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11-25-2011, 06:15 PM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
1973 31' Sovereign
Bell Buckle
, Tennessee
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 16
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New Middle Tennessee member
First, thanks to everyone who has posted previously as you helped my wife and I understand how to best select a suitable Airstream.
We live in Middle Tennessee, this is our first travel trailer and we're motorcyle riders.
My wife is an artist and likes the vintage look of the Airstreams. We needed an extra bedroom for the Christmas holidays and had been talking about doing some camping. So the search began about 2 months ago.
Last Saturday we drove to Athens, Alabama to look at a 1973 31' International Sovereign. The exterior was in good condition with a few small scratches and bumps. The interior was almost all original with all appliances and systems working. The oven had been replaced with a microwave. The previous owner is delivering it Monday.
Thanks again for all the help that you've provided. Hopefully as we gain experience with Airstreams we'll be able to "pay it forward" by helping others.
Thanks,
Rodney & Gayla
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11-25-2011, 06:39 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
Hampton
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,126
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Welcome aboard! You are in for a real treat owning an Airstream. There's a bunch of us in the southeast - check out threads like Falluminum, Springstream and Canopener for starters. Enjoy!!
__________________
Brad (The Slowsky's)
2019 Airstream Classic 30RBT, 2021 Ford F350 King Ranch 4X4 w/6.7L Diesel, Hensley, ACI #1313
travelwiththeslowskys.com
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11-25-2011, 08:22 PM
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#3
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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: 13,156
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Greetings from the Florida Panhandle
Welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us. Congratulations on your new baby.
__________________
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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11-26-2011, 12:19 AM
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#4
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TAC-TN3
2005 31' Classic
near nashville
, Tennessee
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 73
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welcome
hello from a fellow tennessean.
i agree with the others for you to get involved with the canopener, fall aluminum and other southern get-togethers. a nice group to know.
they also have much info on owning an airstream
hope to see you down the road
pat and al
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11-26-2011, 06:29 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2007 Interstate
Normal
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 18,066
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Congratulations!
You are going to have so much fun making that trailer your new home away from home.
Maggie
__________________
🏡 🚐 Cherish and appreciate those you love. This moment could be your last.🌹🐚
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11-26-2011, 09:09 AM
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#6
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3 Rivet Member
2006 28' International CCD
Nashville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 115
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Welcome . . .
from fellow Middle-Tennessee Airstreamers! Congratulations on your new "baby". We're just up the road a ways so feel free to contact us if there's any assistance we can give.
Debbie
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11-26-2011, 11:08 AM
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#7
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1 Rivet Member
1973 31' Sovereign
Bell Buckle
, Tennessee
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 16
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Many thanks
Thanks for the warm welcomes. We look forward to meeting many of you in the future.
__________________
Rodney & Gayla
"You can get everything in life you want if you'll just help enough other people get what they want." Zig Ziglar
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11-28-2011, 01:51 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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Congradulations, we just bought a 31 foot Excella II a few months back. We are in the Huntsville, AL area just down the road.
Perry
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11-28-2011, 01:58 PM
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#9
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Pet Sitter Extraordinaire
1989 33' Land Yacht
Chattanooga
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,044
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Hi from Southeast Tennessee! I had a 31 foot Sovereign. Loved it. Now I have a motorhome, but looking to go back to a trailer. Won't stray from the Airstream brand though.
Glad to have you aboard! When you get down this way, holler.
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11-28-2011, 03:56 PM
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#10
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1 Rivet Member
1973 31' Sovereign
Bell Buckle
, Tennessee
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by perryg114
Congradulations, we just bought a 31 foot Excella II a few months back. We are in the Huntsville, AL area just down the road.
Perry
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The 73 Sovereign we just purchased was from Athens, AL. Very close to Huntsville.
__________________
Rodney & Gayla
"You can get everything in life you want if you'll just help enough other people get what they want." Zig Ziglar
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11-28-2011, 04:33 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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Athens is real close. It is a backwater of Huntsville. I picked up my Excella II in Columbia, TN.
Perry
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11-29-2011, 12:48 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2002 25' Safari
Fountain Inn
, South Carolina
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 714
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Rodney & Gayla, did your new AS arrive on Monday as planned? Post pictures please. We are just up the road from you, close of Kentucky Lake. We just bought our new to us Safari 25 in September.
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11-29-2011, 01:16 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,103
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Congratulations from Knoxville
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11-29-2011, 01:20 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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We need some sort of regional group forums so locals can get together and help each other and compare notes. I have no idea how many Airstream owners are within an hour or two of me.
Perry
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11-30-2011, 07:32 AM
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#15
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1 Rivet Member
1973 31' Sovereign
Bell Buckle
, Tennessee
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ridgerunner3
Rodney & Gayla, did your new AS arrive on Monday as planned? Post pictures please. We are just up the road from you, close of Kentucky Lake. We just bought our new to us Safari 25 in September.
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Our weather went south on us Sunday night and the current owner of the Airstream we're purchasing called and asked if we wanted him to come up as planned or wait for better weather. I wanted to have plenty of time to go through everything with him so we agreed to put it off until Friday. I think it was a good move as not only did it pour down rain all day Monday but I woke up Tuesday morning with 1/2" of snow on the ground at our house! That's pretty unusual for this part of Tennessee.
Looking forward to the delivery this Friday and will post pictures.
Thanks for everyones' well wishes.
__________________
Rodney & Gayla
"You can get everything in life you want if you'll just help enough other people get what they want." Zig Ziglar
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11-30-2011, 07:35 AM
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#16
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1 Rivet Member
1973 31' Sovereign
Bell Buckle
, Tennessee
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by perryg114
We need some sort of regional group forums so locals can get together and help each other and compare notes. I have no idea how many Airstream owners are within an hour or two of me.
Perry
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Perry, that's a good idea. With as many great State Parks as we have in Kentucky/Tennessee/Alabama, it would be easy to enjoy some small gatherings during the warmer months.
__________________
Rodney & Gayla
"You can get everything in life you want if you'll just help enough other people get what they want." Zig Ziglar
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11-30-2011, 08:07 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
1988 25' Excella
1987 32' Excella
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,103
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One way to get together with other Airstream owners is to join WBCCI. Lots of local and regional activities. Ga is a strong unit. Our unit has monthly events. Fl state rally in Sarasota with vendors. Even though WBCCI catches pure hell on this forum it is still a great resource for airstream owners. Do not knock it until you have tried one of the national caravans.
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11-30-2011, 08:32 AM
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#18
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2 Rivet Member
2007 19' International CCD
2002 19' Bambi
2005 30' Classic
Dover
, Arkansas
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 77
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New A/S owners
Congratulations from an OLE ARKIE.....You and your company will fight over who gets to sleep over in your new addition.......The adventures you both will take, will go as far as your mind will let you......ENJOY !!!
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12-02-2011, 02:29 PM
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#19
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1 Rivet Member
1973 31' Sovereign
Bell Buckle
, Tennessee
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 16
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Here are a few pictures of our "new to us" 1973 Sovereign.
When we started looking for an Airstream there were a few things that we wanted: 1) everything works, 2) no large dents and 3) able to be used immediately. We found it with this one and the owners were really nice. They included the slide in hitch, load levelers, electronic braking system and extended side mirrors. The only thing he didn't have was the anti-sway bars. Plus he delivered it from north Alabama to our home in Middle Tennessee.
It's in good shape outside and inside. A very few small dents and a scratch or two. The awning is in good shape but doesn't have the metal cover that most seem to have. Not sure if that can be added or you have to buy the entire awning to get that. Maybe it would be nice to have the 2 awning on the back side as well?
The tinting on the windows looks purple in the sun and the LP tanks on the front aren't original (one is but can't be filled anymore).
The sealer is coming off in several places but it still looks good. Perhaps one week next Spring we'll take on the daunting task of stripping and polishing (or perhaps not).
The interior is pretty much original and everything works. The oven was replaced with a microwave and the carpet was replaced with square "VA" tile. Everything works as it's supposed to for electric/LP/battery. Sink covers are missing. Not sure where to get those.
Curtains are not original but do have the connectors top and bottom to keep them in place.
Twin beds, mid-cabin. We thought about the center bath but the bathroom seemed much bigger with the rear bath. The beds are (just) long enough for me to stretch out.
Everything in the bath works and looks to be in good condition. I think the tub/shower is going to be a bit short for a 6'2" guy but I've showered in Liberia, West Africa while standing on a half cement block and pouring cold water over my head from a coffee cup. This can't be that tough.
As mentioned, the oven has been replaced with a microwave. Probably not a big deal since we'll cook outside when possible. One problem though is the vent crank handle that hangs straight down in the kitchen. It hits me (literally) in the middle of my forehead. I will try removing it as I know this will become the beginning of a permenent indention otherwise.
__________________
Rodney & Gayla
"You can get everything in life you want if you'll just help enough other people get what they want." Zig Ziglar
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12-02-2011, 07:06 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1997 34' Limited
1970 27' Overlander
South of Atlanta
, Georgia
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,709
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It looks great! The GA unit of the WBCCI has a campground about four hours from you in Helen, GA. We hold a lot of rally's in the summe and are a very active group. I encourage you to drop by sometime. It's a very friendly group.
__________________
Craig and Carol
1997 34' Excella 1000
1970 27' Overlander, International
2009 Ford F150 5.4L
ProPride hitch with 1400# bars
AIR 41028
TAC GA-8
WBCCI 10199
Past President Southeastern Camping Unit (12)
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