16' 2001 Bambi needs a little TLC

[JFlach]

Hi all, we will be towing home our 2001 16' Bambi on 8/1, our first Airstream . Have a bit of work to do, as we want to replace the counter, re-do the floor, and we need to air-out the cushions or replace them if airing doesn’t work. But other than a good cleaning, and sealing we should be ready to go in a month or so once the few tasks are complete. So a couple of questions, how easy / hard is it to remove the counter top? Any suggestions as to what counter top material we might consider? How about flooring material? We are thinking about a wood laminate, suggestions?

Thanks!!!

[Janet H]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Lots of folks have used laminate flooring as a replacement with good results. Take some time and learn your way around the forum - you will see a lot of discussion about this topic.... and congratulations on your new rig

[cafediem]

Hey! I went to this site to see about MY new-to-me 2001 Bambi. It was in mint condition until I backed into my wheelbarrow . . . on the first day! Well, its mine now! anyway, the guy that owned it before me stored it under a fir tree for five years without moving it or emptying any of the water containers, so surprise . . . the floor got wet and am now replacing the spongy parts as we speak - I am replacing it with some real expensive vinyl - you can do that because its only 6X8 feet - so not so much - I took up the old vinyl (easy) and took out great handfuls of wet sawdust - what is left of particle board that gets wet . . . then drilled a bunch of 3/8 inch holes around the circumference of the bad areas with an electric drill with a stop collar on the bit. Then got a product called Rot Stop that I poured into the holes and onto the rotten areas. This stuff penetrated into the wood then sets rock hard and also stops any mold. Then it was down to the local Home depot to pick up small buckets of premixed floor leveler and slowly built up the areas with about three layers of this stuff with a day between each to allow it to dry. So now the areas are back up to the height of the original particle board. When I took out the old vinyl, I was able to use a sharp utility knife and cut around the edges very closely, so I have a perfect pattern (I left in all the cabinets, but removed all the doors and drawers and of course pried off the trim pieces). I have a piece of 1/4 inch plywood, good one side. I am about to draw the pattern on it and cut it out with a jig saw. I am hoping that it is thick enough - I am hand wringing about maybe seeing if I could get away with a 3/8" just to make it a little more rigid. As it is, the ply will get put over the old particle board and the patched areas - the patched areas are not in the normal walking areas - they are under the fridge and by the hot water tank under the bench . . . so they won't get a lot of pressure on them. Still, I am leaning towards 3/8" if there is enough room for it to fit under the door sill . . . at this point I need to sand down the filled areas to make it as level with the particle board as I can. Will keep any and all posted with this little adventure. I will see if I can attach some pics if that would be helpful. Not sure where in calif. you are, but that is the first trip for me and my Bambi and my baby . . . down the Oregon coast into northern california wine country with our road bikes, as far down as Big Sur. Rolling on!

[JFlach]

Here is a link to some pictures of what we did in the first 6 months after bringing our 16 footer home. Project Airstream - JayFPhotography's Photos | SmugMug