Fifth wheel camper demo/conversion

[NorthernRedneck]

I have a problem. Too many toys and no way to tow them all in order to use them. I have a 2 place snowmobile trailer currently but 3 snowmobiles and 2 pull behind sleighs. So, one of the snowmobiles sits neglected. Same thing with the summer toys. I have a sxs, and 2 quads. The quads sit neglected as I can't haul them.

I knew of an old fifth wheel camper that I could get my hands on for a barter deal. I was the one who moved it 3 years ago for a buddy. He and his fiance had no plans for it as he had no fifth wheel hitch in his truck. They were in desperate need of a kitchen and dining room refresh before their wedding this summer. I sat at their kitchen table all winter staring at vomit peach walls while looking out at the old fifth wheel and pondering over a few drinks. I told them....you buy the paint and I'll paint your kitchen and dining room. In exchange I will take that old rotten fifth wheel off your hands. I have lots of time and am always looking for projects to keep me busy. So I decided to take on tearing down the old camper and turning it into a flat deck trailer. I have a fifth wheel hitch mounted in my truck. They tow much nicer than a ball hitch.

Sorry for the crappy picture but that's what I started with. A 1991 Dutchman 30ft. Walls rotten. Full of mouse poop. None of that matters. That I see is a 30ft solid square tube fifth wheel frame with 2 3500lb axles already mounted.

 

[NorthernRedneck]

I didn't take any pictures of the inside before I started. I started by removing some of the rear windows and interior dinette and sofa. The ac unit was held in with about 8 screws. I pushed it up from the inside and was able to drag it off the roof while standing on a ladder as I didn't trust the roof integrity.

 

[NorthernRedneck]

I started by removing the exterior metal siding which also involves taking out roughly 40 1/4 hex head screws and using a long pry bar to pop staples all along each strip.

 

[FrancSevin]

I find myself very interested in yoyr conversion project. I have a bumper pull Monarch we currently use for storage at Hippie Ridge. 1996 model year, it was our first camper on the Hippie Ridge ranchette. Sadly, we had a few years where we didn't go to the ranch, so it suffered neglect. It has seen better times.

Not sure how the storage is working out. Like yours it has critters invading the space. Roof is shot. TV antennae tower fell and ruined the bedroom. Water heater and pump still work so I could salvage them and some other items. Like the outdated but functional kitchen cabinets. Demo the building had have a 5000 lb payload flatbed.

I would use the backhoe to tear it apart. I've seen that done.

Keep us posted on your project. It is giving me ideas!
And Crumpy,,,,; some concerns.

 

[NorthernRedneck]

I made some progress yesterday morning. First, I finished cutting all the walls with my chainsaw. The last cut was where i bent my bar

I have a heavy duty tow strap I tossed through the opening and hooked up to my truck. The roof is down.

 

[NorthernRedneck]

Today's task? Get the roof out from between the trailers. Any way!

I started cleaning up the flooring and removed the carpet from the upper deck so it won't retain water. The plywood is actually exterior grade. Only the back two sheets are soft from water damage. I'll replace those. Originally I was thinking 2x6 decking from the cheap surplus lumber yard and coating it with Thompsons water seal. Now, I'm thinking about just leaving it plywood and painting it with exterior paint. I'll finish up the sides with treated lumber. I'm also leaving the front storage compartment under the tongue and enclosing it fully for helmet storage, starts, blocking etc.

 

[NorthernRedneck]

I find myself very interested in yoyr conversion project. I have a bumper pull Monarch we currently use for storage at Hippie Ridge. 1996 model year, it was our first camper on the Hippie Ridge ranchette. Sadly, we had a few years where we didn't go to the ranch, so it suffered neglect. It has seen better times.

Not sure how the storage is working out. Like yours it has critters invading the space. Roof is shot. TV antennae tower fell and ruined the bedroom. Water heater and pump still work so I could salvage them and some other items. Like the outdated but functional kitchen cabinets. Demo the building had have a 5000 lb payload flatbed.

I would use the backhoe to tear it apart. I've seen that done.

Keep us posted on your project. It is giving me ideas!
And Crumpy,,,,; some concerns.

It's actually not too bad of a project. There's probably quicker and easier ways to demo a camper. It's my first time and I'm learning as I go along as well. I was originally going to strip it to bare frame and reinforce it with additional frame supports but as most of the plywood floor is solid and it doesn't need to haul a backhoe, only 4 snowmobiles in the winter and my sxs and quad in the summer, I'm going as cheap as possible. So far all it's cost me is time from the time I started painting their place to hauling the fifth wheel over here three weeks ago. I have the time and the tools. It's keeping me busy instead of just sitting in the house channel surfing. Lol

I was debating on a ramp lift gate for the back or just sticking with a set of folding ramps (which I already have) for the quads and sxs and a different folding ramp for the snowmobiles. I may go that route as the lift gate would require additional frame supports

Edit...pro tip....a skill saw works great at cutting a metal roof on an rv and through the corner wooden roof supports.