To get the aluminum skin high enough to be "out of the way", and to more easily bring it down, and back up, and down again, so as to work on it at bench height, I determined the best way to store it, would be flat.
By measuring a few locations on the rounded roof I found that I'd need 14' flat boards to do the job. I chose 2x4x14' because later I could convert them to longer runners for running the camper in and out of the garage over the gravel driveway, instead of the eight footers I had used before, requiring a sort of "jack shuffle" to clear the garage eave. (Some day I'll get a concrete pad in front of the garage).
Off we went to the home center, as DW needed more materials for her garden as well, and beside the boards, I needed some rope and a bit o' hardware.
On our way out of the store we found this truck and camper in town from another county (it turned out the high schools were in town for state championships).
Due to the dimpled type of aluminum and the pronounced scroll work at the bottom front corners, I guessed it to be a 1964 of 65. Once again I was glad ours is the eight foot (8.5') model and that I'm not just starting the build. :E
Back home I put the rigging together. I had some eye bolts I fastened to the 2x4s at 9' on centers. I ran new eye screws into the overhead garage trusses at 8' on centers side to side and 7' front to back. These were placed at a choice location on the ceiling to allow the garage door to open and close, as well as to let the metal clear any side obstructions (I had to shift the fridge over a tad).
I also mounted four rope cleats to the wall where we could get to them. Running new nylon rope through the eye bolts I brought four lines down to the eye bolts attached to the boards, which I got under the skin with DW's help.
Then it was a matter of pulling the front and back boards up a little at a time, helping the metal to flatten as we went up. I forgot to take pictures until reaching this point.
Then we hoisted it up to the highest level it would fit.
Incidentally, note the furnace flow more or less blocked. But we are at the end of heating season. Even so, I tried the furnace and was pleasantly surprised to find plenty of flow out the dinette window opening! It seems the sheet metal is acting as a funky form of ducting!
Hear are some closer details.
Also, before all this manipulation, I clamped the 3" tear at the left rear corner of the rear vent opening in an attempt to keep it from worsening.
Now we can hoist the whole thing up and down by moving whatever is below it.
For long-term or standard setting, I liked neither the feel of Lil' Queeny in the center bay, nor Lil' Willy not being in his rightful place at the far bay; the feng shui was off and that could adversely effect work on the camper. Correcting the balance would even allow me to pull DW's car out out of it's center stall, move Lil' Queeny to there while either working on the metal or even pulling the truck inside for work. I shuffled the positions.
Ahhhh, that feels better. Can you feel it? That's nice huh!?
Oh, I also got the second coat of bronze on. :) Moving forward!
