hello everybody, 1972 nomad newbie questions

[Louis Soto]

hi everybody, new to the forum and also new to rv'ing. i am from riverside california. i am 38 yrs young, married and have 3 wonderfull girls (3, 9, and 13). i build choppers (motorcycles) for a living. i deliver these bike pretty much anywhere in southern california. i love to take my family with me on "working vacations" when i do (usually over weekends). we love spending time by the beaches. a few weeks ago i went to visit a friend with my wife and i saw this trailer with a for sale sign sitting in a neighbors driveway. i commented to my wife how i always wanted to buy one but i could never justify the cost of buying it considering the amount of use i would give it. anyhow i asked my friend if he knew how much they where asking and he didn't know. we decided to walk overthere and ask. the owner said he was asking $500 or best offer. needless to say, i offered him $450 and we struck the deal. i couldn't believe my luck!!! it is a 1972 nomad and it is in very decent condition. the owner just never used it so he decided it was time to sell it. i have zero experience with trailers so please be patient as i have many questions. my first question is about the bad odor in the trailer. it smells like it's been closed for many years or something(kinda like mildew i guess). i looked around but i could not see any rot or mold. there is one little corner of the ceiling that had water damage but it has been repaired  and everything is quite dry. i have been reading about how these trailers tend to sweat. is there anything i can do to get rid of the smell? we will be reupholstering all the seat cushions and putting down some new linoleum flooring. we are kinda hoping that will take some of the smell away but i doubt it. any input folks? 

ps: here are a couple pics of what i do and the only pic i currently have of the trailer. will take some later today:

 

 

 

[Louis Soto]

wow! i guess if i think about it we do use alot more water for washing and showering so i will definately look into a tank which is twice as big! thanks for the input keith. i won't be doing anything to the shower as it is in very nice condition.

[William Briggs]

Good to read the update, Louis. Keith is right about the graywater ... you use more than you think.

You're right on track with your logic ... Best wishes,

[Keith Gigabyte]

hey bill or louis, do either of you know what kind of roof is on the nomad..mine has been coated with that white stuff before i bought it.  the roof is starting to show its age, and i want to recoat it.  I see there are several products available.  Can I use edm rubber coating  or do I need something else?  I have now knowledge on camper roofs..thanks for the help guys.

[Keith Gigabyte]

thanks, I appreciate any help I can get.  I have seen the eterna bond and snow roof at wally world but was unsure if it would work.

[Louis Soto]

i will be needing to seal up a few spots myself so this info is great. i used to live in a mobile home about 15 years ago and i wold use some stuff they sell at home depot for mobile homes, pretty sure it works for the camper also.

[Louis Soto]

hey guys just wanted to update this real quick. i have started putting down some vinyl tile and also reupholstering all the seat cushions. i had to stop to fix the floor at the very enterance of the camper and tool compartment. after taking the flooring out of that section i realized that the water damage was caused by the black water tank. the vent pipe that goes from the tank to the roof was just recessed into the tank and not glued so everytime the camper is moved the water seeps through the hole! it was difficult to make a good repair without having to tear into the walls of the trailer and flooring. i had to do the best i can and stop cutting out the subflooring at somepoint. i did the best i could to brace the subfloor with new 2x3'. after i got the 2x3s screwed in i layed down some new partical board sublooring to patch the parts i cut out. i ran out of time today but i will finish laying the vinyl tiles down next weekend and then keep remodeling the tool compartment and closet area which i will be turning into a smaller closet and entertainment center. here are some pics meanwhile!

[Keith Gigabyte]

louis..great photos...My 1976 looks just like yours except my wardrobe/closet is one door.  Anymore floor work please post some photos of the structure, as i'm ripping out the floor in the bath as well as the area you did.  My tub leaked and ruined the floor.  Im sure you already checked, but my ceiling leaked over the closet.  It was the vent line from the black water tank.  The line goes up to the roof in the conner of the closet; but it doesnt penetrate the roofline.  Instead they used some crappy roof flange adapter which became brittle and broke thus allowing water to enter camper..I repaired with a short peice of pvc conduit and a flat roofboot i bought at lowes.  I will get some new photos of our 1976 nomad as soon as we get it out of storage in teh mine.

Keith

[Louis Soto]

thanks keith. surprisingly the camper is in pretty decent condition as far as water damage(thank God!). the bulk of it was concentrated in the tool compartment at the back of the camper. in the picture which shows the repair in the tool compartment, i still have to put the final flooring in which will be 3/16 hardboard i bought at lowes, i just figured tools will be going in there so why bother putting down vinyl. i don't have any other pictures of the subfloor/frame. as far as the closet. i will be cutting the doors down in half to make a storage space and an entertainment center above. we have been busy reupholstering the seat cushions. we chose a dark brown for the seats and tan colored tiles that kinda look like wood for the floors. i have been looking for wood sheeting that look like the stuff on the walls but i haven't had any luck. anybody know where i might be able to find that stuff? up to now we have spent $100 on materials and it has gone a pretty long ways!

[Keith Gigabyte]

lois,

sitting here in the house while looking at the snow outside wishing is was able to work on our camper.  Have you done anymore to her?  I can't wait to start on the floor in our bathroom.  Hopefully I get it from the mine in early march.

keith

[Louis Soto]

hey keith, yep i been working on the uphosltery, the vinyl flooring and the closet in the back which turned into a slightly longer chore than planned. i will prolly be able to finish that area tomorrow. i have had to work on this a few spare hours on the weekends being that i am so busy in my shop during the week. i'll post some more progress very soon!

[Louis Soto]

hey guys just wanted to post a quick pic of the new closet/entertainment center i been working on. i basically cut the closet space in half and left the top part open for a tv. the tv is viewable from all the beds which will be nice when we are watching movies at night time! i will be adding some molding around the opening and the center post between the two doors and call it good............

[Jana Furzer]

Nice trailer and beautiful bikes. I have a Superbike husband myself who is in biz with his friend who is a Harley rider. They run www.twocycleguys.com  a powersports parts site. When not at their day jobs!

We live in Menifee Ca, so we are neighbors. I grew up on Victoria Ave. near Tyler.

We just brought home a 67 Streamline Prince from Montana and are loving it.

I would start with of course getting the old fabrics etc out- Cleaned if possible. And then wiping down everything with cleaner (lemon ammonia or Mr Clean with Frebreeze) Just- clean everything. Besides-it lets you lay claim to your trailer! After that maybe the smell will be gone. This is probably a "duh" for you and was already in the works I'm sure. As you clean it out though, you might find things here and there you might not see and that can be a plus!