Getting ready to use '68 Deville this season

Outside color design

Inside of camper

well, it is that time again, getting the old camper ready for another season of camping. After working on this vintage camper last year, it is time to finish up and enjoy this camper. There are three areas that I will begin working on soon. The first area will be finishing the main sleeping area which needs a new mattress and finding a better place for the TV. The Second area of work will be the bathroom. When I bought this camper the floor in the bathroom was completely rotten  and needed to be replaced. I have replaced the complete bathroom floor and put new tile down. I wonder if I should try to install a regular flushing toilet or use a toilet that has to be taken out and dumped? The third area will be installing a window air conditioner for keeping cool in the hot summer. While I live the  mountains of North Carolina, in the summer months it can get very warm. I will be trying to find a good location for the installation that will be stable and can be removed at a later time.I know I will have to build a frame to set the air conditioner in order for it to rest solid in the window. As you can see in the pictures, I have my old TV and VHS system ready to go. But the question remains, where is the best location? I will be trying several locations to see what will work best. And so the work begins, I will be writing and sharing more pictures as I finish up work on this great old vintage camper. Thanks for following this blog..

Repair that old camper: Could save more than you think!

Working on my 1969 De ville has opened my eyes t0 the benefits of fixing up older campers and using them again.  Whenever I think how nice it would be to have a new camper, I can't help thinking about the total cost. There is the cost of the camper which is very high, interest charges, state and local taxes, and of course the money paid to store and maintain the camper each year. These costs can add up fast and can rob you of future wealth. It is important to understand why we enjoy camping and why it is such an appealing activity. In my case I have found that it can cost less than staying in a hotel and if you know how to  set up your campsite can be very relaxing. I have also found that in my job as a minister stress can cause major health issues as we age. Therefore I am always looking for ways to relieve or reduce stress in my work. Camping can be an excellent way of unloading stress and getting back to the things that really matter. 

There are a number of important areas you must address in order to enjoy camping in an older camper.  First,  make sure the camper is road worthy and in good structural condition. You don't want your camper falling apart while you are driving down the road. Second, make sure all the systems are working. When I say systems, I mean your gas, water, electric, and sewer. These are vital if you are going to make your camping experience enjoyable. If you don't understand how these systems work or don't have time to work with them find a local RV repairman or shop and have it done. Believe me it will pay for itself many times over.Third, may sure you have all the supplies you need before you set off on your trip. Many of these supplies can be picked up at flea markets and yard sales at great prices and are perfect for keeping in your camper. Also make sure that you check for water leaks every six months. I also watch for insects and spray according to what I see. I suggest you go on mini-camping trips at a camp site near your home and try camping out before you take a long trip. This way you will get a feel for camping and be able to test your camper out to make sure all your systems work. Also you will know what to plan for on your next big camping trip.

 Take a second look at that old camper, it just might save you thousands of dollars and undo stress from having to make payments. I believe you will find a rich blessing in giving an older camper a second chance to serve and be used again. I will try to post some recent pictures of my '69 deville camper and what it looks like since I finished repairs. Keep on camping and enjoy life again.  thanks

More pictures of work on the Deville

68 Deville exterior

Hole in bathroom floor

Bathroom pics

replacing front floor

Here are some recent pictures showing new work.

1968 Catolac Deville, Replacing rotten wood.(Part 1)

After a rainy night I noticed that the front part of this camper was leaking. At first I thought water was coming through a couple of hole in the tin, but after a more careful inspection I knew it was coming in around the main widow. Water had been coming in around the widow for a number of years which resulted in rotten wood on both side of the widow. In order to correct the problem I decided to to remove the widow and the tin from the front to replace the rotten wood and make the front stronger.First , I had to remove the J channel trim from both sides. Once removed I started to remove the tin from each of the corners. I found that the tin had small brad nails holding it down which had to be removed before the tin could be lifted off. I removed all the tin from front and began to remove the rotten wood. I noticed that the wood in the middle of the camper was fine, but was rotten on both ends. I was careful to follow the design and pattern of the wooden frame. I also replaced the frame around the widow with 3/4 inch plywood. This was much stronger than the original wood. This project took about 7 hours to complete, including trips to pick up wood and supplies. It is always a good idea to have a helper in doing such a repair because an extra set of hands makes a big difference. I will continue with this repair in the next post, check back for the completion of this repair. thanks

1968 Catolac Deville work continues..

This past week I began work on the vintage deville and started repairs on the floor. The bathroom floor and the area around the stove needed repair because of water damage from a leaking pipe. This trailer was built well back in 1968, but when leaks are allow to continue over time it will cause wood rot.  I have been suprised how easy this camper is to work on. There is penty of room, and the floor sections were easy to remove. The bathroom floor rotted out because the toilet was leaking and it continued over a number of years. Once we removed the bad wood, the supporting boards were in good shape. Whenever I repair a floor section I always use foam in a can to fill in cracks and weak areas, it fills well and drys super strong. Here are a few pictures of the work on this vintage camper. Thanks for visiting my site. I will post more pictures as the repairs continue. thanks

1968 Catolac Deville camper restoration



     I just purchased a 1968 Catolac Deville, and like you perhaps I thought the cadillac Deville was a car. But there is company that built travel trailers from the 1950's until the 1970's. Builder of DeVille Trailers 9573 East Garvey Blvd. El Monte, CA 91733 “Dealers in Western States Only” These campers were built very well, meaning they were built to last. There slogan for the company was, “It's Not How Many You Make, But How Well You Make Them” - That's The Catolac Way



outside view, like the widows



inside needs work, missing panels

     I was not aware of the many companies that built campers in the 50's for a nation that was becoming more mobile and taking more vacations on the road. I found out that the catolac corp. built a number of Deville models and many of these campers have features that are found on high end campers today. I still don't know how they could have a name so close to Cadillac and not have problems from GM. Anyway, I am looking forward to starting this project, and I know it will be a lot of fun. I hope you will follow along in my blog as I  work on restoring this vintage travel camper. Sign up for the RSS feeds and you will get updates as I post them. I am always looking for new ideas, so please share them with me. thanks.I hope to have pictures for each step along the way toward rebuilding this classic camper.

How to repair a leak in motorhome roof.

Had 4 leaks and rotten wood

     One of the most damaging events to happen to any motor home is to have a leak develop and not repair it for months or years. This will cause more damage to the framing and structure of a motor home than any other problem. The motor home in the picture had water damage because of four leaks that was never repaired. I had to repair the ceiling and replace rotten wood.Most motor homes have a frame that is built to support the cab and living area, and to save on weight these frames are often built with a light weight wood. When this wood is allowed to get wet it will set up rot which can often become serious in few years.

     I have owned motor homes which had to be completely rebuild because of water damage. With regular maintenance water damage can be prevented.
The first step in preventing water damage is to do a yearly inspection of the roof making sure to check seams and areas around vents and roof vents. These are the most important areas to check because these are the place where you motor home has cut holes and water will find a way to get in. I have seen motor home owners  who thought their vehicles roof was water tight, only to discover on a rainy night it wasn't. Once you have completed inspecting your roof, it is time to prevent leaks with a simple task. Instead of buying a high dollar roof coverage coating from your RV dealer, I always chose the least expensive route. I go to Wal-mart and purchase a good paint brush and roller painter to apply a product called "Cool-top" a white roof coating. It works great on metal roofs and will also work on rubber roofs as well.  It goes on like paint but it will work to stop any leaks you may have. Make sure you apply a thick coating with the paint brush around vents and window openings. Extend your coverage at least a foot beyond the vents or window vents. This will ensure that water will not get into any cracks or openings. If you have a metal roof and it has seams make sure you coat the seams a foot beyond. Once you have coated the roof, seams, and vents and let it dry, always apply another coat just to make sure. This coating will last a year or longer depending on your weather.
      If you think you have water damage in your motor home check for soft spots in your ceiling and any water stains. Also be careful while on the roof, it may not support your weight if their is rotten wood. Make sure each year to inspect your roof and apply roof coating as needed.  Keep going and get out there to see our great country.