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Old 11-06-2016, 08:55 PM   #1
Continents Collide
 
1985 32' Excella
Spring , Texas
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 123
1985, 32ft, Two Door Excella - New Purchase!

The wife and I made the trip from Houston, TX to Meridian, MS this weekend to pick up our first airstream. It is a 1985, 32ft, two door, two axle, Excella.

We got there at 10am on Saturday morning to look at, after seeing pictures and face timing with the seller. It was in the condition we expected which is good.

There are several potential issues. He has laid new subfloor on top of the old subfloor because it 'was bumpy' - that will be the first thing to come up to check underneath. We have found a few spots of the old floor under the sink, oven and batteries and while it seems to have had exposure to moisture it doesn't seem too bad. Hopefully that is the same around the windows and door(s).

Secondly, this guy bought and sold Airstreams for the past 4-5 years and it is clear this is the one that he took pieces off to complete others. There is no water heater, no door screens (although the hinges are still there), no microwave or RV fridge (he did replace it with an electric fridge), no awnings but still has the attachments for the zipdees on the exterior.

The good is that it is down to a good level of bare bones that it is easy to work with, and clean. We will take the dinette out as well as the original couch and put our own, custom built, furniture in. The cabinets are in great shape, as are the overheads. All the exterior lights worked fine on the 10 hour drive home and it pulled like a champ. The axles seem to be okay but they will need to be checked properly.

I have attached some pictures and we will be getting to work on this project ASAP. We will document it all and we will need help! First step is to put new door seals on it and check for leaks then get straight to lifting the new subfloor and checking under it.
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Old 11-23-2016, 10:43 AM   #2
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Columbus , Mississippi
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 35
Well conti, looks like it has good bones, as they say. If price was right, you did good. I'm going right now to look at an '85 Excella, 32'. At a dealer, and as usual, they asking way too much. But I want to see it anyway. Actually, I've never even been inside an Airstream. Ethyl and I have a decided to just get a bigger trailer to live in when we come see our daughter 800 miles away. Right now, we're in our '98 Aerolite 25', 7' wide. Too small. It's served us well though! Wha'? That's over 18 years of a LOT of use and miles on her! Not Ethyl, the trailer.
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Old 11-23-2016, 11:15 AM   #3
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1985 34' Excella
Dallas , Texas
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 1
I am looking at a 1985 excella also. Can you tell me how much they where asking for the trailer?
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Old 11-23-2016, 11:22 AM   #4
Continents Collide
 
1985 32' Excella
Spring , Texas
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 123
They were asking 7000 and we paid 6000 cash. Is it a center bath?
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Old 11-23-2016, 12:26 PM   #5
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Columbus , Mississippi
Join Date: Feb 2015
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The '85 Excella I just looked at, they want $19,900! It's at dealer, but no salesman came over. I checked it outside and went inside. Smell no so good. Especially fridge. It all seemed original though, even carpet! Wood floors in kitchen up to living area, was that original with these? Gross weight is 8,300 pounds, so my F150 Ecoboost will pull it fine. Rated to tow 10,300, and these engines tow like a diesel.
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That old man, he don't think like no old man.
"He's pinned under an outcropping of rock. Lucky for him, the rock kept the dirt from burying him alive". Dirt, it's nothing but dirt, I tell ye...
"I thought I was wrong one time, but I was mistaken." Command Sergeant Major Jim
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Old 11-23-2016, 12:41 PM   #6
Continents Collide
 
1985 32' Excella
Spring , Texas
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 123
Orginial is all well and good if you actually want original. Some people will try and sell it for more because it's original but that doesn't matter if you're going to renovate. That's too much money regardless. I have seen one on the airstream addicts Facebook page in Ocala, FL for $8000 and in decent condition. It is camping ready. It may be on Craigslist as well if you are willing to go there.

I believe the original had tile and carpet, not wood. I could be wrong.

I have an ecoboost as well and it handles it fine. We have a weight distribution hitch to help some.

Take it to a weigh station as soon as you buy it to find the real weight, not just advertised.
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Old 06-16-2017, 06:01 PM   #7
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1985 32' Excella
Valley Village , California
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 146
Images: 16
Just wanted to see how the renovation is going. Since we have pretty much the same rig (including the second door), I was curious what you were doing to yours. We gutted ours and re-did it inside and out, and love it!
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Old 07-01-2017, 01:45 PM   #8
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1985 31' Excella
Warrenville , Illinois
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5
I have the same 85 Excella with two doors, very nice trailer. I like the layout, we have had ours about 7 years, finally removing the original carpet so dealing with large subfloor replacement. Pictures show some of our upgrades.

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Old 07-02-2017, 06:49 AM   #9
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1985 32' Excella
Valley Village , California
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 146
Images: 16
That is a big job, but we did it as well. Luckily for us, we only had to make two small repairs in the subfloor. We sanded it, then primed and painted it so the new one piece linoleum would go down better. Good luck!
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Old 07-08-2017, 10:53 PM   #10
Continents Collide
 
1985 32' Excella
Spring , Texas
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 123
Quote:
Originally Posted by danjoe91 View Post
Just wanted to see how the renovation is going. Since we have pretty much the same rig (including the second door), I was curious what you were doing to yours. We gutted ours and re-did it inside and out, and love it!

Sorry. Just now seeing this. We are finished (as much as you are ever finished) and living in it full time. 3 weeks in.

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Built an L shaped couch with hinged storage. No back pillows just regular pillows. Don't move during transport.

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We made the counter top from scratch. The left side of the stove broke off while driving. Not the end of the world but annoying.

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Built blue storage on either side and then an ikea closet door for the counter top. Was damaged and sold as is, just cut the damaged ends off. Used 3/4 inch dowel to hold the baskets in.

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Made the counter top out of pine. Used a spice rack from ikea for the storage attached to the wall.

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View from our bed at palo duro state park. Built a queen size bedframe and it takes up the entire back of the airstream. Click image for larger version

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I have replaced/installed:
New subfloor
New vinyl plank flooring
New copper gas lines
New pex plumbing and PVC/ABS
New brake assemblies, drums and bearings
New 6 gallon Atwood electric/gas water heater
New 30 amp plug
New capacitor in AC unit
New toilet
New battery terminals
New curtains, rails and cushions
New 7 pin trailer adapter
New cabinet doors from scratch
New window and door seals
New parbond on all exterior seams

About to:
Install new grey and black tank valves and seals
Install solar panels, inverter, charge controller

Things are still needing to be done but it is done on the road while I have time and not too hot.
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Old 07-10-2017, 08:18 AM   #11
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1985 32' Excella
Valley Village , California
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 146
Images: 16
You have done a lot, and it looks great! We are jealous of your rig, because it even has the optional wrap around rear window. So cool!
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Old 07-10-2017, 05:57 PM   #12
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1985 31' Excella
Warrenville , Illinois
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5
Very nicely done, you have been creative and quite busy!
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Old 07-10-2017, 10:41 PM   #13
Continents Collide
 
1985 32' Excella
Spring , Texas
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 123
Quote:
Originally Posted by danjoe91 View Post
You have done a lot, and it looks great! We are jealous of your rig, because it even has the optional wrap around rear window. So cool!


That was a must have for the wife. So she could enjoy the view in the morning when she wakes up. Not me...the mountains! Haha.
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Old 07-11-2017, 02:50 PM   #14
DRJJL
 
1985 31' Sovereign
Poway , California
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 150
Blog Entries: 3
Have an 85 Excella also

I purchased 2 axel Excella in 2007/2008 as second home while commuting. Now planning to fix her up inside. So have some parts available such as rear bunk mattresses and fold out tables. Come get them and visit sunny San Diego at the same time!
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