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Old 01-24-2015, 07:10 PM   #1
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1986 34' Limited
1975 27' Overlander
1969 21' Globetrotter
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Airstream Merit Badges

Just like good scouts, we need to recognize Airstreamers for various lessons learned. Here are some ideas for "Airstream Merit Badges".

Traveler Merit Badges:

Trying to drive off with the tongue jack down with several people watching
Boondocking 5 nights in a row
Crossing the Mackinac Bridge on a windy day
10,000 miles towing
Cooking a Thanksgiving turkey dinner in an Airstream
Receiving hail damage
Attending an Airstream Rally
Attending an Airstream caravan
Achieve "Rivet Master" on Air Forums
Camping 48 hours straight with temps below freezing
Visit 10 National Parks
Living in your Airstream for six months straight

Maintenance Merit Badges:

Repacking 4 bearings
Shaving 20 Olympic rivets
Bucking 20 standard 5/32 rivets
Fixing five rain water leaks
Removing a belly pan
Removing dents from a banana wrap
Fixing a turn signal wiring problem
Patching a subfloor
Painting the frame
Lifting the shell
Replacing a subfloor
Replacing a floor covering
Building a new cabinet for your trailer
Polishing an old Airstream
Replacing an end cap exterior panel

What other activities and experiences do Airstreamers need to achieve the coveted "Wally Byam Pith Helmet Award?" Airstreamers need at least 10 merit badges in each category.

David
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Old 01-24-2015, 07:29 PM   #2
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1991 34' Excella
1963 26' Overlander
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How about 15 or more travel days with no reservations?

Bonus for 10,000 miles in 1 year

Pizza in an Airstream

Crossing any highway with a 'high wind, no lightly loaded trucks' warning...

On edit...

Being the only camper in a free, no hookup campground.
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Old 01-24-2015, 07:47 PM   #3
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What about the "recruitment" merit badge? Personally getting somebody to buy an Airstream for the first time. Silver level for a first-time RVer; gold level for someone switching from an SOB to an Airstream. But only bronze level if you personally got yourself to buy an Airstream— on the theory that it's easier to convince yourself than to convince someone else…
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Old 01-24-2015, 08:03 PM   #4
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Travel 1500mi to JC for a PDI and/or warrantee repairs.

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Old 01-24-2015, 08:28 PM   #5
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This thread could get long

#1 Recording a song in an Airstream---10 points

#2 Shooting a video in an Airstream---10 points

#3 Accidentally having plants grow in the dirt in your camper Minus 10 points
( true story, not me though )

#4 Spending enough at the shop, to merit free camping in their lot----1 point

#5 Having a friend not be able to coax her dog out of your camper--10 points

#6 Having your trailer on the cover of a magazine----15 points

#7 Having an exotic dancer ask to use your trailer as a dressing room
……………………………………………………...….and saying no ?????points

#8 Towing more than 12 hours straight……10 stupid points

#9 Having a nice old lady say, " Cute camper " at a stop light----2 points

#10 Having some one knock on your door and offer to buy your trailer for half
what you have into----------10 points for not slamming the door
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Old 01-24-2015, 08:32 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mandolindave View Post

#10 Having some one knock on your door and offer to buy your trailer for half
what you have into----------10 points for not slamming the door
+5 more if it's a National Park Ranger...
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A honkin' long 34' named AlumaTherapy https://www.airforums.com/forums/f20...num-54749.html
and a 26' '63 Overlander, Dolly https://www.airforums.com/forums/f10...ome-71609.html
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Old 01-25-2015, 02:48 AM   #7
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1996 34' Limited
1976 31' Sovereign
1983 31' Excella
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV View Post
How about 15 or more travel days with no reservations?

Bonus for 10,000 miles in 1 year

Pizza in an Airstream

Crossing any highway with a 'high wind, no lightly loaded trucks' warning...

On edit...

Being the only camper in a free, no hookup campground.
I have done all three, well I did 2 and my wife did the other. The pizza was great too in her dome thing I bought her (ours has no oven).
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Old 01-25-2015, 02:52 AM   #8
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1996 34' Limited
1976 31' Sovereign
1983 31' Excella
Greeneville , Tennessee
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mandolindave View Post
#1 Recording a song in an Airstream---10 points

#2 Shooting a video in an Airstream---10 points

#3 Accidentally having plants grow in the dirt in your camper Minus 10 points
( true story, not me though )

#4 Spending enough at the shop, to merit free camping in their lot----1 point

#5 Having a friend not be able to coax her dog out of your camper--10 points

#6 Having your trailer on the cover of a magazine----15 points

#7 Having an exotic dancer ask to use your trailer as a dressing room
……………………………………………………...….and saying no ?????points

#8 Towing more than 12 hours straight……10 stupid points

#9 Having a nice old lady say, " Cute camper " at a stop light----2 points

#10 Having some one knock on your door and offer to buy your trailer for half
what you have into----------10 points for not slamming the door
I have had numbers 4,5,8,9,10x3 happen. Couldn't slam door as much as I wanted to.
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Old 01-25-2015, 05:28 AM   #9
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1986 34' Limited
1975 27' Overlander
1969 21' Globetrotter
Conifer , Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2009
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Very good suggestions! I forgot the trip to Jackson Center for service and the tour.

Hey did you see Airstream factory on the national news last night? It was in light of the improving economy and how busy the factory was. Who would be crazy enough to buy an expensive travel trailer? Must mean people are more confident.

Another merit badge: Camping on the beach where the ocean breeze comes through and you can hear the waves crashing into the shore.

David
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Old 01-25-2015, 07:32 PM   #10
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DEmerit badges

Here's our personal list of Demerits!

restoration:
lost parts during renovation (fridge latch)
over polished panel
ordering a black tank without fittings

camping:
sheering off all the lug nuts on one wheel
roof vent blown off
tire blowout
then, blowing out our spare, too (bonus because it’s a single axle trailer)
tow vehicle trouble on the road
interior cabinet came open during travel, spilling contents
disconnecting water during freezing temps but forgetting to disconnect the sewer, too.
dragged the electrical pigtail to the campground
unhitched at a campground before realizing there’s no water hookup
(then, rehitch: fill tank, unhitch again)
set off propane detector with lysol
exterior door opened during travel
exterior door blown OFF during travel
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Old 01-25-2015, 07:55 PM   #11
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Hi,

(1.) Making simple and in-expensive modifications to your Airstream that makes life much easier; Also something that the factory should have done in the first place.

(2.) Ten years and many tens of thousands of miles with "Marathon" tires and an "ordinary hitch". [oh how daring!]

(3.) Having your trailer SWAY uncontrollably with out a hitch or tow vehicle.
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Old 01-26-2015, 07:21 AM   #12
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Hooking to the ball in less than three tries w/o better half's help AND w/o ANY video help.

A rare subset of brake repair. Understanding how hydraulic brakes work and being self sufficient at repairing them.
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Old 01-26-2015, 07:30 AM   #13
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Airstream Recognition Merit Badge - Being able to correctly identify the model and year of any Airstream you see— at a glance— based solely on its silhouette and distinguishing features. That's one badge I'd never earn!
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Old 01-26-2015, 07:23 PM   #14
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1986 34' Limited
1975 27' Overlander
1969 21' Globetrotter
Conifer , Colorado
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Yep, only Fred Coldwell can do that.

Here's one... Read all four Airstream books,

Airstream Living by Bruce Littlefield
Airstream, History of the Land Yacht by Bryan Burkhart and David Hunt
Airstream Custom Interiors by David Winick
Restoring a Dream by Tim Shepard

David
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Old 01-26-2015, 07:25 PM   #15
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1986 34' Limited
1975 27' Overlander
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Conifer , Colorado
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And another Merit Badge

Listen to 25 episodes of the Vintage Airstream Podcast (VAP)

David
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