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Bambi_Bandit · 05-28-2008, 08:17 AM

Well after our Hail incident under COVERED STORAGE....

We finally got the go ahead from the insurance company. Cosmo's been in JC's service port since yesterday for a list of warranty items... killing time until the insurance green light...

It's quite a strange feeling to pack for a week in a hotel with items and clothes from an Airstream.....

7AM and Cosmo was pulled into one of the service bays, where Don was assigned to her for repairs.

Red "X" marks the spot... All front panels are to be replaced...including stoneguards.

Only the windows and solar guards will be re-used...

Bambi_Bandit · 05-28-2008, 08:20 AM

30 min later and Don has the solar guards off, stone guards off, and is drilling out each rivet...

By the way, Don is one of the "newer guys", been here since 1965...

Bambi_Bandit · 05-28-2008, 08:23 AM

Prim and I are camped out in the lounge, laptops and phones on overtime, while others sleep....

boondockdad · 05-28-2008, 08:25 AM

it looks like the three curved 'head' front panels... wow, looks like a fair amount of work involved... so, what does that run you at j/c?

Aerowood · 05-28-2008, 08:31 AM

Are they going to replace the panels with solid shank rivets or are they going to use blinds?

Silvertwinkie · 05-28-2008, 08:46 AM

I know as an Airstream owner what this might feel like. I also know this opinion is moot right now cause they are tearing into it already but, the pics, though not great, don't seem all that bad. I had expected worse.

My thought might have been to take the money from the insurance and put it in the bank. I say this for a few reasons. First, this repair is going to be pricey and even if you got half up front, it still would be a good chunk of money. Second, the unit is going to depreciate like a rock over the first 4 years. Third, removing and replacing panels is not something I think most folks take lightly because without removing the interior finishes and skins, you won't get the redundant Silkaflex on the inside part of the exterior panels. I think they can only seal it at the rivet line. Some folks also don't like the type of rivets used, but without tearing open the inside, from what I understand, the rivets used are the only ones that can be used.

In the end, I have seen work done by JC on a forum member's trailer that tried to move a guard rail. You would be very hard pressed to find any indication of the damage after they were done with it. If you had to have panels replaced, you are, IMHO, at the best place on the planet to get that type of work done.

Bambi_Bandit · 05-28-2008, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bambi_Bandit

By the way, Don is one of the "newer guys", been here since 1965...

Dom has the gold watch with logo on the band to prove it too.. sorry for the bad pic...

How many companies still give out gold watches for tenure?.....

Bambi_Bandit · 05-28-2008, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finalcutjoe

it looks like the three curved 'head' front panels... wow, looks like a fair amount of work involved... so, what does that run you at j/c?

Front cap, saving the windows and not doing the white roof (very little dings there) all buck riveted from the inside (removing the interior) = ~18K

Bambi_Bandit · 05-28-2008, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerowood

Are they going to replace the panels with solid shank rivets or are they going to use blinds?

Buck riveted... all from the inside just like original. They will remove the interior panels of the front bedroom. Lucky its a International with the aluminum interior walls so it's easier to remove than the safari / classic mouse fur....

Silvertwinkie · 05-28-2008, 09:13 AM

Wow, you are the first I've encountered that will be removing the interior. What a job that will be. $18k! I would have taken the money and ran. Battle scars add character for that kind of money.

bobkelly · 05-28-2008, 11:12 AM

Great story and great read. Keep it coming. What else is happening in the factory this morning?

overlander63 · 05-28-2008, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bambi_Bandit

Dom has the gold watch with logo on the band to prove it too.. sorry for the bad pic...

How many companies still give out gold watches for tenure?.....

I still have the watch my father got when he retired in 1980. Haven't seen much of that since, though.

Joe Z · 05-28-2008, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

Wow, you are the first I've encountered that will be removing the interior.

Had the front center panel on my 25" classic repaired at JC a couple of years ago due to the clear coat peeling. Panel was buck riveted back in place. They removed almost all of the front interior to accomplish this. Panel was then properly sealed and I believe the gentleman at the JC repair facility actually did a better job of putting it back together than the original guys did on the line. The workmanship was incredible and I'm generally very hard to please.

Joe

SilverCottage · 05-28-2008, 01:45 PM

Good luck with the repair.

We were there a week ago for some minor warranty stuff and I just loved being able to walk around and talk to the techs while they worked on our trailer. It sure is a refreshing attitude to let the customer see what is being done. Can you imagine watching while they worked on your car at a dealership?

The people at JC are awesome and I would certainly go there for any body or mechanical repairs. They truly are nice friendly people and really know their stuff.

Bambi_Bandit · 05-28-2008, 01:58 PM

Drill, snip, hammer, drill....

Notice the lower front panels (the ones that stonegaurds are normally mounted to) have the rivet heads and any other "standing" items ground down... they leave those panels and put a new sheet over them. They will still Buck rivet thru the old ones with the new ones over it, but the other panels will be removed and replaced...

They think all of this will be completed by mid next week.

Prim and I (and our 2 furry girls) have checked into a Holiday Inn at Sidney OH. For future reference if you need to stay at JC for repairs and can't stay in your unit, Holiday Inn has an Airstream rate of $61/night. Normal is $83/night. Pets are allowed - $75 one time fee.

More to come tomorrow....

Bambi_Bandit · 05-28-2008, 02:05 PM

This trailer was in the service bay accross from ours...

vintage airstream and other classic travel trailers

Bob Wheeler's very own 1950 Flying Cloud by David Winick...Got to see it in person and inside.... Way cool...

I didn't realize those vintage units have lower doorways... Banged my head on the way out, and those aren't padded like the new ones are!!!

Westfalia · 05-28-2008, 02:35 PM

Good to see thet are moving forward, and yet it's kinds creepy at the same time. It's like watching open heart surgery, or maybe brain surgery?

You should see if you or they can put better insulation in the front end cap since it's all opened up. I'd use some of the mylar foil bubble insulation in addition to the pink insulation.

Also, if and when you get a chance, can you ask your tech how hard it would be to install a door to replace the curb side front bedroom window?

monocoque · 05-28-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bambi_Bandit

Notice the lower front panels (the ones that stonegaurds are normally mounted to) have the rivet heads and any other "standing" items ground down... they leave those panels and put a new sheet over them. They will still Buck rivet thru the old ones with the new ones over it, but the other panels will be removed and replaced...

I'm sorry about your troubles but thanks for posting the sequence of events! I've been following right along.

Something to note: I have the inner skins off the front of my trailer and after looking carefully have noticed that both lower front panels have double panels like you describe! I couldn't figure this out until now? I also noticed lots of blind rivets. So obviously there were repairs at some point in its history. Apparently this is standard repair protocol?

ArtStream · 05-28-2008, 02:47 PM

Hey Kev and Prim.

Thanks for the up-dates. I've always enjoyed my visits to the Mother Ship.

Keep us posted.

Best,

Michael

tlavergne · 05-28-2008, 03:32 PM

Kevin and Prim,
You are staying in the town I grew up in. If you take the road that the Holiday Inn is on, SR 47, into Sidney you will find a nice little diner on the corner of the Court House Square called The Spot. Great place to eat (I worked there in college). Continue following SR 47 thru town from there (it winds around so watch the signs). After you cross the Great Miami River there will be an entrance to Tawawa Park on your right. A great place to drive thru and walk the dogs. If you continue out of town on SR 47 you will drive about 7 miles or so to the little village of Port Jefferson. It is an old canal town. About mid-way thru the village, on the right, at the end of a short street is a restaurant called Hussy's. It is right along the river so ask for a table by a window. Another great place to eat. Wonderful chicken. Head down I-75 to Dayton and visit Wright Patterson Airforce Base. They have a fantastic museum...you can get lost in that museum for a day easily. They have an IMAX theater. If I can think of other ideas of things to do I will let you know.
Tom