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03-03-2016, 02:06 PM
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#21
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Rivet Master
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,721
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I'm with Bold Adventure. Unless you're working on someone else's without their consent, then it's your property to do whatever.
It was a great learning experience. If you quit halfway through it just becomes a discount project for the next guy or gal.
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03-03-2016, 03:20 PM
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#22
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4 Rivet Member
1979 31' Sovereign
Spring
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 364
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Now, we have big dreamers that watch a 1/2 hour TV show, and think: "I can do that!"
Hey! we resemble that remark!
And our favorite RV restoration show is an hour long...
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03-03-2016, 04:01 PM
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#23
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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I love seeing old trailers no matter what the brand being brought back to life. Repurpose and reuse.
Personal note, it is your property to do with as you please and no body else's business what you do. When somebody starts paying the bills then they can have some say so.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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03-03-2016, 04:06 PM
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#24
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Rivet Master
1966 26' Overlander
Woodstock
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 8,525
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It's not asinine when you see how many trailers are for sale, because "I don't have the time of finish it".
Meanwhile the seller has gotten rid of everything that was inside it.
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03-03-2016, 04:17 PM
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#25
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Rivet Master
1966 22' Safari
Hilltop Lakes
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,767
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I've spent over half a year in almost daily e-mail correspondence with a couple who bought a gutted Airstream that came with a pile of junk that used to be the interior. Mine is nearly original and only two serial numbers later than theirs. They are making amazing progress, and should be ready to camp in a beautiful Airstream in a month or so.
My job was to provide photos and measurements of my trailer's furnishings so that they could rebuild theirs almost from scratch. We've even had fun identifying the mystery parts they found in the junk pile.
The smart thing they did was to copy most of Airstream's design, modifying only where needed.
Bottom line, it's been fun, and I've made two new friends.
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03-03-2016, 04:24 PM
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#26
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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Dan I remember you doing the same thing you speak against? Why the change of heart? My 81 is still 90 stock with a few improvements.
Perry
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03-03-2016, 04:37 PM
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#27
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Rivet Master
1972 25' Tradewind
North Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,421
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When did it become okay to start dictating what people do with their private property? Are we going to start assigning heritage status to these trailers and mandate their owner submit themselves to public hearings before they make changes?
__________________
Cameron & the Labradors, Kai & Samm
North Vancouver, BC
Live! Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death! - Mame Dennis
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03-03-2016, 04:42 PM
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#28
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Rivet Master
1973 Argosy 24
Kitchener
, Ontario
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 945
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ALANSD
It's not asinine when you see how many trailers are for sale, because "I don't have the time of finish it".
Meanwhile the seller has gotten rid of everything that was inside it.
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"I don't have the time" really means "I finally came to realize how far I am in over my head and I would like to bail out". Then they try to put a positive spin on it by saying they have done the preliminary work when in truth they have damaged the situation beyond recovery.
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03-03-2016, 04:46 PM
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#29
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cameront120
When did it become okay to start dictating what people do with their private property? Are we going to start assigning heritage status to these trailers and mandate their owner submit themselves to public hearings before they make changes?
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I don't think anyone meant to dictate, just meant to voice our opinions. Do what you please, I don't have to agree, and it shouldn't matter to you if I don't. Good camping or restoring.
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03-03-2016, 05:23 PM
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#30
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Rivet Master
1972 27' Overlander
Denver
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 768
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And they want top dollar for them gutted, still have frame a floor issues.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
__________________
Lucky Dave, Denver NC
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03-03-2016, 05:26 PM
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#31
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mccrosti
And they want top dollar for them gutted, still have frame a floor issues
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Look at it this way… If they get in over their heads and try to sell it gutted, it's worth more than if they try to sell it half-complete and you have to rip out all of the mistakes they've made before you can fix it right! You save in the long run.
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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03-03-2016, 05:27 PM
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#32
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
1963 26' Overlander
1961 26' Overlander
Central
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,919
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I'm not going to fault the folks who 'think they can' only to realize it's beyond their capabilities, energy or otherwise. It's the folks who buy, gut and try to flip at a huge price because it's "ready for restoration" that drive me crazy.
There are too many 5 figure ads for this type of trailer. I've had a ball gutting and rebuilding but have no desire to start with a gutted shell as a "blank canvas"
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03-03-2016, 05:30 PM
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#33
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV
It's the folks who buy, gut and try to flip at a huge price because it's "ready for restoration" that drive me crazy.
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True, that. Ripping out a serviceable interior is not exactly "value added."
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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03-03-2016, 05:45 PM
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#34
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Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
1975 31' Excella 500
Currently Looking...
Benton
, Arkansas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,868
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Me thinks that too many people are too sentimental about the preservation of mass produced interiors...
If folks like these their trailer as designed for the masses that is more than cool, if they don't that is cool too!
I straddle the fence here. I did one rock stock, and another totally changed. But if my brother in law ever moves out of the stock trailer, I will gut it too. And too boot, i am going to paint the exterior, and it wont be silver... (i.e. Fake aluminum)
Talis gentium ceciderunt.
__________________
The fact that I am opinionated does not presuppose that I am wrong......
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03-03-2016, 05:49 PM
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#35
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Rivet Master
1966 26' Overlander
Woodstock
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 8,525
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gearheart
"I don't have the time" really means "I finally came to realize how far I am in over my head and I would like to bail out". Then they try to put a positive spin on it by saying they have done the preliminary work when in truth they have damaged the situation beyond recovery.
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You said it.
I'd like to customize mine but it is very original and I feel like it needs to be preserved ..
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03-03-2016, 05:59 PM
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#36
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Dazed and Confused
Currently Looking...
1983 31' Airstream310
Hillsburgh
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,805
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As a cabinetmaker that has "remodelled" his 310 turbo diesel, I can say with all honesty that the winning approach for me was this......
I didn't bite off more than I could chew. I was very concerned that the job would get so large in a hurry, that I would forget how things went back together. My first remodelling was only the rear lounge; once I had put it all back together I felt better about tackling the rest.
I was also very cognizant of the fact that Airstream designed and built things a certain way for a reason. If I couldn't replace a part with a better, lighter or more efficient product, then the Airstream part stayed. All of my interior gables are Airstream stock as they are aluminum clad honeycomb paper board. I couldn't replace them with anything lighter, so I revinyled them with a 3M Di-noc Weave.
The big difference for me was not having to worry so much about weight distribution. I was anal about weight with how I built everything, but I didn't have to worry about WHERE the weight went. There is a lot more weight science to trailers.
I am a highly skilled tradesman, and even I would think twice about remodelling a trailer as there's a lot more to it than one thinks.
Cheers
Tony
__________________
Per Mare, Per Terram and may all your campaigns be successful.
“It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it’s a depression when you lose your own.” "Harry S Truman"
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03-03-2016, 06:29 PM
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#37
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Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
1975 31' Excella 500
Currently Looking...
Benton
, Arkansas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,868
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Quit gutting AIRSTREAMS!
It isn't so much about skill as it is about the incentive to get the job done.
What gets done wrong, can be redone.
Procedure is not superior to the result. Do it, if it sucks, redo it....
In addition to this, a lot of people want to fix a bunch of stuff that does not need fixing, and they become overwhelmed.
An example would be doing a shell off when it is not needed, this would have added about two weeks to my 72 build. I was in a hurry facing a deadline to travel.
Talis gentium ceciderunt.
__________________
The fact that I am opinionated does not presuppose that I am wrong......
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03-03-2016, 06:32 PM
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#38
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Rivet Master
1970 23' Safari
2005 30' Classic
1986 31' Sovereign
Lorain
, Ohio
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,645
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Quote:
Originally Posted by perryg114
Dan I remember you doing the same thing you speak against? Why the change of heart? My 81 is still 90 stock with a few improvements.
Perry
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OK, you want to tell me exactly what trailer I gutted to remodel to make my own? My safari I removed items as needed to fix dents and floor rot. The layout has not changed. On my Classic, I've done nothing past new towels and a backsplash and fix stuff. My Sov was half gutted already. My ambassador is being returned to strictly original layout.
FINALLY: I never said "keep everything original" or "preserve the past". I really couldn't give two shits if you have a campfire inside your trailer.
WHAT I SAID is basically consider your skill set before you elect to go the route of complete demolition.
Guess what? forget it. Have at it. Can somebody sell me a gaucho?
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03-03-2016, 06:35 PM
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#39
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Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
1975 31' Excella 500
Currently Looking...
Benton
, Arkansas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,868
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Lol, people worry way too much about what other folks say and think.
Just do your thing, be opinionated, but back your opinions while ENJOYING the banter.
Talis gentium ceciderunt.
__________________
The fact that I am opinionated does not presuppose that I am wrong......
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03-03-2016, 06:38 PM
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#40
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4 Rivet Member
1973 31' Sovereign
Middletown
, California
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 424
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I think it's good this subject was brought up! I get the feeling that a lot of people could benefit from reading the OP. I would think very carefully before I gutted my '73 because it would be impossible to re-do most of it without adding a lot of weight to the trailer. The fake wood walls are about the strongest material for the weight that I've ever seen! It looks like a balsa wood core with Formica bonded to both sides and when I cut a hole into a wall the first time I was really impressed with how strong and light this stuff is. I just don't think I could improve the trailer much without adding weight even though I admit the material doesn't look as good as real wood. I guess the factory thought that they had to go to real wood to get the prices of the newer trailers? Or maybe the balsa/Formica stuff cost more? Anyway, I will leave mine alone as much as I can, it's working good so far though I made a few improvements since I got it in '84.
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