My Airdream

[lucifar]

Hi from across the pond, I hope this is in the right thread, Just a quick note to show you people, those who are interested of course of my latest project, I have owned a 1962 VW Campmobile for a number of years and have always wanted an Airstream to pull behind it for camping, meets and shows, But alas the price of airstreams over here is way beyond my pocket, and a little 1500cc single port engine aint the best muscle to haul. So I decided to make a mini Airstream type trailer.
I bought an old trailer off ebay and pulled it to bits, made a new chassis and plywood floor.
The frame or ribs I have made with a product used in construction to form internal walls in housing called gypframe its a U channel made from tin, I snipped the sides to make a nice curve with 2 pieces snipped and curved, 1 slotted into the other then formed round a template of the curve I wanted these are then rivetted together to to make a sturdy box frame.
The skin is made from .8mm ally sheet and is currently ongoing.
If anyone is interested in a mad Brit trying to reproduce an American Icon I will post more if wanted

[easyride]

Post the entire deal,looks like it may be a very nice luggage hauler.
And welcome to the Forum,always room for a few more crazy people. Dave

[lucifar]

Luggage hauler The Grandkids are going in there..................................only joking. I will probably fill it with stuff we only use once in a blue moon.

[samb]

I like it!
This is not just a luggage hauler. The grandkids would probably throw all the luggage out to make room for them. Maybe this is a prototype for what Airstream should be building.
Thanks. Please share the rest of the build.
Sam

[3 Dog Nite]

I've often thought about making a smaller trailer to tow behind my classic AS MH. I would love to see more photos as you progress.

Ricky

[lucifar]

OK thanks for the encouragement.
A smaller section of aluminium angle was used to construct the front section tighter curves as the gypframe prove to be too wide.

The rivets I decided on are a stainless steel blind rivet with a neoprene washer. I pull the rivet to a point where the washer is sealed to the frame, then cut the of the rivet off and grind the remainder with a dremel. No rivet shavers here, too expensive.
Homemade cleco's made the job of holding the panels together a lot easier as well.
The skins have been sealed with sikaflex and isolated from the the ribs with gaffa tape to stop any corrosion from the dissimilar metals.
The hard bit is acheiving the nice rounded look with the segments, this is just trial and error, as is nearly all of this project
I'll update more later

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, this is really neat. Keep the story and pictures coming. I like it.

[FreshAir]

I like what you are making also. With me, however, I find that when I build my own projects they usually cost more than buying a factory made product. BUT, the feeling of building ones own....well that is PRICELESS.
Neil.

[Silverfoxrae]

Ok.. we've got to come up with a name for this... it's so cute. The Bee?? I can't wait to see it from all sides. It would be a very nice "tin tent" to go camping with-- I like it! Rae

[easyride]

I wish I had the skills to make a slide in camper like that for my TV,something like the Avion. Dave

[utee94]

Great project, Lucifar, it's looking really good so far. I really like your home-made clecos, quite clever.

I don't know if you've seen it, but there is a an AirForums member who cut down a larger Airstream to make a much smaller one. It's not quite the same as yours, since you are constructing yours from scratch, but if you're interested in seeing what he did, his thread is here:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f191...pod-37710.html

Please keep the updates coming.

-Marcus

[JFScheck]

Really looking Great!!!

[lucifar]

Originally Posted by FreshAir

I like what you are making also. With me, however, I find that when I build my own projects they usually cost more than buying a factory made product. BUT, the feeling of building ones own....well that is PRICELESS.
Neil.

I know what you mean Neil, I have a good friend who has given me the rivets and the ally angle, If I had to buy that gear my budget would be well gone, I am reckoning about £600/$900 to complete. Considering a decent vintage Bambi goes for about £14000/$21000, The ally sheet is the biggest cost about £20/$30 a sq/m and like you say the acheivement of constructing from something from scratch, puts the cost in perspective.
Gary

[lucifar]

Originally Posted by utee94

Great project, Lucifar, it's looking really good so far. I really like your home-made clecos, quite clever.

I don't know if you've seen it, but there is a an AirForums member who cut down a larger Airstream to make a much smaller one. It's not quite the same as yours, since you are constructing yours from scratch, but if you're interested in seeing what he did, his thread is here:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f191...pod-37710.html

Please keep the updates coming.

-Marcus

That is unbelievable, The quality of work is second to none, I wish I could produce that quality beavering away in my small garage, Oh to have plasma cutters and loads of bench space. Maybe one day

[lucifar]

Some more updates-
Next I constructed the 2 endcaps prior to fitting the the side panels and roof, I plan on 1 rear side hinged door, that I may use as access to a small bar area, blocked off from the main interior of the trailer, which should please our camping and show buddies.


I am getting surface scratches on the sheet ally, you just have to look at it to mark it, any tips on gatting rid of these and polishing would be greatly appreciated.
More to follow

[lucifar]

Side Panel and roof now in place with the wheel arch formed and window cut out, I was hoping to have an opening window as I have some old hehr crank handles, but for now I am just going to have a fixed window as trying to design and fabricate an opening frame is proving a bit too involved, Its now time for the fiddly bits ie grinding down the rivets, sealing the joints inside with extra sikaflex sealant.
More to follow

[lucifar]

A bit more done, Its getting to the show season now here in th UK so I am not getting as much done as I want, Anyway I have been concentrating on the small rear door, basically its an ally frame with 4mm ply sheet then skinned with the ally sheet. folded round the edges.




Door test fitted




Side window now edged with mitred ally strip


More to follow

[lucifar]

Well, its been a while since an update, I've had a few hold ups so the trailer went on the back burner for a while, but anyway some more progress has been made and the exterior is nearly finished
I got hold of some nice stainless marine hinges that I modified to fit the rear door.


I have constructed a side hatch for easy access the same method as the rear door and fitted that with 2 fruit machine locks for security


We are just about to set off on our first camping trip in her so time is short and I'll update with some more pics when I get back.
Cheers

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, looking really good; Keep the updates coming.

[SeeMore]

Throughly enjoyed watching the progress to date. Enjoy your first outing!