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ALANSD · 10-22-2014, 09:45 AM

Ok thanks i didn't know that...

Aviator · 10-23-2014, 07:35 PM

Ours is 27' from bumper to front of hitch. The actual body the trailer is 25".

Aviator · 11-01-2014, 09:26 AM

Carol and I just dropped the trailer off at Felver Design (Felver Design Sign Studio - Vintage Camper Restoration). Julie is going to polish it for us, and then they will install our holding tanks and a few other items. Then it will be time for insulation and the interior!

ALANSD · 11-01-2014, 12:59 PM

They do great work...we have seen a lot of the results.

Aviator · 01-25-2015, 05:58 AM

It's been a while, so an update is in order. I took the trailer over to Beaufort, SC where the Felver's have their shop. While it was there, they polished the exterior, added two grey tanks (hooked together) and installed the black tank. David also cut drain holes in the floor for the shower and toilet. I am extremely happy with the work they did!

Aviator · 01-25-2015, 06:04 AM

Yesterday, I was able to install the new ProPride Hitch. Having one on our 34' made towing so easy. I didn't hesitate in the least ordering another one for this trailer even though it is shorter and lighter. There is a very high probability we will end up using something other than the F150 to tow with. A small SUV or large sedan is the most likely choice.

KAYAKAMPERS · 01-26-2015, 06:05 AM

I think that was your trailer passing us on I-16 heading West a week or so ago. Probably heading back from Felver's. B.T.W., friends of ours with an Overlander just bought a new Dodge Durango to pull it. They are very impressed. They spent some time researching mid size SUV's and this new version was highly rated. They got the R/T hemi version.

ALANSD · 01-26-2015, 12:01 PM

Felvers do great work, and it shows in yours. I love the grey tanks, but will have to live without it on ours.There are "workarounds"

Skatiero · 01-27-2015, 05:54 AM

Looking great, Craig and Carol!

StreamNTyme · 01-27-2015, 06:28 AM

Beautiful shine on that trailer...I know you must be excited to finish it..
can't wait to see it..David and Julie did a wonderful job..
Congrats..

Aviator · 01-27-2015, 06:53 AM

Beth and Chris,

I saw one other Airstream headed the opposite direction. I saw you waving, and I was waving back

StreaminGuy · 01-27-2015, 07:00 AM

Craig,

I don't get on the forum that often, sometimes going a year or so without looking at it. I didn't know you were working on this trailer until I was talking to Ed the other night on the phone. I'm glad he told me about this thread/blog. The work you've done is absolutely amazing. The additional help you've enlisted on the project with Rob (Skatiero), David and Julie has made for an incredible almost finished product. I know others chimed in with expert advise as well. (I had never even heard of one of those dent rollers till I saw your thread, I hope to get one). I really enjoyed reading the progress of the work and details of how it was done. Hopefully, one day, I'll accumulate the tools and (thanks to detailed how to's like this thread), that I can take our little trailer to the next level. Ours is a "fixed up" trailer and has never undergone any true restoration work. It's trailers like yours that makes me want to keep ours locked up on open house days as I'm well aware of all of its imperfections!
Kudos again for the great job and mostly thanks for sharing. It is a benefit for myself and others.
Of course, Julie did an awesome job polishing the trailer. I've never seen anyone that can polish a trailer or do wood finishing as good as her. She can work circles around most guys! David is a great craftsman/fabricator as well. They are both incredible talented designers too.
Can't wait to see the new trailer in person. That's it, I'm all out of adjectives!

Thanks, G

PS...also great to see your son involved. Truly memories he will appreciate for a lifetime. Seems like a great son!

Aviator · 02-06-2015, 04:19 PM

No picks, but the exterior running lights are wired up (and even working!) I plan to wire in a separate switch just inside the door to enable the running lights to be turned on at night without plugging into the external umbilical port.

Also the shower enclosure is in place and braced, and I have all of the major components on hand except for the interior aluminum sheets. The A/C and furnace both arrived today.

Aviator · 02-06-2015, 04:21 PM

Oh, I have also installed the new ProPride hitch for the trailer. We liked the one we bought for the 34' so much, it was natural to install one on this trailer as well. Especially since Carol plans to tow it with something other than a big truck. Most likely a small to medium sized SUV or a large sedan.

Aviator · 02-06-2015, 04:25 PM

StreaminGuy,

Thank you for your kind words. They did make me chuckle a bit simply because when I look at our project what I see is all the work yet to do, and every ripple and imperfection. One definitely (at at least I do) tends to focus on all the little bits and not see what the whole has become. Your encouragement comes at a good time, thanks.

Aviator · 03-25-2015, 01:40 PM

The last week has been spent sealing leaks which developed after polishing (the previously caulked areas had to be cleaned as part of the process), and I riveted the holding from to my new fresh water tank support pan. The original was a 3/4" plywood sheet sandwiched between two 2024 Alclad sheets. The new one is 1/4" aluminum on top of which I will add a 1/2" sheet of rigid foam insulation. This should be lighter as well as provide more thermal protection for the tank.

Aviator · 08-02-2015, 04:19 PM

It's been a long time since I had anything to update, but the new axles are now on, and when the weather starts cooling I will be able to do the interior insulation work. For the last couple of months I have been trying to stop the leak around the front widow and the roadside vista view. That has been very frustrating.

The new axles came through Colin Hyde who did a great job for me. I did upgrade to the 3500# axles so that I could get 12" brakes. This required notching my attachment rails a little bit as the new axle tube is wider than the old axle tube. Other than that, the bolt holes and every thing else lined up perfectly

I'm having problems uploading the pictures so will place them in another post.

Aviator · 11-15-2015, 02:26 PM

The first layer of Prodex is installed in the interior along with the new black tank and all associated plumbing.

About 2/3 of the 1/2" closed cell foam is installed in the interior as well. Next up will be why wiring before adding the interior skins.

Aviator · 03-01-2016, 06:44 AM

It's been a busy Winter. Unfortunately it wasn't busy with work on the Airstream project. Most of the interior now has two layers of insulation installed. Prodded, 1/2" closed cell foam, to be followed with another layer of Prodex to act as a thermal barrier between the inner skin and the ribs.

The last couple of days, I was able to install the tire carrier and belly skins back to the axles. Rather than a large sheet of Aluminum, I decided to go with smaller sections. This will allow easier access to the under floor should work need to be done in the future.

Aviator · 03-01-2016, 06:46 AM

I'm not sure why the photo's are rotating 90 degrees when I upload them. They are properly oriented prior to upload. I apologize for the neck stretching required to look at them.