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idahoair · 03-23-2015, 01:17 PM

Just wanted to say hi. just bought a 1964 globe trotter and pretty much need to give it an over haul. Will be looking for advice and inspiration so anything you guys can offer would be great.

i'll post some pictures soon.

dbj216 · 03-24-2015, 05:23 AM

Welcome to the vintage Airstream community. It sounds like you're willing to renovate this 50 year old Airstream. It is a huge project involving all kinds of time and money. I would budget maybe 1500 hours of your time, and maybe $10,000 of your money to renovate your Airstream. All this comes over a rather long calendar span. I've been working on mine for 18 months; a little here and there. Being retired, I have more time than most.

Globetrotters are cute little trailers. The fit the "Airstream image" perfectly. You will have to assess your trailer's needs, and then develop a plan that fits your intended use of the trailer. Study various floor plans used in Globetrotters over the years on the Airstream Corp website. Search around and you may find the old sales brochures and specifications for these trailers. It used to be available, but I haven't checked back lately.

You might even check the floor layouts of late model Bambi's and other small model trailers. Airstream designers are very good at small space layouts. Get as many ideas as you can.

Most campers are more comfortable alternatives to tent camping. A warm, dry, comfortable place to sleep. Having water and power is also a luxury over a tent. But a 20 foot trailer does not have room for a queen size bed, a gourmet kitchen, and a whirlpool bath! Don't try to cram too many amenities into your trailer. Provide only the basics in my view.

You have probably found the Airstream Knowledge Base toward the bottom of the AirForums home page. Look at trailers, and then select Globetrotter and the year range of your trailer. There you can read threads of other enthusiasts who have renovated Globetrotters.

David

idahoair · 03-25-2015, 07:57 PM

David,

Thanks for the insight.
I hope we can do it a little quicker and cheaper than that but you are probably right on all fronts.
pretty excited to see how this process goes.
should be fun.

**Janet H** · 03-25-2015, 08:12 PM

Globetrotters are cool - but I may be biased...

idahoair · 03-26-2015, 09:30 AM

I am too.
hope I feel the same after this is all said and done.

ALUMINUMINUM · 03-26-2015, 12:36 PM

“should be fun”... Good attitude!

Thankfully we have the sage advice of the always welcoming and kind worded dbj216, David.

Some of the restoration threads are an account of dilemma and hysteria. Other threads share their endeavors with a more casual, often comical attitude of overcoming problems. Ami and I have been rebuilding our GT for five years. We re-sawed every bit of the old ash interior into a better configuration for the two of us. Every minute has been enjoyable. Nary a moment of discord.

Japan has little to no trailer culture as we know in USA. So, despite being a “happy camper”/back-packer/traveler, the American culture of enjoying travel and outdoors from a box on wheels was a bit out of place in her mind. We're “no trace” backpackers. Consequently, the purchase of a rebuildable Airstream was met with an eye-roll and “If that's what you want...”

Funny thing, It didn't take long, before she assumed complete emotional ownership of the project, and it has become HER trailer. “It's bigger than some Japanese apartments" She notes.

We have a healthy system of agreement and compromise that has resulted in fabulous little camper.

She finds awakening warm and cozy on a crisp Fall morning, to birdsong, fresh ground coffee, at a desolate Lake Superior beach, in HER trailer(Clearly the best Airstream on the planet), very pleasing... She “Gets It” now.

Hmmmmm... She may have also become a “Vintage Snob”. She doesn't care what her trailer has cost, or its worth, 'cause it won't be for sale.

BTW, her acquired attitude is working very well for the GT and me...

So, I'll say “It will be fun”

Globe Trotters Rule!!

dbj216 · 03-26-2015, 06:29 PM

Oh thank you for the kind words. We Airstreamers are a positive bunch!

My son has an old Globetrotter. It is a 1969 model, the first year of the new body style. It's a front dinette, wet bath model. And I hope someday to make it a project of mine. I think the layout could be improved for more comfortable sleeping arrangements. My Airstream is used for sitting and sleeping out of the weather. I don't plan on making a Thanksgiving dinner and serving 10 people in it. In 69 Airstream called the Globetrotter a 21' trailer instead of the 20'. I think all the models were a foot longer in the sales brochure, but I don't know how much they physically changed. I'm sure the interior volume was increased with the new body style.

I think 64 was the last year of the "door in a door" and the 5 segment end caps. My 66 has 3 segment end caps just like my 86 does. Some call the old body style a "twinkie" and the new body style a "loaf".

David

Swimhard4 · 03-26-2015, 07:45 PM

I Love what I can see ! Do you have any other photos? I am also doing a complete redo on my 65 Globetrotter!

ALUMINUMINUM · 03-26-2015, 08:37 PM

Fun stuff...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f7/a...od-129180.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f44/...ew-126474.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f7/p...ce-128019.html

idahoair · 03-27-2015, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALUMINUMINUM

“should be fun”... Good attitude!

Thankfully we have the sage advice of the always welcoming and kind worded dbj216, David.

Some of the restoration threads are an account of dilemma and hysteria. Other threads share their endeavors with a more casual, often comical attitude of overcoming problems. Ami and I have been rebuilding our GT for five years. We re-sawed every bit of the old ash interior into a better configuration for the two of us. Every minute has been enjoyable. Nary a moment of discord.

Japan has little to no trailer culture as we know in USA. So, despite being a “happy camper”/back-packer/traveler, the American culture of enjoying travel and outdoors from a box on wheels was a bit out of place in her mind. We're “no trace” backpackers. Consequently, the purchase of a rebuildable Airstream was met with an eye-roll and “If that's what you want...”

Funny thing, It didn't take long, before she assumed complete emotional ownership of the project, and it has become HER trailer. “It's bigger than some Japanese apartments" She notes.

We have a healthy system of agreement and compromise that has resulted in fabulous little camper.

She finds awakening warm and cozy on a crisp Fall morning, to birdsong, fresh ground coffee, at a desolate Lake Superior beach, in HER trailer(Clearly the best Airstream on the planet), very pleasing... She “Gets It” now.

Hmmmmm... She may have also become a “Vintage Snob”. She doesn't care what her trailer has cost, or its worth, 'cause it won't be for sale.

BTW, her acquired attitude is working very well for the GT and me...

So, I'll say “It will be fun”

Globe Trotters Rule!!

Love the stories behind the airstreams. I've traveled a lot and have to agree with the comment about some being bigger than apartments in Japan. Too funny.

What I really want is to create memories with my family and friends. I could do that in another trailer but I think an airstream adds to the magic of them all. So this is going to be a great journey I'm sure of it.

we are just to the gutting portion so that may change when we really get into the meat and potatoes of it all. but I can't wait to have stories and memories for years to come with our a/s.

thanks for the insight and kind words.

idahoair · 03-27-2015, 09:52 AM

we'll probably be working on it this weekend so i'll shoot some more photos and feel free to leave comments and advice. we don't offend easy.

dbj216 · 03-28-2015, 05:37 PM

I was wrong on post #7 below. The early 60s had SEVEN segment end caps, the mid 60s have FIVE segments just like the new body style introduced in 69.

I couldn't sleep last night worrying about this error! I now stand corrected.

David

Colin H · 03-28-2015, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbj216

I was wrong on post #7 below. The early 60s had SEVEN segment end caps, the mid 60s have FIVE segments just like the new body style introduced in 69.

I couldn't sleep last night worrying about this error! I now stand corrected.

David

Bingo : )
Colin

Colin H · 03-28-2015, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idahoair

David,

Thanks for the insight.
I hope we can do it a little quicker and cheaper than that but you are probably right on all fronts.
pretty excited to see how this process goes.
should be fun.

I don't want to burst your bubble, but David is pretty close here, assuming you're doing all of the work yourself & you are diligent in your purchases. This of course assumes that you are doing a complete ground up restoration/refurbishment/customization.
Colin

tmeagle1 · 03-29-2015, 06:11 AM

We love our 1964 19' Gloetrotter.

ALUMINUMINUM · 03-30-2015, 07:52 AM

Thanks all, It's assuring to receive positive responses.

Added detail...
The metal is prepped prior to installation. To plain ol' 5052 .032 and .125, that was directionally hand sanded, the coating of exterior(non-yellowing) semi-gloss polyurethane, thinned to a wipe-able consistency is applied with a soaked rag instead of brush or spray. I scrub it in really well, then nearly all off, to assure there are no brush marks. Let it dry hard for a day, wet-sand with 1000 grit, and wipe it down again, repeating until it feels like about a half-thick spray coat. Visually, it's difficult to detect the presence of a coating, surface looks polished, has depth, and shows grain.

It resists water stain and cooking spatter, clean with warm soapy water, windex.... I cannot expect it to resist scratches better than polyurethane paint, but has held up remarkably well, and will be easy to blend a touch-up when necessary... It looks and feels good. I think that one could use a catalytic polyurethane for added durability.

There are professional/commercial coatings superior to what I concocted. Possibly order from Airstream/Alcoa/Kaiser/Reynolds, a factory coated aluminum sheet.
Yup, it took a while, scribing the contour was tedious, but it was fun, and less than a hundred bucks in material including the wall and hood metals.

Another note...
Reading the forum, I find many folks struggling with re-fabricating their flimsy interior wheelhouse insulation covers. I rebuilt mine with 3/4” rigid foam and re-purposed 1”x 2” spf and 1/4” bulkhead plywood. This enabled me to use the wheelhouse cover as a base cabinet carcass, and afforded more toe space.

It widened the Kitchen floor by two feet in the wheel to wheel area. With a corner drain sink, which sets the drain way back against the wall, it created very accessible storage, and it really helps Bigfoot squeeze out of the way when sharing kitchen space with the beloved Godzilla.

Thanks again, and enjoy your journey...

calais66 · 03-30-2015, 01:58 PM

Welcome! Looking forward to following your progress!

dawndonahue · 03-30-2015, 10:33 PM

Just before winter I bought a 65 GT that also needs an over haul. I've spent most of the winter reading on posts on this website and trying to figure out where to start! Good luck, I hope to see your posts.

Swimhard4 · 03-31-2015, 05:02 AM

I would Love to hear how it's going and See Pictures! I have a 65 twin GT that we are Just starting the repairs on! This Wed. All windows are being resealed and one new piece of glass replaced! Good Luck on your repairs!