1961 SC Restoration in Utah

[ajpace]

My name is Adam and I am a Shastaholic. Glad I got that out of the way. I started researching how to restore Shasta trailers in January of 2011 because I knew my dad still had his from when I was a kid. I am an avid wood worker and wondered if it would be possible for me to complete. I used this forum extensively as well as a few blogs that have been mentioned on this forum. I picked up the trailer at the end of February and according to my dad the trailer was in great shape and would be camp ready in a week or less. When I saw the damage on the inside from water I almost cried. I will never buy anything from my dad site unseen. I brought the trailer home in a snow/rain storm with a busted out front window. My wife and I sat in the trailer and watched water stream in at almost every window. I almost sold the trailer that weekend. My 4 year old daughter and Red Dirt's blog convinced me to keep it. I did the best I could restoring it and tried to keep it as original as possible. I did not have the resources to take it all the way to the base so I reinforced it with oak all over the place. We painted it, with the help of my brother in law, last week. The color is bright and retro. We rebuilt the rear bumper to get the spare tire out of the way, and I can also haul my bikes on a rack to races. We have camped in it a few times and we love it. Here is a link to the photos from start to finish. Thanks

www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1669833631146.2081332.1396505816&l=a0d0f9051f&type=1

[LittleVintageTrailer]

Hi Adam and welcome!

You did a fantastic job on this! I love the color and the interior is now once again beautiful.

[kevschofield]

Wow.. great series of pictures.
Another example of a fine refurb~
Congrats and enjoy your efforts!

[nomad]

Wonderful job!! Its always nice to see one of these trailers brought back to this condition, have fun!

[youngfd]

WOW Great job!! I would like to pick your brain on a few items. Jim

[ajpace]

Jim,
I would be happy to help in any way possible. This site has been an unbelievable resource to me in this process.

[youngfd]

Can you email me off forum at [e-mail]? Thanks, Jim

[cdraz]

Your set up is just like my 1962................................yours is looking awesome!!

[cdraz]

How did you do the stripe??

[ajpace]

I used Mother's Aluminum Polish and elbow grease. We masked it with blue take before we sprayed. To remove the tape we carefully cut the paint/tape line with a razor blade before peeling the tape.

[cdraz]

Thanks, it looks really great! I have paint over bits of my stripe and might check out an auto body in regards to a pinstripe.,

[mjkissel]

Looks great!
What color / brand did you use to paint the upper half? I like it a lot. It Has more of an off white look not a bright white.

[jeajsa]

Nice job Adam! I hope mine turns out as well as yours did!

[62shasta]

Hey Adam! I'm in Utah also we just finished painting our 62 Shasta!

[ajpace]

mjkissel,
We used a DTM (direct to metal) acrylic from Reno Paint Mart. We picked an off white from the Kelley Moore paint sample book. I have hesitated to post this information because I am not happy with the paint choice. I love the color, but the paint is not that great. We had a hard time getting the paint to dry hard enough to peel the tape off. We had to use a razor blade to cut the paint edge just to get the tape off. After the first rain that the trailer went through, the paint started to peel below the stripe. I had to re-sand and re-prep and re-paint. So far it is holding up. I suspect I will be repainting it before too long.

[chelsea]

did you do much to the under carriage? I am curious if I should remove the old wood and replace it and at the same time paint the frame. would like your input. thanks

[Hamlet]

Congratulations on your beautiful "new" family member. Your daughter will remember not just the camping trips, but also "helping" her parents bring it back to life. Have you given him/her a name?

[boandsusan]

I bet you are sooo proud. So you should be. You`ve done a great job!

[familyof6]

Hi Adam,
I just bought a 1961 Shasta SC two days ago...I have questions for you on how you did your work...did you keep the aluminum skin on when you worked on her frame? I can't tell...I'd love your step by step guide on how you did it...where did you start? how long did it take you? I'm not attempting to do a full on restoration, but would like to repair any damaged rotted wood, replace panels, take off old caulk around the seams and windows and reseal them to make the exterior cleaner. Thanks!

[connielhobbs]

I'm restoring a '61 Shasta SC and after spending months, literally, on stripping and sanding the birch paneling I haven't yet decided on stain or just shellac. What did you do? My SC was 90% gutted when we bought it so I'm always looking at cabinets and gouchos, are the cupboard doors above the front goucho original? I just have a gaping hole and didn't know how I would make it functional. Very, very nice job on your Shasta!

[squirrelmom]

That is an awesome job ya'll did! I love the pictures of your precious ones peeking thru the cargo door! I think your daughter ought to be the one to pick out the name for your Shasta. I'll bet you're glad now she talked you into keeping it and going thru with the project.