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Old 08-30-2016, 05:57 AM   #1
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1994 30' Excella
1992 35' Airstream 350
Austin , Texas
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Rivet My Classic MH is so freaking cool, but..

We do need a place to vent, because sometimes I get really ticked off what I put myself through, owning a shiny breadbox with ancient technology.

1. I just hate that oil dipstick, its soo impossible to get back in....
2. I really enjoy driving it, but enjoy it even more when I pull back in the stable without breaking down
3.
4.....
96...
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Old 08-30-2016, 06:00 AM   #2
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1982 31' Airstream 310
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This could get interesting
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Old 08-30-2016, 06:53 AM   #3
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1989 34.5' Airstream 345
Ebro , Fla Panhandle
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It's all largely state of mind, Mike.

I think all the rain may be getting to our friend in Austin.

Just think what Tap is going thru these days.

See, it could be worse Peter.

No offence meant Tap, hang in there brother. You have better days coming.

Cheers Richard
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Old 08-30-2016, 06:58 AM   #4
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Spicewood (W of Austin) , Texas
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer View Post
We do need a place to vent, because sometimes I get really ticked off what I put myself through, owning a shiny breadbox with ancient technology.

1. I just hate that oil dipstick, its soo impossible to get back in....
2. I really enjoy driving it, but enjoy it even more when I pull back in the stable without breaking down
3.
4.....
96...
Are you referring to that 35-year-old ancient technology... in your 1983 model?
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Old 08-30-2016, 07:52 AM   #5
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1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield , Kent
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer View Post
We do need a place to vent, because sometimes I get really ticked off what I put myself through, owning a shiny breadbox with ancient technology.

1. I just hate that oil dipstick, its soo impossible to get back in....
2. I really enjoy driving it, but enjoy it even more when I pull back in the stable without breaking down
3.
4.....
96...
3. It takes 20mins to refuel....partly because the pump keeps shutting off, and partly because I have to give guided tours of the inside everytime I stop!
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Old 08-30-2016, 09:10 AM   #6
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1982 31' Airstream 310
champaign , Illinois
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I wonder if ANYONE, at Airstream or the customers, had any clue that these rigs would still be on the road 30+ years after they were built? Airstream had a long history with trailers before they started building motorhomes, so the design engineers had some idea of life expectancy with pull behinds. But not so with these self propelled beasts. With that in mind, us crazies are constantly trying to gain access to areas, for repair/replace/maintenance, where little if any consideration was given by the design teams. ACCESS is the most frustrating thing to me. That very well may be "just the way it is" with all motorhomes, dont know. But who knew that 35 years later someone would be trying to replace the very well built door hinges on one of these. Or maybe trying to replace the master cylinder let alone just checking the brake fluid level. Or actually trying to sort out the wiring behind the dash......good god NOOOO!

But, for me so far, the good out weighs the bad by a long shot. We've had sooo much fun with our 310 and look forward to many many more adventures, god willing.

So today Im going to try and see how to gain ACCESS to the top and behind the fridge to give it a good cleaning. Fridge is working fine but I bet its pretty dirty behind there.

(they sure are fun to cruise down the road in!)

Mike
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Old 08-30-2016, 09:19 AM   #7
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I own a 2014 SOB trailer, and, we come back from EVERY trip with a list of to-dos. I can only imagine that owning a 40yo MOHO with an engine only amplifies the problem.

I ask everyone that talks to me and says, "we've thought of getting a camper" that, unless you like to fix stuff, don't bother.
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Old 08-30-2016, 09:25 AM   #8
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1979 28' Airstream Excella 28
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Because on a new plastic Raptor-cougar-wolverine plastic box, you don't go to change the air filter and see this courtesy of the PO!
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Old 08-30-2016, 10:18 AM   #9
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I had a love hate relationship with my 280 Moho. Once I got to where everything was fixed, it was a wise decision to sell. I did enjoy the time I had with it though.
Seems a trailer works better for us.
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Old 08-30-2016, 10:52 AM   #10
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Sisters , Oregon
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I'm adding complaining about a classic vintage RV to the list of known first world problems.

Cheers,
John
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Old 08-30-2016, 11:45 AM   #11
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1988 34.5' Airstream 345
Ham Lake , Minnesota
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Our experiences may differ slightly.

1. The dipstick is easily reinserted. Just open the door, walk in, close the door, and make your way to the drivers seat. At least that is how it works in my classic mh. Oh, the oil dipstick. I see. That is not a problem either. Just have your paper towel handy to help guide the end into the tube without getting oil all over your hands.

2. We have only broke down once. That was when the "Gauges" fuse blew. Who knew this powered the alternator? I made it 10 miles before the battery died and I was stuck on the side of the road. The push button in the glove box was too long a reach while driving and I could not keep the generator running that day.

As mentioned before, we come home from every trip with a list of things to fix. Some are critical, some are minor and have been on the list for a while now. It is still a fun old motorhome, much better than the 1977 Dodge chassis SOB we used to own, so I think I'll keep her.
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Old 08-30-2016, 11:54 AM   #12
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1994 30' Excella
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Milwaukee , Wisconsin
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I love this post. Hardly a day goes by when i don't think of our beloved 280 turbo diesel. They really did use an Isuzu tug boat engine, I know I had to replace ours. I try and think of the good times and not the many hours sitting beside the road, or our depleted bank account.
There was the time I rolled into a repair shop in rural Georgia using the parking brake and transmission to stop. The owner spent about an hour in the back room and comes out dusting off several boxes telling me he had the new brakes in stock. Then there was the night driving through Chicago that the dash board exploded leaving the interior full of smoke as every wire melted. Then the camping trip we tore apart our bathroom searching for the water leak. I can go on for hours but easier to list the tools I always had on-board.
1.A rivet gun
2. Volt Meters
3. spools of wires.
4, Fuses
5. pipe wrenches
6 heavy hammer
7.Vise grips.
8. drill bits
9. power driver with extra batteries.
10.My Bible

Alan- I hear you, I miss the MH but love my trailer.
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Old 08-30-2016, 11:57 AM   #13
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Doesn't have to be 35 years old to be frustrating. I have owned three Jeeps a '47' a '94' and now an '05' the Germans "improved" the Wrangler and now you cannot fill the gas without spilling on the ground. The first two had not been improved and filling the fuel was NP. :-)
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Old 08-30-2016, 01:05 PM   #14
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Vintage versus reliability and thoughts about Jeep fueling

Quote:
Originally Posted by Royce View Post
...the Germans "improved" the Wrangler and now you cannot fill the gas without spilling on the ground.
Grins, the only time it pays to be in California for a gas fill up is in our Jeep Wrangler. Thanks to California's vapor recovery bellows, the Jeep doesn't regurgitate that last pint of fuel.

Regarding the old motorhome blues, our classic motorhomes (mine's a 77) should probably be treated more like classic cars and not touring motorhomes. I couldn't imagine driving a 77 Trans Am towing a big trailer a thousand miles or into the wilderness. Long trips and reliability are the domains of new equipment. Retro coolness and pride of ownership are the domains of our vintage classics. I'm still not sure I would travel more than 300 miles in my old beauty; it's great for a day at the local beach however.
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Old 08-30-2016, 01:47 PM   #15
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1985 32.5' Airstream 325
Lindsay , Ontario
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Mike

There is really not much behind the fridge to clean really just the wall. The thing is to make sure the outside vent on top is free of leaves or other debris.

When we got our coach I checked the vent up top and it was plugged with pine needles and leaves I had to drill out the rivets and remove the top to clean it.
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Old 08-30-2016, 02:07 PM   #16
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Thanks John, thats good cause I see no way to access it other than pulling it out.
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Old 08-30-2016, 02:14 PM   #17
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1994 30' Excella
1992 35' Airstream 350
Austin , Texas
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chaplain Kent View Post
..... Hardly a day goes by when i don't think of our beloved 280 turbo diesel....
Reminds me of the movie with Steve Martin and John Candy, when they were driving down the wrong side of the interstate and people waved and yelled:
"You are driving the wrong way" "How do they know where we are going" is what John Candy said....haha
When people pass me waving frantically and I reply with my be cool wave, I sometimes wonder if my Antenna just blew off and took the AC cover and the rear awning along with it....
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Old 08-30-2016, 05:20 PM   #18
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Take a deeeeeeep breath. Woooooossaaaaaaaa
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Old 08-30-2016, 07:58 PM   #19
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I'd say your doing pretty good if you only have 2 items on the list.....


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Old 08-30-2016, 08:04 PM   #20
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My Classic MH is so freaking cool, but..

We've had a great experience with ours. From at trouble free 1500 mile maiden voyage from Seattle to 5 years and 25,000 trouble free miles. Couple minor glitches like a radiator hose and wiper switch. Partly due to countless hours of PM. So far a lot more love than hate. I have been frustrated by some of the workmanship issues that I've ranted about. Some of them are truly time bombs and flaws that lead to big problems.

Overall, I'm quite happy with the Spartan chassis. It's really quite simple and easy to work on if you break it down system by system. Just takes bigger wrenches.

Like driving classic cars, boats, or airplanes, it's going to be a hobby just keeping it going. I like the classic airstreams but if I were rich I'd be cruising in a new Prevost. I couldn't even come up with the sales tax on one. So weather you are talking boats, planes, or motor homes, I end up resurrecting (or rescuing) other people's hand me downs.
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