newbie! thankful to have found the forum.

[Jetboy]

Hi: Newbie- looking actually for an airstream to turn into a guesthouse that could.. in theory- be mobile. but mostly not.

So thinking perhaps creating a sort of "docking station" with a patio and a roof where the airstream can live, and hook it up to the proper sewer line and put a 50amp box, and gas line ( if needed.. may go full electric if its just a shell build).

So in the market for perhaps just a nice shell with good windows and door, and the interior I can build out as needed.

Happy to have found you all! forums are the best, always good people- this is my first time here but I am a regular at some moto forums and bicycle forums. (bikeforums.net I am over 3000 posts.. same user name so feel free to check me out if I am offering you money for your rig.

Peace,

Josh

[moosetags]

Welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us.Best wishes in your quest for an Airstream guesthouse. Our 25FB (Lucy) is out in the alley behind our house. She stays hooked up all the time. Lucy is our guest house and part time office. She is also a traveling Airstream, having spent ten weeks on the road this past summer.


Brian

[GetawA-S]

Good morning, Josh, and welcome to the forum.
I expect you’ll be getting a lot of “Look before you leap” replies, based on your rather loose project scope. I’ll go first.
Having been associated for too many years with a house that owned me instead of the other way around, I suggest you make an honest assessment of your skill set and line up resources to cover the balance.
Look into the legal requirements, both for the guest quarters concept and for something you can take on the road. You may well find that something newer is a better fit than a “shell with decent windows”. (BTW, the suspension, frame and windows are the first things to go in a “field find”.
Do you have neighbors who might have an opinion about a major backyard project?
After you settle on something that’s workable for you, the forum will provide all the technical support and encouragement you could ask for. Good luck!

[Jetboy]

thanks!

Yes, I am still weighing many options but this is one of them that I thought might work out!

I was thinking perhaps to build a proper ADU style unit, but looking at 15k$ in planning and design before it even gets started.. 9 months+ and 150k$ + increased property taxes all for not much increase in value of the house as its all in the land and not the structures at this point.

OR. I could extend my driveway - (pour some concrete) into the yard a bit more and put an airstream and hookups in probably 3 months and a lot less $$. and if we sell the house, we could take it with us! I am looking at the municipal/planning codes now (Title 17 in Oakland, CA) and they have relaxed the RV/parking and living rules as long as they are on your private property. Neighbors I have talked to, it would also just be replacing an old shed that is already there.

But yes, I am on the fence about: Buy an older one/shell and spend a lot updating - or buy a newer one and have it ready to go. But the timeline is still like 3 months.. so I have time to browse.

but looking at costs it seems to make sense. I could not build a ~23' living space (with labor+ materials costs skyrocketing) for the cost of just buying an airstream.

[Jetboy]

found this one but I am out of town until next weekend.

even with the correct thinking of waiting and shopping about, this one seems basically perfect for my needs and not far so easy enough to go get. I contacted him but worried ti wills ell before I get a chance to see it.

any thoughts (and what to look for) on it appreciated-

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tro...422317534.html

26' is really ideal for my space- and it seems to be in decent shape for its age and the price is sure right.

[dbj216]

Welcome from Colorado and welcome to these Forums. Everything you mentioned in your post has already been done by Airstream folks here. I might recommend the largest vintage Airstream you can fit into your plans as they are more comfortable for living and traveling. I helped a friend renovate his 1976 Sovereign 31' a couple of winters ago. It was a fun project and they enjoy traveling with it. Here are some photos...

Here is a photo of an Airstream park where "snowbirds" have built covered parking for their trailers. They tend to live in them all winter and then pull them home in the summer.

David

[Jetboy]

wow. that looks really nice. well done! I am planning to see a 26r' at the end of next week (out of town until then) but yeah, the larger the better for sure.

[richard5933]

Welcome to the forum!

Two quick thoughts on your plans...

1) Will your local municipality allow use of the Airstream as you've mentioned? In some areas it it not legal to use a travel trailer for even one night as a guest house. Depending on your neighbors or the curiosity of the local inspectors this could be a short-lived plan if they find out you've crossed the line.

2) If you want the unit to be road worthy be very aware of the weight. Getting an empty shell and building it out like you're describing sounds like a quick way to make a very heavy trailer, one which might not be great to tow anywhere.

[Jetboy]

yes, it seems legit but only recently: this year amendments were made:

"The amendments to city codes will allow people to legally park their RVs and mobile homes on private properties in all residential areas if they comply with tenancy and habitability codes, including a requirement that the units be “structurally sound, protect occupants against the weather, include permanent provisions for living and sleeping, include heating and lighting, and provide occupants with 24-hour on-site access to potable water, a kitchen, and clean, lighted, code-compliant toilet, bathing facilities, and lavatory sink under the occupants’ control"

[Jetboy]

just put a deposit down on an the 76 argosy trailer in texas. (in classifieds) now working on shipping to get it here on uship.

looks fairly original and perfect for my needs - not perfect but with some love could be quite nice. and even with shipping its a deal compared to local ones which ask that much for stripped out shells.

anyway, ill probably have a ton of questions for the forums once it arrives!

[dbj216]

There is quite an Argosy following here on these forums. They were built by Airstream, but have steel front and rear end caps, thus the paint. They also had some models that catered to the European specifications. I like to call the Argosy the "test bed" for new Airstream ideas. The front panoramic windows first appeared in the Argosy in the 70s.

It should work for your backyard hide-a-way.

David

[Jetboy]

Originally Posted by dbj216

It should work for your backyard hide-a-way.

David

yes, for the backyard! - particularly where it will sit (its gets the best sun) the shiny aluminum shell may have been a problem. so I started purposefully looking for the Argosy as it seemed like they had a really nice interior lay out, the panoramic windows, as you noted, and could be had at a discount price point. the more I save on the front end, the more I can kit it out as I like it- so saving 10k off the top makes a huge difference. it needs some love (and some paint) but inside is all original as far as I could see so its a very unmolested base to clean up and enjoy

[Jetboy]

Originally Posted by dbj216

Welcome from Colorado and welcome to these Forums. Everything you mentioned in your post has already been done by Airstream folks here. I might recommend the largest vintage Airstream you can fit into your plans as they are more comfortable for living and traveling. I helped a friend renovate his 1976 Sovereign 31' a couple of winters ago. It was a fun project and they enjoy traveling with it. Here are some photos...

Here is a photo of an Airstream park where "snowbirds" have built covered parking for their trailers. They tend to live in them all winter and then pull them home in the summer.

David

i tried to find a 31 but my funds got me a 28. (all the 31s I found were QUITE a bit more- probably for good reason) But I think you are right about that for sure.. the bigger the better. I saw some 26' and my thought was: this could work, but its a bit cramped- which then made me strike off anything below 26.. and hope for more. At +2 feet will make it just feel a bit more open. I think it will as the shell size on a 26 is more like 23.. so a 28 will be ~25- so that makes a difference-

I may try to make up for the space with a nice deck and maybe enclose with some windows that can open as needed. so with the kitchen right there- you can just eat on the deck like its an extra room. its all part of my "docking" plan. hopefully I can pull it off (I can do it). I'll keep you all informed.

[GetawA-S]

Nice find!
We have a 23' FC, and do most of our cooking outside, partly to avoid lingering smells and partly to keep the table counter free for other things. (One recent discovery is how incredibly convenient an Icemaker is, but it takes up most of the stove top.)
Consider building in an outdoor kitchen when you design your deck.
Enjoy your Argosy!

[Jetboy]

oh, outdoor kitchen is not a bad idea at all! I like the way you think! thanks - that is going into the plans.

Just booked the shipping. latest it should arrive is the 16th. but maybe earlier. today I am trimming this huge oak tree (I live in oakland) in my driveway to make sure it has plenty of clearance.