Repainting the Mirada

[DDMA]

Where are the interior shots?

[GSGracie]

Firstly, we have just downsized from a four bedroom, double garage and sleepout, to the Motorhome, so forgive me if things are still a little messy (!!!)
We took out the captain's chair behind the driver and added a set of drawers for more food storage since we are now full-timing.
Added a 32" LCD TV but found it was drawing 9 amps so replaced it with a 32" LED TV that only draws just over 2 amps. You can just see the 5.1 surround sound, and I made a small cabinet to hold the satellite receiver and blu-ray player under the cabinet so you don't have to have the cabinet open to use the remotes.
Replaced the oven with a new SMEV oven, but made the mistake of getting a four burner, should only have got a three burner as there is no way you can get four pots easily on the hob at one time.
Made a holder for the remotes, and painted the walls inside.
Removed the front TV and have made a "temporary" patch (we will see how long it takes me to put something else there) and we installed a 19" DVD/LED TV combo in the bedroom.
Fitted up a removable shelf to hold the wireless printer when we are parked up, and a twin seater recliner - the best buy so far as it is SO comfortable.

[adamfolger]

Nice job....I saw in one of the pic that your awning is a bit unwound. perhaps the painter didn't know how to rewind the springs? Here are some youtube vids on how to....if you have not already fixed that

All Seasons Mobile RV Repair - Awning Fabric Replacement - YouTube

All Seasons Mobile RV Repair Awning Removal part1 - YouTube

Replacing the awning fabric on an A&E model 8500 RV awning. (Part 2) By How-to Bob - YouTube

[GSGracie]

Unfortunately, it is not just unwound, it is wrecked. Over Christmas, I left the awning out in the rain, and a LOT of water pooled in the canvas. Instead of gently siphoning out the water, I released the catches and the resulting release of over 200 kgs of water bent the roller to such an extent it folded up and crimped the aluminium pipe. It is a Dometic Grande Pavilion and the local agents in New Zealand have no interest in trying to source or cost a new roller. I cannot find any part numbers or costs and I may have to replace the entire awning. Bother!

[adamfolger]

Sorry about that.....been done many times, long before you ever thought of doing it. Eye hooks and cheap tarp as big as you want .....instant awning

[adamfolger]

And oh yea....always tilt one end of the "new awning/tarp" down lower than the other. lol, (but not at you)

[GSGracie]

I ALWAYS take the awning in at night, and I ALWAYS have one end lower. Except for this once, because my daughter and her husband were staying in a tent outside, and if I had sloped the awning it would have poured water over their tent, and if I brought it in, they would have got wet coming in to the Motorhome. Another Bother.

[zmotorsports]

Your coach turned out very nice. It seems odd to see a right hand drive motorhome.

Mike.

[djbmsu]

Came out absolutely Teriffic you should be proud and pleased. Nice to see a plan come out so nice.

[spritz]

I have been tossing the idea of having ours resprayed like the original way but have a Dark Green metallic bottom with mint green above. I wanted to paint our inside walls but was afraid to start. Did you paint over the old wall paper (if you had any) I was going to patch a few holes(from old curtains) seal the wall paper and then paint them. I think yours turned out really nice and I like the color too. It really turned out nice. Have you ever thought about coming to the States to RV around? Great Job
tb

[GSGracie]

Simply patched the holes in the wallpaper, light sand to ensure it was smooth, and painted over it. We had a metallic fleck in our paper, so it took at least two coats, in some places, three. Not really a problem. Here in New Zealand, we can buy a 500 mL test pot for $5, so I just bought one of these at a time and painted till the pot was empty. MUCH cheaper than buying a 4L pot, and I can carry a small pot for touch-ups. It probably took about 4-5 pots to completely paint the interior, including inside cabinets, so it was not a difficult job.

In terms of the outside paint job, the biggest cost was the preparation of the fibreglass surface, to get a crackle free finish. I wish now I had swept the bottom colour up the sides a little to the rear of the coach, but I don't miss the swirls at all. They would have been very expensive to replace! If in doubt, keep it simple!

The conversion to RHD was done by the first owner in Auckland, and it was one thing he did very well. I had to get the rear springs re-tempered and an extra leaf put in for our roads, particularly after the massive earthquake we had three years ago.

Would love to RV in the USA, but I would not want to drive a right hand drive on your roads. Arranging a swap with someone in the USA that would like to tour New Zealand is a possibility some time in the future. Too much to see here myself first.

Graham

[spritz]

Sounds wonderful and will do the same on the inside.
Thanks,tb