Relapse - 1956 Sovereign of the Road

[pienjim]

We're so happy for you. We are within 400 miles of getting our hands on that Alaska caravanner. We listened to hours and hours of VAP podcasts en route. Most informative. See ya when we get back.

Paula

[soldiermedic]

Cool Paula,

You passed right by my SOTR en route. When are you heading back to Texas?

Steve

[Westfalia]

I knew that you would be aluminated again soon. Sweet rig! I can't wait to see it in person.

[mnmhays]

Nice find! Love those segments!

[rptradewind]

Great find. It probably would be best to remove the end panels and smothed out. Finding an edge bead roller to match the bead on your panels would be difficult. Good luck with your project. Pat

[utee94]

Congrats Steve, looking forward to seeing your progress on it!

Any rough plans on what you want to do? Complete restoration to original? Resto-mod? Renovation? Turn it into a cupcake vending trailer?

[soldiermedic]

Marcus,

I alluded to some of our plans in the first post and blog, but this will be modernized unit that has functionality. Even a rooftop AC (OH THE HORROR!).

Steve

[HiHoAgRV]

Awesum find! I see lots of similar features with my '63.

[utee94]

Originally Posted by soldiermedic

Marcus,

I alluded to some of our plans in the first post and blog, but this will be modernized unit that has functionality. Even a rooftop AC (OH THE HORROR!).

Steve

Rooftop ACs are no big deal. Especially on a trailer as long as your SOTR. Some 50s trailers had swamp coolers, and those are far more obtrusive IMO.

On my next one, I'll probably try to do some kind window-unit AC integrated into the interior and vented around the trailer, like Uwe and Jordan (and others) have done, but that's going to require a lot more planning than I wanted to do for my first one.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by soldiermedic

Marcus,

I alluded to some of our plans in the first post and blog, but this will be modernized unit that has functionality. Even a rooftop AC (OH THE HORROR!).

Steve

Yeah, I'm guessing no one here in Texas is going to give you much grief about adding an AC unit to it. If any of them furr'ners do, tell them they have to spend an August weekend in south Texas in an un-airconditioned trailer or metal building in Texas before they're allowed to complain about "spoiling the classic lines" with AC.

[3Ms75Argosy]

Water heater? No.. nothing there. I'm sure it wouldn't work even IF it were there! Someone asked about the window cranks or handles... they look like standard Hehr cranks to me... just llike the ones on my '63. I don't want to go taking Steve's trailer apart, so I'll let him post some opener dissembled pics when he gets it.
Marc

[InsideOut]

Looks like you got a nice project on your hands there Steve! Good luck with it...

Shari

[Distantdrummer]

Steve my only advice which I know you know already but (just in case you and Dave overlooked it);
Have him go to all known and any extra lengths to secure the entry door. Duct Tape galore and then some. Tie it off, block it somehow, just make Dave aware it must be secure. Should be no reason for him to open it for entry on the way home..??
Almost same precautions for trunk lids, side panel doors , windows and roof vents IMHO.
As you surely know if you lose or ruin that door you are about 2 years of spare cash behind before you get started,

Oh and of course get the damm tape off as soon as you get it back to 100 degree Texas.

Happy for yall.

[soldiermedic]

Hey DD,

The door latch actually works even thought the handle is broken, and the deadbolt works to secure. Will have him add additional tape.

Steve

[Melody Ranch]

I want a Dave Update.....lets hear it "from the road"...he always seems to have that smart phone in his hand.

[scorpiontimo]

Good job my friend my mouth is watering already, you bet ac for sure after 2 day without ours and no relive in sight I surely understand. When you told me about it the other day I was trying to picture what all those windows would look like on it its cool the body is in better shape than ours when we got our girl, thats it i need to trade ours in on a older one tell Dave to go easy.

[pienjim]

We only went by your SOTR if it was located in Montana! And I know that wasn't so. We do plan to pass thru Washington state on the return. We are way ahead of schedule and may be ready for the return trip about mid July....or even sooner. I'll tell Jim about the duct tape on the door.

Paula

[Melody Ranch]

OK Paula....now I have two of you guys to follow on these recovery missions. You better keep us well informed. Do you miss the Texas heat yet?

[Colin H]

Congrats Steve,
My first Airstream was/is a 57 SOTR which I will refurb someday....................wanna race? You can see it in the archive section of vintageairstream.com. It's gutted now, but clients have to come first, plus I have my 59 Ambassador International to use in the meantime
Colin

[Foiled Again]

OMDJC. How can I even tell you this S.M.?

Hi, I'm back in Virginia. I barely posted on the road because I got so frustrated with slow and interrupted internet. While I was in San Antonio I spotted about 4 dozen silver kin and Airstreams IN THE CITY. There must be 400 small mobile home parks, mostly with park models but with several RV's interspersed. I saw two Trail Manors in a little community just north of Traveler's World, a nice big Silver Streak at a dealer's lot half a mile south of the WalMart on Roosevelt, and at least 3 13 panel Airstreams here and there and wherever!

If I lived where you are, I'd be doing doing google map searches like mad and making good friends with cabbies and police. There are trailers under the mesquite bushes!

I found San Antonio fascinating. Downtown - OK but "Fe$tive for Tourist$" definitely. Get off the main roads and there is a distinct lack of city planning and zoning restrictions. I found neighborhoods of trailer parks everywhere... often three or four RV's in someone's back yard.

Soldier - some of them did loor ROUGH, but the Silver Streak? OOOOH~~~~!!!!!

Paula