New Stainless - rock guards, panels, vents

[Tin Diesel]

We recently had a bunch of work done on our 1999 30’ Classic at Roger Williams Airstream in Weatherford TX. Pictures are more fun, and I can’t upload enough into a single thread. So I’m posting different threads covering 1) replaced axels, 2) upgrade to disc brakes, 3) wheels upgraded to 16” aluminum rims and Michelin LTX tires, 4) new stainless steel (rock guards, new access panels for propane heater and hot water heater, plus new kitchen vent). We also had Centramatics installed, but won’t comment on them – not enough mileage, and there’s lots of other threads on them.

STAINLESS STEEL (Rock Guards, Panels, etc): beware of walking around the shop in Weatherford with checkbook in hand. If you have a 8-year old trailer with crappy looking panels, you will end up spending a lot of money. Oh yeah… my copilot places ‘looks’ at a very close second to safety!

What we got:
1) we had done a lot of damage to our rock guards when we unexpectedly hit some very fresh chip’n’seal in Colorado. Nothing structural, but it looked pretty bad, so we got the new ones that now go all the way to the window. To really see the 'dings', click on the top left photo.
2) Our furnace/hot water/kitchen vents were all pretty beat up. Seemed like a good way to blow $375!

Results: pretty nice. The new stainless heater panels have some streak stains, but I haven’t tried to clean them yet.

Caveats: none yet.

[Tin Diesel]

In one of the threads I was asked what this all cost.
These numbers are rounded, so the totals may not add exactly:

Rock Guards: $1100 ($350 labor, $540 parts, $225 shipping)
Axels: $1800 ($350 labor, $1300 parts including shocks, $180 shipping)
Disc Brakes: $2800 ($880 labor, $1,920 parts)
Stainless Steel: $375 ($52 labor, $322 parts) for furnace panels, etc etc.
Replace tool box: $401 ($242 labor/welding, $145 parts)
Tires: Michelin LTX $139 x 5 = $695 plus $50 mount/balance
Aluminum wheels: $105 x 5 = $525 plus shipping ($75, I think)

A plain painted steel spare was $75, so I opted for a 'full-image' spare.

Hope this helps.
By the way, David Tidmore is no longer with Roger Williams Airstream.
Our loss. Best of luck to him in his future endeavors. He'll still answer questions from customers.

I'll post this in all the threads.

[Janet H]

Wow! Nice changes.

[mello mike]

Very nice.

[rickandsandi]

Tin- Very cool. I love the SS covers. Now you got me thinking...........

[Distantdrummer]

Wow, You should be on Roger Williams' Christmas list for at least 3 fruitcakes and a ham this year.

What became of the old rockguards? I want em'. Will pay.

Why new axles on such a young trailer?

Is Weatherford where you bought the trailer originally? It seems a long way from Houston for service. Is there no Houston area dealer you would reccomend.
Any experience with Texan RV/(deMontrand)?

thanks

[Tin Diesel]

A lot of threads on this forum list them as the most experienced in the other work we were doing - new axels and (in particular) upgrade to disc brakes.

See these threads (if you haven't already):

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f439...ade-41447.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f437...les-41446.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f465...lin-41448.html

[Tin Diesel]

I'm gonna bump my own thread here...

After a summer of camping with the new stainless steel components listed in this thread, I'd have to say I would skip the stainless steel kitchen vent - at least as designed.

There's no clip to keep it open or closed. I'm sure it stays 'relatively' closed, but when we're camping in sub-freezing temps in Colorado, I want it CLOSED.

Also, when running the kitchen vent, it barely opens on the low speed, and only halfway opens on the high speed. When I go outside and prop it open with something, the inside vent works much better. I think the 'flap' is too heavy.

All in all, I'd skip this one.

The rest of the stainless steel additions have been great.

[TBRich]

Tin...First, we really like the SS covers you had put on...they look very sharp... Bummer the flap on the kitchen vent is too heavy...maybe you can replace the flap with the old plastic one and just spray-paint it silver?... On our former SOB the little tab thingies that normally hold the flap closed were long gone, so we used 2 spots of Velcro at eiter end (one on teh flap an done on the frame) and a tab to connect the pairs to hold it closed...worked pretty well and didn't look bad...that would solve half the problem, anyway...

[olddog299]

How about something like a counterweight? Heavier spring to keep it closed and a heavier weight to force it open when the fan is on?

Just a thought. I do like the way things look - wish I had the extra moola...

[ZoominC6]

We cannot help wondering how Williams Airstream's service department is faring since David Tidmore's departure. So many of us traveled such great distances just to have David and Denver service our trailers to say nothing about having some of these great 'Mods' accomplished. As for us, we've found Out Of Doors Mart down near Greensboro, NC to be a wonderful dealer. We do miss what David brings to the table. He came from an Airstream family and brought such creativity and his service oriented nature to all of us who dealt with him. We wish the best for David and hope he's doing well. We love what he and Denver have done for us and our Airstream 30 SO.

[dufferin]

those SS look way better than the factory ones...