Our yet to be named, '56 Safari

[islandtrader]

Originally Posted by 57Vintage

I may be mistaken, but I don't think the door stop you replicated was original. These are identical to the ones I took off my rig.

Attachment 324479

The small one hold the inner door. The large one is a door stop and holder combined. VTS sells both.

That is interesting...my rig never had a stop...just the catch. Maybe these were aftermarket items.

[steinVT]

Originally Posted by islandtrader

That is interesting...my rig never had a stop...just the catch. Maybe these were aftermarket items.

I bet you are right. I know exactly the VTS stop 57Vintage is talking about, I bought one and decided not to install it. It looks like it would install in the top two rivet holes of my original stop. But then I would have had to plug the holes from the original catch plus the lower two from stop. Decided to just rebuild what was there.

Hard to believe they wouldn't put anything to keep the door from banging.

Mark

[steinVT]

After listening to countless VAP podcasts, one of the first things we purchased after we got the trailer was a fantastic fan. The old exhaust fan was bent and 115v and one of the lifters was broken. I got the light grey one from Vintage Trailer Supply so I thought it would blend in well enough.


Researching installation tips on these forums, I came to the conclusion that they seem to work great for about two years and then a lot of them start to leak. I am guessing a combination of the supplied wedge shaped screws and UV degradation.

So here is what I am proposing to do, looking for any reasons its a bad idea:

1) Cut a flange out of aluminum that will cover the plastic flange that is screwed to the roof. Maybe an 1/8" oversize
2) Add a second layer of the gasket material under the outer edges between the roof and the flange to account for the roof curvature.
3) Bed everything in Sikaflex; roof, gasket, gasket add-on, plastic flange and aluminum flange.
4) Screw to the roof with SS pan head screws with SS fender washers.

I also discovered my original Airstream aluminum vent fits over the plastic Fantastic Vent cover like a glove. I didn't think I would get the test fit apart. I am thinking to buck rivet the holes closed, polish it and then bed it in with some Sikaflex.

And then finally I believe with some slight modification, I can use the original inside trim ring and not the big plastic thing.

Whatya think?

[dbj216]

I think it sounds like a great idea. The fantastic fan runs quieter and moves much more air. Incorporating some of the original trim pieces will help disguise the new fan some. I'm confident your installation will not leak.

David

[steinVT]

It's been a while since I have posted. It's because most all work on the Safari has ceased. Last fall was amazing with clear sky's and warm temps. Not so this year, currently is 38 degrees and raining. I had hoped to have painted the Zolatone and installed the floor before we put it down for the winter, but gave up on that a couple of weeks ago. The good news is it is ready for both but I needed warmer temps, especially for the Marmoleum. I have painted cars when it is freezing out side and I really don't want or need to do that again.

In order to get back some use of my basement, I have been fitting all of the interior back into the trailer. I would have done a test fit anyway and it's probably better to do it without the paint and floor. When it's all installed (temporarily screwed in place), I am going to park it in my barn for the winter.


Seeing the refinished furniture in place, even without the floor and wall paint makes me excited for next spring. Projects over the winter include laminating new counter tops and polishing the new Aluminum propane tanks.

[Bubba L]

Great job on the gauchos Mark. Looks like amber shellac. I don’t know if I’m capable of building the stuff in the shop and transferring it to the trailer and it fit. I’m starting in the morning on the plumbing rough-in and electrical trim out. Next week will be the gaucho rough in. I understand the temperature requirements for the Zolatone and Marmoleum. Good luck and hope you get a break in the weather. Great progress. Bubba

[dbj216]

Always great fun to put things back together and start seeing the fruits of all your hard work.

We had 12" of famous Colorado powder snow yesterday and last night. Very pretty and easy to deal with. Winter and the cold temps certainly shuts down the Airstream projects. I'm very fortunate to have a building where I can continue on working. Actually I get more done in the winter than the summer.

David

[islandtrader]

Just think now you have time and can read everyones else's blogs and get new ideas and change everything that you have done..LOL

[steinVT]

Last Monday started sunny but cold so I decided this would be the day to move the Safari to the barn.

I must say in it's maiden voyage, the trailer tracked beautifully. Must be that balanced running gear.


Once to the barn, we had to figure out the last 50 feet. Mower to the rescue. It even was a slight incline. Glad vintage is so light.


Because of other projects, the only way to get it to fit was to remove the screw jack and slide the tongue under the rear end of the MB.


Glad I did it when I did because this is what I awoke to on Tuesday morning. And more is on the way.

[steinVT]

After a long winter and a very wet spring, my Airstream restoration season has officially started back up. I still have a couple of weeks of full time employment before I start my summer half time schedule, so only little projects at first.

My next big projects will be spraying the Zolatone and then installing the Marmoleum. Looking forward to installing all of the furniture and getting my basement back.

I have registered to the North East Regional Rally of the Tin Can Tourists that takes place on on September 12th. So I have an end date. Better get to work, I have a lot to do.

[steinVT]

There was one section of floor that I was never quite happy with. Because of the line up of the 4x8' plywood sheets, there was an unsupported joint right at the entry way. It was braced underneath with an aluminum sheet and I had fabricated an riveted end cap. It felt plenty strong, but I can imagine it starting to show though the marmoleum after a couple of years of traffic.



As painful as it was, I cut out a section and replaced it with a single plywood piece is supported by the frame and two outriggers. Sealed all the edges and glued and screwed. Seems very solid.


Still debating whether I want to put 1/4" underlayment over all of my 3/4" plywood base. This was suggested by an marmoleum installer. By staggering the joints, I think it would make a great base even in a flexing trailer.

What do you guys think? I am not a fan of the extra cost and weight. I would have to cut 1/4" off of all the partitions, not a big deal, but one more thing to do.

[Bubba L]

We installed Marmoleum in both our trailers. I was apprehensive about their recommendations to install the 1/4” plywood. We did install the plywood per their installation directions. Glad we did. Marmoleum seems to be pretty thick but imperfects seem to telegraph through to the surface. We stapeled per directions and hammered the staples to make sure they were flush. It wasn’t a problem adjusting the height of the bulkheads. That’s my thoughts. Good luck

[islandtrader]

Originally Posted by steinVT

After a long winter and a very wet spring, my Airstream restoration season has officially started back up.

That is so different than here in FL. I am thinking OK 1 more month before we pull the plug and head north to get out of this blistering heat

Good thing to have light at the end of the tunnel...I am still lost haha!

[dbj216]

Hi stienVT: Glad you made it through the winter. We had snow last week, but warmer today. It has been a long winter.

Good call on the entryway. Your extra inlay there does look very solid.

I too went through the time and expense to put down a 1/4" underlayment in our 86 Limited. Then I laid a cork engineered click type floor down on top of that. This was ten years ago and so far it has all stayed together nicely.

I vote for more work for you.

David

[steinVT]

Looks like it's the extra 1/4" decking after all. Can't argue with both Bubba and David.

I have extra deck polyurethane so I guess I will treat the panels before putting them down. Did you guys use construction adhesive? Screws or staples?

Thanks Mark

[steinVT]

Originally Posted by islandtrader

That is so different than here in FL. I am thinking OK 1 more month before we pull the plug and head north to get out of this blistering heat

Besides the rain, the temperature here is really pretty nice. That's one of the reasons I decided to do my build a little out of order. By September, I want at least the first rough polish done on the exterior. I have already polished many small areas as I installed things so it's a bit of a patch work. I hope to finish the interior maybe in August. That's when I had planned to polish, but have decided to do it now, before it gets too hot. Not Florida hot mind you, but we Vermonters can't take much heat.

I bought a tool that I think I will learn to love, a set of wheeled scaffolding. Only $165 at Harbor Freight with coupon. I can reach the entire roof with out much trouble. I'm not a fan of ladders that have to be constantly moved. Seems sturdy, well designed and fairly light weight. And it even rolls across the grass.

[Bubba L]

Mark, I just stapled with the correct narrow crown staples recommended by Marmoleum. There’s a reason for the specific type of staple. I don’t remember all the specifics, but I think those staple “legs” cross when they’re shot into the wood lessening the chance to work upward. I even had a discussion with them trying to eliminate the 1/4” plywood. In the end I accepted their reasoning was glad I did. Our subfloor was well sealed so I wasn’t worried about the 1/4”. Just make sure no staples are above, they will telegraph through the Marmoleum.

[dbj216]

I have the same scaffolding that you just bought. It is very handy. I've had mine for years and years. It is very handy.

David

[Bubba L]

[QUOTE=steinVT;2247239]Besides the rain, the temperature here is really pretty nice. That's one of the reasons I decided to do my build a little out of order. By September, I want at least the first rough polish done on the exterior. I have already polished many small areas as I installed things so it's a bit of a patch work. I hope to finish the interior maybe in August. That's when I had planned to polish, but have decided to do it now, before it gets too hot. Not Florida hot mind you, but we Vermonters can't take much heat.

I bought a tool that I think I will learn to love, a set of wheeled scaffolding. Only $165 at Harbor Freight with coupon. I can reach the entire roof with out much trouble. I'm not a fan of ladders that have to be constantly moved. Seems sturdy, well designed and fairly light weight. And it even rolls across the grass.

Attachment 342157[/
Mark, be careful on Baker Scaffold. They are great for getting up close to the AS. They do have a tendency to tip laterally. They do make small attachable outriggers you can attach for more stability if needed. But they’re perfect for working on the exterior.

[steinVT]

Just wanted to catch up with a few minor projects that happened over winter break.

First, spent a couple of hours to add some shine to the new LP tanks. Kind of a before and after.


Before painting the stove/oven, I wanted to make sure it all worked. Using an regulator off of an old gas grill, I hooked it up and everything works great. Not bad for a 62 year appliance.

And the oven even cycles with temperature. Having never traveled in a trailer, does the oven see much use? Seems like you would want to crack a couple of window before using it too much.


Mark