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breakaway · 09-18-2006, 06:44 AM

One idea would have the current owner take the trailer to a local Airstream dealer in Grand Rapids. You may have to pay the dealer for an estimate but it would be worth the money to know how bad a dealer felt the damage would be. Plus it would validate any other questions you may have about the trailer. I have not used this dealer for service but I have visited the dealership and it is very clean and neat.

http://www.woodtravel.com/

Good luck with your trailer.

swebster · 09-18-2006, 07:19 AM

I'm with 2air & MarkR...sounds fishy to me. Ask him to take it to the dealer for an inspection or you've arranged fro an inspector from the local Airstream dealership to do an inspection at his location, if he refuses then he's up to something.

lebolewis · 09-18-2006, 07:34 AM

Anne,

I don't want to sound like a "party pooper" here, but be VERY careful and critical on this purchase. You bought this on eBay and that in itself suggests substantial risks and needed caution. I'm a relative newbie myself and a first-time owner of an Airstream, but I am leaps and bounds further up the learning curve than you are, right now. I have learned the hard way, by trial and error. You cannot be too careful when you purchase your FIRST AS. These threads are full of sad stories from people who later regretted their purchase decision. There is NO substitute for your personal inspection of ALL systems to determine their condition. If you don't know what to look for, then pay money, if necessary, to get someone who does and be there personally when the inspection is done and see with your own eyes the condition of everything. Even a volunteer Forums AS Inspector can miss/neglect/gloss over major items, this is especially true if you don't give him a specific check list. Been there, done that!

This could all be on the up and up and legit, and I hope it is......but treat it like it's not!!

Bill

IndyAnne · 09-18-2006, 10:12 AM

Things are lookin' up. I talked with Woodland Travel in GR, am waiting to hear back from Craig, service manager, for possible inspection. The seller has the trailer at his business nearby, and has settled down a lot about getting the trailer out of his way. Communication so far has been good, just need someone to give me a better idea of the damage. The eBay agreement gives us until Saturday to make a decision, no money has changed hands.

Wouldn't it be nice if the sellers' first-time eBay auction goes well, sort of, and a first-time Airstream buyer's experience goes well, sort of? By the way, karma is not about luck, it's about learning from your mistakes, helping others, and making an overall upward progress in development as a human being.

I wish to thank all of you who have given such helpful advice to a newbie. This is a great forum, a college education in all things Airstream. I'm having fun and best of all, am still curious about life. That's the payoff for dealing with tension and challenges. If I'm saying that at mid-life, maybe I am well on my way to aging well -- which is why I am buying the Airstream in the first place! I am following my bliss, moving on from here, going to new challenges there, meeting interesting people along the way -- like you!

IndyAnne · 09-18-2006, 10:39 AM

The seller sent photos of the damage.

lebolewis · 09-18-2006, 11:08 AM

Well the skin damage doesn't look all that extensive on the surface. Some aluminum patches, some rivets and a bit of trim applied by a skilled person will restore the outward surfaces so they look OK. Did the owner say anything about "wheelwell" damage? That is common in these types of accidents. If that is present, then damage to something on the inside, i.e, plumbing, electrical, heat ducts or ??, would be a possibility, also. After seeing that the accident damage is minor, on the surface at least, that part likely turns out to NOT to be your most expensive fix(s).

Make a list of the things that are defective and MUST be repaired before you want to spend some time inside the trailer. Then get a rough estimate of the repair costs. That will give you a strong clue as to whether you want to complete the sale, or NOT! Nobody said this would be easy......

Bill

2airishuman · 09-18-2006, 11:32 AM

hi seattle bound...

i agree the damage looks repairable. could look great afterward...

and it is re assuring the accident wasn't part of a scam...
such is the world on ebay some days..

now, the wheel issue is just a terrrible thing,
but no one was hurt which is a good fortune all around.

there are several threads here with wheel well damage and repairs...
the pictures provide some clue to how this might look after fix'n...
so search some.

unrelated to the accident...
are you really gonna travel soon in this trailer?
the strutural elements are up to the task? frame, floor, axles and so on?

60s units are usually projects or hobbies sometimes months/years...
it can be a long time or deep pocket before they are trip worthy....
unless purchased after the rehab...

best of luck and welcome to airsteam'n.

lots of help here. hope it all works out and keep us updated

cheers
2air'

IndyAnne · 09-18-2006, 02:14 PM

Thanks, Bill and 2air,
A man named Dave from Woodland Travel is going by to take a look on my behalf. I expect to be able to make a choice by the end of the week.

Travel in the trailer: I am planning to check out the trip-worthiness over the winter and make the most significant mobility and structural repairs first. The appliances and interior will be less priority. The attractive part about the older trailer is that they seem to be pretty straight-forward. Not easy or cheap, but maybe not as complicated as modern ones.

The great thing about an Airstream, though, is the resale value. If I am in over my head when the time comes to head West, I'll post 'er on eBay! I have a very good record there, not many transactions or big ticket items, but all positive. Think of what all I will have learned by then!

Anne

bake315 · 09-18-2006, 02:18 PM

In addition to the sheared studs, it looks like the hub got beat up pretty bad.... I'd be asking for a thorough inspection of the spindle as well as a new hub assembly, bearings and races.

IndyAnne · 09-18-2006, 02:30 PM

Thank you, Dave. I appreciate the specific diagnostic question.
Anne

breakaway · 09-18-2006, 02:42 PM

As you begin your project I would suggest that you start with the safety items demanding attention first; frame repair, tires, axels, hubs, bearings, brakes, tail lights.. Then find the leaks, and they ALL leak. You will find many post where other form members wished they focused on these foundation items before they had spent effort on non foundation projects.

3Ms75Argosy · 09-18-2006, 05:17 PM

I'm not so sure about how a "patch" of that size would look. I'm thinking that you'd have to replace that side panel completely. Drill out the rivets, cut a new side panel to size, and then rivet back on with Olympic rivets.

Simple in concept, but you need the repair space to do it (also the gumption to actually peel a huge panel off the AS). User "Uwe" did something simular to his friend "Cremepuff" aka Murry's 60 something AS after it uh... "contacted" a side wall during parking. There's photos online here of the process. I'll see if I can dig them up
Marc

3Ms75Argosy · 09-18-2006, 05:20 PM

Here's the link:
http://www.airforums.com/forum...ighlight=rivet

Thanks again Uwe!
Marc

Tarheel · 09-18-2006, 06:16 PM

a 20' long panel over the wheels on my unit is going to cost $5400 to replace

uwe · 09-18-2006, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3Ms75Argosy

Here's the link:
http://www.airforums.com/forum...ighlight=rivet

Thanks again Uwe!
Marc

That was fun, Marc. I almost for got about this repair.

uwe · 09-18-2006, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarheel

a 20' long panel over the wheels on my unit is going to cost $5400 to replace

I am guessing that it's about $ 2000.00 in Labor cost, at 20-25hrs. ( 2 people at 10-12hrs each)
I wonder how much the 20ftx4ft aluminum sheet would cost?

markdoane · 09-18-2006, 07:34 PM

The aluminum would run about $300. I did a 12 ft section on mine; it's not as hard as it looks. If you replace the sheet, the new side will be shiny and the old stuff will be dull and oxidized. Unless you plan to polish the whole trailer, an 'aircraft repair' might be less noticeable.

I think $5400 is pretty high.

IndyAnne · 09-19-2006, 09:37 AM

Replacing the side panel does not seem terribly daunting to me. What about the rocker? Wait -- don't answer that unless you want to. I'll search the forums and see what they say.

I feel very encouraged about the repairs.

I also agree completely about making the hidden but paramount structural and mobility safety repairs first.

I am hoping to have a winter indoor storage at a friend's boat warehouse to get the leak repairs done in between the big metal work on the frame, axles, brakes, tongue, stabilizer, etc., etc. -- FIRST!

You guys are terriffic!

Anne

uwe · 09-19-2006, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seattlebound

Replacing the side panel does not seem terribly daunting to me. What about the rocker? Wait -- don't answer that unless you want to. I'll search the forums and see what they say.

I feel very encouraged about the repairs.

Anne,

In your case, the side panel curves down and in to become the "rocker" as you call it. It meets the belly skin near or at the frame rails, depending on the model and who built it.