1959 Flying Cloud renovation

[Driftin Di]

We have spent more than 6 months renovating our FC. All of the original appliances still work which is terrific! We put in new propane lines and tanks and replaced the water tank and grey tanks and removed the black tank for a composting toilet. Upgraded all electrical and added solar and lithium ion batteries for boondocking. And extra history is that the Eagles used this FC on their tour of Hotel California, any music buffs out there. So we went with that theme and named her The Hotel California. Very much fun with my husband and myself and our 2 large white shepherds. I have more photos if anyone is curious about more as I could only post 4 photos.

[BambiTex]

Nice trailer!

[Bubba L]

Beautiful. Post more pics when time allows. We are in the renovation stage and are considering a composting toilet and solar. Any issues with either? Also, if you want
To post your serial number I will add it to the Flying Cloud Registry. Thanks

[aluminitus]

Lovely job! I am impressed with the polishing!

[Driftin Di]

So we put in two solar panels and they are very slow to charge. We find that they do not charge back up the batteries but merely help us maintain on a sunny day. Our original Dometic Refrigerator runs on batteries or electric and drains the batteries at 15-16 Amps so we find with a few lights and one Maxx fan running and the refrigerator we run down batteries in about 36 hours. We have not yet used the composting toilet as we are doing test runs on power still bc we had such an issue getting the batteries and inverter properly connected. And my husband and I are still arguing over who has to clean the compost from the toilet!!

[Driftin Di]

Thank you and the serial number or original VIN# 22-8517

[Driftin Di]

I would love to see pics of your 1955 22" FC if you have time please. FUN!!

[Driftin Di]

I would love to see pictures of yours if you have time please! How fun!

[Royce]

A Number One job!

[adobehome]

I have a Nature's Head composting toilet in my 1962 Globe Trotter. I love it. So nice not to have to look for dump stations all the time. Urine can go down any flush or pit toilet. Compost with poo does not smell bad and, really, I don't smell it at all. My only complaint is, especially in humid climates, I'm in Az, tiny black knats can occur in compost. Diatomaceous earth helps a bit. But, I find I need to use bug spray, too.

[BambiTex]

Originally Posted by Driftin Di

I would love to see pics of your 1955 22" FC if you have time please. FUN!!

Whose trailer do you want to see?

[Bubba L]

Drifting Di thanks for the info.
BambiTex-I'm sure DD would like to see pics of your 55. I have two 55 halves. The shell is in the barn and the chassis outside the barn waiting for an axle. The start of the renovation is on 'Tale of a 55 FC Reno' thread. Got another year to go.
Thanks

[BambiTex]

Paneled in birch:-)

[Streamracer]

I'm a big fan of the Eagles and love the job you have done on Hotel California. Beautiful.

[56 Flyg Cld]

Thanks, more pics !

[Bubba L]

We are keeping CaptainJones' Flying Cloud registry updated and your serial number seems to indicate a late model 1958 vs a 1959. We got the serial number information from VintageAirstream.com from their photo archive and are not sure of its accuracy. I think yours is California built? Looking at CA serial numbers, yours seems to fit the 1958 22-85NN where NN is 17. See below serial numbers of the registry for those years

Community: is there any way to verify? Is VingageAirstream.com gospel?

Bubba

1958
California serial numbers: 8350+, also 22-85NN (later)
Ohio serial numbers: ~O-3500 to O-3544

SN Location Last Known Owner
8363
8372 San Angelo, TX Joy M
8373
8404 Ada, MI dwinick
8413 Issaquah, WA 58flycloud
8417 St Helena, CA bevman
8445
8477
8526 Folsom, CA ddstech
8531 Lythe Creek, CA uwe
22-8531 Orange, CA Area63
22-8532
22-8549 Cerritos, CA 68Streamline
22-8593 Redlands, CA cloudcarol
O-3506 Boise, ID DeamArt
O-3517
1959
"California Serial Numbers: 22 T(D) 0NNN
T=twin-bed layout; D=double-bed"
"Ohio Serial Numbers: 22 9 NNN
(I prefix for Int’l options)"

22D-0116 Grass Valley, CA Stan Drury
22D-0125 Vowden, WV grannyred
22T-0160 Fairview, NM arodriguez60
22D-0186 Escondido, CA 2bkidfree
22T-0198 Navarre, FL apolaroid
22T-0210
22T-0256 Valley Center, CA Dionna
OH 22 9204 Taylors, SC Carolina Joe

[DDickey]

Originally Posted by BambiTex

Paneled in birch:-)

I love the paneling! Did you panel over the aluminum, or directly to the ribs? I'm considering paneling in wood

[BambiTex]

Originally Posted by DDickey

I love the paneling! Did you panel over the aluminum, or directly to the ribs? I'm considering paneling in wood

Aluminum inner skins were left intact. Paneling is held in place by aluminum flat bar trim, which is screwed into existing ribs. Very easy to remove a piece if needed for access or repair.

[BambiTex]

First one shows installation method