Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > iRV2.com COMMUNITY FORUMS > Vintage RV's
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-05-2016, 05:01 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
DeOrellana's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Sweden
Posts: 375
Elandan frame-off renovation

After having my 37ft Elandan parked for a number of years and trying to fix all the little things one at a time I’ve decided that I’m fighting an uphill battle. At this point I figure it’s better to just bite the bullet and do a complete frame-off renovation.

Original restoration purists turn away now! This is not an original restoration – I intend to modernize, customize, and do whatever hits my fancy along the way.

This is what I started with: A 37ft 1989 Winnebago Elandan which was imported to Britain in 1991 and then spent a majority of its life as a rental unit the previous owner bought it and brought it to Sweden. He had it for a year without ever registering it here but was planning on using it as an advertising platform for his business of importing American cars. I bought it when I took an assignment in Gothenburg and couldn’t find a commuter apartment on short notice. I used it as an apartment for a year and then brought it home where it sat for a number of years before I decided to renovate it.

So, as they say, here goes!
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	20110523_004.jpg
Views:	810
Size:	51.1 KB
ID:	126093   Click image for larger version

Name:	CPS188-2264.jpg
Views:	545
Size:	56.6 KB
ID:	126094  

DeOrellana is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 05-05-2016, 07:00 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 492
How are you planing to remove the house from the frame. Unlike a car body that is constructed and then mated to a body motor homes are built on the chassis from the bottom up.
MotorPro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2016, 07:10 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
DeOrellana's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Sweden
Posts: 375
The house on the Elandan is built in aluminum sections and bolted to the frame. I need to remove all of the fiberglass panels on the side, front and cockpit roof. After that it should come undone. I'll post pics along the way
DeOrellana is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2016, 07:43 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Inthe70s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Castle Rock, CO
Posts: 499
I think those Elandan's are sweet. I love the long sleek look of them. I look forward to watching your progress. Thanks for sharing!
__________________
'07 Holiday Rambler Navigator 45 PBQ 525 Cummins
'74 F350 44K,'79 11' Mitchell Camper, MINT All Original
'05 Gulf Stream Atrium 8411, SOLD
Inthe70s is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2016, 12:20 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 492
Elandan frame-off renovation

I really want to see the this. Lots of pictures!
MotorPro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2016, 03:39 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
GlennLever's Avatar
 
Vintage RV Owners Club
American Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 3,092
__________________
See projects on my 1997 America Dream here, Index to the projects is in the first post.
https://www.irv2.com/forums/f107/proj...am-174380.html

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
GlennLever is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2016, 03:41 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: FL
Posts: 1,355
I like them, too. Would love to see your progress in photos.
__________________
--2005 F350 Superduty Crewcab, 6.0, 4wd, short bed, 3.73 gears
--2016 Montana 3711FL, 40'
--SOLD 2014 Wildcat 327CK, 38'
ralphie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2016, 01:50 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
DeOrellana's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Sweden
Posts: 375
I started dismantling it for repair a while ago, but actually made the decision to do the frame-off recently. If I was still living in the U.S. I would probably look for a better unit to tackle, but large RVs are not that common over here. Plus I really like the shape of the Elandan.

Current status:
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	PICT0028.jpg
Views:	494
Size:	49.5 KB
ID:	126210   Click image for larger version

Name:	PICT0029.jpg
Views:	587
Size:	56.5 KB
ID:	126211  

DeOrellana is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2016, 02:24 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
DeOrellana's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Sweden
Posts: 375
The lovely engine bay. Gas is $6.50/gal here, but right now I plan on keeping the thirsty but great sounding 454. There is an exhaust leak at one of the manifolds, and the air injection system has been partially disconnected a long time ago. I will be looking for ways to improve gas mileage, perhaps with a more modern overdrive transmission and engine mods.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	PICT0024.jpg
Views:	497
Size:	76.7 KB
ID:	126212  
DeOrellana is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2016, 03:52 AM   #10
bap
Senior Member
 
bap's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,334
this is going to be awsome,,,--looking forward to watching your build...thanks for sharing
....jeff
__________________
jeff n debbie, and our 4 4 legged family members
68 aristocrat,68 216 winnebago, ancient GTA,1963 airstream,
bap is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2016, 12:53 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
DeOrellana's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Sweden
Posts: 375
This morning I managed to get the last of the interior out, along with all of the 110V wiring, the heater and the water heater. It's fairly easy to get the interior out once you figure out how they put it in. The biggest problem is all the screws that are rusted in place.

Now that the interior is stripped bare, you can see the extent of the water damage along the walls and where it has been leaking.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	PICT0030.jpg
Views:	493
Size:	57.4 KB
ID:	126258   Click image for larger version

Name:	PICT0040.jpg
Views:	476
Size:	47.8 KB
ID:	126259  

DeOrellana is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2016, 02:04 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
DeOrellana's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Sweden
Posts: 375
The engineering drawing for how the house is put together came via email this afternoon. Thanks Angie at Winnebago for sending them to me!

Armed with this new information on how things go together - or come apart, the rear cap was the first get removed. I spent a better part of the afternoon scraping layers and layers of sealant (no wonder it leaked) and removed the rear cap.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	PICT0031.jpg
Views:	384
Size:	80.6 KB
ID:	126269   Click image for larger version

Name:	PICT0035.jpg
Views:	428
Size:	77.5 KB
ID:	126270  

Click image for larger version

Name:	PICT0037.jpg
Views:	467
Size:	58.3 KB
ID:	126271  
DeOrellana is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2016, 02:34 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
tderonne's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Motor City, Mich
Posts: 3,393
A lot like my Adventurer rear cap. That is, it has a fiberglass cap over what makes up the rear interior wall.

Ripe for an aero "boattail"... there's LOTS to be gained aerodynamically at the rear.



Build thread

Quote: "The house on the Elandan is built in aluminum sections and bolted to the frame." Have any details on this? Maybe a link?
__________________
Tim.

tderonne is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2016, 12:57 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
DeOrellana's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Sweden
Posts: 375
Tim, that's an interesting rear cap. The engineer in me wants to know if you have seen any fuel economy improvements. Have you string tested it (pinned strings to the side) to see how the air flow is improved?

I am length limited. The Elandan already has a huge overhang and lengthwise doesn't fit in many camp grounds. I also tow a car on a trailer behind. I have considered redoing the rear cap style-wise, though.
DeOrellana is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
elandan, frame



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Wood frame vs Aluminum frame Jayco23FB Jayco Owner's Forum 1 03-10-2014 09:09 PM
Wood Frame vs. Aluminum Frame looking for your input! Tumble Weed 5th Wheel Discussion 3 02-11-2013 08:31 PM
Off-off-off road campers lllkrob iRV2.com General Discussion 3 08-06-2012 01:48 PM
All Steel frame vs Aluminum frame Always-RVing MH-General Discussions & Problems 15 10-12-2009 12:48 PM
Problems with 1989 Elandan lbm180 Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 12 02-03-2009 04:12 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:48 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.