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I purchased my A/S February 9, 2008. It’s a 1970 27’ Overlander rear bath beauty. Unlike many of you, I was not at all in the market to purchase one. I was planning to build a 12’x24’ portable cabin for my hunting lease. I built one last year for my farm and we enjoy it very much. All the comforts of home.
But them my brother called me and told me about this really nice 1988 Airstream is great shape. He said it was very shiny and that the carpet had been removed for replacement and the plywood floors were in excellent condition. He said the PO had put new tires and wheels on it because it had been setting on blocks for the last 14 years and the PO could not recall what he did with the originals. All this for only $1800.
It sounded like a good deal and I could use it on my hunting lease instead of going to all that work to build a cabin. Less work for me, right? Wrong!
When I went to pick this gem up it turned out to be a 1970 model. The excellent plywood floors were actually a ¼” overlay to cover up the rotten sub floor.
Well, a card laid is a card played they say. Now I am getting excited with my new project. I started the restoration project two weeks ago and it is going fairly well. I am sure that I will need a lot of your knowledge to complete this. I do have one advantage which has already proved useful. How many trips have you made to a hardware store or big box store during your redo? Well my wife and I have owned a hardware store for the last 30 years and I have my A/S parked right behind my store. It affords me time to work on it during slow sales times and any tool, fastener, and etc. that I need are just a few steps away!
I am documenting this project with pictures and have posted some in the picture gallery under my username.
Well, at least you can make a new pair of boots...
...out of that snake skin! Ha!
I can understand your concern over discovering it's not at all what you signed up for, but with your access to parts and tools, and your apparent DIY skills, it seems like you're the perfect person to take on this restoration. I've heard others on this forum say that they did not find their trailers, but rather their trailers found them. In your case this seems quite true.
And on the bright side, I've been looking for an Overlander here in Central Texas for several months and still don't have one. They don't seem to be for sale that often around here.
Anyway, good luck on your restoration, I'll be following it closely (and hoping to follow in your footsteps in the near future).
And on the bright side, I've been looking for an Overlander here in Central Texas for several months and still don't have one. They don't seem to be for sale that often around here.
Anyway, good luck on your restoration, I'll be following it closely (and hoping to follow in your footsteps in the near future).
Thanks utee94,
I appreciate your confidence in me.
In all fairness to my brother, he travels all over east Texas with his business and he has found he and I a lot of great deals on Jeeps, trailers, land and etc. I will tell him to be on the look out for you and if he finds something I will let you know. You then can inspect it and make your own decision. He loves doing this kind of hunting!
I never thought about it that way, I should park my trailer behind the hardware store, would save me hours and gallons of gas. Weekend cashiers know us by name and ask how the trailer is coming (that's a bad sign isn't it)
My three-year older Overlander has a web site that might provide insight into your project.
Tom
Tom,
Thanks for sharing your web site with me. I have already been to it several times and will definitely put it in my Favorites. I notice that you even mentioned Ace Hardware in you links. We appreciate that!
That is how my 71 was. I,m raising the new water heater cutout so it doesn't sit quit so low.
I am glad that maybe this was original (although I think strange). I was thinking of at least putting a piece of 1-1/2" (or 1-1/4" if necessary) aluminum flat bar across the bottom of the opening to tie the two wall sections together.
- as long as all the rest of the floor is locked into channels and c's into ribs this should not be a problem, my '69 is the same
- important that the floor be solid and bolted to the frame correctly, that's the more common issue
- also important that, naturally, the water heater doesn't LEAK, another common problem, bench test if necessary before re-installing
- great find, you should have a lotta fun with it!
- my local (2 miles away) Ace is the only hdwr around that can still ANSWER QUESTIONS! Home Despot (5 blocks away) doesn't even have black ABS pipe! poor employees have no idea about most issues we face..
- important that the floor be solid and bolted to the frame correctly, that's the more common issue..
I am still wrestling with this. On one hand if I re-bolt it as before then I have to put the insulation in after from underneath, before reinstalling the belly pan. Right?
I have seen others that insulated from above but then how do you get to the elevator bolts?
BTW - I have purchased 3/4" marine grade plywood and I plan on sealing the edges with something. Maybe fiberglass resin topped with some sort of rubber based roofing sealer to insulate the fiberglass from the aluminum. I read somewhere that the resin contains acid which can attack the aluminum. I will have to research that farther.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fotochop
- - also important that, naturally, the water heater doesn't LEAK, another common problem, bench test if necessary before re-installing..
I have already purchased a new LP/120V Atwood water heater. Hopefully it doesn't leak. I have a friend/customer who is a licensed plumber and has volunteered to help me replumb it. He plans on using PEX tubing with Shark-bite fittings.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fotochop
- - great find, you should have a lotta fun with it!..
I am really enjoying this project!
Quote:
Originally Posted by fotochop
- - my local (2 miles away) Ace is the only hdwr around that can still ANSWER QUESTIONS! Home Despot (5 blocks away) doesn't even have black ABS pipe! poor employees have no idea about most issues we face..
I am glad you have a good helpful Ace near you. We really appreciate you and the rest of our customers.
Congratulations on your surprise of a trailer. I hope you have a great time with the restoration.
Being able to park behind a hardware store is like a dream come true. I can't imagine how many actual trips my husband took to get fasteners, wood, tools and miscellaneous bits for our 1971 Safari.
Don't know if you've seen it, but there is a series on DIY showing a 70s-ish Overlander restoration. It was very helpful to us and they re-air it quite a bit.
Have fun. I'll look forward to watching your progress.
Congratulations on your surprise of a trailer. I hope you have a great time with the restoration.
Being able to park behind a hardware store is like a dream come true. I can't imagine how many actual trips my husband took to get fasteners, wood, tools and miscellaneous bits for our 1971 Safari.
Don't know if you've seen it, but there is a series on DIY showing a 70s-ish Overlander restoration. It was very helpful to us and they re-air it quite a bit.
Have fun. I'll look forward to watching your progress.
This series will in fact begin re-airing on DIY Network beginning next week, on the 25th of March at 6:00 AM Central time. It's a 10-episode series, and I have already set the DVR.
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It affords me time to work on it during slow sales times and any tool, fastener, and etc. that I need are just a few steps away!
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