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New member introduction.
Hello, I am happy to find this form. I just got a 84 lazy daze. Well cared for and in great condition. That said, I have plans. Before my woman and I hit the road full time, we plan on doing renovation.

For renovations we plan on taking everything out and redoing the Ceiling and walls by taking out the old fiber glass and putting in wool and replace any bad timbers. Dry heat and Newtons lake has made the fiber glass into dust.

To do so I am taking out every thing inside. Cabinet doors and drawers are easy, but I want to ask this group, how to take the walls and roof out inside without massive destruction or going from the outside in. It's a head scratcher on how it's nailed and screwed. Sadly every screw I have taken out has had rust on it.

Now after I replaced the walls I will rebuild the inside keeping the bathroom and kitchen layout and changing the living room area.

I would like to sell the three way fridge, generator, roof A/C unit and toilet out of this guy as I have different plans for those spaces.
84 22' Front Lounge

Re: New member introduction.
Reply #1
Hello, I am happy to find this form. I just got a 84 lazy daze. Well cared for and in great condition. That said, I have plans. Before my woman and I hit the road full time, we plan on doing renovation.

For renovations we plan on taking everything out and redoing the Ceiling and walls by taking out the old fiber glass and putting in wool and replace any bad timbers. Dry heat and Newtons lake has made the fiber glass into dust.

To do so I am taking out every thing inside. Cabinet doors and drawers are easy, but I want to ask this group, how to take the walls and roof out inside without massive destruction or going from the outside in. It's a head scratcher on how it's nailed and screwed. Sadly every screw I have taken out has had rust on it.

Now after I replaced the walls I will rebuild the inside keeping the bathroom and kitchen layout and changing the living room area.

I would like to sell the three way fridge, generator, roof A/C unit and toilet out of this guy as I have different plans for those spaces.

A little of my background, I worked on LDs for over twenty years and have done all sorts of major repairs and modifications .

The interior, along with the rest of the coach, was not designed to come apart.
Everything is extremely well screwed and GLUED together, nothing comes out in one piece.
The interior wall are built first and then the cabinetry was screwed and glued in from the outside, so none of this comes out without destroying it .
You would have to cut holes in the interior paneling to access the insulation.
Removing the roof is a HUGE job, only done when there is extensive rot in the ceiling, something only the Factory should do.
If you insist on disassembling an RV, buy another, cheaply built RV, it will come apart more easily .

The insulative value of a inch or two of fiberglass is minimal. Replacing all it, if that was possible, wouldn't make much of a difference in comfort.  The windows  and  hatches let in a lot of cold and heat.
I suggest a refinishing of what's there, painting the walls and refinishing the cabinet doors.
What are your plans after gutting the appliances?  I can see replacing the 3-way refrigerator, if it is the original, due to its age.

Larry


Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze

Re: New member introduction.
Reply #2
Hello, I am happy to find this form. I just got a 84 lazy daze. Well cared for and in great condition. That said, I have plans. Before my woman and I hit the road full time, we plan on doing renovation.

For renovations we plan on taking everything out and redoing the Ceiling and walls by taking out the old fiber glass and putting in wool and replace any bad timbers. Dry heat and Newtons lake has made the fiber glass into dust.

To do so I am taking out every thing inside. Cabinet doors and drawers are easy, but I want to ask this group, how to take the walls and roof out inside without massive destruction or going from the outside in. It's a head scratcher on how it's nailed and screwed. Sadly every screw I have taken out has had rust on it.

Now after I replaced the walls I will rebuild the inside keeping the bathroom and kitchen layout and changing the living room area.

I would like to sell the three way fridge, generator, roof A/C unit and toilet out of this guy as I have different plans for those spaces.


Welcome to the Lazy Daze Owners' Forum, nametoolongtotype. Do you have a common name we may call you? And maybe your "woman" has a name and a role in this renovation? And what model LD do you have?

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB

Re: New member introduction.
Reply #3
Thank you and nice to meet you Larry. As soon as I can I shall post pictures and videos if this site can handle it.
It is a 20 foot Front Lounge style
The previous Owner had totally overhauled the cab over due to water damage from the window and repaired the Driver side bay window, though I will need to reseal it. He replaced the roof swamp cooler with a standard vent. Upon inspection of the area and the fist size hole next to it, there has been water damage and the Insulation has turned to dust. The roof area near the Fridge and A/C is Squishy and can see the waves from water damage. There is a roof rack holding a cargo box that seems is blotted on from the bottom ::) (there are two aluminum bars it is bolted to and they are bolted to the roof.) I climbed up on the roof yesterday to take it off and figure out mounting solar. So I am suspecting that as a cause of water issues too.  I am happy to know Lazy Daze builds to last till total destruction. So I had considered taking my Dremel tool and carving out roof panels around the cabinets on the inside. Replacing the damage I can find and panel it up.

I forgot to mention it before, but I will also have to work in the bathroom. When I press down with my hand on the shower pan I can hear the Fiber glass Crackle, that just shows its age but I was wanting to reinforce it for used. Also on the rear window area the wood has rotted out and from outside under the driver side rear corner I can pull out rotting wood.

As far as the appliances, The roof A/C is suspect for water damage so I had plan on taking it out for inspection. Since I plan on more Boondocking, I will put in the largest fan I can. I own a 250W solar set up with a 24V chest style fridge/freeze, so with that I plan to replace the old fridge and generator. The fridge works, the generator needs TLC (new circuit card?) but the box it took is a good size for my golf cart batteries. Finally the ThedFord Toilet, of which I am told that no one has used the Black tank in 10 years, is getting replaced with a composting toilet. I want a Natures Head.

Chris, I fixed it, thank you
Nice to meet you too, My woman is playing the strong supportive type and has a list of demands to make it livable. I scare her with talk of rotting insulation. She has a name, but is shy. We have a 84 20ft Front lounge style.
84 22' Front Lounge

 
Re: New member introduction.
Reply #4
Welcome and good luck.
What Larry says about LDs is always right.

If you are going into full demo mode, realize the cabinetry is screwed in from the outside before the siding is installed, with, I would estimate, #10 wood screws. I would start with a recip saw, and plan on cutting them out in pieces.  Afterwards, the walls and ceiling will be ready to replace. A big job.

Re-plumbing with PEX will be great, and new electric system with Re-wiring too. I would also worry about the weight of new cabinets you build back in, they will get heavy very quickly, and I don’t think that era of chassis has much room for adding weight.  Start with a weigh-in when empty and wet before you begin!

There is some nice insulation available, I like Thinsulate for vehicles, really damps noise well.  With a layer of polyiso foam too you can get a nice package.  But the windows are gonna be windows.  Before tearing things out, remove those and set aside. You don’t want to replace them probably. 

Good luck, I for one would love to see all this photo-documented.
Paul
'92 Mid Bath