what wood to use to rebuild vintage camper
Restoring a Vintage Camper? Beware of These Hazards
Restoring a vintage camper can be a neat DIY projection and a good fashion to own an off-grid vehicle on a budget. But beware of these hazards when restoring a camper trailer.
As more people begin to camp and fall in honey with affordable, easygoing outdoor vacations, many will upgrade from tent camping to a travel trailer. However, when they see the price tag of a make new trailer, it'due south probable they'll look to toll-effective alternatives such every bit restoring a vintage camper.
In that location are a plethora of resources out there for restoring an sometime travel trailer. However, these exercise-it-yourself guides overlook some of the hazards that come with vintage camper restoration projects.
Things such as carbon monoxide, asbestos, and h2o harm can pose serious health risks if not dealt with properly. It's important to know some of the almost unsafe hazards earlier one dives into a restoration. Cut corners is never worth risking the condom and health of yourself and those around you.
Sometime Camper Hazards: Tips for Restoring
Carbon Monoxide
One of the most mutual hazards in campers is carbon monoxide (CO). Although this may non exist an effect during the restoration process, it can be deadly while camping ground. Each year, at to the lowest degree 500 people die of carbon monoxide poisoning in RVs and campers.
Some signs of CO poisoning include dizziness, nausea, intense headache, defoliation, and sleepiness. When you undertake a restoration project, information technology's paramount to ensure that CO-emitting appliances are properly functional.
The most common crusade of CO poisoning in campers derives from equipment failure. Usually, exhaust from a camper's generator that leaks into the living quarters is the culprit.
Thoroughly audit any exhaust pipes. If broken, repair them earlier utilise. If the generator is housed in a storage compartment, it'south imperative there are no leaks into the living quarters. Campers should avoid generator apply while comatose, if possible.
Some other cause of CO poisoning can come from the exhaust of nearby vehicles. While camping in close quarters, this poses even more of a risk. Never allow vehicles to idle unattended, specially if you programme to remain inside your camper.
Propane Appliances
One other common source of CO gas build upward in campers and RVs is propane gas appliances that are unvented or faulty. A buildup of liquid propane (LP) gas poses a risk not only for CO poisoning but also a run a risk of explosion.
Propane lines can easily succumb to dry rot when stored for long periods of time and not inspected, specially on vintage trailers and RVs that accept not been used for several years. LP gas is heavier than air and will sink equally low as it can. That means that tanks stored inside the camper or RV there should always have a vent at the lowest point.
Information technology's pertinent to make certain all CO-emitting equipment is upwards to appointment when yous restore your vintage trailer. Not just during the restoration procedure is this important, but one should take propane systems, generators, and appliances inspected annually by a certified RV technician.
Regularly replacing old propane and CO detectors is beneficial in avoiding CO poisoning every bit well. Ever make sure they are functional and install them in the proper places. Because propane is heavier than air, the detector should be installed at the baseboard level. Carbon monoxide detectors are often paired with smoke detectors, which you should also take in your camper.
Asbestos in Vintage Campers
One of the best parts of buying a vintage camper or RV to restore is the ability to completely redo the interior. You tin't go out and buy a brand-new travel trailer with a customized interior without spending a fortune. By gutting and redoing the interior of a vintage camper, the options are countless. However, removing onetime parts and pieces comes with its own dangers. Restorers should be prepared to protect themselves against exposure to harmful substances and know what to look for.
Earlier asbestos was partly banned in the Us in the 1980s, it was used in many building products. Asbestos is a group of silicate minerals that tin cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. When breaking upward tile, asbestos can easily become trapped in the belly if inhaled or ingested and lead to the development of peritoneal mesothelioma. With mesothelioma unremarkably having a life expectancy of 12-21 months afterwards diagnosis, exposure to asbestos is aught to have lightly.
Typically, y'all will remove the floor and any old tile when restoring a camper. Former vinyl tile often becomes worn and deadening after years of employ. Both the tile and adhesive could incorporate asbestos if the camper is older than 1980.
Asbestos could also be present in loose-fill insulation. Although batt-style insulation is most common in campers, accept precautions confronting inhaling this fabric.
If your vintage camper is large enough to be equipped with drum brakes, take care if you perform a brake chore yourself. Brake pads and shoes oft contained asbestos because of its incredible estrus resistance and strength.
To mitigate your chance of inhaling or ingesting asbestos, one should habiliment a high-quality organic respirator and Tyvek accommodate during the demolition phase. It's also important to double bag asbestos-containing products in a minimum of 6mm plastic. Before leaving the worksite, remove the Tyvek suit. Immediately wash clothing that was worn, and shower to reduce the chances of asbestos fibers embedding themselves into furniture or other household items.
Water Damage and Mold
Another important function of any restoration project is inspecting for water damage. Travel trailers, both vintage and brand new, are known for springing leaks. Even the smallest leak can outcome in an immense corporeality of damage to the structure of the camper. If left unrepaired, this could cause the camper to collapse in on itself.
Peradventure more dangerous is the presence of mold. Mold loves moisture, and if water has penetrated the camper shell, you can be certain mold won't be far behind.
One time you've torn out the walls and old insulation in your camper, advisedly inspect the wood framing for damage. If whatever soft spots, black spots, or moisture spots are present, you lot volition need to repair them. You can do so past removing the onetime framing and replacing it with new fabric. You can sister the new framing to any old framing that hasn't succumbed to impairment.
Nonetheless, you should remain cautious to make certain the new framing is strong and structurally audio. If y'all're not sure how to do and then, it's important to seek professional assistance in reframing your camper.
Remediating Mold in a Camper
You lot can remediate mold in a multitude of ways. The first step is to discard any porous material with mold such as fabric or carpet. You can effort to get rid of mold with white vinegar, but ofttimes bleach and soapy h2o will be the best solution. If the mold is resilient to these treatments on wood framing or interior features, they may demand to be removed entirely.
If mold is present, it will certainly need to be dealt with. By allowing mold to abound, you risk serious health side effects. Mold can cause wheezing, coughing, and itchy eyes. With prolonged exposure, mold can also cause more astringent chronic lung illnesses from infection.
Get Out and Enjoy It!
Now that you have your vintage camper make clean from harmful toxins, customized, and freshly painted, information technology's finally time to take it out on the road. Once you have your camper, it will exist hard to non want to take it out right away. All the same, getting out for a weekend at campsite isn't worth the risk of lifelong or life-catastrophe hazards that should be dealt with first.
A vintage camper should be something that fills you with nostalgia and joy — non itchy optics and wheezing. Have the fourth dimension to restore your vintage camper safely and properly and so you can enjoy it for years to come.
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Source: https://gearjunkie.com/camper-rv/vintage-camper-trailer-restoration-hazards
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