Jacques the Rock: 2018

In 2010 I decided to replace our 1996 Winnebago Adventure motor home. During my search for a replacement, I discovered real soon that it was not a cheap proposition. After going to various RV shows (trying to take advantage of Show Discount) I decided that renovation was the best direction to go. We were the original owners so we knew all the ins and outs of the rig.

Because of the cost I developed a 5 Phase schedule hopefully executing it within 10 years.

Phase # 1. Replace driver and passenger seats, sofa, dinette, all light fixtures, kitchen and bathroom counter tops, faucets, replace all carpet with tile and move the TV from the cockpit to the side wall. Completed March 2011.

Phase # 2. Replace canopies, water heater, electrical panel refrigerator, microwave and new sound system, all of which still operated, however being in excess to 20 years old, I didn’t want to take the chance of items not working while on the road. Completed April 2017.

Phase # 3. Replace all cabinets, wood doors, wood panels Completed October 2018.

Phase # 4. Exterior Full body paint job. Will be a few years down the road, need to save my pennies.

Phase # 5. If needed, either overhaul or replace the engine. So far the engine has recorded in excess of 107,000 miles.

I hired Alan, a builder/cabinet maker in Durango, Colorado to custom build the cabinets. I met Alan in 2014 when he was the Project Manager on a Habitat for Humanity build in Bayfield, Colorado. I was on 2 other builds in Bayfield with him and we became friends.

During my 2018 Adventure I stopped in Durango to have Alan take measurements of the inside of my rig. In October I returned to Durango to start the project. We allowed 2 weeks. Upon arrival I discovered Alan had built all of the doors, faceplates and cabinet drawers. I was impressed that everything fit. A good friend, Joe (I also met him during a Habitat build in 2014) came up from Tucson, Arizona for a week to help with the renovation. Joe and I were responsible for demolition, assisting in re-installing doors, drawers and faceplates and general clean up. We started on October 2^nd and finished October 14^th (with no days off).

My Colorado camping location for 2 weeks during renovation. Was located out in the Durango country side.

(CLICK ON PHOTOS IF YOU WANT TO ENLARGE)

Wood Shop

Before & After

Pictures on the left are of the original 1996 interior, flooring, cabinets and counter tops. The right pictures are the completed 2018 renovation.

Cockpit view from bedroom hallway.

Moved the TV for easier viewing while sitting on sofa. Installed new flat screen TV.

Changed the decor of the motorhome.

New kitchen countertop, faucets and removed the oven. (never used it)

New cabinets.

Bathroom cabinet, sink, counter top and faucets

Bathroom upper cabinets

Hall closet, bathroom and bedroom door.

Bedroom & bathroom hallway

Bedroom closets

Inside bedroom door and wall. Removed the TV viewing area

Living room and galley area.

Driver and passenger cockpit

Demolition

Demolition was easier then what I figure. None of us knew how a motorhome was constructed so we proceeded with caution. After removing cabniets doors and drawers, we carefully removed all faceplates. The structure of the cabniet that was attached to the walls remained. We placed new oak skin on walls and underneath cabniets.