New Here - Just Purchased My First Airstream

[girlscan2]

Hi! I just purchased my first Airstream, which is also a Sovereign. Tonight is it's first night at its new home. I am so excited, I am jumping up and down inside. I was hoping to come home from work and dig into clean and fixing stuff but it's just too hot. I'll for sure get on it this weekend because it's LABOR DAY! It's really in good shape, just needs some TLC, which I have plenty of.
Happy Traveling!

[TBRich]

Welcome to the Forums and welcome to the wacky world of Airstreaming!

There are a lot of us in the Valley and Arizona ... we will have to get you to a rally where you can meet up with a bunch of really fun happy campers!

[KeithC]

Welcome to the forums.

[Uzzah]

Congrats!!!! And welcomed rom the sovereign club

[Aage]

Howdy and to Airforums.com! Glad to hear you already have your trailer, and we're waiting for all the questions you will have about its care and feeding.

In the mean while, how about some photos of your new baby!?

[CaddyGrn]

Welcome to the forums! This is a great place to learn all things Airstream! I second Aage's post ~ "how about some photos???"

[girlscan2]

Thank you all for making me feel so welcome! I'm really excited to start this new journey with you all. I am retiring in a couple of months and wanted to find a hobby. This might just be it! I'm a bit intimidated to pull such a big "thing" (first issue, what do I call my new baby?) on my own. But I'm always up for a challenge. Of course I wanted to wait to post pics until I had a chance to clean it but I do believe you all are right that we need the "out of the chute" pics, so here they are. Sorry for the brightness ~ good camera is on loan. All suggestions and advise are welcomed regarding the care and feeding of my new baby (very nice analogy For all you holiday travelers, be safe out there this weekend!

PS I am having a bit of a challenge with the threads so I apologize if I post in the wrong place.

[Mrs.Mod]

Looks great! Center bath model too! Welcome to the forums! Keep the pics coming!

[Aage]

Originally Posted by girlscan2

All suggestions and advise are welcomed regarding the care and feeding of my new baby (very nice analogy

The first thing to focus on is to check and double check to make sure that there are absolutely NO leaks. I gather you are storing it outside, so with fall and winter knocking on your door, it's time to get out there and find them. One thing that is easy to check and renew is the three plumbing vents on your roof.

They are squat-looking (usually) chromed screwed-on metal covers that have a short length of ABS pipe under them that are sealed as they pass through the body with TremPro 835 caulking, a rubber "skirt" gasket, and some window screen over the hole to prevent little animals and debris from falling inside and blocking them.

The rubber, screen, and caulking wear out in as little as three years, and then water leaks into your trailer by coming down the pipe into the walls and clothes closet(s). Yuck! Danger! Water eats floors!

Other things to do could be to have a close look around all the windows and the door, AND the belt-line. That's the horizontal strips that cover rows of rivets, and can also be a big source of leaks.

Sorry, I don't mean to frighten you, but it's work that really needs doing before the fall rains and heavy winter weather make it tough to do. Take some time, and start searching here for the longer threads that talk about stopping leaks, you'll see that it isn't rocket surgery to get it done. PLus once it's done you can take your time with other things you want to do

Originally Posted by girlscan2

PS I am having a bit of a challenge with the threads so I apologize if I post in the wrong place.

Yes, you should think about how you want to write your questions and the story of you and your TT (travel trailer). The Forums are laid out in areas that are all about the various models and list them by year, but as well, there are other sections that are divided by sections of the TT and the work we do on those areas. Such as plumbing, as an example. Look through the contents of the "Forums" tab under the AIRSTREAM at the top of this page, you'll see that there are many.

So, you can choose to write your questions in one thread that is all about your trailer and all the bits you fix and replace, or just ask questions about your work in the repair section that is about that particular part of your trailer. Body repair, electrical, appliances, they all have their own Sub-forums.

Have fun! Ask questions!

[girlscan2]

WOW - thanks so much for the info. It's great to have a starting point and that is as good as any. I know how important avoiding leaks are from the many ads I've seen that show water damage. This baby has gone nearly 40 years without any and I don't want to be the one to inflinct that. You aren't intimidating me in the least. I appreciate you sharing your TT knowledge with me.

[marzboy]

Welcome to the forums! Looks like a great trailer, but as Aage stated things wear out. Maintenance is not that big of a deal, happy trails!

[Aage]

girlscan, you're very welcome.

Heheh, I just had a look at your annual weather patterns,. and it appears that you are in the "wet" weather for Phoenix right now.

But you only get 8.3 inches (210 mm) of rain annually, so perhaps the leak risk isn't as bad for you as it is for an area like where I live.

But hopefully, you will travel, so I still say kill any possible leaks first, you'll feel better about things.

[girlscan2]

No, we don't get much rain here at all. I'm surprised we get 8.3 inches in a year to be honest.

Question: what type of truck will this Baby want to be towed with? I'm not too concerning about locally, but we have some pretty steep hills and mountains up north. I'm looking to buy a truck and just want to be sure I have my bases covered.

[r carl]

I think a 3/4 ton would be standard in your case.

[Aage]

girlscan, your trailer weighs about 5,000 empty, and maybe another 1,500 lbs or so extra when all ready to go. It's up to you for a good part: if you want to bring your collection of bowling balls, well, who knows?

Seriously, in its day, it was towed by the family car. Even with a hilly area to travel in, a Ford F-150 or GM/Chev 1500 should be plenty.

People think I'm crazy when I tell them I tow mine with an '07 Ford Freestar van.

[texasbound]

aage, I definitely thought you were crazy! Then I was so happy, because your TV makes me feel a lot better about my 04 tundra double cab.... and as you have stated, my sovereign tows beautifully behind it!

BTW, THIS IS A VERY STRAIGHT SOVEREIGN! I'm suprised you even had to clean it

[MaxTow]

Originally Posted by Aage

girlscan, your trailer weighs about 5,000 empty, and maybe another 1,500 lbs or so extra when all ready to go. It's up to you for a good part: if you want to bring your collection of bowling balls, well, who knows?

Seriously, in its day, it was towed by the family car. Even with a hilly area to travel in, a Ford F-150 or GM/Chev 1500 should be plenty.

People think I'm crazy when I tell them I tow mine with an '07 Ford Freestar van.

So called '1/2-ton' trucks can be very capable today. My Ford F-150 with Max Tow and HD Payload package and the EcoBoost engine easily bests 3/4-ton trucks from only a few years ago.

[Aage]

Originally Posted by MaxTow

So called '1/2-ton' trucks can be very capable today. My Ford F-150 with Max Tow and HD Payload package and the EcoBoost engine easily bests 3/4-ton trucks from only a few years ago.

And, even an 2WD F-150 several years old with the basic V8 would be plenty for a '74 31-footer.

Certainly would be way more tow-power than the '74 Chevy Impala your dad would have towed it with.

Now, if it was a brand new 30-footer, the weight story would be quite a bit different...

[Safari-Rick]

Just want to say WELCOME !

S/
Safari-Rick

[girlscan2]

That to all of you for your comments. i totally enjoy all the comments and your help!