'53 Cruiser Where to Start?

[nick6930]

Well, I certainly have a project now worth taking on. This weekend I got the green light from the wife to "look" for a 50's trailer. SO I took that as "find and buy." I found a great candidate only 2 hours from home.

It is a 1953 Airstream Cruiser 25' Single axle. The shell is in great shape with one dent in the curbside rear. Everything inside appears unchanged and original with the original appliances. Even the inside skin does not show any alterations or holes. Of course the floor is bad even though it seems that someone had replaced the floor in spots in the last few years.

Now that it is in the driveway, I can not sleep. I just wake up thinking about where to start. I need to have a new coupler put on since the current one was bent around the ball to keep it on the ball permanently. Then I hope to gut it and considering a shell off. But that is very intimidating.

Here are some photo ( not sure how many I can post):

[cruiser54]

Wow, a good finding! Take him! Make a beauty from the Cruiser!
I also am in it......
Greetings from Switzerland
Werner

[pinktrailer]

Your Cruiser looks to be in great shape! I have a '53 Clipper, and luckily for me, I only had to replace two sections of the floor (still not an easy thing to do), as it had been stored inside for much of its' life.

[robandzoe]

Congrats Nick. It looks like a nice find. Welcome to the 50s!!

Rob
TAC NY-1

[nick6930]

thanks guys.

Yeh that is something I am wondering right now. How much to do? Do I replace the bad sections or do the whole thing, floor, frame, wiring, zoletone and know that it is complete. Shell on or take the shell off? So many questions right now I get overwhelmed. I also need to get the 69 Globetrotter up for sale since my budget office (wife) has only approved 1 project trailer at a time.

[mistral blue]

Way to go Nick!

She's a beauty!!!

[wkerfoot]

Nick,

Depends on what you want. Looks pretty complete and in good shape, except for the lack of cushions and drapes. I would seriously consider, fixing the soft floor spots and having a very nice saved original trailer.

Bill

Originally Posted by nick6930

thanks guys.

Yeh that is something I am wondering right now. How much to do? Do I replace the bad sections or do the whole thing, floor, frame, wiring, zoletone and know that it is complete. Shell on or take the shell off? So many questions right now I get overwhelmed. I also need to get the 69 Globetrotter up for sale since my budget office (wife) has only approved 1 project trailer at a time.

[mello mike]

Sweeet!!! Very nice. The 50s Rock!!!

Why a shell off? Is the floor that bad?

[fastrob]

Get rid of the old before starting on the new.
Meanwhile start a list.
Ask the Boss what she would like to do. What she thinks.
Maybe some non-destructive inspection to determine frame condition, floor soundness, axle condition, and so on.
Go for it!!! Looks like fun. Lucky guy.

[nick6930]

Well today was a good day. Spent a few hours with the wife just sitting inside the Cruiser and thinking about what to keep and what to change. She is adamant that we must share a bed and not sleep in twins. So it was nice to think about the could be's. Then I got started on the interesting part, dismantling. It was cool to see how everything was assembled. To include the serial number being written on the cabinets.

Next I need to clean out space in the shed and move everything inside. Then finish taken out the sink and bath area. Then removal all the layers of paint on the inside skin.

[fastrob]

I like the double bed idea as well.
As I age the open concept becomes more attractive.
With kids, a curtin suffices, for just a touch of privacy.
Take lots of pictures, you might forget how things go together.
Sitting in the Airstream thinking about your plans is a joy.

[nick6930]

Well down to the shower. I have read that these were put in before the shell was finished so it wont fit out the door even after taking the rivets out and splitting in half. The shower stall is in really good shape no extra holes or tears. Should I take out the pan rivets and the lower out that way? For the top should I cut a slot near the window and try to squeeze it out? Or build a new one (which I dont know how to do)? Any suggestions?

Sorry for not rotating the photo.

[robandzoe]

First I heard that... you sure if won't fit? My understanding is that everything went in and out of the door while building these things.

Or, Just take it to Frank and he'll life the shell off for you... or borrow his gantrys and do it yourself!!

Rob

[nick6930]

Yeh there is no way to take it out whole, it is about 12" larger than the opening. I split in half and still no way. Maybe if I take the rivets out on the shower pan it would fit. The shower was in place when they sprayed the zolatone because there is splash back on the side of the shower and none behind it. I guess I will just drill out the bucked rivets from the pan.

[nick6930]

A slow progress update. I started to remove the interior paint with removall and the powerwasher. It is working OK but with the drought for the past few weeks I was nervous about running the well dry. We finally got some good rains so I can finish up the job this week. I will post photos of the progress later this week.

[nick6930]

Well had a little progress the last few days. I have been figuring out how to remove the inner skin. Boy that is a dirty and dusty job. Amazingly enough there are not too many signs of old mice. I am very curious about the front C channel it is a lot different than I was expecting to find. Especially in the front. As you can see in the photo the C channel is only 6 pieces and they were screwed down into the wood floor with flat handed screws. The only elevator bolts that I see is one in the very front under the window and 1 on either side installed upside down. Even the exterior front banana wrap trim was screwed on. It appears to be original flooring since the original Marmoleoum under the C channel.

QUESTION: Would I want to repeat this design or add a solid C channel with the cuts for the curve like I have seen others doing? Should I add more elevator bolts or is the 3 enough in the front section? It looks like there is an elevator bolt about every 2-3 feet else where.

[nick6930]

The inner skin has been removed and only the end caps remain. I have been busy getting the barn ready with lighting and electric, for the shell removal. I am thinking of buying a couple pulleys and just hoist it up on the barn rafters. I need to get the horses and everything ready. With any luck I will have the shell off next week. (depending if I get away for deer season. Week #2 of the season and I have not even stepped foot into the wood.)

[nick6930]

My word where did November go? The cold has moved in and it has been in the 20's and 30's the past 2 weeks. I have drilled out all the rivets on the outside and she is ready for the shell off. My plan is to use the barn rafters to lift the shell straight up. I took the front and rear vent off and plan to use a chain block and tackle to hoist it up. I was going to use some 3ft long 2x4’s in the vent holes and lift from there. I don’t know if the shell will handle it or not. I am not sure if I need to add supports to the inside near the floor or just hoisting will be OK. I am thinking about getting some 2x4's to add a little stiffness at the floor. I hope to lift it on Monday so we will see how it goes.

[Beaker63]

Nick,
I would add some 2x4 braces at the base. I braced ours then slide10' 4x4 s under the shell and lifted from those. When it was high (for the wheels to clear) enough, I could just roll the frame out from underneath the shell.
You think it's cold now, just wait till you see whats coming your way next week!
Tim

[tinman54]

Nick, It takes a long time to drill out all the rivets around the bottom, that's where November went! 20" of snow here today the high temps will be below 0 by Monday and then it will probably get bad :-)