Miles and Miles of Aluminum

[HiHoAgRV]

1st big outing and a new name for the Big-O-34'er.

Natchez Balloon race, 10-16/18-2009. We spent Wednesday night in Vicksburg at the Ameristar Casino. I needed to work a few hours Thursday morning and we could then head down the Natchez Trace to the campground just across the river from Natchez. We met up with several camping buddies and played Wii Golf while grillin'. Gotta get an outdoor TV! Friday night was the opening of the carnival and the Glow. The glow was in the campground and the rides/flea market right next door.

More photos comin!

[HiHoAgRV]

A view of the campground, after the masses move out Sunday morning. We removed any chance of sway with our new 'pusher' hitch assembly. Ya really have to leave open all of the Airstream curtains so the truck driver can see all the way thru...

A shot of the neighbor, kinda a quiet fellow, just grunted when we walked past...

And the Balloon race winner is...the only brave soul to launch in the howling winds! No kidding, one balloon flew...

On the way back up the Natchez Trace we just have to stop at Rocky Springs and walk down the creek, stone gathering.

And we finally agreed on a new name for the 'Stream...AlumaTherapy

[Reidmon]

Any one know the names of companies that can ship/transport Airstreams across the U.S., and the names of the best ones to ship out of the country? Potential buyers of mine are asking. Many thanks!

[HiHoAgRV]

Well I did it....
Stripped off the 2 sq Inches of remaining clearcoat from the front cap and started removing the 3 different shades of corrosion.

I'm not trying for a mirror finish, just an even one on all 34'.

Photos? I'm too dang tired and it dark.

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

Well I did it....
Stripped off the 2 sq Inches of remaining clearcoat from the front cap and started removing the 3 different shades of corrosion.

I'm not trying for a mirror finish, just an even one on all 34'.

Photos? I'm too dang tired and it dark.

I feel your pain. It really is a great looking 34, though. I just have the one awing, so I also appreciate the full package on yours.

Sadistically, I am looking forward to your project. What are your plans for clearcoat when you finish, or have you gotten that far ahead?

Fortunately for me, severe hail damage to the front cap would require replacement before even considering polishing the rest. Right now, I am concentrating on interior.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

'Im not trying for a mirror finish, just an even one on all 34'.

Has anyone ever calculated the square footage of the skin on a '34? Just washing my anodized '34 was enough some days . . . .

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by vswingfield

I feel your pain...Sadistically, I am looking forward to your project. What are your plans for clearcoat when you finish, or have you gotten that far ahead?...

I'm kinda on the bubble. It's tempting to try a recoat but it's also easy for me to just run over it every year with a polish/wax. This model has the mill finish and there is no way I'm gonna polish it to a mirror (plus the mill finish hides swirl marks )

Originally Posted by REDNAX

Has anyone ever calculated the square footage of the skin on a '34? Just washing my anodized '34 was enough some days . . . .

It's a ton of surface area, isn't it!

There is one small area, just above the airstream letters that still needs the clearcloat removed. That was all that remained on the center section!

[HiHoAgRV]

This weekend we decided to try out our new 3 battery setup and hauled 60 miles over to the Natchez Trace to stay in a small 22 site campground named Rocky Springs. It's part of the Trace, free$$, no hookups, has bathrooms but no showers and is usually empty.

Arriving mid morning the place was packed! 1/2 of the site were full of folks from Canada...I do believe we were the only ones that were not from outta state (even the boyscouts were from LA). We had to wait for a spot to clear...

Saturday was a beautiful 70 degree spring day so we hiked, biked, waded in the stream and toured the abandoned town of Rocky Springs - it seems that the town went bust in the 1870's due to the spring drying, poor land management/errosion and a outbreak of yellow fever. The only things remaining are 2 cysterns, a couple of vaults and the 1835 church (still in use!).

Anyway, we went to bed to the sound of rain and awoke to 44 degrees inside, 34 degrees outside with sleet and snow flakes...brrrr. Even the Canadians were complaining...but they were trying to form a sking contest as we departed.

I'm very happy with the 3 group 27 battery setup. A couple of hours of Directv, some radio, lights...we still had 12.59 volts after 26 hours. Next comes a Trimetric.

[HiHoAgRV]

(said in a winey voice) "My 22 ft Airstream with a 15k BTU AC won't stay cool, what do I do?"

Hey buddy, try a 13.5K BTU on a 34'er!

We struggled with a 14k BTU on our 29' so I already know that this one will be unacceptable in a matter of a few weeks, sooooo....

Time to install a second ac unit.

As usual, I listened to advice then went and made up my own mind - that goes completely agains all the advice...we will be sticking in a 11k BTU penguin low profile. Out goes the bedroom fantastic fan (it's gonna get relocated to somewhere) and in goes the penguin. As of right now - that's the only details I have worked out! I gotta run a second breaker box, a second shore power line and get a drain line snaked thru the hull.

The first steps were to order the unit, then realize I need a way to get it off the truck - so I gotta build some forks for the front loader...

A couple of weeks later a big truck pulls up and I have big boxes that say Dometic (upside down if you notice).

More later (hopefully)

[HiHoAgRV]

Inside the biggest box is the main unit, the smaller box is the inside air distribution portion/controls . They are ordered separately...hummm, the next step is to shove all the stuff in the garage and....go camping...

[2airishuman]

so u r gonna ac the shower stall and the head ?

that'll b a real meat locker...

"no really it's shrinkage, you've heard of shrinkage?"

i like it!

but won't the ac be sorta slanted in that roof location ?

and what's the plan for fart gas evacuation?



could need a LOT of matchesncandles...

cheers
2air'

[Ag&Au]

He said bedroom fan not bathroom, but your version makes better copy.

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

so u r gonna ac the shower stall and the head ?

that'll b a real meat locker...

"no really it's shrinkage, you've heard of shrinkage?"

i like it!

but won't the ac be sorta slanted in that roof location ?

and what's the plan for fart gas evacuation?



could need a LOT of matchesncandles...

cheers
2air'

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

so u r gonna ac the shower stall and the head ?

that'll b a real meat locker...

"no really it's shrinkage, you've heard of shrinkage?"

i like it!

but won't the ac be sorta slanted in that roof location ?

and what's the plan for fart gas evacuation?



could need a LOT of matchesncandles...

cheers
2air'

I guess some additional details would be in order...
I'm kinda thinkin about puttin the Fantastic Vent in the poot room. That way I can leave off the screen and toss toilet paper in the fan, spittin confetti out the roof and into the campground....
But...
The AC is looking like it needs to go in the bedroom...

[2airishuman]

ok so the bedz going in the bathroom too?

that's gonna be one crowded, cold latrine.

and hows that penguin gonna use the toilet from way up there?

they make a pretty big chunk o'droppings.



the F'fan sans screen makes a mighty fine salad shooter.

nevamind...

cheers
2air'

[HiHoAgRV]

Today when I got home there was this nice size box that says 'From Out of Doors Mart'

And inside is a Airstream/Penguin drain pan.

[HiHoAgRV]

We spent the weekend camping at a local park and even though the temp was only in the 80's the rear bedroom was uncomfortable. So this afternoon I parked the 'Stream in the driveway, grabbed a ladder and started preppin for the rear AC install.

1st order of business was to remove the Fantastic Fan . all of the screws were covered in sealant goop but they still managed to rust. Vice grips to the rescue...slowly twisting out each one...1/2 a turn at a time .

So I have to get 110V and a drip line up here...the plan was to route them thru the roof and into the bathroom. From there I could exit the roof and come down the corner beside the vent stack (its hidden behind the medicine cabinet and some trim). Then I can cross behind the toilet and into the sink cabinet. The drain can drop thru the floor and the 110V can route back to a bedside cabinet where a new breaker box will be installed.

[HiHoAgRV]

Tonights goal was to get the support framing in place. I matched the curve of the Drip pan onto a piece of 1" thick scrap, then transfered it to a 2x4. The ceiling is 2" thick so the same curve, 2" away, is the basic shape for the from and rear pieces with the length of 14.25" The side pieces need a slight angle to the top and bottom so the would sit flat. They needed to be 17.25 long for a proper overlap on the front and rear segments.

[HiHoAgRV]

The street side has 2 holes added for the power and drain lines. The interior of the AC overlaps the bedroom light switch so it had to be moved 2" forward. Lots of screws and the wood is in. When the moon comes up its time to tape the vent cover back in place and call it a night

[HiHoAgRV]

The weather man says rain tomorrow so I figgered I better sneak outta work a bit early and get the hole in the roof plugged. I covered the wood inserts with aluminum tape, caulked the drip pan in place then lifted the AC unit up, up, and away.

[HiHoAgRV]

An a couple of hours later...
blowin in the wind is cool air...
It's running on temp power so I can see if the drain is gonna drain...


So far- so good