FEMA Salem Rebuild

[xf021209]

Some time back I looked into others doing FEMA trailer rebuilds. I decided to start on one myself. After rebuilding a StarCraft pop-up I figured, what the heck, it's only 3 times bigger. I did the StarCraft rebuild in 3 months. Wrong thinking - now almost 3 years later, I'm not too far from completing the rebuild. For those who may want a laugh, get a kick out of a big rebuild project, or who may be interested in seeing what's all involved - here's the link to the pictures (and comments) on my FB page.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1&l=1506dbb708

Enjoy - constructive comments welcome.

Todd

[Wiscampsin]

Takes alot of dedication and it sure looks good!

[xf021209]

Originally Posted by Wiscampsin

Takes alot of dedication and it sure looks good!

Thank you. It's taken much longer than I figured but life got in the way a great deal. Total into it including the purchase is about 11k. The gray/black water tanks go in this weekend. Then it's all about putting the facing and sides on the cabinets...and it's done....finally!

[Kuba]

Dude! I admire your patience i would probably just go out and purchase a new trailer

Anyway, what if find myself that i dont like about 99.9% of all travel trailers is that they are dark inside. If i was rebuilding a trailer just like you are doing, i would purchase a 48x48 skylight and put it over the kitchen.

I said if i was rebuilding it.....

[xf021209]

Originally Posted by Kuba

Dude! I admire your patience i would probably just go out and purchase a new trailer

Anyway, what if find myself that i dont like about 99.9% of all travel trailers is that they are dark inside. If i was rebuilding a trailer just like you are doing, i would purchase a 48x48 skylight and put it over the kitchen.

I said if i was rebuilding it.....

Ha! Not so much patience as life sort of got in the way so the rebuild has taken much longer than I ever expected. I've been pretty much debt free for the past few years so payments are something that's absolutely unacceptable except for my home. The FEMA rebuild was the only way I could afford a 32' trailer and be able to pay cash. I previously owned a 10' Starcraft pop up which I gutted and rebuilt....but that was nothing compared to this monster.

I agree on the darkness and almost put a skylight in the bathroom. I'm also considering painting the cabinets white instead of the current plan to black cherry stain them. I did the pop up in white and it sure made a difference. Taking out all the walls in this trailer has also made a difference, allowing the lights to cover the entire interior. I don't know why TT's have walls. They just make a big box into a bunch of poorly lit little boxes. What about privacy? There will be a draw curtain in the back for the bathroom area and one up front so if I have a guest using the fold out couch they will have their privacy.

Another reason I'm doing the rebuild is because I like the work. Would enjoy doing this for a living but unless I go overboard into what I consider stupidity trailers with outrageous prices, I'll never make a dime at it.

Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever get this one done!

Todd

[Fire Instructor]

Outstanding project!!!! Be very proud of your work!!! I've started looking for an old "shell", that I could do likewise in. I'd LOVE to find an old Airstream shell and rebuild it! In the end, you may have more $$$ invested than if you had just gone and bought a trailer, but it will be the exact floorplan that you want, and the quality will be far superior to those units on the open market!

Congrats on a great job, and thank you for sharing!

[xf021209]

Originally Posted by Fire Instructor

Outstanding project!!!! Be very proud of your work!!! I've started looking for an old "shell", that I could do likewise in. I'd LOVE to find an old Airstream shell and rebuild it! In the end, you may have more $$$ invested than if you had just gone and bought a trailer, but it will be the exact floorplan that you want, and the quality will be far superior to those units on the open market!

Congrats on a great job, and thank you for sharing!

Thank you, I am very pleased with the outcome so far.nan Airstream custom rebuild would be great! I agree, I will have more invested than if I where to purchase an assembly line RV. You hit the nail on the head though...customized and the quality is much better.

Thanks again. I enjoy sharing things like this to hopefully inspire others. Anyone can do this. With good research it's not that difficult. This project will be completed soon. Then the pleasure of using the trailer will finally begin.

Todd

[xf021209]

Well after finally finishing my Forest River Salem FEMA project trailer, I'm very pleased with the outcome. In fact I'm very pleased I didn't buy a new trailer. It appears that the economy crash has crippled the RV industry and to compensate the RV industry has made really deep cuts in quality of material and workmanship - all to cut costs so they can continue to sell their product. Unfortunately it appears a lot of new travel trailer owners are complaining about just how many problems they are having with their new trailers. I'll admit that rebuilding an older trailer such as I have from scratch isn't easy - but I know every nut, bolt, weld and so on about my trailer. I've used my trailer many times over the last two years. The only issue I've had was with the shower hose leaking, and easy replacement/fix. Other than that, all is working well. I would encourage anyone thinking of taking on such a project to go ahead and jump in with both feet. There's plenty of help both here in this forum and on the Internet in general to cover wiring to plumbing to roofing and on and on. Expect to put a lot of hours in but the pride of doing the work yourself and upon completion is great. Plus you know your travel trailer inside and out.


https://www.facebook.com/btcrenshaw/...2527867&type=3


Todd

[Switta]

wow that looks great ! you do nice work .

Dave

[tlambert]

Would like to see the work you did but I don't Facebook. Could you post some pics here.


Tim