Airstream Forums - VBSchmidt

Summary & Future Plans

Posted 01-04-2015 at 08:55 PM by VBSchmidt

So far this has been a really fun project. The timeline was very compressed and maybe that was a good thing as there was no time to lose interest. If we had more time we could have saved a few bucks by shopping online or buying better rather than buying what was available at the time.

Camping in the trailer was very comfortable. It was so nice to have a home base with all the comforts of home, including having our car available to drive as compared to VW Bus camping where you spend...

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VBSchmidt

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Problems and Fixes on the Road

Posted 01-04-2015 at 08:41 PM by VBSchmidt

We had a few issues come up with the trailer while we were away, but nothing earth shattering.

FRIDGE
-the fridge worked on 110v great until Christmas Day when the 110v element burnt out
-we ran it on propane for the rest of the trip
-I was able to source a new element that should work for $20 so I will install it later

HOT WATER
-after a few days of working perfectly the hot water heater kept going out
-the thermocouple no longer...

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VBSchmidt

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The (Almost) Finished Product

Posted 01-04-2015 at 08:25 PM by VBSchmidt

Well, we left on time December 20th. The trailer towed very well. It's amazing how well the Reese Strait Line distributes the tongue weight, smooths the ride, and prevents sway.

We covered nearly 5500km, 5000 of which with the trailer attached. We had our share of small problems (see the next post) but that's to be expected as we just couldn't give it a test locally before we left.

Here are the pictures of the finished interior:

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VBSchmidt

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The Final Week Before Departure Day

Posted 01-04-2015 at 08:14 PM by VBSchmidt

With a morning departure planned for Dec 20, it was all hands on deck to get the trailer finished. It was a perfect storm, considering the last weeks before Christmas are filled with visits, parties, and trips out of town.

In the last week I laid the laminate flooring, installed the sinks (I fabricated the rear sink from a stainless steel bowl), installed the taps and hoses, plumbed the drains, replaced the missing sections of belly pan, and finished my repairs and modifications...

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VBSchmidt

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Countertops

Posted 01-04-2015 at 07:50 PM by VBSchmidt

Vanessa picked a laminate she liked right from the start of this project. Though we tried to find some pre-made counters that would do the trick, our backs were against the wall for timing and the decision was made for me to build the counters from scratch.

I found a supplier who was able to get the exact laminate Vanessa wanted in a day or two. I cut particle board to size, then scribed and adjusted it until it was just right. I even cut out the sink holes and the oven hole ahead...

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