Here is our 1970 Boler as of April 1, 2006. The original colour was a white top and a 70's type yellow on the bottom. No - I did not paint it black!! The previous owner painted it black to match his '57 Chevy. Its being painted this spring back to white. This one got none of the available options :(

I added a new set of chrome 13" wheels last summer with new General tires (155/80R13). If I was to do it again I would have went with larger wheels and tires. The chrome 13" wheels in the 5x105 bolt pattern are hard to come by. Note there is no window above the stove.

Here is the rear of the Boler. There is no rack for the spare tire. The bumper is also round tubular steel instead of the square bumper on the newer ones. I plan to add a mount for the spare tire on the existing rear bumper and a place to mount the licence plate.

Here is the most obvious difference with the '70 and earlier models....the tail lights are not recessed. They did have the same lenses as the later ones but as usual mine were cracked. I updated to a new set of LED tail lights.

Here is the inside. The 1970 models used a wood floor with linoleum instead of the fiber glass floor found on later models. I put in a new sub floor and laid down "peel and stick" tile. Sticking true to original I bought new aluminum for the molding around the edges (this cost me more than the floor!). The interior cupboards, closet and counters were all painted with automotive based paint. They now have a glossy finish and are extremely durable. This 1970 model had no cutlary drawer above the ice box but it was added at some point.

The table was painted with the same automotive paint so its super shiny. New grey curtains were added and the cushions and new foam are being wrapped in the same fabric.

Here is the pattern and colour we went with.

Here was one modification I will be getting rid of. It is practical but I need another bed for our baby. The couch was removed and another counter was constructed. Next to the door there was a porta potti but its now just for a garbage can (I refuse to clean out those toilets). The center portion flips up for a seat.

Here is my biggest challenge at the moment - insulation seams and leaks. I have a leak from the side window (I think) and it caused my calking in the seams to come out and lift a few floor tiles. When I repaint the outside I will pop out the windows to replace the seals. I will then recock the seams. Despite painting the interior walls nothing wants to stick to those seams :(

Here is what happens when you leave your top vent open...I came in to find a wasps nest. Ouch!

I ripped out the extra counter today at the front (April 17, 06). Lots of work. I found the original peach colour fiber glass and noticed that the last guy completely gutted part of the couch. I will build it up with plywood and make it a couch again and likely make it a bunk. Fortunately the molded plywood is still intact. I should also be able to keep the drawer to below the couch.

Obviously I need to repaint the Ensolite. The original seems are still there!

I removed the top of the stove to have it sand blasted. I will then paint it with high temp black paint and re-install it.

I was in the process here of removing the rear bumper to have a spare tire rack installed. Damn thing had been on since 1970 I'm sure. I had to grind 3 out of 4 bolts off. The 1970 models had a tubular rear bumper (as opposed to square tubing on later models). It seems they never had a mount for the spare tire in 1970.

Here is how the spare should look once mounted...

I started sanding off the black. Hope to have it completely sanded this week. Note the tubular bumper.

Here is the frame on the 70 Boler. It is capped off so the framer rails did not extend into a bumper. Instead it mounts on the outer side of each frame rail.

The fiberglass is cut out circular, I assume to match up with the tubular bumper which is not very strong at all.

I made some custom "BOLER" emblems from a template on FiberglassRV.com. They are cut out with 3M faux carbon fiber sticker about the same size as the stock aluminum emblem.

April 29, 2006 - 6 hours later and the Boler was sanded ready for paint. I have to do a few more touch ups and remove the side windows but most the work is done. I also removed the paint from the belly band and will leave it a polished aluminum to break up the colours.

April 22 - Sanded down the frame today. The last guy sprayed chip guard all over the front by the hitch and it looked just plain ugly. Frame will probably be painted one of the colours I go with on the Boler.

I began working on building the front couch/bunk today. I went with 3/4" plywood and will be able to keep the large drawer and storage on each side.

I was able to find new mounts for the bunk supports as mine were removed. I bought "Master Plumber" shower rod mounts that some with stainless screws for mounting. By complete fluke they mount up perfectly to the couch...even the screw holes line up!!

Finished the lower part of the couch with the drawer and storage on each side.

Here is one of the storage compartments:

Still need to trim the edges but the back piece/bunk is all done.

Couch and bunk is all done. Just need the foam and fabric...

Bought some 3" camping foam for the couch and bunk. We are still trying to decide on a fabric to wrap it.

I noticed the early Bolers wheels wells hang down pretty far. I wanted more of the wheel exposed so I trimmed them up with a jig saw and then....

.... used a die grinder to smooth out the arch.

I had the original stove cover sand blasted and then used a high temp black paint to paint it. It was painted black before but the last guy never bothered to sand the surface so the paint was peeling.

Its a little hard to see but I finally finished polishing the belly band. It was previously painted black along with the trailer so I had to sand off the paint and then went with a 400 to 600 to 2000 grit sand paper to bring back the shine. I then polished it with Mother's Aluminum Polish and a Dremel.

We needed more counter space since we turned the other counter back into the couch/bunk so I made up a cover for the stove and sink. Just 1/4" plywood and some dowels for legs. I cut out some spaces for the sink tap and support beam. Its perfect for more counter room and is light weight and removable for access to the stove and sink.

On May 28 I decided to tackle the seams again. I decided to go back to basics and use what the Boler factory did - 2 sided tape. Its just a roll of 3M Scotch brand.

Before installation I re-cocked some of the seams so that the adhesive has more to grab on to. Once dry the tape will go on and I will paint over it so it matches the white paint already on the ensolite and also to get rid of the exposed -sticky' side. I have it a third done and so far so good. The stuff is really tacky.

Found the VIN stamped into the front of the frame near the tongue. "283" I will leave it exposed once I paint the frame.

The propane tank was also painted black. I sanded it down, primered it and painted it the same white thats going on the Boler. To my surprise the band that holds it on the trailer was stainless steel with stainless hardware but had been painted over. I stripped off the paint and polished it up.

May 29 - I completed the seams today using the Scotch Brand 3M 2 sided tape. I then painted over the sticky side. I am fully confident these things will not fall off.

Bought new stainless steel hardware to replace all the rivets in the Boler.

Pulled the windows to get ready for paint and so I could polish and seal them back up. I then drilled out all the remaining rivets in the trailer. Its a ton of work.

June 18 - Got the bumper back with the mount for the spare tire and for a licence plate mount. Got a fresh coat of gloss black too.

Before painting we had to rig up a "paint bay" to keep the paint away from the house and cars and to protect it from the weather.

Got the frame primed and ready for paint....

Final sanding job to remove any imperfections and blemishes
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We removed every attachment to the shell we could including all the rivets. We left in the front and rear window and belly band sanded around the seals. The belly band was taped off so it could remain polished aluminum.

We started with the bottom colour first as it was easier to mask off for when we did the top.

The frame also got painted the same colour as the bottom half.

Once the bottom dried enough we taped it up and sprayed the top half. We used a PPG Accelerator to speed up drying. The top half was dry to the touch within 10 minutes of being sprayed!

Almost done....

Once the paint was dry we peeled back the paper and masking tape.

Stainless steel pan heald screws replaced the rivets. They were just the right size to actually be threaded into the fiberglass. I then used a washer and stainless accorn nut on the inside. I coated the threads with a bit of silicone to protect against leaks.

Put the LED tail lights back in.

Finally got the windows polished up and the frames re-sealed. Once polished I clear coated the frames to protect from oxidizing and from having to repolish the aluminum again. I then put them back in the trailer using 1/2" butyl tape and stainless hardware.

Put the custom "Boler" decals in place where the stock aluminum ones would have been (mine never had them).

Propane tank was re-mounted using new hardware (I figured everything else had new bolts, so why not). I also added a new trailer jack that I bought last year.

I bought new chrome lug nuts to replace the old rusty ones and painted the hubs silver. The wheels were also clear coated to protect from rust as they already were starting to pit. I still need to buy a chrome cap for over the hub.

I got tired of looking for a bottle opener every time I wanted a beer...Ebay solved that with the vintage Pepsi Cola opener mounted to the side, next to the door.

I found this emblem under the black paint. It cleaned up well so I put it back on.

We got tired of the old curtain rods never staying in place so I ditched them in place of ruuber coated cable to hang the curtains.

The curtains sit closer to the walls of the trailer so they should let in less light too.

I painted the inside of the lower cabinet and installed a shelf over the wheel well.

Cover for over the stove and sink for more counter space...

Rear bumper on with the new spare tire rack and licence plate bracket.

On the truck!

It seems the early Boler models had the all white door but I decided to try the 2 tone door that was on the newer Bolers. Andrea may make me paint it all white though. I used some automotive pin striping as a break between the 2 colours.

We decided to go with a light black denim for the couch/bunk. Partly because we could no longer find the same upholstery as the around the table. I may add one more support in the middle of the bunk to handle more weight on the top (ie. bags, ect.).

bunk folded down to the couch:

Grey cushions addded at the rear...

Repainted the stabilizing jacks

July 10, 2006 - Done for now!!

September, 2006 - Added new breaker and 120 volt wiring including the new plastic cap to keep the rain out.

June, 2007 - New Crib for my 2 year old! It is easily removable via a couple of brackets on one end and wing nuts on the other. The lattice is plastic faux wood.

In July, 2007, I updated the electrical.  I added a deep cycle battery and a new 12 volt fuse panel with all new wiring.

I added a heavy 30 Amp in line fuse right off the positive lead of the battery to catch any shorts prior to power entering the trailer.

New Fantastic Fan replaced the stock aluminum vent.  A larger hole had to be cut and was then sealed with new butyll tape and stainless hardware. Wires to the fan are hid in the seam of the ensolite insulation and under the seam tape.

In June, 2009, I added an upper cabinet above the table/rear bed. Its made of a light weight birch veneer plywood.   I have acquired a furnace for the trailer and hope the cabinet will make up for space lost for when I install the furnace. Once a template was cut and it was glued together I test fitted it.  I am using for of the old curtain rod holes to mount it with stainless hardware and had to drill 3 new holes in the shell to complete the mounting on the sides and roof.  I then removed it for paint....

I sprayed it with the same acylic enamel paint as I used on the exterior.  It came out nice and glossy so it hides the grain of the birch...I wanted it to look as close as possible to fiberglass to match the other cabinets.  The doors were flat black and then clear coated.  I used the same thumb latches and similar hinges to match the rest.  In the end it all weighed around 15 pounds.

Once dried, I mounted it up. Eventually I will add some 12 volt reading lights to the underside.

redr2 at shaw dot ca

DISCLAIMER:  I am in no way associated to www.fiberglassrv.com .  I do not support the owners or moderators in any way....too many "jacks of all trades and masters of nothing."  As a warning -  use it as a resource, but keep ideas to yourself....too many old timers doing it there way......or the highway...  Communist Jack Asses !! :)