It was the perfect project. The challenge required imagination and met my testosterone fix. The task: rebuilding a 30-year-old trailer.
We considered new trailers with microwaves and satellite dishes but they resembled tract homes on wheels. We desired simplicity. We hunted for just the right one and found it: the Caveman.
This trailer had a kitchen, refrigerator, and slept four. Its baby blue ceiling sagged below eye level. I crawled beneath the undercarriage. No rust, just a bunch of spider webs. The brakes and lights worked. It cost $300.
A faded brown stripe covered its dull white exterior. The door creaked and a broken window beckoned for help. Scuff marks wore through the vinyl floor. We hitched the rig on a foggy morning and tied the door with a bungee cord. Critics may laugh but to us this 14 foot trailer, made by the Caveman Company, only needed a little lovin’.
I got a better look the next day. I climbed on the roof and discovered a crack filled with three inches of tar. I went back inside, tugged on the ceiling and inhaled a mouthful of dust. The Caveman groaned.
My wife checked on me after several hours. “What’re you doing?” she asked.
“Just ripping into this old beast,” I replied. “I found four broken ceiling joists.”
“You better remove the sink and stove. You’re incapable of fixing that stuff. Go ahead, tear into it. If you screw up consider it our new chicken coop.”
I leveraged, pried, and yanked to remove paneling and wire. I ran a Sawzall, a formidable saw that destroys wood, metal and fiber. The saw rumbled, reducing the Caveman to its exoskeleton. A man and his Sawzall are not easily parted, especially when he’s smiling.
The project was a team effort. I provided cheap unskilled labor. My wife rebuilt the kitchen and sewed seat covers. We hung insulation and installed a new ceiling. The kids painted. The Caveman was nearly born again.
But something was amiss. The Caveman appeared lifeless, as if it hadn’t been anywhere. It needed…bumper stickers.
My kids collected stickers and I asked about their inventory. “Slap ’em on,” I directed. “Anything works.” I should’ve paid better attention.
They started with ‘Stanford University’ and ‘I Love Whales’ stickers then snuck on a hot pink ‘Lu Lu’s Fashion Lounge’ label. I was unsure about Lu Lu’s, unconvinced my ego could handle an ad promoting clothes for teenage girls.
“But Dad, you promised, anything,” they argued. Sigh. Passing travelers won’t know us anyway.
The kids plastered the Caveman with 20 bumper stickers. We advertised universities, ski areas, and quirky slogans. The ‘Friends of the River’ sticker countered ‘Farmers Feed America.’ The ‘USS Arizona’ was placed above the ‘Blue Man Group.’ We had stickers of a moose, Smokey Bear, and flags. I forbade political stickers though. I’d rather confuse passing motorists than be run off the road.
“Just who are those people?” they’d wonder.
I stared at the rig. We were ready to go. Almost.
My mother-in-law insisted the Caveman needed a toilet. “Take this portable commode for your wife and daughters,” she said.
The toilet was two feet high by two feet square. I didn’t want to know why a grandmother had one. It resembled a child booster seat. I envisioned it tipping over.
“Are you kidding? We’ll stay at developed campgrounds. They’ll be fine,” I said.
“What if they need to go at night?” she persisted.
“The Caveman is a mobile studio apartment. I’m a light sleeper. They can use flashlights and hike to a bathroom,” I countered.
“What if you’re driving?”
“Then we’ll visit a rest area, or we’ll do what bears do in the woods.”
The portable toilet stayed home, a future garage sale item.
More than $2,000 and three years later Project Caveman is 90 percent complete. The rig is a road-warrior. We’ve pulled it to Canada and Yellowstone and even brought it back. Eighty bumper stickers now blanket the Caveman. ‘Lu Lu’s’ still hangs on and complements a shiny new Harley Davidson decal.
PS: The portable toilet is still in the garage.
Eric Miller is a free-lance writer based in Chico, California. His articles have appeared in California and Colorado newspapers, and magazines. Visit his site at http://etcguy.com or contact him at eric@etcguy.com.
Amazing! Its actually an awesome post, I have a much clearer
idea on what to expect when doing such a project.
Sorry for the belated response, many thanks for reading. Rebuilding the trailer was a fun project.
An impressive share, thanx for the post! Thumbs up!
Remarkable article dude. Thanks
Splendid post…thanks for sharing
Very nice post, I definitely enjoy your site, keep on it.
I get great pleasure from your posts. Thank you
Hey thanks, the pleasure is mine. Eric
I can’t say it enough but I really appreciate your site, it’s adorable and good.
I just added this blog site to my feed reader, great stuff. Cannot get enough!
Hi my friend! Amazing article and well written. I’d like more posts like this.
Great job!
Stunning essay, was very happy to read it.
Thanks a lot for sharing this! Bookmarked your site… visit mine too!
You’re so cool! So nice to find somebody with original thoughts. Thanks for bringing something new to the web!
Nice post, I love this site, keep it going.
Spot on with this write-up, thanks.
An impressive share, thumbs up for this weblog post!
Hello there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay. I enjoy your blog and look forward to new updates.
Hi back, yep, I’m on Twitter. Best to visit my site at http://www.etcguy.com and search for the Twitter link. Thanks for commenting. Eric
Hello there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group?
There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Cheers
Thanks for the note…sure…feel free to relay to other readers. Enjoy.
Your website is wonderful.
Nice post, I sure like your webpage, keep at it.
Very nice post, I love your website, keep it going.
You have an incredible weblog here!
Spot on with this write-up, thanks.
Just want to say this article was fun to read. Thanks a million and please continue writing.
This is a topic that is near to my heart… Cheers! Where are your contact details though?
Hi back and thanks. You can visit the Etc. Guy main site (www.etcguy.com) and link to the Etc. Guy facebook page. I’m also on Twitter. Or send me a note at eric@etcguy.com. Thanks for reading. Eric
My cousin referred your story and web-site to me. Thanks!
Many thanks for sharing this one. A must read post!
Great article.
Hey there I am so grateful I found your site, I really found you by error, while I was browsing on Yahoo for something else. Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say many thanks for a fantastic post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read more. Please keep up the superb job.
Short but fun information… Many thanks for sharing this one. A must read article!
excellent points altogether, you gained a new reader.
Keep writing, remarkable job!
I have read so many posts but this post is genuinely a pleasant post, keep it up.
Hi! Would you mind if I share your blog with my myspace group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Thanks
Thanks and sure, feel free to share. Visit my main site at http://www.etcguy.com and join the Etc. Guy Facebook page. Click LIKE and you’re in. I’m also on Twitter. Thanks for reading. Eric
I respond whenever I appreciate an article or if I have something to add to the conversation. Usually it bcause of the passion displayed in the article. And regarding Family Takes on Trailer Recycling Project | Etc.Guy I was actually moved enough to leave a response 😛 If you are writing at additional social sites, I would like to keep up with your new posts. Could you list the complete urls of all your social pages like your linkedin profile, Facebook page or twitter feed?
Hi and thanks. You can visit my main site (www.etcguy.com) and link to either the Etc. Guy Facebook page or Twitter links. Or send me a note at eric@etcguy.com. Thanks for reading. Eric
Great story, Keep up the great effort.
Hi! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the superb work!
I’m happy to have read this article. Appreciate your sharing.
Wanted to mention that I loved this post. It was inspiring. Keep on posting!
Thanks very nice blog!
This post is priceless. How can I find out more?
This is a topic that’s close to my heart… Take care! Where are your contact details though?
Many thanks…feel free to contact me at eric@etcguy.com. Or visit my main site (www.etcguy.com) and join the Etc. Guy Facebook page. Thanks for reading. Eric
You need to be a part of a contest for one of the highest quality websites on the web. I highly recommend this website!
Do you have any video of that? I’d care to find out some additional information.
I don’t have video unfortunately, but that would have been a great idea…opportunity missed! Thanks for commenting. Eric