Gearing Up for Renovation

I know last year we said we were going to renovate the camper a little bit, and nothing happened... but that's mostly because we realized that spending any money on that thing was going to be pretty wasteful. We DID get new wheels (and tires), and I sort of made new curtains? I really, really, super need a sewing machine. But that's not the point. The point is that this year we're genuinely serious about renovating. I'm freaking TERRIFIED, but I'm also super stoked and ready to get this going. So I've decided to share a few "naked" interior photos to start getting everyone else on the stoke train with me. (Seriously, I spend the majority of my free time watching trailer renovation videos... I can actually tell you more than you've probably ever wanted to know about RV electrical.)

Standing in the front looking back. That cabinet still won't stay shut- the latch is just too old and tired. I don't blame it. You can also see the super lovely broken window that we're still unsure how we're going to be able to replace, since part of the window frame has gone missing. UGH. We're getting rid of the bunk entirely and trying to decide if we want to do cabinets or some sort of shelving... or nothing at all. We might do some SMALL cabinets, but frankly with the plans we have I don't know how much more storage we'll need. I guess you can never have TOO MUCH storage.

I honestly have no idea how that big ugly spot in the middle of the kitchen cabinetry happened... or why so many things are set up the way they are. Though this trailer is one of the more space-efficient ones I've seen (unlike some Shastas I've seen that just completely waste a ton of space and it boggles my mind), there were some really interesting decisions made in the design process of the "kitchen" in particular. But hey, it was the mid 60s. Who knows what was going on.

At the top of this photo you can see the 12v light a previous owner installed (and not particularly well - not poorly, just... not well) that has been the only semblance of light we've been able to have in the trailer. I don't know what I'm going to do about the dings and knicks in the ice chest. I don't want to paint it because I really like the appliances and would love to keep them in as close to original condition as possible.

In the bottom left of this photo you get a lovely view of some of our water damage... it's no bueno.

Terrible flooring aside, natural light really helps this girl out.

Please appreciate my panoramic mad skilllllz. Ha. There are a lot of elements in this trailer I really like that I hope to keep, but there are a lot of things I'd like to change. Almost everything, actually, but I love all of the light wood (which is more of a veneer than an actual stain which is disappointing) and I obviously love all of the wood grain. That's one element in particular that I really hope to keep. That, the appliances, and the Formica (though it's getting replaced with NEW Formica) are the three things I really want to stay close to. The vinyl flooring though, that is definitely peacing out. Yuck.

Anyway, I'm pretty stoked to bring my vision (which I hope to share in another post soon... maybe...) to life, and I know by the middle of it I'll want to light the damn thing on fire, but I know the end result will be WORTH IT.

The Arrival of The Jackelope

OH MY GOSH IT'S HERE!! I'M SO EXCITED!

Brady chillaxin, relaxin all cool.

I even recorded a fun tour!

 The trailer currently smells horribly of an old person's house, but we've left a few of the windows open to air it out, and we're planning on spending the whole weekend cleaning and doing some starter reno. We have an appointment with the "RV Doctor" to come take a look at the wheels and bearings (we probably need new tires), and get the tail lights/brake lights/turn signals working (they weren't on the drive home... whoops). Next on the docket is a locksmith to open and rekey the three separate locks that we don't have keys for, and get the battery all charged. We're HOPING to take our first trip next weekend down to Hanksville to hang out and do a few canyons and see how she handles on the road before we drag her down there "permanently." The very next weekend (the first weekend of April) I'm already back in the thick of it, and renovation becomes "something we buy in Sandy and take down to Hanksville in the car and do reno at Duke's! (The RV park where we "live.") So it probably won't get painted (at least exterior) until it heads back up home to Sandy for the "middle" summer. (River season.) Regardless, I'm super excited and every time I see it sitting outside I get all giddy, like a little kid at Christmas. 

Here's even a sneak peak of the fabrics I've picked for the upholstery and the curtains (which, the current ones are absolutely hideous)! I feel like I managed to keep things relatively un-girly, while still keeping the retro feel in that super adorable curtain fabric. I am SUPER excited!!! (Can you tell?)

And, because I can't resist, FLOORING. OMG I'm so thrilled about this, it's ridiculous.

EEEEEEP!!

The Jackelope

So... we're buying a camper! WHOOOEEEE! It's something I've been wanting to do for a while (remember #14 on 30 Before 30?), and Brady and I had pretty casually discussed it a few times, but we'd never really gotten serious about it. However, this spring and fall I'm going to be in Hanksville most of the time, and as much fun as living in a tent 5 months out of the year sounds... I thought maybe I'd consider alternatives. One night just for funsies I looked on KSL to see how much the pop-up trailers generally run, and was a little disappointed to see that most of them were out of our price range. So then I decided to look at "actual" campers, and found a few for $500-800. I thought, 'we could manage that.' Then I brought it up to my friend Nate, whose response was, "I have one of those." And he sent me this picture.

Let me tell you what, my eyes about bugged out of my head. As we chatted about it for a bit, he said, "I've been thinking about offloading it." It took me a second to realize what he meant, and then I tried to gently prod him into admitting he'd like to sell it... (to me, obviously). He sent me a few more pictures, 

 and my want need for "the Jackelope" intensified... just LOOK at those adorable green appliances!!! Obviously it needs a little love, which is why he was interested in getting rid of it. Apparently he's had it for a couple of years and never got around to doing anything with it (meanwhile I'm mentally screaming "LET ME LOVE IT PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE"). He told me he had to think about it, and I grudgingly agreed to let him think it over. I talked to Brady about it and he was totally on board (assuming he wouldn't charge us an exorbitant amount to take it off his hands)!

Eventually about a week later, I brought it up again (Nate and I talk quite a bit, so it wasn't like we hadn't had any contact between those two interactions) and he agreed to sell it to us for a measly sum that I won't even mention except to say it's EXTREMELY reasonable. Now all I can do is obsessively comb through Pinterest for fun ideas and jump on the camper renovation blog bandwagon. So here I'll post the rest of the pictures he sent me, and when we actually go pick it up in a couple of weeks I'll take some pictures of my own, and save you the sounds of me "squeeing" on video. ;)

We'll call this one Sadie's bed! ;)

Little bunk above the main bed... aka where I keep all my fun gear!!

 Some SERIOUS lovin' is needed, and I am SO excited to give it!!!!!