The Habitual Designer: 2015

The Legacy:

I finally got it. The 1963 Shasta camp trailer my grandparents had owned since 1965. My mom and aunts camped in this as little girls as did my cousins, sister (now famous ) and my self. It has been sitting at the summer fishing house in Junction, Utah for 15 years unused. Poor little trailer just collecting dust outside while all the other vintage cars sat indoors all pretty and shined up. I offered my G'Pa a decent price to take it off his hands and the lucky girl I am he took it off my future inheritance . After I talked my dad (kinda famous now too if you watch DWTS) into hauling it back 10 hours to Boise, Id and I was off to the races.....Nope actually back up, sike, this thing was a royal pain to haul ALL those years and my dad remembered it. The first trick was getting new tires (obviously the old ones were flat and wrong) After consulting my friend and hero (he ended up remodeling this gem for me) he said what ever you do don't get radial tires. Well the convincing I had to do to get my G'Pa's friend over in Richfield to order me Bias Ply Tires was worth it. These tires are made for old trailer houses and guess what?!? After hauling this load for 40 years swaying all over the road and staying under 50 it flew home at 70 miles per hour likety split!!

original counters and propane light

original appliances

example of water damage

The Damage:

One of the advantages of being a grand daughter of The Campbell's is they take care of their stuff. Though the little Shasta sat outside unloved for so many years it was pretty well preserved. Meaning not every birch panel had to be replaced but the areas with serious water damage in the corners needed new wood. Here is the list of new items(not to include all the labor and incidentals it took to accomplish each task $$$( obviously DIY saves the dough) New tires, wood paneling in front, water tank, cleaned dust corrode and wasp nests from air conditioner/heater/fridge units, ozonated the musty smell, changed all interior/exterior electrical to LED ( so you don't need a generator to run your lights and water pump) additional lights added but kept original propane lamps, added shelves to toilet room turned closet years ago ( Yes my G'Pa still has the original commode and was actually offended I didn't take it to plant flowers in ha!) new flooring that is actually gymnasium grade flooring that was a scrap piece and a perfect fit, added quilted aluminum to entire front of trailer and kitchen back splash, replaced wood in door and fixed lock, caulked all seams and windows, new brake system, fixed a few broken drawers, reupholstered all cushions, painted appliances, powder coated cabinet knobs, purchased an inverter and travel Treager Grill, sandblasted the paint and it shined up really well (thank gosh cuz I am outa money) shined up the original wings, converted metal awning to shelf, added new stickers and finally my hard work on the painted chalk wall and curtains!! Note to self....when pulling the new pretty new trailer in fresh fallen snow and over de-iced roads make sure to COMPLETELEY wipe down stainless or else it will result in another 8 hrs of buffing out the rust once the cover is pulled of in the spring....yes I had a village involved in helping me resolve this tragedy!!!! I am sure I missed a bunch of fixer upper items and jargon that is listed on my invoices but there it is folks! If you don't want to tackle it yourself I know guy who knows a guy that can restore anything. Last item...My G'Pa paid $750 in 1965.....50 years later I am $7500 invested into the restoration of a family gem..and a business right off. Well worth it!!!!! Oh and about the famous sister.....Her name is Amy Purdy the amazing Amy we call her....adaptive snowboard pioneer, Sochi bronze medalist, 2014 Dancing with the Stars spring runner up , Co founder of Adaptive Action Sports, public speaker, actress, Model and new author of On My Own Two Feet, and the best friend and sister I know!!!(yes she was ticked I got the trailer before her, but if she wasn't so busy making a difference in the world maybe she would have beat me!)www.amypurdy.com