75 Overlander Improvements Journal

[chrisetmike]

Wow your Airstream is really coming along. You did a great job on the "living room" it looks really good.

[dbj216]

I stopped the quick polish for now as it was taking too much time and I was having poor results. I'll get back at it soon enough, but the priority is being ready to pull out Thursday 7/11.

I did a final clean of the interior today. I also hung the new ceiling light plastics. I removed an old fashioned TV antenna from the roof. Actually we do not have a TV in the trailer when we travel. We need a hot spot instead.

Tomorrow I plan to hang the curtains. That is really the last significant step getting ready for the maiden voyage. I have to put the license plate on it. I have to set the hitch ball height and weight distribution bars due to the new tongue height. These simple things take time.

I have a rather long punch list of improvements I want to make, but none of them will inhibit using this Overlander.

Getting excited loading up for the maiden voyage.

David

[dbj216]

Hi chrisetmike. My Overlander pales compared to yours. Mine is just a renovation of the original trailer. Yours is a work of art. I don't have the skills for that kind of woodwork. You folks have done a great job on your vintage Overlander.

David

[Minno]

Just caught back up on your thread - have been in NY state for oldest granddaughter's high school graduation...
We did the piano hinge trick on our outside hatches on the advice of Inland Andy a few years ago. It's a real game changer! I'd advise everyone to do it.
Trailer is looking good, David. I'm hopefully looking forward to seeing you at International next year? It's in Colorado, after all!
Enjoy your first time out!

Kay

[dbj216]

Hanging 10 curtains in the Overlander was a real trial of my patience. The dumb things are awkward to say the least. These little plastic sliders need accurately positioned in the aluminum extruded tracks; first the upper one, then the lower one. It took me 4 hours to hang the 10 curtains.

Whine, whine, whine.

Don't laugh, it is a 70s Airstream. I read AirForums user Foiled Again call them "coffin curtains". Nice and peaceful don't you think.

David

[TouringDan]

Everything is looking great David. I know you are looking forward to heading out on July 11.

Dan

[Atomic_13]

Looks great, David. Wishing you and yours well on the trailer’s first trip out. Leave your punch list at home and worry about it after you return.

[Joyflea]

Good luck on your first trip . You have done a great job and everything should be fine . Have fun and don’t smile too much .

[Dwwalker18]

Looks great! Have fun!

[dbj216]

Thank you for your best wishes everyone. I am looking forward to the rally, meeting other Airstreamers in the Colorado Airstream Club, and hiking around the trails near Steamboat Springs.

I did more water testing today, no issues discovered. Even my new toilet now holds water overnight in the bowl. New fridge works good. I can't test the AC as I don't have 30 amp service in my shop. I also rigged up the hitch. I'm not happy with it, but it got me across Texas two years ago, it will get me to Steamboat. I need to adjust for the higher ride height of the Overlander with the new axles. Don't worry, I won't be pulling nose up, but I don't have enough adjustment to get the trailer attitude that I would prefer.

I'll let you all know how my maiden voyage goes, both good and bad.

David

[chrisetmike]

Originally Posted by dbj216

Hanging 10 curtains in the Overlander was a real trial of my patience. The dumb things are awkward to say the least. These little plastic sliders need accurately positioned in the aluminum extruded tracks; first the upper one, then the lower one. It took me 4 hours to hang the 10 curtains.

Whine, whine, whine.

Don't laugh, it is a 70s Airstream. I read AirForums user Foiled Again call them "coffin curtains". Nice and peaceful don't you think.

David

Your coffin curtain quip made me spit out my coffee, thanks for my morning laugh 🤣. Your Airstream is looking great. I hope I get to see it in person one day.

[dbj216]

We who renovate or restore these old Airstreams always look forward to the first camping trip. It is a very little like a first flight on a home built airplane, only less dramatic.

I did it! I pulled the Overlander to Steamboat Springs to attend a Colorado Airstream Club rally. The Overlander performed quite well in my view, maybe a B+. It towed well behind the Super Duty. The new axles were a large improvement over the rough and curvy roads in Colorado. The bath worked okay, although the sink is quite low and small just like Airstream built it. The vanity is under the large rear window. The beds were very comfortable, the kitchen worked as expected, the new fridge worked great in the hot weather and the new couch was comfortable enough. Maybe I made it a bit high and deep.

The only issue was the new brakes didn't work as well as they should. I'll have to figure that out. The Super Duty diesel slows the trailer nicely on long downhills like after the Eisenhower tunnel. That's why people buy diesel engines.

There were about 20 Airstreams at the rally. I met many nice folks, especially a couple with an old Trade Wind like I used to have. They have used it extensively for over 20 years. My campsite was in the sun all day and it was just too hot for me. The AC would finally cool the trailer down in the evening. The Colorado sun is not my favorite thing. It was 90 during the afternoon and 50 in the morning. Crazy. Note the snow on the mountain in the background. Colorado had a lot of snow this year. Steamboat Springs is a great venue for an Airstream gathering. Lots of things to see and do.

I deem the Overlander "travel ready" after two years on jack stands. That's a good feeling. I have many more improvements I want to do to it, but in due time.

David

[TouringDan]

David

We just returned from camping in the Colorado mountains. Elevation was 8,000-10,500 ft so the daily highs were about 75 with lows in the 40’s- perfect camping weather.

Glad that your first camping trip with your Overlander went well. “Travel ready” is a great place to be. You can make further improvements at your own pace.

Dan

[Jeremy9107]

Congrats on the trip David. Did the same the week prior in mine. Many more failures than you reported so don’t feel too bad. Your trailer looks great. Like the awning. We have never had one. I see a bracket running on the curb side roof, is that where it attaches? How does it roll up? I’m picturing a window shade.

We took a week long trip to CO recently. No Airstream. Saw everything from Rocky Mt National
park to Pines Peak to Garden of the Gods to The Great Sand Dunes. Great country over there. .

[dbj216]

Thanks guys. I'm satisfied I didn't have a catastrophic failure, like black water leaking on the ground or smoke from the power distribution panel. However, the weak brakes are a concern.

The awning is a newer Zip Dee. It does roll up like a window shade. They are very common on Airstreams. Many dealers have them and can install them. The shade is welcome here in the bright, hot sun.

Colorado is a nice place to travel with your Airstream. Tourism is a main economic driver for Colorado, especially during the ski season.

David

[chrisetmike]

Congratulations on a successful shake down trip. Your Airstream looks really good. Enjoy your well deserved camping time!

[Glenritas]

Oooh I spy with my little eye a black spotted overlander in the mountains of Colorado ��

[dbj216]

I'm back from a vacation trip to Wisconsin, no Overlander though. And no black spotted Overlander running through the mountains around here. I enjoy watching the vintage sports cars run at Road America. It is a sports car overload for me. Weather was too hot.

I have to do some brake diagnostic tests on the Overlander after I rest up a bit.

David

[steinVT]

Some of my favorite memories are of watching the original Trans-Am and Can-Am series running at Road America back in the early 70's. You could feel the big blocks going up the hill in your chest. The Porsche 917's that would blow by them were almost anti-climatic. Bet you had a great time. Mark

[dbj216]

I too visited Road America in the early seventies. Drove my MGB there with no top. Got real wet one afternoon on the road. We too watched the TransAm races with guys like George Follmer, Sam Posey, Parnelli Jones, and a new guy Mark Donahue in a AMC Javelin for goodness sakes. Yes, thunder alley will still bounce vibrations off your chest. There was a CanAm reunion there about 8 years ago with about 50 can am cars there including that mighty Porsche 917. LOT of NOISE. We enjoy the vintage sports car races there every third weekend in July since 1992. Great fun.

Airstream traveling is much more sedate and also great fun.

David