The DREADED Polishing

We are trying two different systems to polish the trailer.  The traditional compound polisher way using Nuvite (F7) and the Jestco way with a cotton batting wheel and grey and rouge bars.

Traditional nuvite method... 3 hours worth

Traditional method.... note the deep scratches where the previous owner had built a deck from. Yuck

Traditional method with Nuvite from front window to edge of endcap took 10 hours

Jestco method on rear endcap... approximately 2 hours of work.  

Jestco method

Initial polishing went MUCH quicker with Jestco grey bar but the red/rouge bar does not seem to  shine the surface up like the F7 nuvite.  We are toying with the idea of using the grey bar initially and then switching to the Nuvite polishing method for next step.  The Jestco way seems more stressful on your wrists compared to the Nuvite way..  We will keep everyone up to date on our progress.  We hate polishing!


More photos below........   After using both systems we are still leaning towards the Perfect Polish way... definitely slower but ultimately turns out nicer in our hands.  We really wanted to like the other way but at least in cooler Vermont it did not work as well for us.

New curtains for the trailer

Above the kitchen sink...I am showing them closed for the full effect!

Above the double bed

Even the endcap windows have curtains.  We only left the jalousie window bare due to it's awkward size and overall coolness!

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I collected a whole bunch of souvenir vintage handkerchiefs off of ebay for cheap.  Evidently people collected them on their vacation travels like we would collect bumper stickers.  They have a very fifties vibe to them and although my trailer is a 1960, I think it has more of a fifties feel to it with it's pink bathroom sink(and toilet which unfortunately I had to toss).   The problem was how to use them in the trailer.  My sister Shelly and I brainstormed and came up with a perfect solution....curtains!!   I needed them anyway and I wanted something light and bright to give us privacy but not gloominess to the trailer.   Shelly, being a jack of all trades and master to most,  whipped them up in no time.  If I need more darkness, I do have leftover reflectix cut to fit the window openings.





We even covered the front new LED lights with a handkerchief....looks great with the light on and gets rid of that NEW light feel.....  I have to say it is finally fun to do something completely frivolous in the trailer.

We had a problem with the curtains falling away from the trailer as they reached the bottom of the window.  We glued small rare earth magnets on the screens and made our on magnets using old game pieces.  We placed three magnets on each small window and four on the large windows fore and aft.  This way we could use the magnets when the curtains were in the open and closed position.  Worked well and it was a fun easy project!   Loved the superglue by 3M!

More bathroom photos

Bathroom vanity was finally fixed into place with the plumbing installed

Replaced the faucet since the other one had so much corrosion it was not salvageable.

Notice the Hepvo drain/trap to save space 

Placed the upper bathroom cabinet in...still have not decided on light fixtures.

Finalizing the finish on the resurfaced vanity

Camping at Lake Carmi

Yes the inner door is polished.  We love our jalousie windows

Kids in the group had an enormous raft to frolick on!

In the heat of the"Set Back" tournament.  Our daughter Hannah ended up taking the trophy home!!

Every year we camp for 4 days at Lake Carmi with a wonderful group of people!  We swim, canoe, have a card tournament with a game called "Set Back" which is frighteningly competitve, and drink way too much beer.  This year was memorable since for it was our MAIDEN outing with our trailer.  Yes, we still have no refrigerator or stove, and there was only running water to our bathroom sink which was not heated, and our propane lines are not in, but it was FABULOUS.   No more tenting for us. Period. THE END.    We took too few photos primarily because we were having too much fun!!

Plumb tired

So we tackled the PEX plumbing and it wasn't as bad as we thought.  Fortunately my office manager's husband is a plumber and with a quick lesson and a gracious borrowing of his tools I was able to plumb our trailer.  Yes I made lots of mistakes but PEX is very forgiving.  Except for wasting a few extra clamps and the fact I had a 100 feet of both red and blue line which gave me plenty of wiggle room we were good to go!  No leaks the first time we tested.  That was pretty awesome!

Pierre our plumber did help us with the copper to pex connections at the tub and the water heater

Connections were tricky around the tub in the rear of the trailer

Fresh water tank is from vintage trailer supply