DIY Full Rear Wall Rebuild on Retro 1976 Camper - Vintage RV Renovation

Follow along as we tackle the rotten back wall of this vintage motor home. Lots of wood rot! We'd really love to be able to repair the roof to stop further water from infiltrating this RV but needed to add some structure to the back wall before getting up on the roof. Along the way, we also discovered the some of the floor needed to be replaced as well. This is going to be one HUGE renovation project! We'd love your suggestions on what to do with this RV!!! Please subscribe and follow our progress as we revive this retro camper.
Kreg Jig (Pocket Hole Kit) - amzn.to/44osub0
Dicor Corner Seal Tape - amzn.to/3E79gMg
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Music Credits
Freedom by Roa (royalty-free and used with permission)
Feel the Wind by Roa (royalty-free and used with permission)
Music by Roa
/ roamusic

[@alanfoix9911]

Ya did a great job rebuilding. Peace ✌️

[@retrorevivals]

Thank you!

[@icecreamladydriver1606]

I have been enjoying watching this just to watch the pleasant interactions between the two of you. Thanks for the video.

[@retrorevivals]

We're glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching 😁

[@thisfoolserrand]

Dont listen to all the debby downers. Anything can be done with perseverance, a good attitude and some money. 😎

[@retrorevivals]

Thank you for the comment and the encouragement! We're looking forward to the project :-)

[@keithfrench5626]

It is okay to have fun, Keep it up.

[@retrorevivals]

Thanks for the comment, Keith! We're still working!

[@cindybundrick3469]

Great video! You know what you are doing!

[@retrorevivals]

Thank you, Cindy! We just released a new video today. You'll have to watch it and let us know what you think!

[@69marinus69]

Great videos. You make a great team working together on this project. I always loved those old dodge's. Hopefully you get out camping this year.

[@retrorevivals]

Thanks so much! We'd love to get it out camping at least once this year even if it isn't completely finished yet. Fingers crossed 🤞

[@jamesmcdonald5868]

So for the wood that is gonna be along the very bottom once you do your framing, and if that is exposed to the exterior regardless, you want to coat it with a roll on bedliner like the rhino bedliner that you can put in a pickup truck! That stuff will prevent any type of rust from forming! But make sure that you have everything that is going to be nailed to or butt up against it. Attach to it first! Living in Michigan myself. For many, many years I had AGM C Sonoma that was from 1996. I. Ended up starting to show signs of rust forming on the exterior face of the extended cab. So what I did was just below the mid door trim? I put a tape line and put. Rhino bedliner on the exterior of it and up underneath just where the bend and seam joints are for the body panels and rush never formed on that thing all the way up until two thousand and six when I sold the truck.

[@retrorevivals]

That's a good idea. We'll have to get some bedliner on that stuff to keep it from rotting again. Thanks for the comment 😁

[@nickhodges09]

“Funny story” I laughed so hard! Totally relatable! Keep up the good work.

[@retrorevivals]

We try to keep it real, lol. Thanks for watching :-)

[@CoffeeWalksandWhatever]

We are about to do the same thing as you with 78 GMC leprechaun

[@retrorevivals]

That sounds fun, good luck! Thanks for watching!

[@manolovillar1382]

What a great couple. Sorry great family with the kids 😊 I really enjoy watching your videos.

[@retrorevivals]

You are very kind. Thank you for watching!

[@bernedettekuteyi3843]

That back wall outside seems so soft

[@retrorevivals]

After we wire in the running lights and whatnot, on that back wall, we'll add insulation and some sort of adhesive, maybe liquid nails, to help hold the metal to the wood. The ladder will help too once we get it back on. Thanks for watching!

[@ColinBarrett001]

Excellent job. You guys are literally 'nailing' it! 🙂 Personally I wouldn't retain what's left of the 'Cruise Air' logo, but other views are also available... 😉

[@retrorevivals]

Thanks for that input. I think we're going to try to scrape off what is left of it on the back this weekend and then decide from there if we should get a new vinyl sticker made to go back on once we see if the back looks too bare or boring without it. Thanks again for watching.

[@dannyrispin2639]

Good vids keep it up

[@retrorevivals]

We really appreciate the comment and encouragement, Danny. Thanks for watching!

[@jamesthev5607]

Have you watched the sleeper dude Channel him and his family have been rebuilding RV also

[@retrorevivals]

Yes, we love Sleeperdude! Too bad we don't have goats anymore; looks like Rocky is a big help to them, lol. Thanks for watching :-)

[@dalejrfan820002000]

Ohio 🎉 That's where I'm from lol

[@retrorevivals]

That's where Tyler's from too! Thanks for watching! Please subscribe so you don't miss any of our upcoming videos :-)

[@МихаилЛевеляйнен]

Доброго времени суток. Республика Карелия. И так. Первое и оно же главное это работа с инструментами. Вы работаете без маски и очков и перчаток это очень плохо. Второе почему бруски которые ставили на заднею стенку не обработали.бруски со временем могут гнить заново. И еще как будет крепится лестница на крышу. Если к задней стенке то заднею стенку надо усилить. И все саморезы с наружи должны быть с нержавеющей стали иначе со временем заржавеют. Так что работы у вас много. Буду ждать продолжения. Здоровья вам и успехов.

[@retrorevivals]

Thank you for the suggestions. We appreciate you watching our videos!

[@jennifermirelez6346]

Hi I bought a trailer with no year or model and was wondering if you could help me identify it.

[@retrorevivals]

That sounds exciting! We aren't really trailer experts but I did just find out that if you have a picture of something, you can do a Google search using an image to try to find another image that looks like it. You may be able to find it that way. I think they call the tool Google Lens.

[@cindybundrick3469]

Where do you get that white to go inside that trim? I pulled one of mine off and there was none in there.

[@retrorevivals]

Good morning, Cindy, here is what we used - QPN White Vinyl 7/8" Insert Molding Trim Screw Cover RV Camper Travel Trailer (50 ft, White) a.co/d/ivGl5zI I believe there are different widths so I can't guarantee this will work for you but I think it's probably the most standard size. It goes in what seems like upside down. Good luck with your project!

[@cindybundrick3469]

What is the white cover piece that you used in those channel pieces and what size?

[@retrorevivals]

Good morning, Cindy, here is what we used - QPN White Vinyl 7/8" Insert Molding Trim Screw Cover RV Camper Travel Trailer (50 ft, White) a.co/d/ivGl5zI I believe there are different widths so I can't guarantee this will work for you but I think it's probably the most standard size. It goes in what seems like upside down. Good luck with your project!

[@alanfoix9911]

I have a retractable rv awning. Everything but I don't have the fabric. Available. Peace ✌️

[@retrorevivals]

Thanks! We're trying to decide if we want to add an awning back on. I think we'll probably remove the hardware and patch the wholes and decide later if we should add one. Where it was, one of the arms of the awning blocked a storage compartment which wasn't ideal.

[@r.clydelockley5839]

It looks like you need an engine rebuild! How is the transmission?

[@retrorevivals]

Thanks for the comment. We still need to do some additional investigation with the engine. A rebuilt is not out of the question. As far as the transmission goes, we have some concerns there too but fluid looked good and it shifted ok. Keep watching 🙂

[@johnnymack8442]

Why did you not use pressure treated wood? I watch a lot of camper rebuilding videos. As I want to do this soon. And it's something I noticed in all of them. Is there a reason for no pressure treated? Thanks

[@retrorevivals]

Hi Johnny, thanks for watching. So, about the wood, there's a few reasons... The main one is that, in theory, it shouldn't ever get wet so pressure treated wouldn't be necessary. Also, pressure treated is heavier and more expensive. It is also generally damp (with chemicals) and not ideal to enclose that moisture in a wall. Hope you subscribe and keep watching 🙂

[@ColinBarrett001]

Also the pressure treatment uses copper which reacts with the aluminium siding to corrode it.

[@raymondcarroll306]

Cannot understand why you never jet washed the RV before dismantling it

[@retrorevivals]

We really would have liked to have done a good cleaning first. We actually didn't intent to take the whole back wall off but, once we started really digging in, we didn't have a choice. Plus, we had a stretch of about 5 days where there was no rain forecasted so we just went for it. Thanks for watching!

[@reubenj.cogburn8546]

I know everyone has their own way of doing things. I cannot grasp the idea of knowing that this antique engine is bad, and have no clear plan on addressing that problem, while proceeding with all the other ongoings. All the other things can be tinkered with. The elephant in the room, is the engine. They stopped making that engine 45 years ago, and that is going to cost you.

[@retrorevivals]

Yeah, we definitely have a ways to go to be out of the woods with the engine. We have ideas on some things to try to get it to come around but, if not, we may need to rebuild or consider other options such as a crate motor. We hope you keep watching!

[@reubenj.cogburn8546]

@@retrorevivals I spent over 40 years as an auto mechanic. Given the age and condition of the engine, any repairs to it have less than a 20% chance of working, and that is being real generous with "positivity". It's the fact that it's a big block that's killing you here. Most worthwhile engines still floating around out there got snapped up decades ago. Another thing to remember is that crate motors are not what they used to be. As of today, I know of none, zero, outfits out there selling engines that are known reliable companies. There are some racing outfits out there that built very good products, for 7 to 20 thousand dollars. Outside of them, the only reliable sources for this kind of thing our local rebuilders who actually do the work themselves.. 85% of remanufactured engines in the United States come from Mexico. It is a different world out there now. I just put together an old vortec 350 Chevy and I had to give up $600 for a set of lifters because all the Chinese lifters out there are dropping like flies. Yeah, I think you kind of stepped in it this time, but I wish you the best of luck.

[@elianbarajas2869]

😂just turn it into a flatbed at This point

[@retrorevivals]

And miss out on all this fun?!? Lol 😂

[@amandakoester9406]

Underestimate time for a project🤔?!? What, who, you?

[@retrorevivals]

Haha, you finally watched 😁