1967 Overlander renovation (the full Monty)

[dbj216]

You guys are making good progress on a BIG job. You are going to have a new 67 Overlander when you are done and it will be worth quite a bit. I recommend you don't get too wild on the interior as that might make it a harder sell.

I tend to think stripping and polishing the exterior is a finishing job, done before the exterior lights and trim go on. Stripping can be done almost anytime. They don't have to be one right after the other. You have a long, long way to go before you need to think about polishing.

I stripped mine a little bit at a time, when I felt like it, when I had the right music on. Like you folks, I was working indoors and couldn't exactly spray a bunch of water around. I would brush on Aircraft Stripper (yep the strong stuff), let it work for 20 minutes, and then scrape it off with a plastic Bondo scraper. I'd put that residue in a pan, then in a container, and then to our county hazardous waste site. I would take a wet rag and wipe off the remaining residue.

David

[chrisetmike]

It has been a while since I have updated our progress. We have chickened out on the spray foam. We are going with the Reflectix insulation instead. Spray foam doesn't leave room for mistakes. We will use some spray foam around the door and windows. We have also sealed up the seams to prevent future leaks.

We now have working outdoor lights (brake lights, marker lights) and an electric tongue jack everything works! It was kind of amazing to feel like this aluminum shell will actually become our camper.

Our next step will be to complete the wiring. Put in a second layer of Reflectix and then start putting the interior skins back on (after we have stripped them to bare aluminum).

[Bubba L]

chrisetmike, you should be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s really looking great. What type of interior seam sealer did you go with? We are at that point and just getting opinions. Thanks, Bubba

[chrisetmike]

Originally Posted by Bubba L

chrisetmike, you should be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s really looking great. What type of interior seam sealer did you go with? We are at that point and just getting opinions. Thanks, Bubba

Hi Bubba
It is starting to get exciting! It will really ramp up when the interior skins are put back on. Unfortunately we may have to take a break due to the weather.

You asked about the brand of sealant that we used, we sprayed the seals with Rustoleum leak seal.

[chrisetmike]

We are still plucking away. Here are some photos of our latest addition (flag pole\wi fi receiver pole). The Reflectics is done. Time to finish the wiring.

We have cleaned up the blue bathroom. We are going to keep it as original as possible with the exception of the blue seat over the toilet. We will need to paint over to hide some permanent stains and to fix some small cracks. Is there one sort of paint that I can use for the whole bathroom? Where did you get your paint (color name please)? Did you spray or roll on the paint? What prep needs to be done?

[dbj216]

My 75 Overlander bath was spray painted. It is a flat white and rather chalky. I read folks like the Krylon spray paints for plastic surfaces seem to work okay. I, like you, will start researching the product and process for painting the plastic parts in the Airstream.

I have two new 115v ac circuits planned for my trailer; microwave and kitchen counter. I will need a new breaker box to handle the new circuit breakers. One plan can lead to more that I thought. So it goes.

David

[chrisetmike]

We found some Rust-oleum painter's touch that is an extremely close match to the original colour. It is called ocean mist.

I am also going to paint the medicine cabinet in a bright green colour called Key lime. There is a bit too much blue for one room.I kind of want the bathroom to be "fun" .

[ALANSD]

Originally Posted by dbj216

My 75 Overlander bath was spray painted. It is a flat white and rather chalky. I read folks like the Krylon spray paints for plastic surfaces seem to work okay. I, like you, will start researching the product and process for painting the plastic parts in the Airstream.

I have two new 115v ac circuits planned for my trailer; microwave and kitchen counter. I will need a new breaker box to handle the new circuit breakers. One plan can lead to more that I thought. So it goes.

David

krylon for me was ok but dull, not shiny at all

[dbj216]

Bathroom fun? I never thought of brushing my teeth as fun. Airstream thought bathrooms must be fun reading room. That's why they put this huge window in the rear bath models. The window brings the outside in, if a guy thought that was a good idea.

Thanks for the paint tip. Let us know how it works out. I need a hard surface paint that I can use non-abrasive cleaners on, yet will flex a bit with the plastic and not crack. I want to paint the plastic bathtub. Maybe this Rustoleum is that kind of paint.

David

[TouringDan]

I just stumbled across this thread and would like to follow along. You folks are doing a great job.

I have a 66 Tradewind and it has been off the road for 6 months for some significant repairs and improvements: refurbish the frame, insulate the floor, gray water tank repair, floor repair, new axles, belly pan, disk brakes and a new furnace.

Dan

[chrisetmike]

Originally Posted by dbj216

Bathroom fun? I never thought of brushing my teeth as fun. Airstream thought bathrooms must be fun reading room. That's why they put this huge window in the rear bath models. The window brings the outside in, if a guy thought that was a good idea.

Thanks for the paint tip. Let us know how it works out. I need a hard surface paint that I can use non-abrasive cleaners on, yet will flex a bit with the plastic and not crack. I want to paint the plastic bathtub. Maybe this Rustoleum is that kind of paint.

David

I agree that it is a huge waste of a window. I guess they wanted you to have a view while doing business lol . I will certainly let you know how the Rustoleum works out .

[chrisetmike]

Originally Posted by TouringDan

I just stumbled across this thread and would like to follow along. You folks are doing a great job.


Dan

Thanks Dan. I have actually been creeping your Tradewind repair for a while now. so you can certainly follow us along. We are definitely the most inexperienced ones! This is our first Airstream reno. We did some minor repairs on a 77 Apache and have been camping in it for the last 10 years

[dbj216]

I read that Wally Byam insisted on a large front window and a large rear window irrelevant when the bathroom was located. He wanted folks to see behind them with their rearview mirror when towing. Big towing mirrors, or even fender mounted mirrors were not the norm back then.

Airstream has since changed their design criteria. My Overlander has this huge shade that pulls down in the rear bath. It spares those outside of my trailer of any unsightly bodies stepping out of the shower.

David

[chrisetmike]

Originally Posted by dbj216

I read that Wally Byam insisted on a large front window and a large rear window irrelevant when the bathroom was located. He wanted folks to see behind them with their rearview mirror when towing. Big towing mirrors, or even fender mounted mirrors were not the norm back then.

Airstream has since changed their design criteria. My Overlander has this huge shade that pulls down in the rear bath. It spares those outside of my trailer of any unsightly bodies stepping out of the shower.

David

Cool info! A pull down shade isn't optional for the bathroom

[chrisetmike]

The wiring is almost finished. Hubby ran out of wire so he ended up starting striping interior skin. He started by trying to remove the 2 or 3 layers of paint but ended up striping the vinyl because the striper loosened the adhesive and made it bubble. Now do we keep going and polish interior skin or just paint and prime?

The weather might help us decide. The cars are outside in the snow while the garage is used as a workshop. Scrapping car windows gets old fast!

[Jeremy9107]

Like your progress thus far. Wish I had the indoor space as you do. Saw you veered away from the spray in foam. Reflectix is a popular product. Did you consider Prodex...I am considering between these two.

[chrisetmike]

Originally Posted by Jeremy9107

Like your progress thus far. Wish I had the indoor space as you do. Saw you veered away from the spray in foam. Reflectix is a popular product. Did you consider Prodex...I am considering between these two.

Hi Jeremy
The spray foam wasn't very forgiving on mistakes lol. My husband said from his research Prodex and Reflectix are pretty much the same. We went with Reflectics because it was available locally. We are also adding bat insulation once the wiring is done.

My husband is about to lose some indoor space soon lol. Scraping windshields in the morning is getting old fast

[chrisetmike]

We have had yo-yo weather not great for winter sports but good for progress on the Airstream on mild days.

Wiring is done and tested. Front end is re skined. We have stripped the vinyl off the skins and we will be shining the interior and exterior skins .Now time to put up the other end cap.

[rugjenkins]

It looking great! I'm at the same install point so your thread and others help spur me on! I love this part of the process when skins go back in. It's where everyone's personalities and creativity is expressed in there campers. None are the same and all are one of kind. Can't wait to see the next part. Awesome

[dbj216]

Looking very good. Some of the newer models have aluminum interior skins. I like it.

David