A small report on a big event! Congratulations on completing your chassis rebuild. Now get ready for a pounding headache as you rivet the shell to the C channel et. al. Then you'll have a "covered wagon" that can venture outside.
We're out traveling in the 86 Limited, so NO work is being finished on the Trade Wind. Fun before work. We discovered a significant rain water leak in the 86 that I must track down when we return. Always something in these old trailers.
My input on attaching the shell-
make sure the door opening is right, they tend to spread out and the door fit is goofy once all of the rivets are in.
getting the wheel wells to fit so rivet holes in the shell don't line up with open air is a challenge
With a new belly pan hiding any of the old holes in the C channel, finding any other original rivet locations is almost a waste of time, just make sure the shell holes will hit new metal and drill away!!!
Six months later and I have run out of shop borrowed time. So I did my best to get the shell back on. Partially riveted. Where the panels are being replaced we used self drilling screws. Some L brackets on the c-channel.
Now I am taking six months off. The new job is great for earning cash for the next phase of work.
Today I used my SUV to tow her since it's so light right now.
She is now in climate controlled storage. Go to the facebook page Glamper Girl for much more detail and videos.
The semi-monocoque Airstream structure is now whole. Frame, subfloor, and shell all working together to support each other. I'm glad you found inside storage for the summer. It will be there for you when you are ready.
It's awful the way work and responsibilities get in the way of having fun! Your doggie looks confused about the whole moving thing. Maybe the doggie needs to bark at some of those seahawks you rave about.
I must move out of my garage this week. My trailer is full of holes where I drilled out rivets to remove the front window stone guard, the Airstream plaques, awning brackets, and the like. I'm working to get it all sealed up so it can sit outside all summer. Maybe someday I'll have my own Airstream garage. Who knows?
It's been awhile! This time last year I got my 65 out of Gold Beach, Oregon and started my shell off.
Where I last left you all was I had the chassis completely restored. We semi screwed and riveted the shell back on and I took her to dry storage.
I earned a large chunk of cash to prepare for this next phase.
Skin replacement
Windows have been completely restored. Now need install.
I have two roof vents. Will install AC and a second fan.
Seal her up.
Bring her to my house and save for the next phase of interior.
I started a post on exterior skin seeking referrals in Washington state for this list of work above.
Happy to have accomplished what I have to date and so ready for her to be in my driveway!
My son is getting my old white truck and the Aloha trailer. Pictured is my new tow for the Globetrotter. A 2013 F-150. Low miles. Four door. It's fun. My son is already using the Aloha to go dirt biking on weekends in Eastern Washington. I don't drive to work as I travel to US cities via plane to do my job. I work for a global datacenter company in sales.
Glad to be touching base here. All of you were an amazing support when I was killing myself with the belly pan!
Take care and send me any referral for the work I need done!
Hi thumbelina dj. Nice to hear you're doing great. And nice to hear your globetrotter is moving forward. Nice picture of the old camper. Lots of nice!
I'm going to do some projects on my son's 69 Globetrotter this winter, as well as some "maintenance" on the Trade Wind and Limited. The Trade Wind has been out traveling some, maybe 2000 miles. I am having altitude trouble lighting the new fridge, but other than that, the Trade Wind's systems are all working.
Our lives changed this year too. We moved from beautiful Minnesota to beautiful Colorado to be closer to our sons, both of which live in the Denver area. So my Airstream is at 8200 feet and gasping for air. But it is very nice up here. More nice. Hey, some of those swichbacks are a bit hairy with the 34 foot Limited. I encroach into the oncoming lane.
Are you following those Sea Hawk things around again this year?
Yesterday I took my GT into Ryan's RV in Everett. After several months of talking with many vendors and weighing my options. I chose a company that was quality focused and a quick drive from my house. The goal in this phase is to get all my windows back in, the skin replaced in areas I chose, shell 100% riveted down and all holes sealed. There is this stupid antenna hole. Will try to get a patch in the shape of Washington state and a Texas Lone Star. Time is not my concern. Just keeping costs down.
Attached is a photo of my new truck- got this 2013 with 4300 miles on it. Great deal!
The roof of the GT has a vent and a skylight.
Plan is for a fantastic fan and an AC unit.
Aloha and welcome back Dena.
So glad to see that you have not lost heart for your project!
These big soul testing, challenging jobs in life are really soul strengthing excersize once we push thru and achieve our goals.
I had a look at the fantastic time lapse video on your F B page, really well done video Dena. Yet another talent displayed there! Deffineatly an eye opener for anyone considering such an undertaking.
You might mention to Ryan just how many of us are following your project and how much good exposure will come to his work on your trailer.
I motored up into the PNW this summer and found myself saying often how much I love the area in good weather. So much so that I been thinking about spending much more time there. So I have about five different locations on my phone for monitoring the weather. And this El Niño winter seem a poor one to gage the area by. Glad your rig is under cover.
Your favorite seahawks beat our vikings in the cold of Minnesota's winter. Drat. Oh well, life goes on. Actually I like baseball better.
I'm working on my son's 69 globetrotter this winter. It has a lot of needs, but one step at a time. I remember the photos of your trailer when you first brought it home. Look how much progress you have made on it since then. One rivet at a time.
After Ryan's gets the shell reassembled, it might be a good time to "pressure test" the shell and cure any leaks found.
What i did was replace my 26x14 front escape hatch with a patch that a 14x14 fantastic vent could go in. I also got an aluminum refer vent cover fron Inland Rv, cut it down to fit the existing ABS cover. Also there is a place in Fort Meyers Florida that sells an aluminum water vent cover. If you do a search you can find it. I think they were $12 plus shipping. Also getting at your marker lights when interior is removed makes for a nicer job. Just a note, i used stainless 12-24 pan head screws with nylock nuts for the fantastic vent.
Here are some pics. My goal was to get all roof done with it open. I think an a/c will fit a 14x14 if you go that route.
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