Designer in Ohio - Senior Thesis

[Cursh]

So my senior thesis is coming around in 6 months and I decided that I was going to strip an old airstream and completly redesign the interior. - Plumbing/electronics/furnature - everything.

So I have started looking around for a good Airstream to use for this project.

I am looking for a sub 20ft airstream (so that my little tacoma can pull it) and am interested in finding one that is not going to have any issues rolling (suspension/brakes/axles)

I only have 10 weeks to design/finish the thing so I need to find one and have it stripped by late march 2008.

That being said I know nothing about the specifics of the airstreams and have come to this forum for help.

You will probably see me around on the boards alot more when school starts up late september as I have been known to be a forum adict in the past (audiworld/paintballnation/MGexperience)


Anyway its good to be here and I hope to learn alot :beer:

[Minnie's Mate]

Welcome to the forums Cursh. Use the search function in the blue bar above for any topic you need. There is usually someone who has "been there, done that" when it comes to restoring/customizing an Airstream.

In fact, if you do a search I think that you will find that a young lady did her design thesis a couple of years ago on her personal Airstream that she and her husband lived in while she was in school. I can't remember the name of the college she was attending, but I do remember that she went with a Hawaiian them. Turned out nice. Perhaps you can get some ideas of what worked and what didn't. IIRC, there was a link to an article about her project. Like you, she faced a compressed time frame.

Good luck and again welcome to the forums.

[DanB]

Welcome to the forums!

First off, good luck! This sounds like a great project. Although potentially a little to ambitious. It took me 10 weeks to figure out the refrigerator in mine!

What will be your budget? I suspect a starting project, especially sub 20', like you describe will be $5,000.

Maybe you can consider a slightly different approach. I don't know if it has ever been done, but what about a "speed build" airstream style? Ohio has many talented Airstream fans. Perhaps you could plan a 10 day stay somewhere with a full shop where a group of people could help you get a major chunk of renovation done. I, for one, would love to take part in something like this.

Do you plan on having other classes or work during these ten short weeks?

Wow, you got me thinking on this project. It could really be cool and fun. But, it could also be expensive.

[Mel]

Welcome!

Keep an eye out on Craigslist and the like for Airstreams that are already gutted. They can usually be had for a fraction of the price of a functional unit from folks who may have started the restoration process and ran out of time/energy/money to complete it. Good luck.

[digger bear]

Hi Cursh,

I assume you are going to UC. I did my graduate work at DAAP (the old building) & have a nephew and niece going there right now.

I did see one for sale in Dayton recently that would have been a perfect candidate for you on eBay – it was pretty well gutted. Just keep your eyes open and cruise the back roads – they do turn up in the darndest places.

You can blow a ton of money on any Airstream project so begin with the brakes on your wallet. I suggest in your parameters you set a budget ahead of time. Remember, if it’s a restore project you are making a complete home – full rolling environmental systems. Food, storage, sanitary, shelter, heat and cold. That extends well beyond a polish job! Look to recycled systems and unique passive solutions.

Perhaps you could simply redefine what one of those silver bullets is: maybe a diner, office, party barge, modular housing unit, carnival thrill ride, whatever.

I like DanB's speed build suggestion. If I were doing the project, once the goal is set, I would assemble a set of teams to first assess the various problems – you become project director. Maybe look across campus to allied areas and then set up a series of Charrettes to attack the problem in stages.

In any event you have come to the right site – the people here have taught me volumes.

One caution, it will take more money and time than you expect. Plan accordingly.

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by digger bear

Perhaps you could simply redefine what one of those silver bullets is: maybe a diner, office, party barge, modular housing unit, carnival thrill ride, whatever.

I like DanB's speed build suggestion. If I were doing the project, once the goal is set, I would assemble a set of teams to first assess the various problems – you become project director. Maybe look across campus to allied areas and then set up a series of Charrettes to attack the problem in stages.

In any event you have come to the right site – the people here have taught me volumes.

One caution, it will take more money and time than you expect. Plan accordingly.

All good suggestions. Wow, talk about a word that doesn’t pop up everyday outside of design. I had to explain what a Charrette was to a coworker just this afternoon.

Sounds like a good project. Best of luck, and keep up informed.

[sfixx]

Originally Posted by Cursh

...I am looking for a sub 20ft airstream...and am interested in finding one that is not going to have any issues rolling (suspension/brakes/axles)

Hi Cursh, welcome This sounds like a fun project though I see the budget as a real buzzkill. Don't overlook the Airstream Argosy in your search. I found my 20'er for $1,500. "Rolling" issures are not as big a problem as you might think and any reasonably priced trailer will need some attention in the unsprung areas. The "speed build" idea is interesting. We have a strong knowledge/skill base up north here. I'm not sure about down your way, but I bet eager help would crawl out of the woodwork if you asked. Attend a local rally, meet some members who have done a gut/restoration and pick their brains.

Airstream thesis thread

Please keep us posted. It will be fun to watch your progress!

Best wishes,

Steve

[cameront120]

Very ambitious! I had a hard enough time pulling together a model and presentaion boards for my Architectural thesis

[A-Merry-Can]

if you get an argosy, you can paint it without being beaten up at the rallys. i always wanted to get one, paint it like a watermelon and do the interior in pink with black throw pillows...

wonder what kinda grade that would fetch?



jp

[KeithC]

Let me see if I have my dates right design times right.

You need to find and buy an existing Airstream frame of 20 ft or less to rebuild.

After buying the right Airstream frame you are going to totally strip every mechanical unit above the frame of the by 03/2008.

Then, within 10 weeks, you are going to re-design or improve the all plumbing, electrical 12v and 120v systems, the heating, airconditioning and ventilation systems plans, and make them all opperational.

I'm very interested. I can hardly wait.

[TBRich]

Welcome to the Airforums and good luck with your project. It does sound ambitious, but then that's what a thesis is all about, right? You are definitely in the right place to find a lot of information and knowledgeable folks to offer input and moral support...especially if you're a forum junkie.

Glad you have joined the fray!

TB

[apolaroid]

Going Vintage might give you flexibility on the size, older ones from the 60's weigh less than newer ones of the same length. Staying under 5000 pounds on your truck should be pretty easy if you go for an older one. But if you find one in good shape don't gut it, leave it for someone wanting a nice origianl AS. If you watch Ebay and Craigslist you will find plenty of older units needs to be redone.

[Cursh]

Ha ha - thank you for all of the pointers.

Money - I have a good chunk that was left to me by my grandmother to use as "a down payment on a nice house for your kids to grow up in" Part of the direction of the trailer into a liveable space is based on my justification on using these funds to redesign a travel trailer. Lets just say that if I so desired I could purchase a new bambi with the finances available.

As far as the "ambition" of my project. I have already started sketching on systems solutions. I am more seriously considering taking my next work experience in egypt for 5 weeks (an opportunity that has recently surfaces) as opposed to the normal 10 week experience we are usually presented with. This will allow me a good portion of jan-march to dedicate myself to working on the front end of the project. In addition to this extra time I am working to make available I am also given full freedom from march to june (with the exception of one or two business classes) to work on my thesis. All other design classes are fully dedicated to thesis completion.

The final goal is to be as "off the grid" as possible. Integration of the vintage awning into this seems to make this option more feasable with the sub 20" restriction I have placed on myself. Considering my possible geographic locations I am considering looking into personal wind turbines as a further source of power. I have very little expericen in sourcing alternative energy systems but am blessed to be involved in a program that was closely affiliated with the latest Solar Decathalon and have a large pool of resources to draw from that project.

I will be happy to look into the argosy as I have no real emotional attachment to the silver bullets (other than the late model bambi I fell in love with a year or so ago after spotting it in the driveway of someones seaside home in california)

At this point I have come to the conclusion that I will need to be in posession of a travel trailor by christmas and should have a concrete knowledge of the systems I have decided on using.

As for the skeptics know that I am a design student. I have been in school for 5 years learning how to solve problems efficiently. Alot of problems can be solved in ten weeks when all you have to do is solve problems and you only sleep 4-5 hours a night.

Have faith - I will update with pictures in a new thread when that begins to make sense.


Thank you all for your warm welcome and all of your help so far.

-Ben Lewis

[A-Merry-Can]

Good luck, man! I love watching these come together. I'm elbow deep in a custom 1959 18 footer at the moment, with my next one already queued up! I always seem to run out of free time, though, so I'm on my second year, and JUST starting the cabinets! ha!

jp

[apolaroid]

Getting off the GRID is an awesome idea. I been doing a lot of research on that myself. We live in Florida, near Pensacola and have had to deal with lack of power ever so often because of hurricanes. Planning for some comfort during those times has been a focus of my online research. One interesting item I came across was at this link Free Electricity and Lower Electrical Bills through Solar and Wind Power.. The idea of charging your unit at night was well as during the day time was worth a look. Plus in the redesign of the unit to add items that use less power. It will be interesting to see the project as it unfolds for you. I hope you will find a vinatge Airstream in need of a full rebuild, it is nice when new life is brought to these great older trailers. One suggestion is to use bamboo as your flooring, it is an earth friendly source for flooring that looks great. This is based on the fact it only takes 3 years for the bamboo to reach its full growth, as opposed to other hard woods for flooring. Plus keep in mind cool looking is not always comfortable, think about use and living in the space. One of the tankless water heaters is a good option. Break down your design and see what others have done on here. Been there done that "threads" are on here for almost everything. Good luck with the project. Awesome idea! Another thing you might consider because you are in Ohio, is to go to the factory and see the units being built, it will give you a practical view of why some things are designed as they are. One thing you can ask them about is maybe getting a empty shell to your needs. Not sure if thats possible, but would be pretty cool to design something from a new standpoint. If you do go this route, keep in mind the order time.

[Minnie's Mate]

Originally Posted by apolaroid

One thing you can ask them about is maybe getting a empty shell to your needs. Not sure if thats possible, but would be pretty cool to design something from a new standpoint. If you do go this route, keep in mind the order time.

The factory reportedly no longer does this for liability reasons. But, it never hurts to ask.

[DanB]

Ben,

Sounds like you have financial part covered. But realistically, are you prepared to invest the funds knowing that chances of recovering them on resale are not good? Especially if this is designed and built as an "off-the-grid" habitat.

Please understand that I think this is an absolutley wonderful project! I'd love to tackle something like this myself.

I am employed in the "Design World". My architectual office is forced to come up with solutions daily. We are constantly forced to work within the parameters of time & money. Beware of the unexpected and unknown!

When you find your project trailer, you may not be able to determine what all needs repaired, reworked, and rehabed. A rotted floor is not a one-day setback. Tracing a short in your running lights could take an afternoon. A mouse nest in your fridge vent could cause setbacks!

I would think that the success of your project will lie in preperation. Having a LARGE shop available with a FULL assortment of metalworking, woodworking, and painting/finishing gear will greatly enhance your probability of completition.

I get so jealous whenever I watch shows like "pimp my ride" or Chip Foose, or anything on the TNT Powerblock series. When I grow up, I want a building like those! Nice clean concrete floors, oodles of work benches, tool chests that you can actually open, and bright lights. Heck, no wondering they can finish a car in 1/2 hour

[Mrs_RedSHED]

Originally Posted by A-Merry-Can

if you get an argosy, you can paint it without being beaten up at the rallys. i always wanted to get one, paint it like a watermelon and do the interior in pink with black throw pillows...



jp

I love your idea!

[summerkid]

cursh, i might actually have a trailer that would fit your needs, and i'm looking to downsize from 4 trailers to 3.

right now, sitting in my driveway are a '64 globetrotter, '62 bambi & '59 18D (a one-off). I also have a Wee Wind that's totally gutted, but it's sitting somewhere in Oregon, and I go back & forth between wanting to keep that one or the Bambi.

and i'd be delighted to help you with this project in other ways, being in the midst of gaining a Sustainable Building degree (so far, have certificates in AutoCad, timber framing & welding).

at the very least, you could come take a look at 3 trailers in one spot & gain a LOT of information about size & idiosyncrasies & you could see some of the problems I've encountered (the '59 is polished & half-gutted). Why i decided to polish & then dismantle it is a thought process lost way back in 2005 ....

[sfixx]

Originally Posted by Cursh

...The final goal is to be as "off the grid" as possible...

We term that "boondocking" around here (no hookups) and you will find lots of info in the forums (The key is storage coupled with conservation). Though I've never heard of anyone integrating a wind turbine into the system it's really just another power source. You could also drop a little prop type generator into a nearby fast moving river or stream too! You'll find good books on the RV+solar subject so you don't need to reinvent the wheel there.

FORUM: Generators & Solar Power

Best wishes,

Steve