I'm not sure how the lift system works on a Chalet, but it sure works better than the stuff FWC put in ours originally.
Now this escalated quickly today.
The original plan for today was to install the section of a factory Blazer top to the front wall of the camper. We had talked yesterday about at least changing out the cab over floor while we were here since having it out would allow us to seal up the Blazer top section to the front wall. But as these things go, Ian got to thinking, we've got it apart this far leaving the front cab wall in place when it's also made of particle board we might as well change it. So we got to tearing stuff up.
The first to come out is the rotten cab over floor. But to do so you need to pull all the screws out that go in horizontally and vertically up from the bottom.
A quick slice down the middle and the rotten boards come out free.
Next up is the cab wall. It put up a little fight, but despite being laminated with formica it was still soft in spots. It was smart we went ahead with removing it.
Getting it out in one chunk allowed us to use it as a templet for size and laying out the holes for the bolts to go through to the cab. We were not going with the shape of the pass-through opening. The opening is to be cut to the full size of the opening like mine.
In order to get this all done we did have to unbolt the camper and slide it back a bit to allow some room to work.
This is for me to see how far I need to pull it out so I can quiet the squeaking squirrel cage for my furnace.
The new cab wall in place for tracing the opening from the cab.
Checking fitment of the Blazer top section.
By far the dirtiest part of the project. Ugh.
Laying out the cut section to the cab wall.
To seal the plywood off from the elements and a easy surface to clean we added some FRP wallboard to the cab wall.
While waiting for glue to dry, we took on a little issue that will aid in the canvas folding in when the top is lowered. There are multiple loops that were attached to the canvas for small bungee cords to attach and it pulls the canvas in. The problem here is the little loops in multiple spots have broken and there's no way to hook a bungee cord to it. Not wanting to try and drill out the existing rivet in the canvas, we just poked a new hole and added another rivet with a washer on the outside, an elastic loop on the inside, and another washer. Bingo, new loop.
We got way more done than we thought once the plan changed. But we are ready to reassemble with the fresh panels that have the FRP added to it. Ian is going to paint the black blazer top section white and a few other items to prepare for the install of the new wood sections.
