Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Topic: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295 (Read 6313 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #25 – June 24, 2021, 07:14:18 am

Your kids are wanting you to have it fixed so they can go out camping.

Based on the before and after pictures of that door, it is looking great.

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #26 – June 24, 2021, 10:46:30 am

Noah.
I'm sure you have the door weather strip figured out. I know when we ask FOT they no longer have it. Curious what your w.s. Plans are ?

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #27 – June 24, 2021, 11:15:36 am

If FOT doesn't have the door weatherstrip then call Xtreme Graphics.

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #28 – June 24, 2021, 03:54:15 pm

My door has an internal seal/gasket and it was intact. I removed it and I just have to glue it back on when I'm done!

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #29 – June 24, 2021, 11:49:13 pm

More progress tonight. Couple of pics.

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #30 – June 25, 2021, 10:18:20 pm

Making fantastic progress on the door 30 mins to 1 hr at a time! I have some real hours reserved this weekend to get as much done as I can. The door frame is all straightened out and fits like a glove back in the opening. Next is to reassemble (dry fit looks great) the front and door, epoxy and rivet everything back together, and rebuild the stair box. I hope to have a door in by the end of the weekend. I'll get some better pics soon.

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #31 – June 25, 2021, 11:15:27 pm

Quote from: nbluesky – June 25, 2021, 10:18:20 pm

Making fantastic progress on the door 30 mins to 1 hr at a time! I have some real hours reserved this weekend to get as much done as I can. The door frame is all straightened out and fits like a glove back in the opening. Next is to reassemble (dry fit looks great) the front and door, epoxy and rivet everything back together, and rebuild the stair box. I hope to have a door in by the end of the weekend. I'll get some better pics soon.

Looking good. I had a old A and P instructor that showed you could anneal to soften aluminum by covering with a pure acetylene flame suet then add oxygen and burn the suet off and let it cool. Reduced the work hardening. Bring that frame by the house and I'll tig it up for you. I've also got 3m scotch weld adhesive I can give you too. With the scotch weld it will bond to styrofoam and not melt it. Bond the entire thing together.
Again looking much better than what you started with.
Scott

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #32 – June 27, 2021, 09:37:32 am

Yesterday was a huge 15 hr day. Finished bending parts for the door. Reassemble all the locks and handles. Put the inner and outer door skins back together, lots of rivets and epoxy curing overnight. I tried my luck at brazing aluminum, never done that. It worked okay. Luckily it is in an area completely covered because it doesn't look great. I am hesitant to share but this is real life learning lessons for me. Be nice

Tore out old stairs. Built new ones with an extra inch of tread depth. Put two coats of foundation waterproofing on the pywood box (no pics yet) as the original factory idea of wrapping in aluminum was bad. It just held water. Totally rotted out. For how clean this coach is I'd bet more people have rotted stair bottoms than know it.

I hang the door today, it's a big moment for me! Wish me.luck

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #33 – June 27, 2021, 11:56:44 am

Quote from: nbluesky – June 27, 2021, 09:37:32 am

I tried my luck at brazing aluminum, never done that. It worked okay.

I hang the door today, it's a big moment for me! Wish me.luck

You're brazing looks good because it wet the underlying metal. Congratulations.

We make our own luck.

And yes, re-hanging the door is a big moment. A time worthy of celebration and ceremony. Recognition.
Consider anything other than "Isn't it supposed to do that?" High praise indeed.

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #34 – June 27, 2021, 12:12:14 pm

I love the can do attitude

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #35 – June 27, 2021, 12:50:20 pm

Quote from: nbluesky – June 27, 2021, 09:37:32 am

I tried my luck at brazing aluminum, never done that. It worked okay. Luckily it is in an area completely covered because it doesn't look great. I am hesitant to share but this is real life learning lessons for me. Be nice

So IMO since you have never used this product, don't do this for a career, (yet) you have accomplished a good repair for which most others can only admire or complain about. Is it going to fail? Probably not, but you did represent a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser of your skill, more than I would do, it's a home run. I personally think you are accomplishing what few can do. And you didn't spent 10k to do it.
CAN'T NEVER DID NOTHING!
Very well done.
Scott

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #36 – June 27, 2021, 01:33:43 pm

One does NOT learn by NOT trying. Go for it!!

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #37 – June 27, 2021, 02:12:44 pm

I have never brazed aluminum but what you did looks good. We have a local boat repair guy that does our aluminum welding. You have me wanting to try it. On your door, what you have done will work and is exceptional. Wait till July 4 to hang it......go buy more fireworks to celebrate.

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #38 – June 27, 2021, 02:35:36 pm

Cobalt blue welding lens help to see the difference in the solidified and molten aluminum. Brazing rod has a lower melting alloy and is softer than base metal but the difference between the solid, to liquid is real close together. And you're using a acetylene torch . 😁 It's good fun. Tig controls the temperature range closer and isolates the heat tighter. And a perfect controlled atmosphere. That crazy mig machine just does magic crazy stuff on thicker aluminum and makes my welds look like I know what I'm doing, and I don't. Again good fun
Scott

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #39 – June 27, 2021, 03:25:36 pm

Noah, probably too late but some coaches have a hinged compartment for the middle step. Kinda nice to have.
Great work!

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #40 – June 27, 2021, 11:42:22 pm

Thanks everyone for the kind words. I am happy to report I did it. Stairs installed. Door hung. Window installed. I put about 25 hrs into this so far. I'm pretty happy with the results. Door shuts nice, need to reglue the weatherstrip on before I can make final adjustments. It's a really solid well made door. I'm glad I chose to fix it.

It's late, I'm tired, I'm sore. More detailed updates to come. I am skipping a lot of info. Just had to post update as I am so excited to have a door again. I will also reply to comments.

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #41 – June 28, 2021, 04:28:54 am

You win the super job of year!

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #42 – June 28, 2021, 10:41:37 am

I just marvel at your work. Just excellent. If you had this done at Xtreme or another specialty shop, I'm guessing 10 or 12 Gs at least.
jor

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #43 – June 28, 2021, 01:46:09 pm

I am empresses by your talent, great job.

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #44 – June 28, 2021, 05:56:57 pm

You remind me of myself growing up...LOL....Great work.Never give up, forget the naysayers. Instructions are one thing, real world experience is another.You are an artist.

Chris

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #45 – June 28, 2021, 06:04:16 pm

Over the years, no bigger motivator for me, relatives, and other friends than "you can't".

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #46 – July 17, 2021, 11:48:48 pm

It dawned on me I never posted an update after our first trip! Door and steps worked great, wasn't even loud going down the road. Weatherstrip must be doing its job! I rigged a new temp headlight up so we would at least be legal with a turn signal too.

She drove really nice, very happy with how it handled. It tracks like a dream, I can literally take my hands off the wheel (not for long for safety of course) and could drive with one finger if I want. SO much better than the HR Navigator I sold.

I am just slammed these days with work and now playoff baseball/softball with the kids. I help coach both teams. The bodywork rebuild is a little delayed. Busy next weekend then going to hit the road for 10 days! I'm just going to drive it with the fiberglass missing, who cares for now. I'd rather be putting miles on than working on it during prime summer days anyway.

I do need to get some tires. I'm torn, just steers and wait for drives till next year or all at once. They are 7 year old but look mint. Not one single check anywhere. I'd swear they were less than 2 years old. For sure want to do the steers...actually just typing this out I think I've decided. All new tires. It's not worth the risk.

I'll try to post some more updates soon.

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #47 – July 18, 2021, 08:49:46 am

Looks can be deceiving, your making the right decision on the tires for your safety. Some tire shops will buy your old tires to sell to truckers for their trailers.
Nice work on the rebuild!

Keith

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #48 – July 20, 2021, 10:32:41 am

Well apparently Toyo are hard to get right now. I ended up having to order my set and have them shipped to my local shop. I decided on 295/75/22.5 - G Toyo M154.

All 6 installed with freight $3400. Not a killer deal but fair.

I'm thinking of putting beads in all of them, what do you all do? Beads in front, nothing in back is what my shop says most RVs do. That seems crazy to not balance the rears but maybe that's normal??

Re: Rebuilding Crashed 1995 U295

Reply #49 – July 20, 2021, 11:48:28 am

Quote from: nbluesky – July 20, 2021, 10:32:41 am

Well apparently Toyo are hard to get right now. I ended up having to order my set and have them shipped to my local shop. I decided on 295/75/22.5 - G Toyo M154.
All 6 installed with freight $3400. Not a killer deal but fair.
I'm thinking of putting beads in all of them, what do you all do? Beads in front, nothing in back is what my shop says most RVs do. That seems crazy to not balance the rears but maybe that's normal??

All container ships still have not been unloaded.

Shop that mounted our new tires said they don't balance front or rear as they don't seem to need it. Ours are perfect, no complaints. H load rating, M speed rating, regional/highway.

Pierce

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