Forum Discussion

bucksport's avatar
bucksport
Explorer
Aug 24, 2014

First post, first TT, big project

I have been lurking and reading for a few days. Absorbing a lot of info so I don't have to ask the same old questions.
I have been given a 1981 Terry Taurus 19' camper. A friend at work had someone give it to him about 4-5 years ago. His intention was to turn it into a hunting camper. He was told that all the appliances worked in it. The roof top A/C was added by the previous owner, and should never have been allowed to own tools. They really messed up the installation. It leaks around the unit on the inside. There are also a few other common water intrusion areas.

Some of the work has been started. I plan on starting with the roof first, if time permits. I might have to just tarp the roof over the winter.
I don't intend on doing anything with the water system since winter is so close. I would however like to try out the fridge and furnace to see how they work.
I am a maintenance person by trade. Spent 10 years in the Air force doing building maintenance/carpentry. After that I spent 5 years doing interior carpentry on Hinckley Yachts. Now for the last 5 years I have been working maintenance at a Casino/Hotel.
None of the above makes me perfect at any one thing, but I have dabbled with or had my hands on a lot of things.
I have read through a few refurbish projects on here(The Cowboy/Hilton). I don't expect to match or even come close to any of these, but I hope to make it water tight and good for a weekend/week outing for myself, wife, 4 kids, and 2 dogs :B

I plan on updating this thread as I make progress.
Any input is appreciated.
Sorry for the picture overload right out of the gate.












  • poncho62's avatar
    poncho62
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    Welcome....Interesting project....I know where you are coming from, my Springdale needed some similar work when I got it.
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    Welcome to the forum. And, congrats on you TT/Project.

    Get the roof sealed first. If you've been reading the forum, you've heard of Eternabond and Dicor Self Leveling Caulk.

    Are you familiar with Tin Can Tourists? It's a site for vintage TT's. I don't know if your 81 is considered vintage but, you may be able to find some information if no one on the forum can answer your questions.

    Definitely keep us updated on your progress.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Aug 24, 2014
    Fridge looks like a Dometic RM 660.....if so here is a manual LINK


    Furnace????
    Looks like it has a re-ignitor system for pilot flame
    Maybe an Everest Model?

    Good luck on the rebuild.......

    I did a 1980 Towlite 19' 5vr years ago.

    It is a work of 'luv' cause you can't get back the monies invested.
  • Wagonqueen_Truc's avatar
    Wagonqueen_Truc
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    I can attribute that anything is possible if you want it bad enough. My hubby and I completely rebuild a 70's TC from the ground up. We even rebuilt the framing on it. 1 year later and a few thousand man hours and it is a show piece. Do you research to make sure you get an idea of where you should start. I can say from your pics, the furnace looks pretty bad. If any item should be replaced for safety... It would be the furnace. If you ever have any questions give a holler. I will look forward to watching your progress.
  • bucksport's avatar
    bucksport
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    gbopp wrote:
    Welcome to the forum. And, congrats on you TT/Project.

    Get the roof sealed first. If you've been reading the forum, you've heard of Eternabond and Dicor Self Leveling Caulk.

    Are you familiar with Tin Can Tourists? It's a site for vintage TT's. I don't know if your 81 is considered vintage but, you may be able to find some information if no one on the forum can answer your questions.

    Definitely keep us updated on your progress.

    Thanks very much for the info. The roof looks to be in decent shape. It just needs the perimeter sealed properly. I will check out those products.

    Old-Biscuit wrote:
    Fridge looks like a Dometic RM 660.....if so here is a manual LINK


    Furnace????
    Looks like it has a re-ignitor system for pilot flame
    Maybe an Everest Model?

    Good luck on the rebuild.......

    I did a 1980 Towlite 19' 5vr years ago.

    It is a work of 'luv' cause you can't get back the monies invested.

    Thank you for the manual. It is a 660. It appears to be in fantastic shape cosmetically. hopefully it will fire right up.
    I discovered that re-ignitor as well. It is a Duo-Therm. I have a friend who is a HVAC tech that I will have check it out before I try it.
    Luckily materials will be my only investment since I got the trailer for free :) I do not intent on selling it right away anyway. I love projects.

    Wagonqueen Truckster wrote:
    I can attribute that anything is possible if you want it bad enough. My hubby and I completely rebuild a 70's TC from the ground up. We even rebuilt the framing on it. 1 year later and a few thousand man hours and it is a show piece. Do you research to make sure you get an idea of where you should start. I can say from your pics, the furnace looks pretty bad. If any item should be replaced for safety... It would be the furnace. If you ever have any questions give a holler. I will look forward to watching your progress.

    I know I have the ability to make it better, probably won't ever be a show piece, but it will be comfortable.
    I already have a mental concept in my head of where I want it to be. The shower will probably go away. I plan on bunk beds in the front. Anything else will be shifted a little to give a proper weight distribution.
    The furnace will be tested, but more than likely it will go away as well. We aren't planning to take this on many trips. My father has a camp on a lake that is fairly private. It is visited in the summer, so no need for a furnace or shower.
    Total round trip to his camp is only about 200 miles.
    Thanks again everyone for the tips and the welcome. I will keep this updated as I dig into it.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    Welcome to the Forum.
    The Terry is one trailer that is worth the effort to restore. IIRC, Forum member UPBuilder restored a Terry. He lives in the Northern US, also. He proceeded like me and any areas that needed framing got the full insulation treatment. It is the #1 thing to do to add comfort (and maybe some structural durability too).

    Yes, you're going to find some cobble from previous owners, most likely in places to stop water infiltration. Rip it out and get it right would be my suggestion. The air conditioners seal with a foam gasket but if the condensate pan is allowed to get plugged and water overflows, it may rot the roof around the opening and cause a dip in the roof. Roof failure follows after that.

    It sounds like you have plenty of good experience so fixing a trailer will be second nature. Your appliances look good and the converter may work well for you. Some of these older converters were built back in the days of component-on-board with a big transformer and large rectifiers that will dissipate the heat well. All that means is a power supply that will deliver good, constant power. Yours is rated at 40 amps, a pretty substantial supply.

    Cool to see another restorer onboard. Good luck and I'll be following along.
  • bucksport's avatar
    bucksport
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    westend wrote:
    Welcome to the Forum.
    The Terry is one trailer that is worth the effort to restore. IIRC, Forum member UPBuilder restored a Terry. He lives in the Northern US, also. He proceeded like me and any areas that needed framing got the full insulation treatment. It is the #1 thing to do to add comfort (and maybe some structural durability too).

    Yes, you're going to find some cobble from previous owners, most likely in places to stop water infiltration. Rip it out and get it right would be my suggestion. The air conditioners seal with a foam gasket but if the condensate pan is allowed to get plugged and water overflows, it may rot the roof around the opening and cause a dip in the roof. Roof failure follows after that.

    It sounds like you have plenty of good experience so fixing a trailer will be second nature. Your appliances look good and the converter may work well for you. Some of these older converters were built back in the days of component-on-board with a big transformer and large rectifiers that will dissipate the heat well. All that means is a power supply that will deliver good, constant power. Yours is rated at 40 amps, a pretty substantial supply.

    Cool to see another restorer onboard. Good luck and I'll be following along.

    Thanks for the info and tips. I plan on taking my time on this project to get it all right.
    I am planning to add a Kreg jig to my arsenal. I use one at work. They can build some nice tight joints. Most of the new cabinet frames will be built with it.
    Your thread on the Cowboy/Hilton took me a few hours to get through. Every person who decides to take on a restoration project like this should read it, and then read it again. Thanks for your contribution.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    Thanks for your kind words. I figure we're all here to contribute.

    You'll find out what you're up against when you pull the roof, maybe you already know. If you can get towards Hinckley quality, you'll do fine. I spent a couple of years in the service dept. of a yacht dealer, also.

    The really nice thing about a Terry is that it "has good bones". It probably has a substantial frame and floor to work off and they weren't afraid to throw some material at the effort. It makes it easier to add onto something substantial rather than trying to install onto fragility.

    Again, best of luck.
  • bucksport's avatar
    bucksport
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    westend wrote:
    Thanks for your kind words. I figure we're all here to contribute.

    You'll find out what you're up against when you pull the roof, maybe you already know. If you can get towards Hinckley quality, you'll do fine. I spent a couple of years in the service dept. of a yacht dealer, also.

    The really nice thing about a Terry is that it "has good bones". It probably has a substantial frame and floor to work off and they weren't afraid to throw some material at the effort. It makes it easier to add onto something substantial rather than trying to install onto fragility.

    Again, best of luck.


    You are very welcome.
    The roof inspection/pull is what I am dreading the most.
    I do plan on trying to tie in some of my boat skills to this project. Finger pulls on some cabinets, upward lift springs on some of the new upward lifting cabinets doors, whale tubing(pex) lines...etc.
    This camper supposedly came from southern Maine to where I am. The surprising thing is the frame and wheel wells are in fantastic shape. Must be the solid bones you speak of. Kind of like my 90 Chevy truck. They don't make steel like that anymore.

    Forgot to mention the tow vehicle(s) that will be pulling it. The main one will be my 08 1/2 ton Suburban. My 90 Chevy with 350 will be the alternate when I do a weekend trip.
    My other hobby is metal detecting. This might open up some new adventures for me.
  • dadmomh's avatar
    dadmomh
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2014
    You're right...you have a project! But I'd bet that by this time next year you'll be enjoying the memories of your first few trips. Definitely start with the roof and if you run out of decent weather, tarp. Suggest you put the trailer on a bit of a tilt for water to run off in the event of a hole in the tarp. And if you can, broom off the snow as it accumulates.

    With the skills you have, you shouldn't run into much, if anything, that you can't work through. Please post pix from time to time. We can all enjoy your progress from a distance. Good luck!

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