Getting ready to begin resto on 86 Rockwood

[Eric Plough]

   Hi guys, I'm Eric and I'm new to the sight. This last winter I procured an 86 Rockwood Class C MH, it's in pretty poor condition but it has a lot going for it too........ I think. It has the International IDI diesel and Ford C6 trans. After it sat for several years I started it and drove it for 400 miles to get it home without issue. This was my parents motor home and it means a lot to me to keep it now that my mother is gone and she and my dad had such a great time in it, otherwise given it's condition I would likely have scrapped it. And so it begins............

   As far as the box is concerned it is looking a lot like a complete demo and rebuild. I will be gutting the interior this spring (if it ever gets here). The interior layout from the factory looks pretty cluttered and inefficient. This build will set up the motor home (yet to be named) for two people only so that should allow me to get rid of some features and dead weight intended to allow 6+ people to sleep inside. It has a rear birth that I want to get rid of and use that space to improve and enlarge the bathroom. The forward birth over the cab has very little head room so I'm thinking of raising the roof Like Dave Creu did on his Dodge MH. This should free up a lot of space on the main floor.

   The kitchen also seems to be a space waster. I am feeling like I want to put everything on one wall, as it sits now the refrigerator is behind you when you stand at the sink/range leaving nothing but a narrow walk way between. The three way fridge is a monster an I can only assume that it weighs a ton. With my wife along for the ride I have to assume that we'll be spending most of our time in parks rather that dry camping so I intend to replace the fridge with a 120 volt apartment size unit.

   As for the exterior, siding is going to be the biggest problem to solve. The original siding, a corrugated fiberglass and is impossible to find and if I could I'm sure that it would cost prohibitive to use. I had considered using reinforced fiberglass panels like the Kurth Family did in their Class C resto but have heard that this is not a good option as there is no UV protection with this material. My next option is a form of T-111 that is quite a bit thinner than the stuff that you see on the side of barns and has a pattern milled into it that looks a bit like wains cotting. If I go the T-111 rout I will give it 2 coats of oil based primer and three coats of latex exterior house paint. I have also been told that this is not a good option for several reasons, not the least of which being weight. Any input here would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading my first installment and lets get those comments coming. 

   Thanx.

    Eric