our first airstream .. and it needs lots of work help!!!

[rebeccamwood]

so i have always wanted an airstream and my mother in law found one fore me that needs a TON of work, so i am looking for any advise to help us start!

the airstream is in Georgia and we live in Florida so from what i know its a 1976 airstream international sovereign, it will need the windows replaced and new tires before that can bring it down to us. How do i go about finding how to replace the windows and collect any information .. it will need a full interior and exterior restoration.

thank you so much for your help!

[TouringDan]

Tires are a common problem, but also check the bearings, brakes and battery and the running lights. What happened to the windows. Some photos would be helpful.

Welcome to the forums and good luck.

Dan

[easyride]

If it needs all that, I think I would look elsewhere,unless it is awful cheap. Dave

[moosetags]

Welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us. You've founf the right place for all things Airstream.

[snkrichards]

don't buy shocks from anyone but A/S. Get rid of the AC. Don't get shocked. Make sure the batteries are secure. Don't get a haughty attitude because these trailers are so cool. Don't worry if the tank gauges don't work.

[Colin H]

Originally Posted by rebeccamwood

so i have always wanted an airstream and my mother in law found one fore me that needs a TON of work, so i am looking for any advise to help us start!

the airstream is in Georgia and we live in Florida so from what i know its a 1976 airstream international sovereign, it will need the windows replaced and new tires before that can bring it down to us. How do i go about finding how to replace the windows and collect any information .. it will need a full interior and exterior restoration.

thank you so much for your help!

Greetings & welcome to the Forums,
Contact Ryan at RV Revive www.rvrevive.com as he parts out old Airstreams & likely has the windows you're looking for. As others have said, you'll likely need new tires for the ride home & likely axles in the near future. Before you get too excited about your interior finishes, polishing etc, make sure you check for structual floor rot next to the exterior walls, all of the way around the perimeter of the trailer. Despite what many would like to think, all of these vintage trailers have some degree of it. Once you've determined your base starting point, develop a plan to correct the structural issues. Then you'll feel confident to sink more time & $ into your project without the worry of issues still lurking below. This project will be a great journey so have fun with it.
Colin

[Eric H]

Originally Posted by snkrichards

don't buy shocks from anyone but A/S. Get rid of the AC. Don't get shocked. Make sure the batteries are secure. Don't get a haughty attitude because these trailers are so cool. Don't worry if the tank gauges don't work.

I would trust shocks from Out of Doors Mart and other similar places. Shocks aren't rocket science.

The Axles which have the rubber "springs" in them most likely need replacing.

Posting pics would help, but from the little you mentioned it does sound like it would need to be cheap to make it worth it (IMO). The model you are considering is a lot of trailer, that's why they are not really very sought after (this doesn't mean that they are bad). Read as much as possible and SEE A LOT OF TRAILERS BEFORE YOU BUY YOUR FIRST.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Eric H

I would trust shocks from Out of Doors Mart and other similar places. Shocks aren't rocket science.
~~

Out of Doors Mart is an Airstream dealer, so one would expect them to provide the right parts for Airstreams...

[Eric H]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

Out of Doors Mart is an Airstream dealer, so one would expect them to provide the right parts for Airstreams...

Yes, thanks for clarifying. Airstream dealers, not just airstream, and I would say any shock that is rated the same...from anywhere...IMO. Although I would say shocks are not high on the list as a worry.

[snkrichards]

I was perhaps too vague. What I meant to say was that shocks from NAPA are not acceptable. They appear to be the same but are not.

[boilermaker]

I have been reading this forum since purchasing an AS last winter. I have started to restore the '75 Sovereign and I have all of the issues that everyone else does. The fans and vents are broken, the floor is rotten, it leaks, it needs a new converter, the windows are a mess, the exterior is goobered up with caulk, and on and on. As a custom home builder, I am not very impressed with the craftsmanship of this unit as I have taken it apart.

It seems that axles are also a big problem. How do determine that the axles are bad? I towed it to Indiana from Arkansas without any difficulty except it drained my truck battery when we stopped for the night.

[TouringDan]

Boilermaker

If your axles are original, they need replacement, rest assured. You can go to the Inland RV site to learn the procedure for evaluating your axles.

Dan