Project 2010 TM 3024

Househunterlives · 03-24-2023, 11:10 AM

We used to have a 2005 TM 3023. Sold it years ago. Life gets in the way sometimes. Always regretted selling it. Have always keep in touch with the forum and followed other TM owners on the net. Now it's our time. It will soon just be me and the DW (Darling Wife) and our 2 dogs. We want to do some traveling, but don't have anyone to watch our dogs. And if anyone knows, hotels are not fun with dogs. So needed something to take the dogs with us. Always love how easy the TM tows and doesn't take up a lot of yard space when park at the house.
So came across this dealership selling one for whole sale. They really didn't know what they had. The sales guy didn't even know how to open or close it up...lol So taking a shot at this unit. Didn't even have power connected to it to see if stuff work. There is a lot of stuff that needs fix. But in time the list will be short lived. Main thing it needs cleaned. You can tell it has been setting for some time. So DW wants to make it a project and Glamp it up. Me, I want to add some technology to it. I work from home and would love to take this on the road and work too. So the journey begins.
Some before and after pictures. Wash it down last night. Used purple power and dawn soap. Then pressure wash it. Still a lot to clean and detail up.

Househunterlives · 03-24-2023, 11:19 AM

So one thing I need help with is this back front slide seal. Need to resource materials in replacing this seal. That is the first major repair on the list. The other is the toilet is not mounted to the floor. Thinking about installing a regular RV flush toilet and install a black tank system with monitor. The other repair was my mistake. I was in a hurry to leave the RV lot. I forgot to undo the side support bar. I push the top front, which is heavy. And broke off the mounting bolt.

Now I have to easy-out the broken blot.

**Kidkraz** · 03-24-2023, 12:10 PM

There's info in the technical library. There's a PDF you can download that shows good pics, and there's also a link to a drop box site for more pictures. Good luck with the repair and good job on the clean up.

https://www.trailmanorowners.com/for...ight=bag+seals

**Bill** · 03-24-2023, 01:18 PM

I am truly impressed with the results you got with cleaning the roof (your picture #4). Can you give us a few more words about how you did that particular task? I'm nervous about pressure-washing the roof. Too many caulked seams up there, just waiting to leak if the caulk is blasted loose.

Bill

Househunterlives · 03-24-2023, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill

I am truly impressed with the results you got with cleaning the roof (your picture #4). Can you give us a few more words about how you did that particular task? I'm nervous about pressure-washing the roof. Too many caulked seams up there, just waiting to leak if the caulk is blasted loose.

Bill

Of course there is always risk when you wash anything by hand. Let alone pressure wash it. Its always a good rule to go back over your seams with caulk or inspect them. Not knowing the history of this unit I'll be caulking the seams. A camper is a rolling earthquake. Always shaking itself to death. So depending on how often you use it depends on how often you should re-caulk.
I first sprayed purple power over the whole unit. Really sprayed the top down. I let is soak for about 20-30min. Went and eat lunch. Then I used my foam sprayer with Dawn dish soap loaded in it. Spray the whole thing down. Was one soapy mess. Then used a new soft bristle brush I purchase from the Home D. Wet the brush and scrub the top. You have to keep rinsing off the brush while working the soap. That is key. Keep rinsing the brush and get the brush wet wet. Wash the side down. Then I used a 45degree nozzle on the pressure washer. I have a 1700psi electric washer from Harbor Freight. If you use a gas power more powerful washer. Be careful. My pressure unit is just enough to not hurt anything. Rinse the top off by blasting water. Then you can start getting closer to the surface. By spraying closer you can get the rough tuff spots off. Now just have to detail the lights. Take them apart and clean the lenses inside. I also want to replace the bulbs with LED's.

**Bill** · 03-24-2023, 01:31 PM

As Kidkrz says, the TM Technical Library has a number of tutorials regarding the bag seals. There are also a number of tutorials regarding the Thetford toilet. This one in particular

https://www.trailmanorowners.com/for...ead.php?t=5889

should help in re-attaching the toilet to the floor.

As you may recall, there is no space under the floor for a conventional black water tank. However, a number of our members have removed the Thetford and replaced it with a Sealand M-28, which has the black tank above the floor. Again, there is info in the Library, but in this case you will find even more info simply by doing a search for "Sealand". It has been one of our most discussed topics.

Since Thetford has stopped making the recirc toilet and all parts for it, I think TM owners have become the world's supply of the toilets and their parts.

Bill

Shane826 · 03-24-2023, 02:34 PM

It looks like the main roof seams have all been covered in Eternabond, so +1 for that!

Househunterlives · 03-24-2023, 09:16 PM

So day 2 of cleaning the roof. With the unit closed it is much easier to clean the roof. The only bad part is you don't get the other half that is closed up inside the camper. So open it up and you can see the difference between the before and after. I used the same procedure as before. But I'll warn you, work in small areas at a time. The soap will dry quickly. When this happens you have to start all over with the brush and rinse. I made the mistake to do the whole area then came back and rinse. By then some parts where dry and had to rework the dirt with the brush. I hate do rework. Have a picture of the brush I used. I think the final results look like new. The other issue you'll have is the area under the TV antenna. You'll have to open the unit in order to raise the antenna. That area under the antenna was hard to remove. That is one of my projects. To remove that antenna and install a signal low profile dish antenna. Wonder if anyone has done that. The bonus by using and update antenna. Won't have to worry if you left it up. I am also thinking there is one that can be used for the radio too. So when I redo the bag seals I won't have to worry about mounting the radio antenna back.

Shane826 · 03-25-2023, 07:15 PM

So when can you come on over to western NY and make my project 2720 look pretty?!? Great job!

**Bill** · 03-25-2023, 07:30 PM

I'm a little concerned about pictures 4 and 5 in your most recent post. On a TM, both shells have an arched roof, and the arch of the front shell is supposed to mimic the arch of the rear shell, so they fit together with a more or less constant gap across the width of the trailer. I can't be sure from the photo, but it looks like the front shell arch may have collapsed in the center. You might want to check this.

Bill