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08-22-2012, 09:34 PM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member 
1977 31' Sovereign
Lakeway
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 19
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New girl from Austin Texas
Hi! I'm Jessica & thrilled to be here! Last night my driveway was christened with a beautiful 1977 Airstream Sovereign Landyacht. Well, maybe not beautiful... (can I call her a she or will I sound like a total sailor?) Anyhow, she is covered in rat poo, spiders, etc. and is begging for some TLC - BUT she's got a TON of her original parts - down to the curtain hardware! I'm so excited. And the guy we picked her up from was just the nicest guy! I could tell he was having a hard time parting ways with her, but I figure we'll keep it like an open-adoption and let him know how she's doing here and there. Bless his heart.
Problem is - total camper/Airstream/Travel Trailer virgin here. Have NO clue what I'm doing but I've got a lot of heart. Tomorrow she's getting new tires. A/C works - blows cold and I'm SO EXCITED!!!! How in the world will I ever sleep tonight!?!
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08-22-2012, 09:40 PM
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#2
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Site Team
1974 31' Sovereign
Ottawa
, ON
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,219
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Howdy  and welcome to Airforums.com, Jesann! I hope you will continue to shower us with photos of your new-to-you TT (travel trailer) and keep us up to date on your progress with it! 
__________________
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ...John Wayne...........................
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08-22-2012, 09:53 PM
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#3
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4 Rivet Member 
2012 25' FB Flying Cloud
Pearland
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 318
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Congratulations! Keep us up to date with how it goes.
__________________
- Ronnie
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08-22-2012, 10:02 PM
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#4
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Tenkara Fly Angler
1975 31' Sovereign
Currently Looking...
Vernon
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 317
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Hey Jessica!
Happy to see another Texan here!!!
Under all the "perceived" flaws your Airstream is a beautiful piece of American made machinery. Not many things made in 77 are still alive and waiting for the right person to bring them back to what you want them to be. When is the last time you noticed a car from 77 on the road?
There are lots and lots of threads here for your perusal on how to make your AS your own. It's easy to get overwhelmed on the details, but remember that you bought it for your purpose and for enjoyment.
Chris
__________________
1975 Sovereign
"The Silver Bullet"
2013 F350 Super Duty 6.7 Liter Diesel
WBCCI #8578
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08-22-2012, 10:10 PM
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#5
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Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,159
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Greetings from the Florida Panhandle
Welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us.
__________________
SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
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08-22-2012, 10:45 PM
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#6
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Dreaming of Streaming
2004 22' International CCD
Davis/SF
, California
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 227
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Welcome Jessica! I know exactly how you feel. Still feel the same way. Still learning but if I can be of any assistance feel free to ask!
Smiles,
Pink
__________________
"chaos? oh man that sounds like FUN! if i put ON a name tag, can i take OFF my clothes?" 2airishuman
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08-22-2012, 10:56 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master 
1966 24' Tradewind
1995 34' Excella
Lynchburg
, Virginia
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,225
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May I second what big C said.
Congrats and welcome to the forum. Glad that you are so excited. Your life will be forever changed.
Dan
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08-22-2012, 11:08 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1963 16' Bambi
1962 22' Safari
Yreka
, California
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,937
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Welcome to the forums! Congrats on your sweet Airstream! And... if you are wondering what to do if you can't sleep... read the threads on 77 Airstreams.
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08-23-2012, 01:28 AM
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#10
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New Member
2005 25' Safari
Pinckney
, Michigan
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3
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Congratulations Jessica!
Your New Project: I have a post on our 1967 25' International that
Susan and I restored which may be of help to you. (karlgrube user name)
Your new unit has a skin on it that can be polished. With the price of aluminum these days you have a valuable "piece of metal".
I'm glad to see that you installed new tires; you can never be too safe. For your own safety, you should invest in a new hitch system. (Hensley, Reese or another choice depending on your budget)
Keep us posted on your progress with new pics!
Karl Grube
Lot 28
Tennessee Cumberland Plateau Campground - an Airstream Park
Crossville, TN
www.tcpconline.com
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08-23-2012, 04:10 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 28
Fresno/Clovis
, California
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 704
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A big welcome from California. I hope you enjoy your "new" 77 AS. And thanks for the pics, we like pics.
__________________
Roger
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08-23-2012, 05:09 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1977 31' Sovereign
Tampa Bay
, ^
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 762
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Congrats on your "New" trailer. I too have a 77 Sovereign, although, I was happy that many of the original parts were gone! 
Take it slow. Unless you have unlimited time and funds, expect everything that you do to take 10 times as long as you expected, and cost 10 times more than you anticipated. Your day job now becomes the means for funding your Airstream revival!
For many of us bringing these silver beasts back to life is great fun. Enjoy it. The end result is well worth it.
Read all you can about making it safe for travel before you hit the road. There is no better place than this forum for gaining all the knowledge necessary to get "her" rolling again.
A link to a post you might want to start with....
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f36/...nes-95212.html
__________________
Out in the woods, or in the city, It's all the same to me.
When I'm drivin' free, the world's my home....When I'm mobile.
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08-23-2012, 07:32 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1997 30' Excella
1961 26' Overlander
1954 22' Flying Cloud
1981 28' Airstream 280
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,436
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Jesann-Welcome to the forums! I am always glad to see another Texan on here. Good luck with your restoration...take your time and make everything safe. If you would like to come to a rally we are haveing one in John City the last week of September at Miller's Creek RV park. There is a listing on the forums for this rally under Rallies. Even if you don't bring a traier, come visit you will gain a lot of information from some very knowledgeable people. Hope to see you there.
__________________
Bruce
WBCCI# 9259 AIR# 38927 TAC-TX 14
Stop Littering-Spay & Neuter-- Adopt From Rescue
No amount of time will erase the memory of a great dog.
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08-23-2012, 11:43 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1988 32' Excella
Robbinsville
, New Jersey
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3,161
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Welcome to the forum. I think your trailer originally came with vacuum over hydraulic brakes, these wont work as designed with modern vehicles. They can or may have been converted to electric over hydraulic or replaced with electric. Many trailers need new axles by the time they get to be 30 or more years old so if you need new axles you can just change over to electric brakes then.
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08-23-2012, 12:12 PM
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#15
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2 Rivet Member 
2006 19' International CCD
Leesburg
, Virginia
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 23
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Welcome from San Antonio Jesann! Looks like a fun project, I am sure she will be beautiful when shes done. Gotta love the classics!
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08-23-2012, 12:19 PM
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#16
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4 Rivet Member
1964 30' Sovereign
Porum
, Oklahoma
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 421
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Welcome to the addiction.!!!
I searched for your album on my mobile photobucket app. It's amazing what adding an extra letter turns up. Lol. Some interesting pictures. None of which were of an airstream. Haha.
Yours is in about as good of shape as mine is that I am refurbishing.
Glad to have you.
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08-23-2012, 01:36 PM
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#17
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Site Team
1974 31' Sovereign
Ottawa
, ON
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,219
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wazbro
Welcome to the forum. I think your trailer originally came with vacuum over hydraulic brakes, these wont work as designed with modern vehicles. They can or may have been converted to electric over hydraulic or replaced with electric.
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Not sure what makes you say they were hydraulic. My '74 is all-electric brakes.
__________________
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ...John Wayne...........................
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08-23-2012, 03:32 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1997 30' Excella
1961 26' Overlander
1954 22' Flying Cloud
1981 28' Airstream 280
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,436
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wazbro
Welcome to the forum. I think your trailer originally came with vacuum over hydraulic brakes, these wont work as designed with modern vehicles. They can or may have been converted to electric over hydraulic or replaced with electric. Many trailers need new axles by the time they get to be 30 or more years old so if you need new axles you can just change over to electric brakes then.
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Actually, I believe this trailer came with 12" electric brakes.
__________________
Bruce
WBCCI# 9259 AIR# 38927 TAC-TX 14
Stop Littering-Spay & Neuter-- Adopt From Rescue
No amount of time will erase the memory of a great dog.
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08-23-2012, 03:33 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2015 25' FB Eddie Bauer
2013 25' FB Eddie Bauer
2012 20' Flying Cloud
Small Town
, *** Big Sky Country ***Western Montana
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,860
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Did you sleep in the AS last night?
__________________
2015 25' Eddie Bauer Int'l FBQ / 2023 Ford Lightning ER
2022 Ford F350 6.2 V-8; equalizer hitch + Shocker air hitch
Honda Eu3200; AIR# 44105; formerly WBCCI 2015.1
Terminal Aluminitis; 2-people w/ 3+ dogs
 
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08-23-2012, 03:38 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
St. Catharines
, South Western Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,367
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Way da go girl. You now have Aluminitus.
You are from Texas where everything is big but don't get shumoozed into thinking you need a 1 ton dully with twin diesel engines to tow your stream. Get a vehicle that is comfortable and easy to handle. Hope you enjoy your new/old bullet.
PS... we are avid bikers/racers and a big fan of one of the more famous Texans, Lance Armstrong.
__________________
Airstreams..... The best towing trailers on the planet!
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