How long is a piece of string?

[abridges01]

Sorry to lead with such a stupid, and possibly impossible to answer question, but we are very interested in purchasing an Aistream trailer. The problem is different views of hiw best this might be achieved. I would love to purchase an older, 60’s model and then refurbish it to our ‘unique’ tastes, while my darling wife wants to purchase a newer model as she fears the cost and effort involved in a refurbishment. Which brings up the questions, what can we expect in the way of cost for refurbishing a unit that would need to be pretty sound externally, but needing a lot of TLC (possibly a complete overhaul as in eBay item #330015785446) to get the interior done? Any advise will be very much appreciated. Thanks, Andrew

[Condoluminum]

Andrew-

Welcome to the Forums.. You are obligated to now learn to use the "Search" feature in blue bar above... Several excellent prior threads on refurbishing and shops who do work for you.. Legalistic answer above is appropriate, as some here (Uwe in Orange..) have bought or acquired units in need of total reconstruciton and restoration, while others feel new carpeting finishes the deal and they head for a campground...

You should search for shops like Airstream Dreams, Birchwood Beauties and others who do total makeovers and talk to them as well as look at some of the projects documented here. People like movie producer Tim Burton have hired shops to do the work, and paid as much as $50K.. Others have gotten quotes ranging from $20K and up, depending on condition and desired outcome...

One certainty.. If you are not handy with tools, patient, and emotionally prepared to spend more time and money than originally expected, you should limit choices to new or used but late model... A vintage unit from the '60's or 70's is not something to grab up on E-Bay and whip together over a few weekends... You might discover the need to replace axles and brakes, re-weld sections of frame, replace sub-floor and plumbing and tanks, etc etc before you ever get to point of selecting new flooring and upholstery...

There are at least two shops in southern CA who do restoration work.. Inland RV in Corona and C&G in Bellflower... Both have long history with Airstream, and know what is involved.

John McG

[dwightdi]

It is like fixing old cars. You can never get back the money you put into them if you have the work done or value your time at more than $5 per hour. If you have to ask the question, you most likely should not do it. Buy the best one you can, that is within your budget, and enjoy it. If you have alot of time on your hands and just like fixing things, then you might consider it an expensive hobby. Call it a large hole in your driveway that you throw money into.

Probably the biggest favor that you could do for yourself is to buy a new Airstream that you can use and enjoy right away and then look for a nice Vintage project. but.... if you thrive on a challange , frustration, spending money and just good old hard workthen buy the vintage first.

[Stefrobrts]

I disagree, I've spent a lot less on my vintage than I would have on a new Bambi, and we've gotten a lot of enjoyment out of it, and confined it's downtime to the off season.

If you're handy and really want to make it your own, buy the nicest vintage you can, and then do your stuff to it. Don't frustrate yourself by buying a basket case to start out with. This is the same advice I give to someone who is looking to restore their first car - buy the nicest thing you can, because it will still need work and customizing to your taste. In the end it will still cost you a lot less than buying new.

[William Ales]

A piece of string is twice the distance from one end to the middle! An old question. How far can a dog run into the woods? (Half way then he is running out).

A pond has a lilly pad growing on it that doubles in size every day. On the 30th day the pond is full. On what day is it half full?

The 29th

[cosmotini]

29th?

What's the difference between toilet paper and a shower curtain?







So ... YOU"RE the one!

[toastie]

Originally Posted by abridges01

Sorry to lead with such a stupid, and possibly impossible to answer question, but we are very interested in purchasing an Aistream trailer. The problem is different views of hiw best this might be achieved. I would love to purchase an older, 60’s model and then refurbish it to our ‘unique’ tastes, while my darling wife wants to purchase a newer model as she fears the cost and effort involved in a refurbishment. Which brings up the questions, what can we expect in the way of cost for refurbishing a unit that would need to be pretty sound externally, but needing a lot of TLC (possibly a complete overhaul as in eBay item #330015785446) to get the interior done? Any advise will be very much appreciated. Thanks, Andrew

If you hire a lot of the work out, and depending on the shape of the trailer (the floor, wiring, axle, etc.) and the darling wife taste on the inside, your looking at $15,000 plus, and plus the cost of the trailer.

Example: To replace foam seating in a 65 Caravel your looking at $500.00 for the foam, and thats at a sell price, material, 20 yds at $20.00 a yd, $400.00, and labor to put the piece together $600.00 total $1500.00 min.

[SafeHarbor]

New, nearly new, vintage? Old trailers can be tricky, even if you follow the forum and learn as much as you can.

You might get lucky.

I got lucky. I decided I wanted a "fancier, bigger" Airstream, and it took me five months to find the right one. As a credit to the previous owner, it was exactly as he described it. Everything worked, and everything was there. There was no floor rot.

So, I sort of paid a premium price for a 1979 model, but I was very happy that everything worked.

Since March 2005 when I got it, I have

* Replaced the oven
* Replaced the water heater
* Removed and repaired the shower pan
* Replaced all the brakes
* Replaced the heating element in the fridge
* Upgraded to a more powerful tow vehicle
* Changed out some water lines
* Changed out the sun-warped vinyl blinds for aluminum ones
* Bought a lot of throw rugs to protect the wooden and linoleum flooring

And I still have some tasks planned for it, like replacing the balky electric trailer hitch and undoing an alteration in the water system plumbing made due to some frozen plumbing in the aft end done before I bought it. And, when I admit it to myself, I really don't like the 80's Arizona-western upholstery. I wish it wasn't in such good shape.

If you get a very late model, a "previously loved" model that was warranteed and actually went camping enough for the owners to take it back for maintenance and adjustment, you can probably avoid a lot of these little irritations that I've enjoyed.

On the other hand, a 60s or 70s model like mine in worse shape could be VERY expensive to refurb, even doing it yourself.

I don't grouse about the things I've had to do for or to the trailer - it's 27 years old, after all, but I knew what I was getting into. Part of dealing with an old trailer is knowing what needs fixing and what can be deferred.

What it boils down to is a way of thinking. If you "gotta camp," vintage enthusiasts like to share their "works in progress" when camping. Others, like me, fix 'er up a little bit and clean 'er up a little bit, in order to go camping. Still other folks kick the tires, light the fires, and go. (Those are the folks with the new and nearly new Airstreams.)

Not an easy decision, eh? I bought the nicest, newest Airstream that I thought I could afford.

Unless you just like the thought of a full-boogey repair and restoration, and the pride in workmanship that comes with it, that's what I suggest that you do, too.

Lamar

[2airishuman]

hi andrew and welcome to the forums....

i just love threads with cute titles......

as to how much they help with a real question....

well it all depends on the answers....

then of course no one can find all of that great advice....

because of the title....

take a look at this reply....

to another buyer, with a cute title....

http://www.airforums.com/forums/223971-post7.html

man i worked hard for this guy...

who eventually purchased exactly what he didn't think he wanted....

now on a world tour...

read the whole thread, there is lots of good advice,

http://www.airforums.com/forum...uality+control

and see how his thinking evolved...

folks would love to give you advice...good advice

i still don't have a clue.

-how big?
-how much money?
-how much travel?
-time line for any thing?
-2 people?
-where ya gonna go?
-what time of year?
-what features on the inside?
-boondocking or 12 way hookups?
-work space at home?
-storage space at home?
-tools?
-skills?
-do ya want to go now?
-or do ya want a hobby now?
-travel history?
-rv or trailer experience?
-did i ask how much money?
and so many more...

so you need to offer up lots of info...
before we can connect the dots...
do you know the answers yourself?

till then roll the string up and have a ball!

cheers
2air'

of course if your mate has a view...
skip the string, this thread and just agree with her!

[abridges01]

OK, I'm suitably scared, where's the nearest Airstream dealer? Actually, we visitied ours today and I think the combination of the 'warnings' above and the luxury offered from today's models will probably steer us that way. Thank you to everyone who offered such helpful and forthright advise, I am indebted to you... as I will be to the bank! Cheers, Andrew

[C Johnson]

Hi Andrew, First off let me say that I bought my 1965 17ft Caravel for 4k and put another 6k into it, and counting. Still cheaper than a new AS by a long way. I enjoyed doing the restore on mine, even tho, I gave up several times . I did an original restore since I like the originality factor. If you are handy and have the space you can do an interior restore.

I looked at the auction that you mentioned. Assuming you buy this particular coach. You won't need axles right away but you will need them in the, not too distant, future. Figure at least 1800 for factory replacements. The Armstrong A/C unit is serviceable and can be repaired if it doesn't work. You will need to do some work on the running/taillights, not terribly expensive, just another project. The seller doesn't say if the fridge works or if the water heater worked before he took it out. Looks like you might need a water heater. You might be able to caress the fridge into working condition if it doesn't work. These are unknowns at this point. Range ? didn't see one. 400$ plus for a new one. Tires, brakes, ? I noticed the windows too, curved glass replacements are spendy too. You can see that things add up rather quickly. If you don't mind working on it this year and camping next year it might be the one for you.

If I had the space and available funds I might pick this one up myself but, then I have a disease called aluminitus. It is incurable as far as I can tell .

On the plus side the outside skin/belly pan looks to be in good shape which is a good thing !

[overlander63]

With a new coach the size of ours approaching $60-80,000, I can put a LOT of money into ours and still be money ahead. And if money gets tight for a couple of months, I don't have to worry about the repo man...