| Author | Content |
GrandmaThyme
Lacey, WA
July 21, 2009
02:06 AM Post #6845079
| This isn't a garden project, but is a recycle one. It's my daughter's family project. They got it free on Craigslist and have given themselves 2 years to completely re-do it. My son-in-law loves working on engines, and we're ALL pretty much into do-it-yourself.
We spent much of today at a junk yard taking windows, doors, electrical parts, etc. out of some RV's that have been totaled in accidents to be used on the re-do.
Now isn't THIS the ugliest "before" shot you've EVER seen! Their kids are homeschooled, and Mom and Dad want to teach them that even old, ugly stuff can be redone and valuable...while teaching them a lot of different skills from gutting the whole RV to working on the engine to designing and creating the interior "furniture" and decor.
I'll have to share pics as they work on it...if it's OK to post it here since it's not a gardening project.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
July 21, 2009
02:32 AM Post #6845179
| Yes, it is definately ok to post this project here. I think they have taken on a wonderful project and that their children will have an opportunity to learn a great deal in the process. I'll look forward to seeing their progress and hearing how they take their prize out for it's first outing in about 2 years! |
the1pony
Pony in Lakewood, WA
(Zone 8a)
July 21, 2009
02:57 AM Post #6845201
| I actually kinda like it the way it looks now... but I'm weird like that. LOL! Sounds like a fun family project! |
Dirt_Road
Janice~ Gulf Coast, MS
(Zone 9a)
July 21, 2009
03:14 AM Post #6845212
| LOL.. Pony... I was digging that green color too... |
the1pony
Pony in Lakewood, WA
(Zone 8a)
July 21, 2009
04:10 AM Post #6845250
| *whew* Glad I'm not the only one... hehehe. |
sammut
western sydney nsw
Australia
July 21, 2009
06:16 AM Post #6845368
| Thate is one great family project I wish them all the luck it will be a very interesting 2 years watching the progress. I Love the colour to.
--------------------Elaine |
justmeLisa
Brewers, KY
(Zone 6b)
July 21, 2009
09:27 AM Post #6845762
| I'm jealous.
:0) |
GrandmaThyme
Lacey, WA
July 21, 2009
01:40 PM Post #6846698
| My daughter will get a BIG kick out all of you who said you like the color! The neighbors aren't quite so enamored with it as all of you seem to be! LOL! It was painted that color with a paint brush and regular house paint...the former owners had even painted over the windows!
The trip home with it was hilarious. First, they didn't put a lot of gas in it because they didn't want gas sitting in it during the re-do and ran out of gas TWICE on the way home. The brakes didn't work, so they took all back roads which took all the longer to get it home. One tire blew about 2 miles from home. AND, at one point, the engine caught fire! My son-in-law and son (who were the ones driving it home) did everything to put the fire out...grabbed the fire extinguisher from inside the motor home, pulled the pin and NOTHING HAPPENED...the fire extinguisher was dead! My son-in-law stood there BLOWING on the fire which finally went out...apparently it had burned whatever it was that was fueling the fire. THEN, when they got it to their house readying to back it into their back yard, they realized it would NOT go into reverse!
It's been QUITE the conversation starter...and my son-in-law has been VERY impressive finding parts through Freecycle and Craigslist. Somebody gave him all 4 tires and rims that were in EXCELLENT shape that were going be taken to the dump. Another guy gave him a roof air conditioner and an exterior ladder that were also on the way to the landfill. It's been such a good lesson for the grandkids already! |
bugme
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 7b)
July 21, 2009
02:53 PM Post #6847031
| Let the grandkids paint flowers all over it then it can be a "hippie" van. |
plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9b)
July 21, 2009
04:21 PM Post #6847396
| Love it! And I'm so glad you have posted it here on this forum, which is Trash To Treasure of any kind, not just landscape stuff! I look forward to the updates as the project moves forward!
I Love the color too ... my first thought was like what bugme said ... reminded me of the 1960's and Woodstock, a Hippie type vehicle! Back then it was old van's painted wild psychedelic colors with flowers all over.
Kudo's to your kids for recycling and teaching their children about saving this planet. They have found a treasure! If they never get it into running condition to use as a motor home, it would make a great backyard playhouse for young kids! |
MaryE
Baker City, OR
(Zone 5b)
July 21, 2009
04:39 PM Post #6847465
| Count another vote for the green paint. When I enlarged the picture and looked at the big front windows, (eyes) and the bumper (mouth) it almost looked like that old motor home was so happy it might smile back at me. It looks like a win/win situation, the former owner is rid of it, the new owners have their project, and oops, the neighbors are not too happy!
Got any pictures of the inside? |
Samigal
(Pegi) Norwalk, CA
(Zone 10b)
July 21, 2009
05:14 PM Post #6847609
| That is one colorful motor home! Too big a project for me, but what a learning experience for the kids. |
JuneyBug
Dongducheon CpCasey
South Korea
(Zone 4b)
July 21, 2009
05:20 PM Post #6847634
| What a neat family T to T project! uh, I'd guess that the neighbors would want the paint job to be the first thing that they tackle! |
Elena
Nashville, TN
(Zone 6b)
July 21, 2009
06:50 PM Post #6847965
| What a treasure and what an opportunity! I had a friend many years ago whose husband and their three teenage boys used to do this sort of things with Airstream campers. They always totally redid them, sold them and used the profits to start a new project plus save for the boys college tuitions. That family continued with their thrifty habits as long as they lived in our area and we knew them. They learned how to be money-wise, how to think through all kinds of projects and make silk purses out of many sow's ears. I can well imagine that this can be the same sort of project. I will watch this thread with great interest. |
bugme
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 7b)
July 21, 2009
07:03 PM Post #6848020
| Remember Herbie the Lovebug? A big smilie...LOL |
cpartschick
Gladwin, MI
(Zone 5a)
July 22, 2009
05:17 PM Post #6852169
| Reminds me of the movie "RV" hahahahaha
I like the green too, if it was painted instead of brushed on, it might look good. |
GrandmaThyme
Lacey, WA
July 22, 2009
06:08 PM Post #6852321
| OK...here's a couple interior pics. YES, the speedometer is in a coffee can...and how about that wiring? Thankfully, between my son and my son-in-law, the new electrical system will be awesome!
In the picture of the table, the big window is covered with plastic duct taped on which is stuffed with plastic bags...we assume for insulation. (My middle granddaughter, 11, said "at least they had side air bags!") The green shag carpet on the upright at the end of the bench was the original carpeting. The dark green interior made it look like a cave...especially with the windows painted over!
DD and family have completely gutted the interior, so it's currently empty. They're stripping off the green paint and will repaint it a neutral color to keep the neighbors happy. They're a little young to appreciate a hippie van. (Thank heaven as they live next door to hubby and I!) My daughter is an artist, so I'm excited to see what she'll create for the interior decor.
They will most likely have to remove the metal exterior to deal with the rotten/rusty parts and will then add stronger framing inside.
They got "new" windows by gutting some totaled motor homes at a local junk yard which are nicer windows and will really upgrade the look of it. They also got a whole stack of nice drawers from the same junkers that are made of plastic with wood fronts. The plastic will make the drawers lighter weight than all wood, and they got door fronts and cabinet drawers from another junker that they'll refinish for the interior.
This would be a financial impossibility if they weren't able to scrounge parts and do all the labor themselves. SIL and DS are pulling a duplicate engine from one of the junkers this weekend for spare parts when they start the engine work. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
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GrandmaThyme
Lacey, WA
July 22, 2009
06:09 PM Post #6852324
| Here's the next pic... 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
justmeLisa
Brewers, KY
(Zone 6b)
July 23, 2009
08:07 AM Post #6854391
| Grandma Thyme,
It is your civic duty now...you MUST keep us up to date on the renovation progress! *smiling* (We are a home schooling family also) |
kcviolet
Kansas City, MO
July 23, 2009
08:56 PM Post #6857242
| try googling "gypsy wagon". They could get some wonderful ideas from people who make their own gypsy wagons. Esp. how they do interiors to fit a lot of stuff in. |
LavinaMae
Grantsboro, NC
(Zone 8b)
July 28, 2009
01:58 PM Post #6876086
| Remember the Grizwalds.
I think they need a tag on the front with Griswald on it.LOL
Lavina |
dillansnana
Hemet, CA
July 29, 2009
02:45 AM Post #6878884
| Dear Grandma Thyme...I love reading about the R.V. What an awesome life lesson for the grandkids. My father died at age 92 over 20 years ago. I did not know it until recent years ( I'm 65 now) how much he taught me about recyclying and reusing. That was his way of life. Now finally at my age and settled in a sweet little home, enjoying reaping all the benefits of what I did not know I learned from him. Life is so good and so creative , such a blessing to save money and love all the special treasures in my home and garden...I had no idea I learned so very much from my dear daddy.
Blessing to you and yours, Sylvia Kinnee |
Samigal
(Pegi) Norwalk, CA
(Zone 10b)
July 29, 2009
04:22 PM Post #6881224
| Sylvia, you sound so very happy in your new little world of recycling. My mom showed us how to make great things from recycled items. There wasn't a craft that she didn't try and succeed at. She would have loved it here at DG. How often when I see a great piece of work redone I wish she was here to see it. |
dillansnana
Hemet, CA
July 31, 2009
05:52 AM Post #6888393
| Dear Samigal, I grew up in the San Gabrial Valley, not too fat from you. Daddy was the one who did all the recycle, and reusing. I remember 30+ years ago when he used old carpet around the
vegetables and flowers to keep out the weeds and I thought it was weird, not a bad idea.
Wish my dear daddy could see all we've done, however I feel he does see and and is so happy for his "little sweetie" and all the pleasures she is enjoying in her very happy enviroment. Sorry getting sentimental...
Sylvia |
kdm1000
Edelstein, IL
August 06, 2009
12:58 AM Post #6913122
| Grandma T,
Have not been on DG for a while but just saw this thread. You can add me as one who wants pictures as this project goes on. I loved the "getting it home story". Keep us up to date on future developments.
Lyn |
jjconcepts
Milford, CT
(Zone 6a)
August 18, 2009
04:34 PM Post #6961835
| how are you making out with the van? |
