Airstream Has Lost Their Way

[switz]

Thor was created after the two friends purchased Airstream and wanted to expand in the RV industry. I believe the four letters are those two people's initials.

[Morgan guy]

I am trying to attach some pictures of the mods I have made to my trailer but they all say invalid file when I try to upload them. They are about 57KB each and are JPEG files. Does anyone have an idea what I am doing wrong or what I might try to find out?
Thanks
Ron

[Heath Pannel]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

Rich, that is one of the things I like most about the new Airstreams. They are so bright and open looking. Mine is like stepping into a dark cave. Cozy and depressing at the same time.

I just bought a 1978 Sovereign and the interior was in really good shape...but we have spent most of our time trying to add light to this long, dark, aluminum tunnel! LOL

[Silver Otter]

Originally Posted by PhilipKS

I like my cave with fuzzy walls. That said, I would also like the 'wallpaper' part of the walls to be shiny aluminum. Oh well. Someday, perhaps, after the most uncomfortable sofa in the world is replaced, I'll initiate a renovation in the kitchen/bath area, and make it the way I want it. As far as quality is concerned, while some of the fit and finish with the valance's is questionable, I'm happy with my '99. It was all original when I bought it as a well lived in 11 year old, and still functions well now.

As some have mentioned, the joy of the Airstream family and history IS the wide variety combined with the handmade-in-America mystique. We, too, like our dark wood and fuzzy walls. We looked around for quite a while before we found "our" dream Airstream, well cared for by the P.O. We admire diversity in interior decorating styles. That's why we enjoy The Canopener every year so much.

[Rich of SCal]

Hey, there's nothing wrong with different tastes. But the aluminum is what makes Streams different. I like to see that same look when I step inside. But to each their own. I don't mind the wood look on the partitions. The light "wood" contrasts nicely against the aluminum in my Sport. Too bad it isn't real wood though. But I am glad they use decent plywood instead of OSB. Maybe I should peel off the fake coating. I wonder if anyone has done that with the newer Streams.

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by switz

Thor was created after the two friends purchased Airstream and wanted to expand in the RV industry. I believe the four letters are those two people's initials.

Originally Posted by Antique Pedaler

I could be mistaken, but didn't Airstream create Thor?

Yes and yes, in 1980, they then started acquiring other brands. Thor actually has a decent business plan compared to Fleetwood. If your brand gets taken over by Fleetwood it is just a matter of time before it will be gone. Thor manages to maintain brand identity.

Aaron

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Morgan guy

I am trying to attach some pictures of the mods I have made to my trailer but they all say invalid file when I try to upload them. They are about 57KB each and are JPEG files. Does anyone have an idea what I am doing wrong or what I might try to find out?
Thanks
Ron

Try using TinyPic.....if that works try contacting a Mod....or not.


Bob

[featherbedder]

Originally Posted by switz

Thor was created after the two friends purchased Airstream and wanted to expand in the RV industry. I believe the four letters are those two people's initials.

Wasn't Thor tool co. factory in Aurora Il. a copy rite name? They made some fine electric tools. Bill

[Morgan guy]

Here are some modifications I have made to our 2007 Classic Limited. This has some dividers to make the cabinet above the sink more useful.

This change was to use space under the sink that AS had blanked out, probably because it was more cost effective to build it the way they did.

I added a microwave because they had not done so in their top of the line unit. I also added a spice cabinet like the one that was in our 1996 21'.

Larger view of microwave.

The upper part of the pantry was not very useful because you could not see, nor reach what was in the back. I added pull out shelves to resolve this.

Here is the picture showing the shelves pulled out.

I have one more modification planned at the present time. Again it was something that was in our 1996 Sovereign. The space above the refrig is just blanked out. I drilled a hole in the side of the space through the wall of the adjacent closet and inserted a flexible scope and saw that nothing was preventing me from using this space so I will tackle it next. It will be a good place to store wine glasses.

[dkottum]

Morgan Guy, isn't that space above the fridge blanked off so the fridge can vent out the roof.

Some earlier models had different interiors with the fridge mounted further away from the shell, allowing ventilation behind an over-the-fridge microwave. Ours has an extra exterior vent door for the fridge to allow a microwave over it.

Overall, all the niches and crannies are used pretty well but everyone finds ways to customize a bit. Or a lot, we are considering replacing the dinette/side lounge assembly with more comfortable recliner chairs because we are traveling six months a year. Not something I would recommend for weekend/vacation campers. To each, their own.

doug k

[Morgan guy]

The ventilation for the fridge is at the back of the fridge. The space on top is just dead space. I will box in the part I want to use and it will have no effect on the cooling. The tricky part is cutting out the face without making a jagged mess. Have to do that slowly.

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by Morgan guy

The ventilation for the fridge is at the back of the fridge. The space on top is just dead space. I will box in the part I want to use and it will have no effect on the cooling. The tricky part is cutting out the face without making a jagged mess. Have to do that slowly.

I thought the vent door at the back of the fridge was to draw cooling air in, and the the vent above in the roof is to let the cooling air out.

doug k

[richinny]

in a motor home is saw a recess above to fridge to store mugs. i thought it was a great idea with minimal impact to the fridge ventilation.

[TouringDan]

Remember, when making modifications, that the enclosed area behind the fridge should be sealed as it is the "exhaust system" when the fridge is running on gas. It therefore needs to be completely sealed except for the vent in at the bottom or side and the vent out at the top or side.

Dan

[whitsend]

Originally Posted by wahoonc

Others would say when Beatrice Foods bought them in 1969/70... WTH does a food company know about building travel trailers?Aaron

A similar example -

Fresh out of college, my 1st job was with Tenneco Inc. in Houston - in the age of the "conglomerate" company. They owned a huge natural gas distribution & sales company and a well run oil company. To be trendy (read that as becoming a comglomerate company), they bought Newport News Shipbuilding (think aircraft carriers, as well as normal ships), J.I.Case tractors, Monroe shock absorbers and even an almond growing & sales company. They were proud to call themselves "diversified". They really thought a manager that was good in the oil patch could manage a ship building company. Or that a manager from the tractor company could make intelligent decisions running an oil company .

Last I heard, whatever remains of Tenneco was a pitiful shell of a small insignificant company.

[Morgan guy]

I had said in an earlier post that I would add a cabinet above the refrigerator similar to the one that was in our 1996 Sovereign. I have done that with one exception, I left it as an open cabinet instead of installing a door. You have to be careful working in this area to avoid getting gas from the fridge combustion process from getting into the trailer. I very carefully caulked every seam as I was installing it. The front dowel rods are removable to make cleaning the space easier. The space behind the cabinet ends at the vent going to the roof and should make the exhaust gases flow easier with less turbulence.

[richinny]

very nice! if you made it out of aluminum it could be a bread warmer ;-)

[Jim & Mitzi]

Originally Posted by richinny

very nice! if you made it out of aluminum it could be a bread warmer ;-)

looks great just the way it is..make me one :-)