Many fond memories of our Amerigo. Our 3 kids grew up in ours. Had to lift the back with special set up to the HD truck bumper since it was sagging - water had come into the roof via the swamp cooler previous owners had installed. Eventually had to give this one up being too dangerous - afraid we would lose the rear end with the fold out section. I will follow this re-build project with great interest. I liked our Amerigo very much. The big window was a blast for the kids to lay up there and watch the world go by. Good luck and, please, post many photos!