Insulation

[numbnuckles]

Brand new here. Just got my first airstream. Excited! 1965 safari. Exterior is in excellent shape. Inside very good except for cabentry. My first question is about wall\ceiling insulation. I pulled a inside panel off below a window. The insulation looks very good. Would it be worth the time and expense to replace it all? I know the floor insulation is bad. Thanks for your input.

[AnnArborBob]

Welcome to the Forums! You will find lots of good information here to help you with your restoration. Make sure to learn how to use the "Search" function as you may find that answers to many of your questions have already been provided. But never hesitate to post a question, there are lots of friendly folks here who are more than willing to help.

I have no experience whatsoever with renovating an older AS, but it would seem to me that if the original insulation in the walls of your unit is dry and in good condition there would be nothing gained by opening up all the interior walls and replacing it with new. Old fiberglass insulation has pretty much the same r-rating as new. On the other hand, if you are going to tear the unit down to the frame for other reasons, then by all means, don't save the old stuff to reuse, just put in new insulation when you button it back up.

You might want to check another section of insulation in a more vulnerable area (such as underneath a window) to see if it is good there as well.

My 2cents.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by numbnuckles

Brand new here. Just got my first airstream. Excited! 1965 safari. Exterior is in excellent shape. Inside very good except for cabentry. My first question is about wall\ceiling insulation. I pulled a inside panel off below a window. The insulation looks very good. Would it be worth the time and expense to replace it all? I know the floor insulation is bad. Thanks for your input.

The original floor insulation is the same as in the walls.

No need to replace any of it unless it's been removed.

Andy

[Belegedhel]

Do you have to replace any of the floor? If so, you will need to pull the lower skins off to get at elevator bolts, etc., so that should give you a good look at your insulation in the "vulnerable" areas. If you have a mouse infestation, it will start at the floor and work upward, usually in the back. If your trailer doesn't reek of mouse urine, and you have no reason to rip into your walls, then I would leave it alone.

good luck!

[putback]

The floor insulation was bad a couple weeks after it was built!!!!! Inside the hull maybe not. Wait for the first few days of hot summer weather if its bad in the hull you'll have no doubt. The smell will drive you out! Dead rodents, insect nest, mold, mildew. I found a dead bat in one!

[65CV]

Yup. One warm summer day and you'll know if you have that "vintage airstream" smell. All depends on what got into the walls.