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Harley1994 · 09-03-2014, 11:39 AM

Well I'm new here and not sure where to post this, but I would like to share what I'm doing (or attempting to do). I have a 1973 Skamper 5th wheel 35 ft that was very rotten I got this for little of nuthing. I was going to strip it and use it for the frame, but we also have been looking for a Toy Hauler. I am retired so money was an issue, we looked at several and almost all of them needed some form of repair, some as bad as this one. I have been building things my whole life so guess what? I decided to repurpose and rebuild this one into a Toy Hauler. If its okay I will chronigraph my progress here and maybe get some ideas along the way.

Harley1994 · 09-03-2014, 12:54 PM

Well here are some pics of why the rebuild.I'll try and get some more pics of the start to rebuild, and how I'm doing it.

topdownman · 09-03-2014, 01:01 PM

now I'll sit back and watch!

DieselTech39 · 09-03-2014, 01:09 PM

Glad you're aboard. Best of luck on your project. Enjoy your adventures and be safe.

Harley1994 · 09-03-2014, 02:40 PM

Here are some more pics of the teardown, and as I said I'm going to make this a Toy Hauler so I removed the rear section. (also made it so I could take out the fiberglass bathroom), which I will put back in, but relocate it up front. Thats my wife ripping up floor. She's the one that said lets do this. I have about two weeks into this so I'll be posting some more, Thanks for the welcome.

ahicks · 09-03-2014, 05:26 PM

What does the frame look like? Is it C channel, or boxed? I ask, as I'm thinking of the potential for something this age to have an issue? Hate to see you finish it, then find a big crease in the siding after loading the first toy in the back....

Gordon Dewald · 09-03-2014, 05:36 PM

Undertaking a large task. Completion will be satisfying I am sure.

Agree with AHicks that the condition and capacity of the frame should be checked to ensure adequate strength. At the same time axles should be verified.

What kind of toys will you be carrying? How much do they weigh compared to the stuff you are taking out plus adding for the rear door?

Harley1994 · 09-03-2014, 06:10 PM

The frame is boxed rectangle and I knew the original owners, it had less then 500 miles on the unit then sat, they lived in it while they built their house. Then it sat in a open shed on stone for yrs. I am replacing the axles and adding one, for a totol of three. We have two full dresser harleys 900 lbs each. My background is in fabrication, we used to build race cars from the ground up. But that doesn't mean I can't miss soething so keep me on my toes. Thanks!! Terry

Harley1994 · 09-03-2014, 06:17 PM

This is where it sat, until I got it.

73DodgeTitan · 09-03-2014, 07:00 PM

Awesome! Good luck with the build and keep taking pix

ahicks · 09-03-2014, 08:14 PM

How did the rear wall rot out like that when it was inside?

Harley1994 · 09-04-2014, 05:17 AM

Apparently when the previous owner was parking it he hit the side and didn't fix it, and he covered it with a tarp. Well the tarp came off and wind and snow blew in, this is upstate New York. And this was yrs that it sat like this. The building is in a remote part of his property. The strange part was not even surface rust on the metal parts.