needing advice from Airstream experts! please read!

[TouringDan]

I usually recommend buying the best trailer that you can get, because in the overall scheme of things, it usually works out better in the end. But this is a little different. You are looking for a place to live full time. Heck, if it has good windows and a good skin and a good door, it is easily worth $1,300. You are both young and it will teach you a lot about a lot of different things. The education you will get will be worth more than $1,300. I say go for it.

The problem with the naysayers is that they would not buy it. Well, I would not buy it either because my situation is different than yours. But if I were 21 years old and looking to make myself a place to live and I found a vintage Airstream with a good skin and the windows intact for $1,300, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

I hope that you get it. Welcome to the Airstream community.

Dan

[overlander64]

Greetings jerr1955!

Originally Posted by jerr1955

Overlander64 about the kit can you explain that a little more my husband wants to know more about it

The only 1970s trailer that I have owned is the Minuet so I don't have first hand experience with the kit. My understanding is that the kit includes plates that install on both sides of the frame in the vicinity of the axles with the reinforcement plates being attached to the original frame with heavy-duty bolts and/or welded in place. Prior to their installation, it is my understanding that the entire frame needs to be fully supported and leveled and allowed to remain that way for several hours (24 to 36 hours if I remember correctly) then the reinforcements are installed. I believe that the reinforcement plates are installd from just ahead of the axles to just behind the axles. There are several threads here on the Forums regarding these reinforcement plates . . . .

Frame Stiffener Kit -- There is a pdf of the Factory Service Bulletin in this thread
31-Foot Excella Problems
Rear Separation and Rear Sag on My '72
Google Search for Related Posts

Good luck with your investigation!

Kevin

[Silverflames]

I agree with Touringdan, you have plenty of time to work on it, and if it does not work out for you you can always sell it for $1300, some one will snap it up, even just for parts.

[jbib]

Everyone so far is absolutely correct. It will cost much more to fix than you expect. Axles, frame, floor, air conditioner, appliances, interior cabinets and furnace, seating, upholstery, drapes, plumbing, electrical, plus labor to remove and/or install all of the above. I have done all of these on my 28' 82 Excella. Even only paying for materials, the time involved is enormous. You should probably plan on years unless you are both unemployed. On the other hand, I wouldn't do it again, but once has been an experience. Knowing what I know now, his wife would probably pay you to remove this project. Be brave but be careful. Jeff

[Protohyp]

GO FOR IT!!!! you're young. had I known what I know now through restorations and remodels I wouldn't have been admiring them when I was your age...I would've been buying them. If you're going to live in it imagine what you would be spending in rent in a one bedroom apartment and it would never be yours. It is a large undertaking but it is a 200 sq foot house that you almost don't have to worry about inspectors. I'm not advocating doing what you want because you still have to know how to wire both 12V and 110V and plumb and build cabinetry and carpet or hardwood floor but the sky is the limit. Buy stuff from craigslist or Ikea (god forbid) and have at it. The worst that can happen is you learn. basically at 1300.00 you have about that much in scrap metal so you'd be able to make it back if it doesnt work out. First investment is about 1500.00 in axles if you want to get it roadworthy as well as brakes and working lights. Never go on the PO's word on what is or isn't there. Get an inspector out and give his assessment. But I say GO FOR IT!!!!! life is too short not to own an AIRSTREAM...CAN I GET AN AMEN?!?!?!?!?!

[Silverflames]

AMEN Brother!!!!!

[TouringDan]

I second the "AMEN".

The last thing that I would worry about right now is axles. You only will need new axles and brakes when/if you start to do some traveling in it. You have enough other stuff to worry about- electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, cabinets, flooring, etc.

Dan

[Protohyp]

Thanks Dan.

Agreed...I only meant that if they needed to get it somewhere which my guess is the PO wants it off his property and who knows where it needs to go. Strangely enought I when I got my 31' excella I couldn't find ANYONE willing to put it on a lowboy or similar trailer to get it to me. So I ended up doing a very slow 50 mph 95 mile tow to get it to my warehouse and sure enough all the cabinets in front of the axels shook lose from the rivets and the center wall punched through the inner skin. Granted the one they're looking at has no interior but axles sure could shake the shell to death. but again its just the quirky things that make people wonder why we are so obsessed...and possesive...and protective...and just straight up LOONIE!!!!!

[Silverflames]

Many times a AS with "bad" axles tows better than SOBs. I told mine for years with bad axles but the running gear was balanced. Stuff bounced around, but not to bad. My guess is that the PO towed it on wore out axles for many years. If you're only towing it once or twice a year to move in between parks or to take it up the lake new axles are low on the list. Good tires are brakes are needed.

[jerr1955]

You guys are great!! we are fortunate though that the PO is towing it from punta gorda FL to orange city FL a good 4 hour drive... plus we got it down to 1200 found out the stove is no good but we still love the idea of an empty canvas waiting to be painted! And if we are in over our heads like you guys said sell it and move on...I really want to post some pics HOPEFULLY tommarrow I can and you guys can tell me what you think! Also would it be realistic to think of buying appliances on craigslist, and Lowes etc? We don't want to have to buy brand new appliances...is it possible?

[webspinner]

Where you buy your appliances really depends on what you want to use the trailer for. If you're just going to park it permanently and have a rounded, silver house, put in whatever you want.

If you want to travel and camp with it, take the time and money to find and install proper RV appliances that will run on 12V and/or propane. Make sure the trailer has a functional converter so that you can run those 12V appliances when the trailer is plugged into regular AC "shore" power. You'll be glad you did. It gives you so many more options and vastly increases the resale value.

[Silverflames]

Before painting, try cleaning the walls first. All kinds of stuff can build up on the vinyl covered walls. You might be surprised how good they look after cleaning. Soft scub, tsp, and other cleaners are a good first start. Read some posts about cleaning and painting first. The wall coverings are vinyl so they have to be prepped before painting.

[TouringDan]

Glad to hear that you are getting it and the PO is towing it for you.

I agree with Webspinner.

Dan

[Paul Dobbin]

Congratulations & Welcome to the Airstream community.
Now the fun and work begins.
I hope the Air Forums can help you find RV Salvage yards within driving distance from your project. Go shopping there and you'll have a whole world of ideas opened to you. Remember it's your canvas and it need not be all Airstream stuf you look at. Also do the "Search" thing on this forum and you'll find ownwers expalaining how they did all the different things you'll be faced with.
Good Luck and keep us posted.

[ND10CentCan]

If you look through our adventure, the Albatross, you will see what happens when you get a 31' Sovereign that you think is in good shape and start tearing into it. Two plus years later we still aren't done but we went from having to build a new frame, new sub floors, new appliances, new cabinets, etc. The only things we were able to salvage and reuse from ours were: back bumper, steps, hitch, upper bins, kitchen sink, and the skins.

If you are parking it, you won't have to do the restoration to the extent we did but I have to echo the other poster's advice to buy the best you can afford to start with. I would say we have going on $20,000+ in parts and materials on ours so far and we aren't quite done. We did all of the work ourselves and it was way, way more work than we anticipated. It was fun to see what you can do when you put your mind to it and the Forum members helped us all along the way though. We couldn't have done it without all the advice and help we got here.

Overall I think the time and money commitment is huge and it was a labor of love. Now every time we take it out, I can't help but love it more because we know every rivet and part on it and what it took to get it there. We have our kids interested in having one done now (our 1966 Safari) and our grands love camping in the "Trossie" whenever we can take them. Good luck on your adventure!
Sandy

[jerr1955]

Here are the pictures!

[jerr1955]

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[Protohyp]

pictures of the bumper would be good too...in the rear to assess separation if there is any...otherwise 1200.00 isn't a bad price. looks like you would have to replace the window where the AC is so that could cost a little...

Judging by the picture at the axles and the reinforcement plate for sure you would need new axles because you can't see the torsion linkage and looks like its sitting really low. Most likely you would need new tires but if he is towing it to you I guess that would be on him.

Not sure if you paid the whole amount yet but maybe make a partial payment and then the rest upon delivery as some damage could happen in transit that might fall under the "as is" clause.

Regardless...good luck....let us know how it arrives

[jerr1955]

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[jerr1955]

last pics