1984 Coleman Tent Trailer (popup camper) Restoration Project

Posted by Jeff on May 29, 2008

I purchased this 84 Coleman Columbia popup tent trailer and started rebuilding it a year ago . I have taken a lot of inspiration and ideas from other people’s rebuild projects that I found on the web.

I started this project a year ago and took pictures along the way (See slideshow below). I was a weekend warrior on this project. It was more like 1-2 weekends a month (and usually just Saturdays). I would have to say a rough guess would put total time at 25 full 16 hour days. The time and cost has spanned over 11 months so far.

I’ll lay out the costs here:

• $30 - new paint (it is oil based, farm tractor paint in white)
• $17 - HVLP paint sprayer (Harbor Freight)
• $16 - floor tiles
• $23 - Cover material for foam (think vinyl from Wal-Mart)
• $129 - New 3″ Foam (H & R Sales in Phoenix - great place, great price - I HIGHLY recommend them.)


• $25 - 2×2’s & 2×4’s for framing of cabinets.


• $60 - New wood cabinet facials. It is an oak veneer over 1/8″ plywood. (Habitat for Humanity store)
• $15 - New plumbing supplies (hose filter washers, hoses, clamps)
• $70 - New Porta Potti 135 RV (Camping World)
• $30 - New pump (Harbor Freight)
• $75 - Electrical supplies (wire, fuse block, DC outlets, battery box - I already had the deep cycle battery from my boat, otherwise that is an additional $65 at least.)
• $70 - odds and ends (screws, nails, light bulbs, etc)

Everything else I had collected as donations from friends garages (like the counter top for the galley, the slide rails for the pull out shelf) and from the trailer itself (galley sink, faucet, hinges, etc.)

Total out the door so far $660. And I have yet to do all the neat Modifications, like hanging shelves etc.

I am in the process of writing a series of step by step articles (with pictures!) about my restoration process.  The first article will be about painting the popup.  If you would like to be notified about that series then tell me your email address:

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Here is the slideshow:

 

 

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