1972 Amerigo Camper Rebuild

[2cknights]

After posting a few comments on another thread, I decided to start this one under a topic more easily recognized. I also have started a blog at: http://www.tcreviver.com. Okay, MKish, here it is. I'll post to it whenever I get a chance. -Carey

[07blacktruck]

Been following this thread since the beginning, presently I'm using a Class A when I'm home but I really like the looks of these Amerigo models. I gotta find one now. I hope you all keep posting on your repairs/upgrades to them. Interesting reading to be sure. Thanks for sharing and good luck with them.
Stay safe
Ken

[1971amerigo]

These campers are for sale all the time . The key is finding one close to your location. Keep an eye on that one ,if it dosen't sell maybe you coul make a deal and they could send you the window.It is always an option.
Ther are a couple of salvage yards that carry only rv parts.
I think one is in your state.

Good Luck

[Bigblue12v]

Ya that ones pretty rough. Driver side wall looks like its ready to become an accordion at any moment! Too far for me to drive for a window though 😕

[1971amerigo]

http://sarasota.craigslist.org/rvs/4090072148.html
Heres one for sale , looks like the only good thing is the front window.
Bob w.

[Bigblue12v]

Thanks Bob! I've been on the phone the last two hours and everyone referred me to someone who referred to someone else who told me good luck. I'm not completely out of options but the only place with a glimmer of hope wants roughly double what I paid for the whole camper just to attempt it and there's no guarantee that it will work and not leak. I would probably be ok spending that much money if I knew it was done right the first time but I stressed leaks are not an option.
Most of them offered to sell me the material but I'm not confident that I can handle it on my own. Everyone else wants to look at it first and frankly I'm not interested in loading it up and driving all this part of the state just to get told no.
And even if I found someone parting one out its not like you could ship something like this. Ugh frustrating...
Eric

[1971amerigo]

Welcome Eric.
Congratulations on your purchase. This is definately the place for info on restoring one of these classic campers.I do not think anyone has had to replace the front window ,and don't know maybe you can have one made.Please ask as many questions as you like and post pics of the project.


Bob W.

[Bigblue12v]

New member here, found this thread while looking for info on these gems. I recently picked up this 1973 with Snap N Nap for $200! I bought it based off of a flattering picture on a local Facebook for sale site it turned out to be my fiances extended family whom I hadn't met yet and she hadn't been in contact with lately. They had purchase it a few weeks prior from people who were living in it while their house was being built? They decided to buy a pop up camper as this was too large for their truck so they said. I was a little bummed about its condition after getting there to pick it up but excited about it nonetheless. I knew enough about these to know I had to have it regardless. I have previously rebuilt a 33' fiberglass travel trailer including wall repairs, roof rebuilding and complete interior remodeling so I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty with this thing. I will do it justice one day! Right now trying to sort through it and make it usable for one trip in a few weeks to Tennessee for our honeymoon. The wiring appears to be a disaster and it needs gobs of cleaning, most of the plastic fixtures on the outside replaced, some trim fastened back down, and a new front window somehow. This one has a hole in it that's been duct tape patched. Some water damage from broken fridge vent (most of fridge cabinet and part of dinette affected) and the snap n nap has gotten wet through the top hinge area, it's side panels cracked and patched with more duct tape. The front window looks to have leaked in sometime before it was duct taped and done very minor damage there. Most things seem intact but not sure how much is functional. The furnace is missing. I have a 89 SunLite hideaway with a bunch of water damage as a parts donor. Plan is to get it together enough for this trip then later do full blown tear out and resto-mod. Have lots of ideas for that! She's got a lot of bruises and scrapes on the outside and the inside needs brought into a more modern era.
Here is the only two pics I have of mine at this moment. My friend helped get it home with his truck as mine is a dually. I have since made extension brackets to provide the height and width needed to get it into my truck which is a 96 Dodge 3500 "6x6" dually, Cummins of course, with many power mods, exhaust brake, 19.5" wheels and tires and Firestone air bags, it won't have a problem lugging around the unit...

Thanks for looking!
Eric




Welcome to the Forum. Please note the maximum photo width = 640.

[1971amerigo]

http://lancaster.craigslist.org/rvs/4051341411.html

Take a look at this for inspiration !

[1971amerigo]

Kev
Great Pics !




Bob W.

[KevSchofield]

1971amerigo wrote:
Took the camper to Race Point Beach Provincetown MA. Weather was foggy but it did not rain !

Wow.. flashback.

This little blond boy is me back in 1967 camping out at Race Point Beach.. 3 years old

My Grandfather home built the blue rig, and when he upgraded to the light tan bread truck rig, we got the blue one.
I camped there every summer till I was about 10..

[2cknights]

Yeah, I'm going to the mountains first, but a trip to the coast is in order for this year. It may take a little longer to finish the Amerigo, but I haven't given up on her. Isn't Rog in construction? He's probably busy this time of year. Carey

[1971amerigo]

Carey your summer is a little longer than here.
Still hoping the weather is nice for Columbus day
Would like to get one more weekend on the beach.
Has anyone heard from Hudson Valley Rog ?

Bob W.

[Reddog1]

I had a 1972 Amerigo a few years back. It was my intent to restore it, but later decided against doing so due to too many other projects and a killer deal on my Bigfoot.

I suggest looking real close at the fiberglass roof. Mine looked great, until you put a light on the roof at night, and looked up from the inside. Literally thousands of pin holes in the fiberglass roof. This certainly explained why there was so much dry rot. There are several fixes for the holes, but I wanted to fix from the underside.

[2cknights]

Okay Bob, I'm blaming it on you. Your beach pictures look so enticing, I pulled the trigger on a Lance TC to use while I'm working on this one. I know the guy who had it and when I saw it was for sale I said, why not? Anyhow, my job takes so much of my time that I know that it will be mid summer next year before I can use it, so why not? Thanks for the subliminal encouragement. Carey.

[1971amerigo]

Carey soon you will be on the beach

Keep up the good work !



Bob W.