Newbie, again

[Airstream631]

Life is not waiting for the storm to pass... It is learning to dance in the rain.

After 3. mos. of reading = WOW. I come in to learn one thing, follow a few interesting comments and leave HOURS later. Still learning the forum, actually learning everything from systems in the AS to travel Do & Don'ts. Retired from the building industry, many skills are transferring but AS is a different WORLD. My heart is tickled every time I work in/on " her," NO NAME yet, waiting for the spirit.

Thank you All for every entry! This helps so many people.

I started rehaping a 1960 Safari. I had to re-do an access panel 4x's due to the fact that I can be a space cadet. Then there are the moments ( OK seconds) when everything appears to fall smoothly into place. After gutting, stripping, repairing, replacing, scrape/caulking, painting, etc. the cold weather came. I'm headed south for the winter, just to PLAY in the sun.

Solo with dog & elec. but no water, lots of friends to visit. Carrying parts & tools for on the road projects, if possible. Looking for friendly campsites & people.

One odd thing I can't find an answer to; Why is there buckling between some of the rivets on the exterior?

Well, that is my intro. & it did not hurt as much as I thought. Fear is ........?

I was so much older than. I'm younger than that now.

[Foiled Again]

I remember just your feeling when the "Aha moment" hit and I decided I wanted to fulltime in an RV. Then I found this forum and followed many of your experiences.

I took a different path and bought new. However the number and beauty of several of the vintage units I've seen keeps making me think that someday I'll be making the folks at P & S RICH when I find that Perfect Vintage unit.

Buckled skin around some rivets? Three educated guesses:

1. bad axle shaking the life out of your 51 year old unit? If you've got the original axle it's overdue for replacement. If your axle checks out as good... put new shocks on because they really help a good axle do it's job well. Make sure your tires aren't overinflated and slow down! Life is a journey, not a race. Oh, and do NOT try to use off the shelf shocks, buy them from an Airstream dealer - there are shocks that look identical but are designed for vertical use, the custom ones will hold their fluid in the horizontal position.
2. broken or rusted frame? One characteristic of some of the longer trailers is rear end separation, and the light weight frame and/or outriggers giving way at some weak point is gonna be part of that scenario. There are even a few newer units that have particular problems with frames breaking.
3. floor rot - in airstreams the floor, body and frame all support each other, and the connections between the three are critical to the whole unit's stability. Rotting floors will release themselves from the frame and the shell allowing the shell to buckle.

Good luck and happy trails. Paula

[Airstream631]

Paula:
Thank you, I read many of your post and gleamed a lot of infor. and great nature. I still don't have all the ins & outs of this forum but I'm a quick learner and will catch up. I appreciate your energy.