New Owner of '71 Overlander

[Thiss]

Hello All!

Last week we sold our newer box trailer. It was a 2005 Prowler 27 foot living space with a super slide. We had owned it since new, fulltiming during college and camping with it the last few years; after replacing the entire floor. A job I did with the help of my father-in-law. Tired of towing it a 6,000 lb dry trailer, I put it up for sell and the hunt for an Airstream was on.

After a few looks at serious projects, finding several 31 footers, and not being able to talk the nice old man in town out of his '74 Trade Wind, we landed our Overlander.

Quick run down on her. I would love to hear your input and opinions.

Good

Awesome original upholstery and cushions.
Clean and nice bathroom
Great cabinets
Clear windows
Good body with only a few minor dents
Side and rear awnings in good shape
Propane tank cover
Intact interior, including front couch, and fold away table

Bad

Needs flooring, the early '90s stuff has to go, probably in favor of bamboo
Needs a battery
AC electrical bugs, probably a new convertor in the future
Plumbing leak in bathroom
Water heater?
Fridge?

Ugly

Floor rot from door to area under Vista view window. Frame appears OK.
Needs axles, front is bent, and overall the trailer is sagging.

Pictures in the next thread

Thanks for reading and thanks for having an awesome community to join!

[Thiss]

[Thiss]

[ALANSD]

Looks like a nice one that will need a minimum amount of work. You will know when you cut out the rotted flooring.

[garthbf]

very nice.
what is that handle thing on the back below the window?

[Thiss]

Black water clean out hose coupler that the previous owner had left on.

I have poked around everywhere I can look and an hopeful that is the only spot on the floor.

I am most worried about the axle right now. We were wanting to take it on a 120 mile round trip for Labour Day, but I don't think it will be wise. I just put new tires on it and got the right hitch set up. But she isn't towing too nice. The front driver tire has a noticeable camber.

[TennTex]

Nice looking trailer - I have the same model and year. Mine looked almost as clean as yours when we bought it, although the floor damage visible was in the rear. Then I starting looking a bit more closely, especially after my first post generated replies such as, "jump up and down on the bumper," and "gotta drop the belly pan."

One year later, I have a gutted Airstream with a welded/repaired/painted frame, new axles, new rear floor, and new black and gray tank system awaiting new plumbing, furnace/ducting, interior, etc, etc. It will be another 6 months minimum before I can have it ready to go anywhere. Good thing I enjoy "projects."

Anyway, it seems that any Airstream that long in the tooth is bound to have rear end separation that will need attention, unless you're fortunate enough to have one that's already been repaired. A design flaw makes this almost a given. I suggest you check carefully for this and plan to drop the belly pan at some point; that's the only way to know the status of your frame.

And, no matter what - have fun with the process!

Alan