Just a bump to keep it alive, Work has kept me really busy, bisiness has grown some this year and the camper is still sitting there waiting on me. I will begin work on it again soon and start posting regular updates.
Hi Sweet Tater, I just found your thread. It came at a good time, too. I just started gutting an Amerigo like yours. Seems mine is in about the same shape yours was to begin with. I'm not planning to keep mine original either. I noticed you are going back with 2X6s in the floor, is that the original dimension of the lumber under there? I am thinking of going back with 2X10s planed down to 5/4 or 1" to give me enough of a basement to install a gray holding tank. Any thoughts on that? Thanks. Carey
i saw a model similar to yours at a rally a few years back i do not remember how much rebuild the guy did but inside and out it looked as good as when it was first built but in most areas it was even better than new because of updated materials he used it had a hardside bak that lifted up with beds on that end for his kids having aluminum the back that raised out and up kind of like the tents on the newer hardsides everything is filon except the tent pop out the way lance and others do it now his was aluminum siding so no canvas to rot thought it was the neatest camper at the rally
2005 Dodge 3500 CTD DRW Crew Cab 4x4 6 speed, 2007 Winter Creek TC Rancho shocks,Firestone Air Bags, One Extra Leaf Spring on Rear.
2cknights wrote: Hi Sweet Tater, I just found your thread. It came at a good time, too. I just started gutting an Amerigo like yours. Seems mine is in about the same shape yours was to begin with. I'm not planning to keep mine original either. I noticed you are going back with 2X6s in the floor, is that the original dimension of the lumber under there? I am thinking of going back with 2X10s planed down to 5/4 or 1" to give me enough of a basement to install a gray holding tank. Any thoughts on that? Thanks. Carey
Carey, to be honest I have no clue what the original floor was, all that was left of mine was rot dust and 30 year old linoleum. 2x10 might be a lil over kill for support but would seem to provide the space needed for what you have plans for. Also take in consideration that that will also raise your camper hight, ie, space beteen sleeper bottom and cab, I dont know how tall is too tall for that but I personally wouldnt want a huge gap there.
edit note, also if you are gutting the sleeper, I was told by another Amerigo owner not to remove the black bracing bars in the front window with out first bracing under the sleeper, it will open wide on you.
devildog1971 wrote: i saw a model similar to yours at a rally a few years back i do not remember how much rebuild the guy did but inside and out it looked as good as when it was first built but in most areas it was even better than new because of updated materials he used it had a hardside bak that lifted up with beds on that end for his kids having aluminum the back that raised out and up kind of like the tents on the newer hardsides everything is filon except the tent pop out the way lance and others do it now his was aluminum siding so no canvas to rot thought it was the neatest camper at the rally
yes that's the Snap an Nap. it didn't come on all Amerigos but mine also has that, my only problem with that is some of the aluminum framing in it has broke. The local camper repair gave me a good idea to fix that however and as soon as mowing season is over I am going to jump back in to fixing her up.
Yeah, I was wondering about the gap too. Maybe I can have a custom tank made to fit inside a 2x6 frame. I might look into making one from composite materials. I have broken frame members in the Snap N Nap, too. When you decide how you're going to fix yours I'd sure appreciate a couple of pictures. Thanks. Carey
Tater - I missed this thread back when you started it. You are doing an awesome job and I'm just popping in to say good work; wish you were nearby - would love to just take a peep at your camper (same with MountainKowboy while he was rebuilding his S&S.) I love a good project, and you've got one going.
I can't really add anything useful at this point, other than some moral support from afar. Once winter hits and the grass browns up, I expect we'll start seeing some more progress. Keep up the good work; we are enjoying the process. I especially enjoyed the early 'gutting' photos. That's when you suddenly get a ton of information and your vision get all cloudy with possibilities and ideas and your brain starts running so fast that time slows down.
Like you, I find myself wondering why I didn't get more done in a 5 hour chunk of time in an evening.....but I realize a lot of the work (and the pleasure) are mental excercises; the actual physical labor are small steps in between all the planning and thinking. The best thing about this, is the mental work is all free (not counting the beer )
I can easily see that you would not last long at a TC manufacturer. The'd run you out on a rail! You'r using wood that won't rot and metal braces to anchor the studs and jack studs! Shame on you! That TC will never rot or come apart! Now , what manufacturer would want to build a TC like that? Shame!
2cknights wrote: Yeah, I was wondering about the gap too. Maybe I can have a custom tank made to fit inside a 2x6 frame. I might look into making one from composite materials. I have broken frame members in the Snap N Nap, too. When you decide how you're going to fix yours I'd sure appreciate a couple of pictures. Thanks. Carey
Be glad to share with you, it might be a couple of more weeks tho, we are still mowing grass like barber at woodstock
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Once winter hits and the grass browns up, I expect we'll start seeing some more progress. Keep up the good work; we are enjoying the process. I especially enjoyed the early 'gutting' photos. That's when you suddenly get a ton of information and your vision get all cloudy with possibilities and ideas and your brain starts running so fast that time slows down.
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