What does it cost to buy and renovate a vintage Airstream?

[tphan]

Originally Posted by Minno

I admire the fact that you do this for a living, Frank! You know, the mouse turds, dirt, icky, icky bellypan, etc.etc.etc. Not sure I could do it for someone elses RV. It's like taking care of kids: I do it for mine because they're mine and I love them, hate doing it for other peoples. No attack intended.....

Kay

Well said! Same goes for me. Kudos both to the Pros, and the fearless DIY-ers!

[Phrunes]

Ditto...but I still want to adopt Frank. I can offer up a slightly damaged 76 Argosy project whereby he can toil away at his leisure, while I work the BBQ and the bottle opener to keep him happy. Smiles.

[tarnished]

Have 11k in my 79 minuet 7.3. Not including labor. All new systems, elec, upgraded plumbing, repaired belly pan, home made window shields, battery axles etc etc etc. back from Fl now and getting ready for paint.
Labor? I'm 69, love to work. Who cares how many hrs, it's great fun.
Paul

[Someday'59]

Originally Posted by 62overlander

... I think ones time has value in everything one does. It is one thing to say I have $12,000 in my trailer. It is another thing to say I have $12,000 and 1200 hours of my time. If you were to buy a house and renovate it then sell it you wouldn't say, "just give me $75,000 instead of $252,000... I did all the work myself" Would you? If that same house burnt the ground you wouldn't tell your insurance company, "hey I only have $75,000 for the purchase price and $25,000 in materials so just give me $100,000." The same is true of your trailer. Say it got wrecked. "Oh, JQ Insurance, I only have $8,500 in it" No, you would want the full amount you feel it worth.

I couldn't agree more!

Those two years working on our trailer were weekends we could have been on the road to somewhere...(but it was worth it. Now our trailer feels like part of the family.)

I could never talk about the cost of our trailer without talking about the time it has taken. We have WAY more time in our trailer than money.

[Kristof]

Hi folks,

We just invested in a 1977 31ft Sovereign. I am handy and have tools so we understand the magnitude of the restoration we are undertaking. Fortunately we have a trailer that we use now and can camp while the restoration is taking place. What I was looking for and perhaps what others are looking for is some of the costs. This of course will all depend on you level of ambition.

(PS: I am Canadian if you are wondering why I price in both)

Dexter Torflex (Dura Torque) Axles 1960 and up @ X $695 USD each

RV-500 Tankless Water Heater- 35 lbs $1,054 USD
or
Suburban 6 gallon $300 USD

a. TROJAN TE35-GEL DIM Size 6V 69lbs 220AH USD $300 USD X 4
or
b. TROJAN TE35 6V 245 AH Flooded Battery 68lbs $265 CAD X 4
or
c. MotoMaster Group GC2 6-Volt Deep Cycle Golf Cart Battery 230AH 64lbs $199 CAD X 4

Avanti 20" Stainless Steel Gas Range - GR2013CSS 93 lbs $468 USD

ISOTHERM Cruise 195 Refrigerator Draw: 2.8A @ 12V (each compressor - 5A total) 6.9cu.ft. (4.6cu.ft. refrigerator; 2.3cu.ft. freezer) 93lbs $2200 USD

or

NORCOLD DE-0061 AC/DC Refrigerator 7.0 cu ft $1389 USD 3.5A@12V 105lb

Deluxe Fan-Tastic Ceiling Fan Vent with Thermostat $162.00 USD

BLUESEA SYSTEMS ST Blade Fuse Block - 12 Circuits with Negative Bus and Cover $60 USD

GARNET 709-PH SEELEVEL II™ TANK MONITOR SYSTEM $389.00 USD - Single pole pump switch, Single pole heater switch, “Pilot Out” indicator

Bogart Engineering SC-2030 charger and TM-2030 Battery Monitor $250 USD

Go Power! GP-SW3000-12 3000-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter $1000 USD 22 lbs
or
WindyNation's VertaMax Pure Sine Wave 3000 Watt, 12 Volt DC to 120 AC Power Inverter $395 USD 15 LB

Go Power! GPC-75-MAX 55 Amp 4-Stage Converter/Battery Charger $191 USD 5 lbs
or
Blue Sea P12 Battery Charger - 12V DC 25A $550 USD
or
Xantrex Truecharge 2 $300 USD

MPPT Solar Mate Charge Controller ZODORE Regulator 60 Amp $228 CAD 4 lbs
Xantrex Truecharge 2

PowerBar 1000 - 8 3/8" Terminal Studs $25USD X 2

F232050 MH9BX Buddy Portable Radiant Heater 10.6lb $129 CAD

150W 12 volt solar panels - 6 X $150 USD each

[Happycampers]

Hi, we live in Ontario also, had a 1979 30' Argosy, purchased for $1500 US and totally redone in 2007-8. Check out thread Costalotta start to finish. We sold her last summer. Enjoy the adventure.

[mccrosti]

Add in new floor and most likely frame work in rear.

[crestonrv]

put in inverter/charger , eliminate converter . go with a/c refer 3/400.00 and run off inverter . precision temp for on demand hot water = reliable and exterior looks like it belongs there .
mr heater not suitable for rv application , too much co . use olypian cat heater , add computer fan to front overhead for circulation in very cold weather .
when replumbing use pec and keep all plumbing above floor so you can heat rather than winterize .
how much is loaded ? I have customers spend from 10,000.00- 50,000.00 and know of 1 that spent 85,000.00 paying it done with polish.

[Kristof]

[Kristof]

This is last weekend coming out of the woods in New Hampshire enroute Colin Hyde's place in Plattsburgh for new axles.

[mccrosti]

Kristof, you will be ecstatic at the results!

[dbj216]

And amazed at your significantly diminished bank accounts. At least I was.

Based on the information from this thread, budget $12,000 in parts alone. Maybe $1600 in installed new axles.

BUT, your Sovereign will be worth the sum of its parts and then some when done.

David

[Kristof]

That is a good estimate. Unfortunately this so not about an equation. I already have a 30 ft ultra lightweight trailer that I am living in this summer and crossing the Canadian North in. This is about something else - not sure what that is yet. All I can say is after we spent a good day with rims, bearings, tires and 2 5/16 balls, I was a little worried it would not tow well. I should not have. Could not even notice it behind me. Whatever or wherever this adventure takes me, it is already worthwhile.