Craziest thing you've found while renovating your Airstream?

[StoawaySalor]

I'm doing a complete interior remodel on a 1979 Argosy Airstream and I found something that shocked the hell out of me that takes the cake for al the crazy things that happen to me. It's even crazier than the time I gave my neighbors a dead cat that wasn't theirs. Or when my friend's neighbor called the police because I parked my new truck and my newly purchased vintage AS in front of his house legally. He claimed that he thought someone dumped it there. It had been there 9 hours on a residential street overnight. But I digress.

Yesterday while removing the curbside twin bed, I found myself looking at a real live rusty Remington shotgun that had slid way up under the bed that would've only been found if completely torn apart. The trailer is from Minnesota and I hail from the great state of Wisconsin so I get why there's um, cautionary assistance available so the camper isn't taken by surprise. And no, I'm not keeping it. It's being turned over to the sheriff's office.

So I want to ask you, what's the craziest thing the previous owners have accidentally left behind? Or in my case, probably died and didn't tell anyone it was in the trailer.

[blickcd]

When I bought my trailer in 2004 the PO handed me a big manila envelope with the owner's manual and service manual inside, along with some other assorted paperwork.

I still have all of that material and have mainly only looked at the service manual. However, about a year ago I decided to give everything in the envelope a careful look.

There were a few service receipts, one was from work done in Jackson Center, and all had the names and addresses of two previous owners, none of which were the person I bought it from.

Perhaps I am only the fourth owner, but anyway it was cool to look through that time capsule of sorts. Also explained why some of my lower wrap was not a perfect match, as it was a repair done by the original owner after running up on a curb.

Most likely the former owners have moved but I have thought on occasion to mail some photos to their old addresses, along with a brief note saying that I own their old Airstream, just in case they wondered what happened to it.

[AlinCal]

Dryer softener sheets placed in every nook and cranny possible, to ward rodents? Seemed to work since I found zero evidence of them.

[GMFL]

"Yesterday while removing the curbside twin bed, I found myself looking at a real live rusty Remington shotgun that had slid way up under the bed that would've only been found if completely torn apart. The trailer is from Minnesota and I hail from the great state of Wisconsin so I get why there's um, cautionary assistance available so the camper isn't taken by surprise. And no, I'm not keeping it. It's being turned over to the sheriff's office."


Why turn the gun in? It's yours you paid for it. I would keep it if for nothing else but the story. But I guess I am from Alabama and guns are part of life.

[AirstreamCSH]

It is a Remington and the OP is probably a Browning guy.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by AirstreamCSH

It is a Remington and the OP is probably a Browning guy.

Hi

20 gauge and we already had a 12

Bob

[dznf0g]

OP said it was rusty....dangerous to try and operate?

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Given that it's a weapon of totally unknown origin, I'd probably dump it as well. The last thing you want to get into is "that's the shotgun stolen when this awful thing also happened ...".

Bob

[streaminwild]

Originally Posted by StoawaySalor

.

So I want to ask you, what's the craziest thing the previous owners have accidentally left behind?.

A diamond earring. I returned it to the elderly couple, and in return they let me store the Airstream for free on their farm.

[StoawaySalor]

Originally Posted by GMFL

"Yesterday while removing the curbside twin bed, I found myself looking at a real live rusty Remington shotgun that had slid way up under the bed that would've only been found if completely torn apart. The trailer is from Minnesota and I hail from the great state of Wisconsin so I get why there's um, cautionary assistance available so the camper isn't taken by surprise. And no, I'm not keeping it. It's being turned over to the sheriff's office."


Why turn the gun in? It's yours you paid for it. I would keep it if for nothing else but the story. But I guess I am from Alabama and guns are part of life.

This is the internet so I like to err on the side of caution when discussing matters of things sensitive in nature. Also, I don't want to be the person in possession of a possible murder weapon, the serial number was unreadable. I like to stand on the right side of the law no matter where I live or what is bought and paid. If it's not registered in my name legally without a background check, I don't want it. I've got enough guns so I'm good.

The rust is on the outside. Could've been cleaned up. It was empty, it still racked fine.

[StoawaySalor]

Originally Posted by streaminwild

A diamond earring. I returned it to the elderly couple, and in return they let me store the Airstream for free on their farm.

That was so awefullu nice of you! And of them!! Wow, that is truly a great find when an offer of generosity is returned.

[StoawaySalor]

Originally Posted by blickcd

When I bought my trailer in 2004 the PO handed me a big manila envelope with the owner's manual and service manual inside, along with some other assorted paperwork.

I still have all of that material and have mainly only looked at the service manual. However, about a year ago I decided to give everything in the envelope a careful look.

There were a few service receipts, one was from work done in Jackson Center, and all had the names and addresses of two previous owners, none of which were the person I bought it from.

Perhaps I am only the fourth owner, but anyway it was cool to look through that time capsule of sorts. Also explained why some of my lower wrap was not a perfect match, as it was a repair done by the original owner after running up on a curb.

Most likely the former owners have moved but I have thought on occasion to mail some photos to their old addresses, along with a brief note saying that I own their old Airstream, just in case they wondered what happened to it.

I don't think that's a half bad idea. If it gets returned to you, at least you tried and won't ever have it in the back of your mind wondering if you should or not.

I also received all the information in a big envelope which even included the original purchase receipt! I'm the 3rd owner and it makes me feel pretty special for some reason to have all this. I think the original owners were either the parents or grand parents of the PO because it was only transferred into her name, there's not a sales receipt or a bill of sale through the Minnesota Department of Licensing.

I have a notebook where I jot down daily or weekly notes of all things I've done to the trailer or the checklist I intend to do. It's to keep me on task, but it'll also be a reminder for the future to look at my own diagrams as to where I placed certain F/W valves that weren't there originally or when did I redo all the F/W piping or what color and brand was the paint we used on the walls or cabinets or why there's no longer a F/W tank or what date I purchased rivets and from where. Simple things that I know I will forget eventually.

If this trailer gets passed down to the kids or on to someone else after I'm gone, this will go with the trailer and they'll know exactly what was done and when and how and why with notes how to fix it if it breaks again. But that's only if they can decipher my chicken scratch.

Heather