10 things you should know about restoring a Vintage Airstream

[PJBWFG]

Ten things you should know about restoring a Vintage Airstream

1. Aluminum hates you.
2. Old period interiors smell like really old period interiors
3. No human can fit into the shower, only certain parts get wet at any given time
4. No human can extend their legs in the bathtub and not get stuck
5. Buck rivets suck
6. Interior walls are made of an alien compound; they are sticky and remain – sticky.
7. The fold down stairs will eventually reach out and bite you
8. There is a huge difference between black and gray water
9. The bananas are always bruised (if you own an Airstream, no explanation is necessary)
10. When you are finished the hundred’s of hours required to polish an Airstream to a mirror finish it will only reveal that you are older, fatter and – surprise, have grey hair.

Bonus item:

It is impossible to poop in an Airstream and not feel like you are being watched; I don’t know why that is though. I'm just saying'

Paul J Burt

[robwok]

great post.

[Del Gurney]

I just started a major on a '65 Overlander and I can attest
to the truth in your post.

[TouringDan]

I agree, a wonderful post. I really like the part about the bruised bananas.

Dan

[Protagonist]

Maybe it's because I own and drive an Airstream Interstate, rather than owning and towing a vintage Airstream trailer, but I don't get the bit about the bruised bananas.

[robwok]

Banana wraps always get dinged up

[Dingo Girl]

Very humorous post!

[Mulligan]

Great Post Paul,
Having owned and restored a 73 overlander i can relate to 9 out of the 10
please correct me if I'm wrong, a 73 does Not have Grey water tank ??
What was it with those vinyl covered sticky wall, yuk !!!!

Cheers Tim

[lonewolf1977]

Yes, yes, and yesssssss. I agree with all of the above. Buck rivets do indeed suck.

[KL's 77]

Fixing and changing old ones is possible but really restoring them to original is not. I read this in a previous thread and after 11 years of attempts can attest to its truth.

[robwok]

I politely disagree. You can get super close. Enough so a novice couldn't tell.

Rob

[Aerowood]

Buck rivets don't "suck" they are easy. After shooting a million you finally get the hang of it.

[shermybaby]

Great post! Working on a 1956 whale tail overlander.

[pinkflamingoes]

Oh the humanity!

[Dutchman Ray]

That's great. I DO know what you mean about the bananas, also peaches, plums, water dishes for cats, etc.

[Dingo Girl]

Lets not forget, if you think it will take a couple hours on a Saturday to complete the task, you will still surely be working on it come sunday evening.

[Rhino33]

This is a fantastic list! having restored (or 80% restored, as there is always something else needing to be done) a 1980 International, I agree wholeheartedly!!

But I wouldn't trade our Airstream for anything...

[Rhino33]

And let me finish that last statement with...My husband, on the other hand...definitely would!

[PJBWFG]

Did I mention that I am loving the restoration? Satire aside, there is a therapy about polishing an airstream that is undeniable.

Paul

[janabanana48]

Originally Posted by Mulligan

Great Post Paul,
Having owned and restored a 73 overlander i can relate to 9 out of the 10
please correct me if I'm wrong, a 73 does Not have Grey water tank ??
What was it with those vinyl covered sticky wall, yuk !!!!

Cheers Tim

FYI

Vintage Trailer Supply sells a polypropylene one to add between the floor frame rails - without the "belly bulge" seen on some retrofitted early trailers that came without the gray tank from new.

We're thinking about it for whenever we have to work on the belly pans of our 1960 Avion T20 - if it fits our floor frame too.

Cheers!
Tom (Jana's honey-do worker bee)
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