1970 31' Sovereign Project

[dougsmiley]

Just purchased a 1970 31'. Waiting on my check to clear and hopefully pulling it home next weekend.

The current owner knew all but 1 year of the trailer's history Prior to his moving it to his home, it had not moved since 1971. It has been stationary in a campground, with multiple different owners but none of them ever moved it. According to him it had a shelter built over it as well. He aired up the tires and pulled it an hour without issue.

The interior is trashed as expected, and the subfloor is definitely rotting in the bathroom, but didn't show signs of rear seperation.

There are two panels with damage, one of the front lower curves and one of the rear upper curves. The rear upper isnt creased so it may pop out. One of the wing windows needs replaced. Overall not bad.

The underbelly looks incredible. Nothing going on under there but the big sheet of aluminum.

Heres the listing photos - I didn't grab any of my own but I will soon.

[dougsmiley]

Plans:

Likely going to strip it all the way down to start with. We'll see what the frame looks like and decide if i'm going for an on or off frame floor replacement. I've seen a lot of differing opinions on that here.

Even though the axles have only seen 1 year of usage, they're probably still old and need replaced? Any opinions on that, kind of a weird situation with it not of being driven much.

I've learned layout changes are difficult on here, so i'm trying to stick to as original as possible with 1 exception, I'd like to put a queen bed in the front, and put a dinette where the original bed was. Has anyone done that? Seems like a simple change that doesn't effect the location of anything major. Depending on fit I may put the bed sideways, not sure yet on that. Possible I could scoot the kitchen counter over slightly as well, for more room to get past the bed entering.

Adding 2 grey water tanks. Other tanks will depend on condition. Fresh water tank likely only used a couple times based on history lol

New AC, Fridge, Power system. Definitely going to wire it for modern conveniences, such as usb ports driven off the 12v system by the bed, all led lighting, flat screen tv, and so on. Solar prewire too, likely.

I may try to recoat the bathroom and leave it mostly original except for the toilet, but that will depend if it all comes out without breakage or not. Regardless i am going to leave the layout near original there.

I found a top down floorplan and scaled it to make this early drawing of possible layout.

[xrvr]

Gray tank?

[dougsmiley]

Local spelling police? [emoji23]

[Bubba L]

Gray is Americanized, grey is Europeanized. Both mean the same. At least that’s what I’ve been led to believe. Cheerio. Bubba

[Iansk]

Your axles will undoubtably need to be replaced.
If there is floor rot, you likely have frame issues.
Go ahead and plan on a shell off, it’ll make your life easier in the long run.
Queen bed in front is doable, but you really may want to consider doing it side to side. It’ll get old real quick having to scootch around the bed every time you enter or exit.
That wing window may be a bit of a thing to find, keep searching, it’ll pop up eventually. Is scour for donor or wrecked trailers. Hate to say this, but especially after a natural disaster in the surrounding communities. Bought an awning package off a guy whose trailer got a limb dropped it during one of the recent hurricanes.
Switching the layout around is just a matter of patience, skill, money, time, foresight and confidence... easy peasy...

Best of luck!
And welcome aboard.

Ian

[dougsmiley]

Ill start tearing out everything next weekend if its not too cold. Well see what I find.

It's hard to visualize the bed position without the trailer, a bit of time with a tape measure will prove enlightening to how to lay it out.

My goal for next weekend is get it home and get most of the trash and cabinets out of it.

Definitely leaving that old control panel even though it will likely not be functional its just too cool.

[SuzyHomemakr]

I think that you have your scaling a bit too hopeful... I added an RV queen to the back of my '72 Ambassador, and I have 16" on each side to squeeze in. Remember, curvy walls, so it's not like I can sashay in that area. Sorta more of a hunch sideways. Using the RV queen (60 X 75, 5" less than standard) at least keeps it from blocking the door, but not by much. But then you have a couple few feet on me, so that might be a different story with you.

Maybe a sofa bed? We really value the area in the front, and keeping it open, especially when company comes over.

[TxDave]

I agree with SuzyHomemakr. It would be awkward to have folks entering the trailer via your bedroom. We had subfloor rot at the rear of our 1971 Sovereign, but the frame was actually in good shape. Looks like a good project trailer. Have fun!

[xrvr]

Originally Posted by Bubba L

Gray is Americanized, grey is Europeanized. Both mean the same. At least that’s what I’ve been led to believe. Cheerio. Bubba

There you go!!

[dougsmiley]

Since im waiting to pick it up, i took the factory tour today and got some ideas. They actually have a front bedroom like this.

I think it would work good with a privacy curtain.i dont really anticipate having guests all that often either.

The full bed is definitely not gonna work lol. Thanks for the idea on the rv queen that's probably the route ill take.

[DremStremer]

Originally Posted by dougsmiley

Ill start tearing out everything next weekend if its not too cold. Well see what I find.

It's hard to visualize the bed position without the trailer, a bit of time with a tape measure will prove enlightening to how to lay it out.

My goal for next weekend is get it home and get most of the trash and cabinets out of it.

Definitely leaving that old control panel even though it will likely not be functional its just too cool.

I agree, those 70s control panels are very cool. Some of the controls on mine do function. I'm hoping to get it fully functional at some point. It will stay regardless.

[rdb504]

As far as your wing window replacement, I replaced both of mine about two years ago after I picked up a rock with my string trimmer. My "73" had double panes, replaced with new single panes from Airstream Supply. I actually have a used single pane in my spare parts, not sure what side though, and we are on the road until June.

[Minno]

Once you get to the point of putting things back in, I would mock up the prospective layout with cardboard boxes and painters tape. That's what we did at that point. Decided not to go with rear bedroom due to loss of almost all our exterior storage areas. We actually ended up with a layout similar to what you currently have with a side bed, rear bath. I makes it easy to tweak things and figure out what works, and what is too narrow, or weird.
And, welcome!

Kay

[dougsmiley]

I've read through almost your entire thread and i'm borrowing a lot of your ideas. Its going to be a major reference for me so I really appreciate it.

Seems like the easiest thing is to try to leave most things in the same place - however swapping the dinette and bed locations is one thing that doesnt really seem to matter too much. And if i ever decide to sell it it's something that is easily changed back.

I'm going to try to salvage the rear bathroom plastics, well except the toilet, somebody put a house toilet in it! LOL. But I feel nothing is going to fit that space as well as the original parts.

Cabinets i will evaluate, probably replace everything, but use some of the old parts as templates

[Minno]

We got help from other threads while we were re-doing. And, that's why we posted our thread: so others could maybe benefit from some of our ideas. We're happy to know people are still reading it.
Now if we could just finish the trailer... still have a few things to do.

Kay

[dougsmiley]

Originally Posted by dougsmiley

I've read through almost your entire thread and i'm borrowing a lot of your ideas. Its going to be a major reference for me so I really appreciate it.

Seems like the easiest thing is to try to leave most things in the same place - however swapping the dinette and bed locations is one thing that doesnt really seem to matter too much. And if i ever decide to sell it it's something that is easily changed back.

I'm going to try to salvage the rear bathroom plastics, well except the toilet, somebody put a house toilet in it! LOL. But I feel nothing is going to fit that space as well as the original parts.

Cabinets i will evaluate, probably replace everything, but use some of the old parts as templates

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[dougsmiley]

Gutting moving along.

2 skins out 26 degrees and dark here in Indiana. You know the roof is leaking when you break the seal of the top skin and water comes out. Sopping wet insulation behind.

After taking the water heater out the bathroom floor was basically mush. Not even a useable template.... the next plywood sheet is not even in bad shape but that one was GONE. Most of it needs to be scooped out of the belly pan. I literally just picked up the pieces off the frame. I think the tank was the only reason nobody fell through.

Rest of the skins out tomorrow.

Axles were ordered from Colin this week.

Subfloor out next weekend, frame repair begins.

[dougsmiley]

Interior skins are gone.

Bathroom end cap still on the floor cause i was too pooped to wrestle it out, probably have to cut it up? Idk how that would ever go out the door.

Popped a couple dents successfully, hacked out all the wiring, insulation.

Found lots of replaced panels with Olympic rivets. Should i replace those rivets or not worry about it?

[dbj216]

Hello from Colorado and welcome to the vintage Airstream hobby: You're brave to be out there in the winter working on your trailer. What you are finding is what many of us have found.

I would not cut up your rear end cap. It is a huge project to replace it with wood or aluminum. Be careful with it, and maybe you can see a way to slip it through the door. I understand Airstream designed all the interior pieces so they would in fact slip through the door. Keep everything you take out of your trailer as the pieces will be valuable when you go to make new ones.

I have an Overlander 27', two sizes smaller than your Sovereign 31'. Mine was also rotted out in the rear, but not as bad as some. I'm slowly getting it repaired and put back together again.

I'll join the peanut gallery watching your project.

David