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This month's issue of Tech Center will provide you with basic
information for renovating the interior of your coach. This issue
follows the Lake Tahoe seminar and will answer some of the questions
which came up during the seminar.
Refurbishing the interior of your GMC is not much different
than refurbishing your home, and it can be fun. Let's say you
decide to have your coach redone; the next decision is whether
you' re going to do it yourself or have it done by a professional.
If you're handy and are proficient at projects like hanging
wallpaper, laying carpet, and know something about sewing, you're
a good candidate for doing the project yourself. But if you're
not handy, you'll need to locate a reputable auto/RV upholstery
shop in your area. The better the expertise the better the job
will be in the long run. Accepting the lowest bid is not always
the best policy. Don't be shy about asking for references; make
phone calls and ask past customers about previous jobs.
Choosing a new interior color scheme or one that will blend
with existing, permanent accessories should be next. Most of the
fabrics, carpeting and new accessories you'll need are available
from the same stores where you purchase items for your home.
There are only a few specialized items, such as curtain tracks
which are available only from the RV dealers in your area. Shop
and compare prices, and keep in mind that the higher quality products
may cost a little more, but in the long run, they will wear better
and last longer.
Seat Covering
Cushions get the most wear and tear and usually are the
first items to wear out. When re-covering cushions, be sure to
evaluate the condition of the existing foam rubber: If it has
shrunk, lost its body, has gotten brittle, smells or has begun
to disintegrate, it's time for replacement.
There are two types of foam rubber: poly foam and Everlon.
Everlon has a softer feel than poly foam, which is coarse to the
feel, and Everlon has a memory and will last longer. Everlon costs
more than poly foam, but it's worth it. Most upholstery shops
carry both types, and if you take your old foam rubber cushions
with you, they'll cut the new ones to size. Adjust the size if
the old ones have shrunk.
In even the smallest of communities you can find someone who
does upholstery and makes cushions; they may even have foam available.
Look for an ad in the local paper or inquire at a fabric shop.
If you are going to cover them yourself, use the old covers
as the pattern, making the cutting and assembling simpler. Simply
remove the old cushion covers from the foam and carefully take
them apart at the seams.
The older (1973-74) style cushions are much easier to re-cover.
The original fabric just zips off. The newer coaches with the
Flex Steel furniture are more complex and require a bit more skill
to deal with.
The following is a guide for purchasing fabric. The amounts
are approximate. When purchasing a repeated pattern, order about
2. percent (2%) more fabric.
Cushions up to 44 inches 1.5 yards
Cushions 44 to 72 inches 3.5 yards
Double gaucho
(unfolds to a single bed) 5.5 yards.
Triple gaucho
(unfolds to a double bed) 6.S yards
Horseshoe dinette 9.0 yards
Flip-flop dinette (per side) 8.0 yards
Single mattress 6.0 yards
Double mattress 7.0 yards
Queen mattress 8.0 yards
The type of fabric is a personal choice, but we do not recommend using a Herculon fabric or any natural fiber (cotton, etc.) because it deteriorates in the hot environment of the coach. Use a nylon or similar type of fabric for the best durability.
Window Covering
Consider privacy and insulation when choosing a fabric
for curtains or draperies. There are new fabrics on the market
that have a polyester backing for insulation. They are easier
to work with and have equal or better insulation qualities than
rubber backed material.
For windows up to 24 inches long, purchase approximately 1
yard of fabric for every 22 inches of window width. This allows
for some fullness. Add one-third of a yard of fabric for every
additional 10 inches of window length.
When you're updating your RV, changing the window coverings
to a more modern type can create the most dramatic visual effects.
Matchstick, pleated shades or mini-blind styles can change the
interior look and feel. No company makes a standard RV-size window
covering because there is no such thing, so each must be custom-made.
They can he ordered at any store that sells home window coverings.
The Home Depot has some of the best prices and special orders
take 7-10 days.
Measuring for blinds is not difficult. The GMC interiors have
cabinets above some of the windows. The cabinets have wood supports
which are mounted just above the window line. Measure from the
bottom of the cabinet support to 1 inch below the window frame.
This dimension is called the drop. The drop is usually 35 inches
for the all the coach windows except the rear which depends on
how you plan to attack it. It's wider at the bottom than at the
top. The side-to-side dimension is called the width, measure 1
inch beyond the frame on each side. For windows without cabinets
above them, measure approximately 6 inches for woven woods or
4 inches for mini-blinds, above the window (to compensate for
the valance header and stacking), and 1 inch below the frame.
When ordering, designate which side you want the controls
on. This is for ease of operating near chairs or couches. For
example, it is more convenient to have the controls at the head
of the bed instead of the foot. Make sure they come with the end
covers. When ordering mini blinds, request hold-down brackets
for the bottom rails (most come with them). They keep the blinds
From swinging back and forth while traveling.
The latest in window fashions are vertical-slat blinds. They
come in fabric, plastic or aluminum and work very well in an RV.
Vertical blinds work best where there is a wide space on both
sides of the window because they require extra room for stacking.
Each manufacturer has special instructions for measuring; follow
them carefully.
To give a new effect, you can build shadow boxes like those
commonly found in high-dollar motor-homes. The boxes are just
1 / 4-inch plywood material attached to a 1 x 2 inch (or 1 x 3
inch) frame covered with 1/4inch foam, then an accent fabric is
glued to the foam or stapled to the wood. You can use matching
fabric from your furniture or try some contrasting combinations.
Other possibilities are painting the shadow boxes, or making them
out of plastic or a high quality wood such as Oak or Walnut and
staining or varnishing them.
Headliner replacement is more involved than any of the projects
we've mentioned because you'll have to remove cabinets and work
around the closet and bathroom modules. Changing the headliner
can create a drastic change to the feeling of the Motorhome interior.
The original headliner material is no longer available, but you
can come close at some auto upholstery shops. The better solution
is a product called "Plasticor" which is a semi-rigid
panel which comes in 4-foot by 8-foot sheets and can be cut to
size. The panel can be used as-is or can be sprayed with an aerosol
adhesive and then covered with fabric or wall paper to create
the desired look. Plasticor is available from Laird Plastics in
Sacramento, CA They can be reached at 800-872-4949. You'll need
about 7 sheets to do a complete coach. The sheets sell for about
$15 each not including shipping.
CB Antenna
Do you have marginal communication range with your CB?
We have found that replacing the mirror mounted antenna with a
roof mounted antenna can solve this range problem. Reception/transmission
range can go from a block {maximum) range to greater than a mile
by just mounting the CB antenna on the roof of the coach. This
is not a surprise, since the roof provides a ground plane, (flat
metal surface) which is not available on the front fiberglass
nose piece section of our coaches. For an optimum antenna configuration,
the ground plane is a vital part of the antenna system.
Several antenna brands and types are available including a
Snap-In, Roof-Mount Antenna {"Shorty") offered by Radio
Shack, catalog item Number 21-906B for about $24. Features of
this antenna include a center load coil, steel whip & shock
spring mounting base, 16 foot cable and connector. The Snap-In
Roof Mount makes it easy to install onto an existing Roof by drilling
one hole and snapping the outside mount into an inside washer.
The cable is then routed above the headliner and down the rear
edge of the Drivers side window (remove molding to conceal the
cable). Removal of the forward vent frame & the driver's side
speaker/ overhead light will aid in routing the cable.
The antenna mounting location selected should be just in front
of the forward roof vent and far enough away from the AM/FM radio
antenna so that they don't touch or bang together while driving.
The mounting instructions leave a bit to be desired, however,
the installation is straight forward once you determine that you
must remove an 'Insert' from the base before snapping the base
onto the inside mounted washer. Once the base is snapped into
the inside washer, replace the insert before tightening the base
hardware. Do not cut the cable to your installation length. Keep
the entire 16 ft. cable length intact since the antenna is tuned
with the 16 ft. cable for proper interface with the CB Radio.
Remember, don't cut the cable!
The large antenna seal may not have to be used due to a problem
with the base installation. The antenna base may have to be sealed
to the roof with a silicone sealant to prevent water leaks.
The use of a Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) meter to tune your
antenna to its installation is also desired. Trimming the upper
antenna section in 1/8" increments until the desired SWR
is achieved is all there is to it!
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