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Topic: Before, During, After (Read 3624 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Before, During, After

Reply #25
John C, the reason I used "surprise" was because of the many FT owners who have had "rust jacking" and some say that the torque and towing effect these Bulkheads too. So, due to this coach living in the "Great white north" as some southeners like to call it for at least 3 yrs plus that "shock" issue of bad roads in some Mexico states, I was pleasently surprised (and happy) with my situation.
John H
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Before, During, After & then some...

Reply #26
Well folks,
The work continues and each new step brings the endgame more into focus. I am getting excited! I have cut the fiberglass skins to fit the utilities compartment framing and for the first time, I can see the bulkhead joint as it will be when I'm all done with the project. I also cleaned up and painted the bulkhead angle iron with Por15. I am convinced that finishing the painting of the framework was a major milestone. It signified that I wouldn't be doing any more additions, welding, or grinding on the structure. Now I am starting to feel the single-minded focus that tells me the end is in sight. I just wish some other aspects of life would leave me alone for a while so I could give it my full attention! Ha ha, well such is life...
Naturally I took a few pictures and attach them here for your entertainment. I still have it in my plans to do a more extensive step-by-step type write up on the overall project, along with organized pictures depicting each step of the way. Once I do that, it will printed up and put it along with all the other stuff in the owners manuals. we have no plans to sell this coach, but we do have plans to use it extensively! It may well be that somewhere down the road, I will be the one to benefit from my own documentation LOL! ;D
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Before, During, After

Reply #27
                 Don, wow, very impressive. I don't believe you will have any further bulkhead concerns. Bet you will be happy to finally be able to spend some of your time on the upper side of the coach. :))

          Looks great and appears bulletproof....or should I say rustproof!

    Dean
Dean & Deirdre

2012 Arctic Fox 22GQ
Was 2003 U270

Re: Before, During, After

Reply #28
Thanks Dean, bullet proof is what I was going for, but I will certainly settle for rustproof. I hadn't really thought of it until your post, but I am quite certain that I have spent orders of magnitude more hours under the coach or literally in the belly of the beast then I have spent in the living quarters topside. I can't wait for that equation to flip-flop!
Don
                Don, wow, very impressive. I don't believe you will have any further bulkhead concerns. Bet you will be happy to finally be able to spend some of your time on the upper side of the coach. :))

          Looks great and appears bulletproof....or should I say rustproof!

    Dean
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Before, During, After

Reply #29
Don,
I have been following the work on your  coach, and I must say.
It is simply OUTSTANDING!!
You are by far a master craftsman.
'02 U295 36'
Build #5937

 SKP#104358
Motorcade#17428

Re: Before, During, After

Reply #30
Don, nice job, by the way how is the other end??? Just before you get off your knees!!
John H
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

 

Re: Before, During, After

Reply #31
Thanks Tom!
I appreciate the kind words... my goal is to always try to improve on the status quo if possible (the status quo being before I realized there was a bulkhead issue). Since Tys and I have in mind to explore wild areas for boondocking possibilities, I want to be sure that there won't be a re-occurrence...

John H... Thanks, but the front is fine! I know that for a fact because I peeled off the entire underside skin. And because I removed all of the front bulkhead bolts one by one. The only issue was that the outermost curbside bolt in the front was broken where it went into the backside of the tubing, leaving a nub inside. I could actually have drilled a hole in from the side of the longitudinal tube and remove the stub and welded a nut. But since there was enough room, I merely drilled another hole (the specified size for installing Roloks) alongside of it about 3/8" inboard and installed a new Rolok. The original broken one was about at the extreme outside edge of the angle, so all I did was move the hole inboard a little and it still terminates inside the outtermost longitudinal square tube. I also replaced all of the old front bulkhead bolts with new ones and since the originals are still usable (just a bit of surface rust here and there), I will use them to replace some of the underside Roloks that aren't as pristine. I can tell you, I was very relieved to have all but one of the front bulkhead bolts doing their job. Keep in mind, there is no suspension members up there tugging on the joint like there is in the back...
Don
Don,
I have been following the work on your  coach, and I must say.
It is simply OUTSTANDING!!
You are by far a master craftsman.
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson