Not For the Squeamish: Part 2

I fear that until there is nothing left but a frame this may be a continuing series. As bad as these pictures look they just can't properly portray the conditions we are finding. I think the rule of thumb is 1) if the trailer looks good it has water damage, 2) if the trailer has water damage don't be optimistic on how much you are going to save. In light of recent events we are rebuilding from the frame up.

Everything worth doing is worth overdoing.

 The curb side tin has been pulled. Here is a good corner.

 The roof slopes from the back to the front. I shouldn't be surprised that more than a few of the 1x2s weren't actually connected.

As Jerad mentions, the pile of structure is getting larger underneath the walls. We need to get the sides templated before there is more pile than structure.

Not for the squeamish

We have finally made some honest-to-God progress on the trailer renovation.  Maybe progress isn't the right word.  Let's call this "discovery."  In case you missed John's previous posts, the trailer required some shoring since some of the wood framing had rotted out.  The first order of business was removing all loose items from the inside.  Then we started taking off exterior pieces and set the goal of removing the lower panel of skin on the back to see exactly how much rot we were dealing with.

The last picture with her skin still on.  Not too bad, right?

Here is how the entire back of the trailer is currently being supported - 2x4s and nails.  It's not pretty, but it's doing the job.  

The inside was easy.  We started on removing trim that secured the back panel.  I started getting a bad feeling when the screws were all so rusted we couldn't get them out with the drill because they'd strip out immediately.  While John was cutting screws off, I was working on the screws along the bottom edge and realized they were just spinning.  So I got down on my hands and knees and peered underneath the trailer for the first time.  I had two thoughts: 1) it's going to be easier to peel the skin off than I thought. 2) At this point, the skin might be structural.

First piece of skin is off!  And oh my...

John won the contest for who's side lost the biggest chunk of wood.  There is nothing left of the corner support.  There were no vertical supports in the back panel.  The 2x4s John installed are holding up the whole damn thing.  Did I mention the floor supports are also rotted?

The pictures don't do it justice.

This project just became much more complicated.  John left it up to the resident structural engineer (me) to come up with a light-weight solution that can be installed piece by piece since we can't take it apart without it completely coming apart.  Insulation will be interesting.  But the weight restriction is what will make things a challenge.  I'm open to suggestions.