Repair versus Restore

[floridartist]

On first site it was nothing more than an old rotted out tin can, I had big dreams to restore it , the frame was gone, I dont even know how I got it home, we got that repaired with a welder, there it sat for the winter, I even rented it for a month, the furnace smoked, gutted that out, the fridge never worked, gave that to the Airstream junk yard, the toilet leaks, but I have an outside bath house next to the streamer, put in a Lowes plug in fridge, The streamer is no longer fully self contained, it has turned into a repair job.
The next few months I installed the insulation and skinned the whole bottom, installed the trim, sealed everything, it might not be the way of a restore, but the repair is beautiful and well done in my eyes, I fixed the bed frames back up after the renter removed one of them, I got very excided when I got all the lights to work, and even more some as the running lights lite up like a Christmas tree, I ordered the LED lites, thats more like a restore, a brighter and safer lite.
I got the step to work, cleaned the sticky stuff walls with the super clean from Wal-mart, all the cabinits work and are fine for an old 1973, got new flooring, started the polishing with mothers stuff from the auto store and I,m working on the large awning, which has a broken Z-lock, part is ordered, and fixed all leaks with Vulkem 116
Today was a big day for me, I hooked the Streamer to the tractor and pulled it back down by the gate, plugged it in, pulled out all the awnings, now I have my parking space back next to the shop which is a total mess, and now I have my life back, So, I say I am very happy with my repair job and all the advice I got here on Airstream Forums.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by floridartist

On first site it was nothing more than an old rotted out tin can, I had big dreams to restore it , the frame was gone, I dont even know how I got it home, we got that repaired with a welder, there it sat for the winter, I even rented it for a month, the furnace smoked, gutted that out, the fridge never worked, gave that to the Airstream junk yard, the toilet leaks, but I have an outside bath house next to the streamer, put in a Lowes plug in fridge, The streamer is no longer fully self contained, it has turned into a repair job.
The next few months I installed the insulation and skinned the whole bottom, installed the trim, sealed everything, it might not be the way of a restore, but the repair is beautiful and well done in my eyes, I fixed the bed frames back up after the renter removed one of them, I got very excided when I got all the lights to work, and even more some as the running lights lite up like a Christmas tree, I ordered the LED lites, thats more like a restore, a brighter and safer lite.
I got the step to work, cleaned the sticky stuff walls with the super clean from Wal-mart, all the cabinits work and are fine for an old 1973, got new flooring, started the polishing with mothers stuff from the auto store and I,m working on the large awning, which has a broken Z-lock, part is ordered, and fixed all leaks with Vulkem 116
Today was a big day for me, I hooked the Streamer to the tractor and pulled it back down by the gate, plugged it in, pulled out all the awnings, now I have my parking space back next to the shop which is a total mess, and now I have my life back, So, I say I am very happy with my repair job and all the advice I got here on Airstream Forums.

I bet that you sleep on the twin bed that's curbside.

Nice view.

Andy

[Maryw164]

Great progress on your work. Are you going to leave it parked, or tow it for camping?

Mary

[Wabbiteer]

". ..now I have my life back.. .

". ..next to the shop which is a total mess.. ."

I am envious.

[Kevin245]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

I bet that you sleep on the twin bed that's curbside.

Nice view.

Andy

I know I would

[centennialman]

Hmmmmm, Andy.....I see similar views on both sides....great specimens

[floridartist]

Hey Andy, boy you sure get around this site, and hello other folks. nice you all stop by,
Though I had put the repair Streamer down by the gate, and I got relief from crawling on my back in the dirt under the muggy Florida sweltering heat with the bittie bugs and such, I already kind of miss the labor, I walk down by the gate just to check on the Streamer to see if its alright, to say hello.( lost my mind)
I really need to take over to my local Airstream dealer, I would like to have the barrings done, do the toe in, tow out stuff that Andy recomends, have new brakes and hook up the brake system to my truck, Hey Andy, what would a complete job like that cost? A good ride and saftey is a big first in my book.
Another issue is my driveway has a very steep incline, so I hope I dont bottom out on the way out Bobcat Dr. I will do a test drive soon, I would like to see if it goes at least 60 mph without any swaying and I do have a sway bar set, as my first outing will be in Sept with a group of friends at a cold clear spring near Orlando FL.
I guess the repair will never be totally done, I am sure to be back to this site for many years, next, I shall pay the $20.00 , become of supporter to get my rivets brighter, I,ll never be a Master riveter, thats for the passion at hart with these Streamers, I am very happy with my two rivets, I get a kick out of it.
Thank you Airstream Forums, the picture, The Steamer ,alone down by the Gate for now.
John