Today - Finishing interior touches: bunk mattress cover, wardrobe medicine cabinet and mirror, wardrobe door shelf thingies, wardrobe/bathroom/changing room privacy curtain, fire extinguisher, galley basin accessories storage.
Maybe you recall, or have seen in the background of many photos, the kids (DD & DSIL) gave us their 1995 Skamper camper when it came on a truck he bought to part out. They didn't know RVs, but they knew I did - sort of. And we had the room, and the will, and the want, and the way.
We already used a bunch of it on Lil' Queeny - off the top of my head we used the 30' 30 amp cord, several 12 Volt interior lights, and have plans for the furnace, fridge, range, windows, siding pieces, etc.
But we've also used some on Tow-Mater - like the water tank and fittings. It's really handy when it just sits out there storing the stuff you need!
Recently, after DD took the camper last weekend, she had asked for a kind of private "getting ready" thing on the back side of the wardrobe door. Mirror, shelf, you know - Private. But we couldn't find exactly what we wanted for that at any of the stores we checked. I was thinking second hand stores next.
Then DW had an idea. The first of several "scathingly brilliant ideas" she had yesterday. She said, "I want to go shopping in the parts camper. I've forgotten what's out there in the bathroom".
I hadn't. It was kind of a nasty, scary wet bath. But I went out anyway - before she could join me - and I recognized pretty quickly the medicine cabinet/mirror was EXACTLY what we wanted, in spite of it being kind of messed up. Someone had left soap or evaporated gel/liquid of some sort in the bottom, and a toothpaste tube stuck in the middle of it; enough that it had peeled the paint and even started to rust!
It came off the wall - and I grabbed some other stuff too. Like the white vinyl covered wire kitchen gadgets wall shelves thingies, and the fire extinguisher and mount.
DW was making breakfast so I got those things out and did some other work on the table saw (exterior build stuff I'll show tomorrow), and then during breakfast we discussed some other potential ideas. What a great day!
Here's the stuff. Note the cabinet has already been scraped and cleaned up. I couldn't bring myself to disgust you with pictures from early on.
I prepped, masked and painted with the last of the silver nickle color spray paint. It could have used more for a great surface coat, but it was good enough.
Okay one of the NEXT ideas DW had was the privacy curtain! She had spotted the shower curtain track on the parts camper ceiling while out there shopping (when we went out later - so I got two field trips).
We came together and I got it down, pieces retained (and reused) and straightened the squarish oval loop into a 7' long straight piece. This kind of aluminum bends. I had to be careful not to kink it, but it's pretty straight forward. Here's what we have after re-bending to Tow-Mater's needed shape and lengths, and cleaned and lubed with silicon spray.
While I worked on getting this stuff installed in the camper, DW worked on a bunk mattress cover in the curtain fabric pattern.
I made a 3/8" plywood board the size of the medicine cabinet, and used it behind the cabinet for both the exterior mirror, and the medicine cabinet to screw into. More meat, as the original board is just 1/8" paneling that makes up the door. After staining (and a couple spots of wood filler in the edge) I got this stuff mounted on the door and the shower curtain track installed on the ceiling.
I used one of my curtain hanging false starts parts, cut it short and fastened it up as a stop for the rollers at one end.
Meanwhile, DW added a privacy curtain to her list. She made it out of some extra silver/gray flat sheets she had on hand. Used tomato-soup red thread. I'll show you in a minute. :)
With extra weight on the door, it swung open against weak hinges. The ceiling track actually worked out as a door stop. I still need to add a bumper some where, and maybe a way to hold the door against the track when using the mirror/cabinet.
Here's the mattress cover. DW made it loose so a possible future thicker mattress can be stuck in it - if chosen.
It's like a pillow case and simply slides onto the mattress, then at the head it is pulled tight and wrapped. Here's the open end before wrapping and tucking. More of the extra grey sheets for the bottom surface, Route 66 curtain fabric on the top.
And then while DW worked on the privacy curtain, I got the cabinet up. Here are some configuration positions for use.
Note the plywood behind the cabinet.
Then I got the little wire shelves installed below the cabinet. Yes, all new holes in the wood. That's the price for a ticket to the show!
I guess I didn't get pictures, but I also added two hooks with a small bungee to go over each shelf - so taller bottles (like shampoo, or bug spray, etc.) will stay and not fall over.
I tried to stay "decorative" on the outside of the door.
DW was hemming the sheet/curtain to the correct dimensions, and making 23 button holes for the hanging hardware! While she was busy, I set to work on installing this, the fire extinguisher.
But first it got "warshed up good", then checked to make sure the medium was not clumped. Some shaking and bumping can be used, but mainly tip it upside down and right side up repeatedly, listening for the movement inside of the medium. It's an older extinguisher, but I'm satisfied it is both charged, and flow-able.
Its new home marked for cutting.
Nice little spot for it.
Yeah, I checked for space before choosing its position.
Handy from inside or out.
I also got this installed over at the galley basin. Napkin holders DW had found. Until we re-do this area to take advantage of blank space under and around the sink and counter, we'll use this set-up.
Automotive fuel line. ;) Tow-Mater-like.
It was almost beer-thirty when DW was done with almost two-dozen button holes! She came out and hung the curtain. What a great addition to a small space for a family. Sometimes that's all you need; just a bit of privacy for your dignity. That's what I'm talking about baby!
Rolls very smoothly and easy to configure in multiple ways based on the need of the moment.
Rollers. Check out the thread. :)
An odd hook from my coffee cans. Makes a nice hold-back.
DSIL picks up the camper today after work. We have just the one more day to work! Maybe some more interior stuff, but mostly I'm moving outside. On the list is grey-water drain and jug system, fresh water tank fill, better wheel chocks and levelers, and a surprise that I'll show you tomorrow morning.
Countdown to camping - 1 day!
