch on the Rav4 and take the boler for a run..
YES ! took it for a highway run and it’s perfect.. tows great.. Lot’s to do this week.. but I got it all done by Saturday morning..
Here’s the finished closet..
And the finished Kitchen.. And here’s a short video..
I’ve had a few reports back from the first road trip .. The spare tire mount bent down and clearly the old metal I used on the bumper was not strong enough for all the bouncing..
This will need to be fixed in the summer when the Boler comes back for camp..
Here’s the latest photo of the boler with the new cushions…
But this brings to a close the Boler project.. It gone to it’s new home now.. But did come for a visit to our group camp this year.
Here it is after a long trip to the Yukon and then back here.. They love it..
But Wait ! there’s more !
I have found another Boler (type) trailer for sale cheap.. A US made version of the Boler called an Acorn / Scamp. So I’m starting a new post ( of coarse) 1979 Acorn Trailer
This will include the new vinyl flooring and some of the wiring:
But mostly I’m doing the fun part.. Lights !
Like these LED stop / turn / tail lights. These are a boler must have. I’ve been fighting with the door.. it used to fit better.. turns out my new door gasket is to thick.. so I took a knife to it and “pared” things down.. a lot ! fits now and closes the way it should. Will need some foam gasket to fix a few gaps.
The Devil is in the Details !
And I got this right. New handle …new keys… and a lucky key chain. I almost forgot the plate holder for the back.. So I did the restore on it and ….
Looks great! This plate holder came off the Colman tent trailer that is donating many things to the boler. I should turn my attention to the inside flooring.. There’s work to do in there.
I’ve filled the holes in the floor and used the latex caulking on the seams of the interior cushy wall cover.. And with help I got the front and rear windows in.
The lock strip was the hardest part of this.. But got-R- done . Just a few more things before installing the flooring.
Like this fresh water fill. And the power cord hatch.. and the sink drain connection.
Of which I think I better label so no one hooks water up to it.. That would be messy. This is for hooking a hose up.. and draining into a bucket.. or your friends tent.. or use your own ideas..
Had a bit of a fight with the glue that was recommended by the flooring store.. Ended up mostly using contact cement. ( they said do not use contact cement) but it works great.. so not sure why I wouldn’t use that .. given the fact that there is all these weird surfaces. However ! It looks great.. and should be easy to clean.
Work on the boler will have to take a bit of a break for a few months.. There is a strong possibility that we will be moving.. so I have to clean out the shop for viewing. And that was just the kick I needed to get the trailer to lock up.. and back on the frame..
Got a lot more done today.. and this is what it looks like now.. still need the frame under it.. but that’s happening tomorrow.
Body Meets Frame !
And it’s a perfect fit !
We put foam canopy tape on the frame… everywhere it touches. Bolted down with galvanized bolts.. So it could be lifted off again. And those are not through the frame.. beside the frame.
And this is all you see.. inside the cabinets. Way better..
And the rear bumper is a perfect fit ..with the spare tire close .. but not touching the back of the trailer. Now I’m wiring the running lights so it can be towed around.. Oh and I have naked 12 ” rims on to keep the trailer low.. so it fits through my 7 ft high door. It will end up being 4 ” higher with the proper wheels.
Lights ! Camera ! just a bit of Action !
Pretty lights.. Yup got this part done… and then it was out the door..
With the 12″ rims only ..the trailer fit nicely out the door.. and then the real wheels went on.. and I towed it over to the other driveway..
But not before a photo op.. I like the ride height.. So it’s tarped to keep the weather off, and all the bits and pieces are inside..
The next page will happen when I get back to doing the interior..
I have chosen to go with paint that I’m very familiar with. Paint that works good on fiberglass.. I can roll it or brush it and it’s very glossy.
Yes it’s boat paint! How fitting for the boler. A few years back I chose this paint for the Bazooo 6×6 . Because the body was fiberglass. This time I have the sand-able primer too..
And here’s the primer on. Took most of the quart.. so now I’ll have a good idea how much two finish coats will take. This primer is great at covering everything. I found a few holes I missed ..so I’ll fill those and touch up the primer. Needs 24 hours drying time and then a fine sanding.
The front of the trailer looks like new ! Tomorrow I’m going to apply the first coat on the top half.. Off white.
Very little difference in the off white from the pure white. And that’s good.. cause I want it to still look white. And shiny too ! Tonight I’ll put the first coat of beige on the bottom.
But there was a debate for the bottom color.. I was favoring blue… but the person who will use the boler liked the beige. She wins and now I like it too.
Ya. it’s kinda retro looking.. And classy too.
Soon I will have the second coat on the bottom.. then I’ll bring the door inside and paint it.
And while the paint cures…. I’m thinking of the lighting… Ya the electrical will be covered in a new posting ..further along. But I have finally collected all the lights.
Ta Da.. All are LED’s ! and things of beauty.. Those 7 ” tail lights are hard to come by. The interior lights all have the switches on them.. We all know that LED’s in your home save money… in a RV they save your battery. Back to the paint thing….
I’ve actually got the painting on the body done before new years. And I’m super pleased with how it turned out. I went back to using a foam roller for the last coat of Beige bottom paint.. And wow nice and smooth. I’ll buy more foam rollers for the cabinets. The door is primed and ready for the off white.
And here is the second coat of finish on the inside of the door. Looks like it just came from the factory. Once this is done both sides then I plan to install the roof vent and the door.. and wheel the body outside ..still on the dolly. This will make room in the shop for the interior parts to be repaired and painted.
Here’s the vent all cleaned up and ready to install. PROPERLY with butyl tape.. not silicone. And no rivets.. I’ll be using Stainless Steel screws.
Change of plans.. I now have Dave here to help with attaching things. Need a person on the inside and on the outside. So I would like to finish to the point where the body is sealed ( won’t leak ) and put it back on the frame too.. Because when it goes out it’s gonna get cold.. So the boler will be complete except for the interior cabinets. And for this next step I will start a new page..
Here’s the post for that stuff.. My mind just goes crazy with what I can do.. And aside from replacing the missing cabinets, There is way more I’m thinking about.. Everything from adding lights and vents.. to redecorating the kitchen ! I could turn this camper into a very nice place to spend time..
I was at the building supply store getting a tarp.. While there I had a look at the formica laminate samples. So let’s start with some décor ideas shall we. Brought a bunch home and looked at them with a door, a cushion and piece of paneling. And these samples jumped out..
And this photo is not a good one for the true colors. So I went out to the camper to look again..
I put the laminate sample on the table .. and .. wow.. yes that works.. WAY classier than the white. And the same goes for the kitchen counter top.. And that little swatch of yellow.. It’s a close match for the Harvest gold sink and stove that will go in the boler. When I see it next to the oak cabinets and the new counter top I like it a lot.. That’s a solution to the partially painted walls in the kitchen..
Yes ! it is. I’m thinking this color is perfect for all the walls and the cupboard fronts in the kitchen.. only.. maybe. Plans change. But I got a liter of the paint to try on one of the boler cabinet doors..
This larger sample gives a better idea of the look. It’s a very nice “earthy” warm yellow. The black & stainless steel appliances will look good. I need to find some lino for the floor that is light color and ties it all in.
Now for some changes… Functional changes. The Hood over the stove.. looks like this..
Someone wrapped the front in polished aluminum.. ok.. I get it .. but moving the switches over to the monitor panel..? And using the water pump switch as one of them.. naw. not for me. And! do you notice something missing from the monitor panel ? YA all the labels telling you what is what.. Soooo I’m changing the whole shaboo.. for the hood from Dave’s old wrecked Award trailer.. It’s got the monitor panel and clearly marked switches right up front..
Nice eh ! There is however too many lights and switches.. I’m not sure yet if the camper has two holding tanks or one.. and the fresh water tank I’m getting from Dave has no level sensors on it.. That could be fixed if I can find a source for them. And the battery level ? With only three lights ! Well you all should know by now that I prefer the digital one. I’ll do a bit of modifying to suit my needs . And paint it black too.. All appliances will be black. I’m thinking of swapping out the range for the one from Dave’s Award parts trailer.. It’s a newer stove with a piezo lighter and it’s a nice black finish too. With a stainless cover for the burners. Nice! I had a look in the dump valve box .. found a few things I thought were missing.. and could plainly see that this camper has a grey tank and a black tank.. So the monitor panel makes sense now. I will just need to figure out which wires read which level. The Bigfoot was moved to storage at a friends place for the summer.. His place flooded this year .. and the river was about 6 inches up the belly of the camper… So some water got in the door.. It seems ok though.. other than some silt nothing bad happened.
Sept 2018:
It was time to bring the Bigfoot home for the winter.. The nice stands were available now that the Frontier was on the trailer.
I gave it a bath …and it’s looking great. This is a good place for it to spend the winter.. and in the spring this is a good place to work on it too.
Yup.. I couldn’t resist.. it’s just the way I am.. But I’m a bit fussy as to what I take home. These are some of the most desirable truck camper out there.. And still being made.. Here in the Okanagan. Two piece fiberglass construction. They are not prone to leaks.. or rot like the wood frame ones. Plus they are better in the cold weather. Because if this they hold their value. So when I was offered one (that needs some love) at a low price that allows for money to be spent ..I jumped on it..
The truck it was sitting on got sold early this fall.. so there it sat on the jacks. This is the same place the boler came from.. But doesn’t need the same amount of work.. It’s just the interior that needs help.. Exterior just needs a bath.
Yes I now have 2 Campers !
The Frontier camper is almost ready to go use.. very little work needed. This however is a bit more of a project.. And it’s not just a good cleaning. So next spring we will use the Frontier and enjoy it. When I get this camper all done we may want to use it instead and sell the Frontier. We’ll see.
For now I brought it home and we will keep it on the trailer for the winter. This is a big camper.. 11 1/2 ft ! and heavy. Still no problem for my truck. Bigger means it’s roomier inside.. a full bath with shower.. large dinette. and a good size kitchen. The bed is a full queen too. There’s an awning on the side.. Frontier has one too.. Basically this camper has all the stuff you would expect to have in any RV. All nestled on the back of my truck. Turns the truck into a small motor home.
The good …the bad.. and the work.
I made this comparison photo.. to show how messed up the interior is
Yup.. it looks bad for me .. but I’m not afraid of a bit of wood work. The table and the cushions are there.. and in very good condition.. I’m actually able to tweak things a bit.. But I like the way it’s laid out and will copy it closely. Same with the kitchen cupboards..
There’s a bit missing here too.. Again I do see this as an opportunity to change the counter top.. and add a cupboard to the bottom. Because some of the paneling is missing.. I’m tempted to do a bit of painting .. Also the floor has been added to for more stiffness.. so new flooring is in order too. I could make this camper real classy.. Here’s a photo from the web of what the kitchen looked like from the factory with just a few personal touches.
They did a nice back splash ! Let’s see how I do.. So many possibilities.. It’s going to be nice to do this kind of work.. no wheels , no motors..
And what about the LOU ?
It’s called a wet bath. And needs a good cleaning.. but not much else. so long as everything works. However look at the sink.. it’s hiding under a piece of foam? Not for long. I’m sure there are some repairs needed here and there.. I’m making a list of parts needed. It’s just things like drawer slides.. better ones. New LED lights, I’m going to replace both faucets as well..
Venting.. It’s a problem with the older Bigfoot’s. Of coarse the windows open.. but you can’t leave them open cause rain can get in. The only roof vents are the bathroom one and the escape one over the bed. Again you can’t leave them open. The bath one is inside that tiny room anyway. So I will need to install a roof vent in the middle that will have a vent cover. I’m thinking of building a winter cover for use on the escape hatch.. so it too could be left open without worry.
Leaks ! I found two leaks.. One is where the awning is bolted to the side of the camper.. A little bit of water from the snow melting on the roof is running down the side and finding it’s way inside. The other was dampness on the top of the propane cabinet.. I could see that the caulking outside on the top of the door was pulled away from the wall.. I fixed that. Now let’s not be too worried about these leaks.. because there is no framing in the walls.. just foam and the fiberglass shell.. but it does effect the wall finish.. So.. I’m going to have to tarp the camper for the winter.. And we are going to put an electric heater inside to help dry things out..
I have chosen a power vent to install on the Bigfoot. and included it in a rather large RV parts order..
This is a new product and it has great reviews. It has it’s own rain cover ! so you don’t need to buy a separate cover. A 4 speed fan that only vents.. but that’s ok.. it’s all that is needed.. and the price is great too. I also was thinking of how to keep the water off the windows.. These campers don’t have gutters.. the water or melting snow .. just runs off where ever.. cause the roof is curved. They make drip guards for doors.. and you can buy them in any length. So why not install them over the windows ? Yes!
And I thought perhaps it’s time to make a video….
Today I also when to my friend Dave’s RV graveyard.. to see what could be used for the Bigfoot.. Lots of great stuff.. Some of the cupboard doors, paneling.. and the hood vent ..
I’m now going to tarp the Bigfoot for the winter.. and not venture out there much.. I said that about the Frontier camper too… but could not help myself.. I was in there lots thinking about what I’m going to do. So I’m sure the same will apply to the Bigfoot.. Yup I’m very sure. And on that note it’s time to start a new page / post for all my ideas.. fixing , changing, and even the décor..
These are (interesting to me) rare things that I have found :
Some I have fixed up and passed on .. and a few I still have stored. Now someone may argue that some of these things are not really that rare . But if it’s uncommon for the average Joe to own them.. So here I is list them. I’m going to start with the tractors / mowers .. these were my hobby for a long time. Many of these were documented in my old blog. But now I’ve lost that because I wasn’t using it enough when I got my own domain with a new blog.. The one you are reading now.
This is a GE electric lawn tractor.. I went almost to Edmonton to get this from a farmer.. I never got it running and flipped it for more dollars.. to a collector of these rare tractors.. yes they are hard to find.
Here’s it’s big brother ( bigger motor) no mower deck, that was lost.. I found this one locally.. And I still have it .. Very rare.
This is a Toro Groundsmaster.. A very serious mower.. with a large deck.. I had two ! and I still have the parts one waiting for me under a tarp.. needs a lot of work.. maybe not very rare but still hard to find..
Oh yes.. a very rare Struck mini dozer.. So cool.. got it running great. works just like a big one.. but the size of a lawn mower. 8 hp. I found this way up Kootenay Lake.. sold it.. I have a video
Rv’s that are unique.. and a bit on the rare side..
My 1977 classic GMC motorhome. Hard to find a good one in Canada.. I used it two seasons and sold it for a profit.. they gain in value if you keep them nice. I went back to pulling a trailer.
Our 94 Award 27 ft trailer.. Loved this trailer.. used it for many years.. but it started to have structure problems.. so we sold it cheap.
1986 Winnebago LeSharo motor home. Not very common.. cause they always broke down.. French motor ! I have replaced the motor in this one .. But it runs like crap. Sold it cheap as is… It’s story HERE
Let’s included the Boler Trailers !
# 1.. 1974 Boler.. Fully restored by me in the winter of 2017-18. Now lives in Edmonton. See the Blog post HERE
#2 1979 Acorn/Scamp, currently in the shop and having a new floor installed. I’ll update the photo when it’s done.. /you can see the blog post HERE
ATV’s.. These are fun projects..
Early 1970’s 6×6 BAZOOO ! yes that’s correct spelling. I fully restored this one winter.. and It ran good.. But I just couldn’t see myself keeping it. I sold it to a collector of rare 6×6’s .. it now lives in a museum in Indiana. full story HERE
A rare 1974 Terra Jet. 4×4 amphibious ATV.. yup it floats ! It’s unfinished and stored for now.. I need to install a motor. and do the body work.. Full story HERE
Then there was a boat..
Very rare indeed.. 1959 Perfomer Seven Seas .. I got about half way done and decided I would never get to finishing it .. so I sold it to a fella who will.. I’m keeping in touch with hi, and hope to see how he does.. Full story HERE
Here it is.. in the shop. The dolly I made worked great. Rolled right in.. Now we’ll let it thaw out a day or so.. It snowed and it’s cold out.
Naked Boler !
All the windows and lights.. and everything has been stripped off the body and now I’m sanding and repairing. I tried using paint stripper on the pool paint.. Nope not working.. the sander is the only way that crap is coming off. This is going to take a week or so.. I hooked the shop vac up to the sander ..so I’ll have less dust.
About half done now.. and found some more ouchies.. But there were fixed properly.
God only knows how you can do this to a nice little trailer.. but there you have it. There’s repaired damage to the left front lower corner too. Most likely a jack knife situation..
Here you can see the difference the sanding is making. I have finished sanding the top half of the body. I’m in the process of filling the unwanted holes and the repairs. Here’s a new video…
The crack repair turned out good.
I put a coat of primer on to make sure . It should never crack again. Because I will have the supports for the upper cabinet. Now to start the bottom half.. less fun cause it’s down low..
I started at the back.. and by fixing the bottom edge. It was jagged and uneven.. so I trimmed a bit off.. Looks good now.. This process needs to be done all around the bottom.. Plus! the paint was harder to remove on the bottom half. I’m using a big sander with 80 grit to get the pool paint off.. then finishing up with the small sander.. which I need to fix now.. I need a part so I’ll clean up and work on the door..
Here’s all the bits and pieces.. nothing to fix here. The door worked ok.. even locked. So just the hinge pins and the inside and outside handles are replaced. And as for the door !
There you go.. it’s in great condition.
Nov 19 2017:
I had to go to Kelowna ..so I paid a visit to the fastener store and picked up the stainless steel bolts and screws I would need. I also picked up a metal polishing kit.. and couldn’t wait to try it out.
Wow.. with a bit of work I now have very shiny hinges. I did them all.. cause I can ! Here’s the latest video I made ..
Dec 10 th 2017:
Progress has been a bit slow as of late.. lots of distractions. Also sanding the hard pool paint off is an exercise in patience. I’m getting there but it’s going slow.. and some days I just don’t want to do it at all.. Today I’ll make a good effort. Determined to get the last of it off the bottom of the boler. Then there are a few holes to fill.. a final sanding and I can start with the painting.
This is some of the work I’m doing on the front of the trailer. I had to reconstruct the opening for the frame. It was in the wrong place.. and I want the front to look proper.. no holes all over. There was also chunks missing out of the bottom.. So I’ve got that all rebuilt with layers of fiberglass.. and a bit of filler. Now the bottom edge of the trailer is uniform and smooth.
Here’s the same area with primer on it. I’m cleaning up the shop and the trailer to get ready for the painting.. I’ll start another post for the painting…
I was atending an estate sale at a rural property and just looking at stuff.. The camper in the shed caught my eye, and the wheels in my head were turning. I had thought about a camper when I was hunting with my friend Dave and his Brother this fall. Truck campers are better on the rough roads.. These are places I would never take our fifth wheel. And these are the roads that take you to some very beautiful camping spots. Free ones ! So the thought of having one just for those weekend getaways, camping / atving trips would be great.
Meanwhile back at the farm…..
Hiding in the shed.. this camper has been kept dry and safe for many years. So I had a closer look.. And it was in great condition for it’s age. So I made a low offer and they said sure.. need it gone the property was sold and everything needed to go.. So now I own a camper ! While I was there a friend from the ATV club came and said ” that’s good deal” and I’ll help you get it out of there and home.. Little did he know how long that was going to take. Well it took five hours to load it up..
Because of the low roof.. and me not really wanting to take the canopy off the truck.. I went and got the “landscape” trailer. The deck was low so not much jacking / lifting needed. .. However we had to extend one jack out because the trailer is wider than a truck. Soooo like I said ..long time but I got it home before dark.
Frontier Camper
Look a new Scooby !
Dave’s old hunting rig was a camper on an old trailer frame so it could be towed.. They called it “Scooby” . A lot of dust blew off on the way home from the years in the shed, but not enough. Other than a good bath.. there is only a few things to fix. And if I’m gonna have a camper this one ticks a lot of boxes for me. A bathroom YES, hot water tank, upper bed with headroom, no leaks, bonus canopy on the side… and it appears to have been looked after not trashed like some campers I’ve seen… Plus it was stored properly so I can assume that everything works. 9 1/2 ft is the perfect size too. I would just need a short hitch extension to tow my quad on the utility trailer.
None of the lights are broken.. one jack leaks, but works.. My friend that helped me gave me two spares. The two 20 lb propane tanks are old .. and there’s a crack in the right front window .. All easy fixes. They could not find the keys.. so I’ll have to change the dead bolt.. The staining you can see on the right rear corner is from the leaky jack. Degreaser will take care of that. The decals and stripes are like new ! It says the weight is 909 kgs. That’s 2000 lbs, no problem for my truck.
Nov 5 th 2017: Interior Tour…
Well what does it look like in a early eighties camper.. BROWN ! Lots of it.. and wood too.
If your into wood and brown carpet.. then this is your place. I kinda like the retro feel .. just not the carpet.. I think it’s a bad idea in any RV.. But there is lino under the carpet.. and yes it’s brown too. Still better than carpet.
At least the counters and curtains are white. That fridge is in perfect condition.
Nice stove with an oven.. They don’t make a four burner anymore. please excuse the dead flies. I’m not cleaning it till spring.
And gadgets ! Who doesn’t like gadgets ? I’ll be moving the thermostat over a bit to make room for more gadgets. And that wallpaper is very familiar.. Fugly but familiar. I can live with it.
That’s a bunk above the dinette.. that’s also a good cupboard when the bunk is closed .. cool idea. There is lots of storage in the camper..
And how about a nice sink.. with a hand pump ? What for.. there’s power and a pump.. AND I found a battery! I was thinking this old of camper would use a second truck battery. Nope. Has it’s own. Bonus! And just like any good RV when you plug in to 110 v it charges the battery. But not the one I found.. very old and very dead.
Lots of room up top.. and a very good ” proper” mattress. Nice size opening windows for that important breeze in the hot months.
And no tour would be complete without a peek at the LOU. A bit tight but all campers are. No shower in this one.. Never use it anyway. But having a toilet in the middle of the night is a blessing.
Beddy Bye Time…
Today was cold but dry. and I got the chance to tarp the camper for the winter. But before I did that I could not resist running power to the camper and see if it has life. You bet it does ! only two burnt out lights.. I could hear the inverter working it’s magic. And I tested the pump.. But I did not try the fridge because I wasn’t sure how to turn it on ? Oh well in the spring I’ll go through all the stuff.. For now I’m making up some blocking for it’s winter resting place… so Dave can have his trailer back.. No Scooby.
Plans for the spring:
Can’t help myself.. gotta think about my mods and repairs. The roof needs to be resealed.. that’s a given. This camper shows no sign of leaks and I’m keeping it that way. Since the one piece aluminum roof has been ( for the most part) kept out of the weather. I’ll presume it’s still got all of it’s integrity. Looks like the vent lids were replaced at some point. But the two plumbing vent caps are crispy critters. And the big escape hatch lid is showing signs of it’s age too. So a parts order will include those. Plus as always I will install vent covers on the three vents. The fridge vent is metal and still good. The only other concern is the two front windows. I know one has a crack so it needs a fix.. I’m thinking I’ll remove both and have new tinted glass installed, then reseal them. That should keep mother nature at bay. Now for the “could live without.. but I want it anyway” stuff..
This is the panel I made for our fifth wheel. I won’t bother with the stereo.. but the other gadgets are very handy. A 12v power outlet, a dual USB charging port, a digital volt meter and a switch to turn them off. The kind of camping that I’ll be doing is far from power, so knowing the battery level is important. Charging my phone is too.. even though I’ll be far from service.. It’s my camera. Changing the lights to LED will save power too. so that will be done.
Nov 6 th 2017: Today I moved things around ..BOLER into shop, and the camper into position where it will stay for the winter. I thought I’d replace the leaking jack.. the oily corner of the camper was bugging me.
Not any more.. I wasn’t going to mount the clean jack to a dirty camper.. so It now looks like this. Nice! Tomorrow I make some horses to hold the camper.
Hate those Camper steps !
With a passion.. so my brain went to work and I thought of this idea. I see it on new campers.. regular RV folding steps.
So I got on Paint and put my thoughts to paper.. well screen. A light weight platform and folding steps. Why not ! Gives a place for a tool box … and a railing / handle. We need these things as we get older. Those accordion style steps are killers.
And That’s That:
All put away for the winter. Will start a new post in the spring..
But I can’t resist doing a few small jobs. Like the hot water tank cover was very rusty ..and that bugged me like the jack.
See.. It’s nasty looking.. when the rest of the camper is not that way. SOOO.
I made it all pretty again.. close match color too ! I have an order coming for RV stuff.. The vent covers, new interior switches, LED lights and little bits needed to make the camper perfect..
Nov 22 2017:
All my parts came. And I stashed them in the camper. Who knows I may feel like doing some of that work before spring. Just not the roof stuff. Yesterday I was showing the camper to my friend Dave.. so we plugged the power in and tried a few things.. Also turned on the propane and lit the stove.. and fired up the furnace and fridge. All is in good working order.. I switched the fridge over to electric and left it overnight to see just how good.. The freezer was ice cold this morning. The furnace started to warm the camper up nicely too. Wow.. we have a winner.
Just couldn’t leave it alone…
So I made up the “panel” .. yes the one …or version of.. what I like to have in all my campers.. 12 volt power.. USB ports.. and a nice easy to read volt meter.. All on a beautiful gold panel.. ..
And here’s the gadget center… installed but not hooked up to power yet. I’ll do that when I change the light.
Update: Summer 2018
When our fifth wheel came out of the RV port.. the Frontier camper went in.. and that was 4 months ago. Other than installing some LED lights and doing some cleaning ..it’s been left alone . When we moved it I use my truck. It was realized that this camper is just a little bit too wide for the tailgate opening of the truck. So I’ve come up with the idea of making a new “Scooby” ( that’s a camper set on an old travel trailer frame) Like I mentioned earlier in this post. Now you can tow the camper ! I was given a free 18 ft trailer that was damaged and had leaked.
It’s been sitting for many years… So we stripped all the useful parts and wrecked it to the frame.
And that I brought home … with the floor still attached .. But we removed that too. It’s the perfect size for making a scooby. I have flat deck registration and a plate for it so we are set.
Here I’m working on the mods to the frame to make it camper friendly. The camper will sit 12 inches forward of the rear bumper.. so I’ve meshed in on either side of where the rear step will go. And I’ve added 13 inches out from the frame for fenders and to better fit the width of the camper. Plus a few more cross pieces to better hold the deck.
Here’s my right side fender.. all done even painted.. in fact I’ve painted most of the frame now..
A complete change of color.. Gloss black is the new choice. The wiring is done too..
With a new box , brake a way switch, but used good salvaged wire from the wrecked out trailer. I’m thinking I would like to start a new post for the continued work on this project..
Yesterday I started the process of lifting the body off the frame.. Not too hard to do… I’m working alone. Just need a floor jack and beams.. After taking out the rusty screws. It started raining heavily so I had to quit. Today I’m back at it…
Had to remove the wheels so I could lower the frame more to clear the wheel wells. So I put two 12 ft 4×4’s under the frame and pulled it out with the tractor.. All went well till I bumped one of the jack stands and the body almost fell to the ground.. But I sorted that out and .. the frame came out and the new wheels went on. One of the old wheels had a leak..
And there you have it… one SAD boler frame. Yes it’s light.. but it’s very flimsy too. Never mind the rust.. it’s cracked behind the left wheel…
Apparently this is common.. and it’s only one of the reasons why you want a new frame. Usually the tongue has broken too and someone fixed that.. wow
Look at that ! they even jammed a piece of wood in there.. Let’s just say that this was not a “road worthy” frame.. and build a new one. However first thing I want to do is construct a cradle for the body so it won’t have to sit on those jack stands any more.
Done! I built it to hold the floor and the two ends.. My wheels are a bit wimpy but it’s all I got .. and they should help when I need to move it into the shop.. Now I stare at the frame and wonder where to start. Some have built the new frame on top of the old one.. so as to get things aligned properly. One thing I need to figure out is just how different the suspension will be. The factory axles are Dexter Torflex. And still available.. but costly to ship. I bought the ones from Princess Auto.. made by the same company but they say 22 degree angle.. and the boler axle should be 10 degrees up and pointing forward.. A strange thing for sure.. but successful. However the old axle IS the same as the new one at 22degrees. Soooo I will flip the new ones ( they don’t say you can’t) and I will mount them an inch lower.. not much of a gain in height.. but still something.
Here’s the old and new.. for comparison.. The mounts are different ..but then the whole frame will be anyway.
One thing for sure ..this sag won’t be there ! That’s the new frame tube on top.. I’m kicking the old frame outside .. and cleaning up the new pieces.. everything is measured and the plans are drawn. Here’s the first frame video…
Well I did kick the old frame out and made a jig on my saw horses to build the new frame..
The debate still goes on which way to mount the axles.. I’m tending to favor the rear configuration.. it will lift the trailer by 4 inches.. but I’m thinking that’s good.. cause I saw damage to the old frame from hitting things. There was about 8 inches of clearance under the trailer.
Oct 22 2018: I’ve decided to have the arms up and leading the axle. And for a bit of extra height I’m adding a 1- 1/2 ” block between the frame and the axle. I should be within 1 – 2 inches of the factory height. This makes the door sill proper height.. you won’t need a step. And that’s the way boler’s should be.
I now have my four cross pieces welded in place .. That’s four more than the old frame had. The frame has been squared and corner braces added
The C – channel I used is from the Tent Trailer frame… light but strong. I’m cutting the tubes to build up the 6 ” drop for the floor pan. but since I’m working upside down it’s up…
I will cut the door opening after I have the frame braced. Oh.. and the old frame is no more.. I cut it up to use some of the better pieces. Would have been nice to keep it intact so I could show a side by side comparison.. but I don’t want to buy metal.. ya I’m a bit cheep. Re-use and Re -cycle.. that’s the way I roll.
It’s coming along nicely.. There’s the door opening. Used some bits from the old frame for this too. Lot’s of welding going on here..
Got to have a place for the propane tanks.. And a battery in front of that. Plus all this helps brace the frame. The down side is the weight.. I plan on weighing it when I’m done.. and I expect a few hundred pounds more. The up side is that this frame won’t need the body for support.. So the body is simply carried.
Here’s my new rear bumper.. it’s a work of art using pieces from the old frame. Also it’s longer to protect the width of the trailer. still needs a spare tire mount and the rear stabilizer jacks will be mounted too. I will make this slide into the frame and bolt in place. If I welded it that would make it harder to roll the frame under the body.
Oct 30 th 2017: It’s looking like I’ll finish the frame earlier then I thought. I got all the welding done.. cleaned up … and painted the bottom of the frame today..
Here’s the axles on.. and the two supports for the floor..
And now most of it is shiny black. I turned the heat up to dry the paint better too. Then I thought of a way to estimate the weight of the old frame. .. by weighing the bits. I estimate it to be 230 lbs. + / – 30 lbs. But at least I will know how much heavier the new frame is.
Nov 1 2017: Well I rolled the frame out of the shop.. parked it next to the body.. I’m so nervous thinking I got the sizes wrong.. But it looks like a fit . I want to take it and weigh it to see just how much heavier it ended up being.
And off to the scales and the landfill. And wouldn’t you know it ! Lighter than expected ! 330 lbs on the nose. That’s approximately 100 lbs more than the old rusty frame. Right on target.. I’ve still working on the rear bumper.. but the frame will stay outside now.. Like any good trailer.. :).
This summer a few of us were “talking projects”.. and what was worth the time and money. The boler trailer always topped the list. I said I should just do RV’s .. because I have lots of parts and a resource for new parts. Well I bought one.. cheap enough to spend some bucks on it. First I need to get the LeSharo RV running before starting on the boler. And then I park it till spring. but let’s get the blog going anyway.
And this is mine.. a bit of a mess. been stored for many many years. But it’s mostly there. It will likely need work on the frame first.. and then the body has way too many holes.. I plan to strip it down to the shell and start over.. The list of things to do is long.. however this trailer is still in good condition for it’s year. And so we begin.. with a video..
There’s a few things I forgot in the video.. like new suspension as well as wheels.. So it’s going to be like pulling a new trailer. Plus this is like a blank slate for colors and décor. We are already talking about those things.. And I’m thinking of ways to incorporate some of the parts I have. Also how to bring it up to date with things like LED lighting, power monitoring and better fabrics. All while trying to keep a bit of “nostalgic” ness to it. But the frame on these is always been the weak part. So if it’s never been replaced then you have to start there.
Frame: (problems under there)
How fortunate that there are lots of folks who have built new frames ..and shared their designs on the net. So I’m taking their ideas… and my ideas, and making a whole new frame. I’ll be using the main part of the Colman tent trailer frame that I was about to use for a new utility trailer.
This ( above photo) is a beefier frame 2″ x 3″ box steel compared to the factory boler frame 1-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ box steel. As well the bigger frame is bent not cut and welded to the angle for the hitch. I plan to add a third piece in the middle and have the hitch mounted to that.
I like this frame, mostly the body mounts. But I will add a few more pieces.. Adding a little weight here will not matter.. just means no problems down the road. The original boler design was to have a light frame and use the combination of a fiberglass / plywood sandwich floor to ADD strength to the frame. So they both need to be in good condition to work. Over time things would sag.. and weaken. And that’s the case with the frame under there now.
Yes I crawled under to see what’s up and shoot some photos. Above is the rear floor. And sure enough the left side has sagged. Someone welded a angle brace … but that’s not a fix. I’m surprised to see no other framing … just the two little beams.
And here’s the middle floor . ( where you stand and walk ) again it seams like no support.. That plywood / fiberglass is very strong ! It does not flex when I walk on it. And I really doubt that rusty bent piece of angle is doing much.
So looking toward the hitch it’s obvious that the frame was repaired. Long time ago judging by the rust. All these problems and the torsion suspension is very much wore out.. That’s why it came home on a trailer. I know I said I would not be starting this project for a while… but I’ve got a little spare time and just can’t leave it alone. I lifted the whole trailer off the ground.
Supporting it with my jack stands. Interestingly this took the sag out of the frame and show me that the whole back of the body was not tight to the frame anymore. Wow..
This is the floor under where the dinette cabinet was. The body is attached to the frame with these screws and washers. They were pulling out of the frame ! So when I lifted the rear they popped up.. This is NOT how I do things.. Those skinny little screws are most likely rusted and at some point would fail. That is why my frame will have mounting flanges and carriage bolts to mount the body.
Yes I had some fun removing stuff from the interior.
All the cabinets have to come out anyway.. They need repairs and will be repainted. May leave the closet alone.. it’s mounted very nicely with cap bolts. The rust that you see .. I believe was caused by moisture inside the trailer.. not leaks. If you close these fiberglass trailers up, then they condensate inside.. best to leave vents and windows open a bit.
Well everything is out.. Real easy to get at the mounting screws now. It can sit like this till I’m ready to tackle the frame. I got new suspension on sale.. so that’s another big part of the frame.
These will be joined with heavy angle iron before becoming part of the frame. For this blog I’m going to divide the work up into three more parts / pages. Most of my projects have more than one page ..cause I don’t like long posts. Next page will be the Frame. Then the Body.. and finally the Interior.
It was free… and you know how that goes.. It was also broken.. So.. time to make something different from the old girl. I’ve done it before.. made a nice useful trailer out of a old funky one.. I wish I took a photo of the Coleman before I took it apart.. But I forgot… So the photos start with a stripped down trailer (frame) ready for some decisions on what to make.
But let’s talk about why I took it apart !
Why not just fix it up.. nope. where do I start.. How about with the broken lift mechanism. We had to hook up our portable winch to pull on the four cables that lift the roof. The treaded block that is pulled along the crank rod was stripped. And it was easy to see why.. The roof was so heavy from water leaking in and soaking the foam and wood that even our 2000 lb winch needed help. so we went from corner to corner lifting and blocking … then taking up the slack with the winch .. till the roof was up. The roof was a mess.. and the canvas was ripped and things were just bad.. So I stripped the canvas off.. and removed the roof.. that darn thing must of weighed 1000 lbs ! It’s taken me two days to get the Coleman down to just a frame. A pile of aluminum, a pile of wood and a pile of steel. And I’ve gained a few parts.. stove, sink, furnace, power panel with 30 amp cord, roof vent, ice box and two sheets of plywood..
She was big as tent trailers go.. 11 ft long. with the fat 10″ wheels. and brakes ! All aluminum & steel.
What a great blank canvas for a trailer ! I will need to spend some money though. new tires / wheels so that I can use the one good one as a spare. Also a new 2″ hitch, and treated deck boards should finish it of nice. I plan to move the rear bumper in so that the deck is 11 ft long. That balances the trailer better. And I’ll trim the sides in flush with the wheels.. that makes the width exactly 6 ft. The plan is to build it similar to the tandem trailer I build and have been using for a few years now.
Love this trailer.. this has worked very good. But for the little guy I will do solid sides with stake pockets so you can add height. Oh and same height all the way around not raised in the front
For now I have to put this project aside to do other stuff.
Sept 9 2017:
Well I can’t work on the LeSharo till I get the motor hoist back.. So I got the new driveway done.. and now I’m thinking I’ll tackle the new trailer. I’m off to PA to get two new wheels for it.. I have new lights and a new 2 ” coupler.. so I can get to work.
I removed some of the crap .. like the propane tank holders, chains and the wiring . And today I stripped the frame of all the stuff that I don’t need …and some stuff I’ll change
Now I can pick it up.. so I put it up high on the saw horses. Oh and it’s upside down for a bit till I get a few things done. First thing is moving some of the cross pieces. One by one I’m spacing them out more evenly.
The brakes got put on this project .. when I bought a Boler project.. I will need the frame for that.. so.. nothing more to see here..
I’ll need this left over piece cut in half… more welding.. Good thing I have the extra pieces.
