2003 Classic

[Pahaska]

I was tired of digging the big plates out from under the small plates, so I split the overhead cabinet with a shelf. The black divider is part of the original dinette table from my old International; it already had a nice curve on the corner which makes it look really classy.

The white pieces that mount the shelf are "F" shaped plastic molding from HD that I stumbled across. The slot in the "F" is a press fit for the plywood and works great for mounting thin plywood shelves. I used the same stuff to mount the dividers in the bedside table.

I also put a shelf in the cabinet over the pantry which I use for drinking glasses and mugs (forgot to take a photo). I mounted that shelf with the same plastic moldings. That shelf holds the Koozies and plastic drink cups while the mugs have plenty pf space underneath.

[RivetED]

Great work John, looks original equip.!
Our new Safari needs some attention, How much do you charge an hour!!

-Ed

[gklott]

Wonderful ideas. Will apply several to ours.

Quite impressed with your craftsmanship.

Have you had any luck mounting anything to the exterior walls? Am wondering what it would take to get inside the wall with a reinforcing plate.

73/gus

[Pahaska]

Originally posted by gklott
Wonderful ideas. Will apply several to ours.

Quite impressed with your craftsmanship.

Have you had any luck mounting anything to the exterior walls? Am wondering what it would take to get inside the wall with a reinforcing plate.

73/gus

The inner skin is surprisingly strong in shear. Items such as the spice rack are supported by just 4 metal screws into the liner. I moved the spice rack in my trailer over about 3" to make room for an adjacent wall-hung unit which I haven't built yet.

When I modified the dinette to a couch on my previous International, the back of the couch was pretty much suspended from the inner wall. I had no problems with screws pulling out or becoming loose.

By using a number of screws, you can suspend quite a load from the wall. For heavier loads, I would go to multiple screw inserts (RivNuts) to provide a larger bearing surface.

[aluminauts]

Since there is now an official thread for Classics, I felt our 34 foot should be represented.
One week after its delivery and shakedown cruise, April 2003.

[Pahaska]

In the bedroom of my queen bed model, there is a carpet covered closeout over the wheelwell. For some unknown reason, Airstream put the furnace vent in the closeout which makes it take up way more floor space then necessary. Where the furnace vent would logically be, there is a big cutout in the wardrobe wall.

I have removed the closeout and intend to relocate the furnace vent onto the wardrobe wall. The closeout will be shortened by 6 1/4" to provide a little more footroom at the foot of the bed where I usually dress. Doesn't sound like much, but I can't stand wasted space when the space would make using the trailer more comfortable.

[Pahaska]

Here is the modified closeout installed. I still have to replace the baseboard with a slightly longer piece.

The imprint on the carpet shows how much I took off of the closeout. Not much, but it is right where I stand to change clothes and gives me a bit of room to move around.

[j54mark]

Originally Posted by Pahaska

The closeout will be shortened by 6 1/4" to provide a little more footroom....
The imprint on the carpet shows how much I took off of the closeout. Not much, but it is right where I stand to change clothes and gives me a bit of room to move around.

6 1/4 inches in a travel trailer is acres of space! Your modifcation will clearly make moving in that very tight area far more easy.

I can understand why some space saving steps are not taken - it might be too expensive, too labor intensive, too much extra weight, or any number of reasons. What I have never understood is the lack of effort to improve space utilization when it costs nothing, or could even save money.

We had an even more glaring example of this sort of thing when we got our '85 25' Sovereign. To make a long story short, I rebuilt the bedroom dresser/credenza with 3" or so less depth, yet built 40% larger and deeper drawers. This 3" (along the 5 foot plus length of the dresser) makes the difference between being able to just stand there and being able to comfortably change clothes. Most of the space gained had been simply shut away behind the drawers, totally inaccessible.

Mark

[Tarheel]

Very nice mods, mine is somewhat different from yours but I am looking hard at the folding table and the bookrack. I'll have to take some pics of my mods to the front cabinets. I put plexiglass dividers in them to make for better storage. Since the refrigerator is on the streetside of my unit and so is the dinette I store the coax for the satellite there and that is where I bring my cb coax into the unit. The cb is mounted under the overhead cabinet at the forward end of the dinette. When you are at the big rallys or traveling with others its an effecient way to communicate.

[macofpei]

found this link--Thanks for the great ideas.

[macofpei]

Hello everyone. I am wondering if someone has the owners manuel for the 2003 Classic on a disk? I have the binder but it take up a lot of space. I read somewhere that these are available.
Please let me know.
Thanks

[RLS]

You can download the manual from the Airstream web site. Here is the link: Airstream, Inc :: Manuals