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CBWELL · 03-25-2015, 07:19 PM

I have been following the RV salvage auctions a little, and am wondering where the "damaged beyond repair" trailers go. There have been several units lately that have lots of useable parts on them, but I am unable to find out where they ended up. I am looking for some interior parts, and have contacted several RV salvage yards, but none of them have any Airstreams, or very little. Have any of you seen salvage units, or know where any are? Thank you, Chris

overlander63 · 03-25-2015, 07:23 PM

Ebay...

jimmini · 03-25-2015, 07:29 PM

Me too.Pls see my post under Help after tire blowout.
need parts for my Squarestream.

Aage · 03-25-2015, 07:42 PM

Here's one place that is often quoted here:

Colaw RV Used Parts - We Have Your Part...

CBWELL · 03-25-2015, 07:46 PM

There is actually very little on Ebay compared to the number of Airstreams that go through the salvage auctions. I had a friend stop at the big wreckeer in Carthage Missouri last week and they had virtually nothing Airstream. They must go somewhere, but it seems that they are not advertising the salvage parts. There must be a market, as there are enough of us doing our own repairs and rebuilds Chris

Hittenstiehl · 03-25-2015, 08:11 PM

On our case we bought one.

A owner had backed it into his awning. Insurance would only fix the awning or Airstream, wife wanted awning fixed.

Airstream went to salvage, guy at salvage sold it to his brother and they were going to put it on the beach in Mexico.

They decided against that and brother put it on Craigslist a day before we ever looked at Craigslist for the first time and we bought it the next day.

It has a large non perforated indent in the upper right rear corner. We don't worry about the dent, if we fix it some day okay if not it camps fine.

Got inspected at MVD and they gave us a restored salvage title which we also don't worry about. We're aware it will affect resale some day. That's our version of where ours went.

bwchant · 03-26-2015, 08:55 AM

Anyone know where I can give away some interior parts from my '66 Sovereign? I gutted it as gently as possible thinking I'd be reinstalling most of it but decided to change direction and go with new. Have appliances and most cabinetry. No beds or gauchos as trailer was being used as office when I rescued it. Not looking for money. Just haul it away or maybe I can ship?

idroba · 03-26-2015, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwchant

Anyone know where I can give away some interior parts from my '66 Sovereign? I gutted it as gently as possible thinking I'd be reinstalling most of it but decided to change direction and go with new. Have appliances and most cabinetry. No beds or gauchos as trailer was being used as office when I rescued it. Not looking for money. Just haul it away or maybe I can ship?

Post them in the classified section of the Forums here. I am sure that you will get response. The restoration Rally, generally in the ABQ area, people might just come and take it all to be available to their group for the next one.

m.hony · 03-26-2015, 11:00 AM

In your soda cans...

crispyboy · 03-26-2015, 11:22 AM

I would love to find out where the totaled by insurance company airstreams go.
I have fixed enough things on my trailer including panel replacement that I think it would be a fun project to find and fix up a newer model.
Anybody know?

duncans · 03-26-2015, 11:29 AM

We were watching used trailers and saw lots of salvage trailers sell on Ebay. They went for what seemed to me, to be too much. So, I decided to look at purchasing salvage myself. I knew what floorplan I wanted.
I looked at Insurance Automotive Auctions, IAA, on line. Lo and behold, there was my dream trailer and relatively "young", 2009 25 ft FC AS. It was in a storage facility where another RV's frig caught fire, burning down most of the structure. The trailer looked toasted, but integrity intact. You can see pic's on the thread Our burning hot deal. 5,700.00$, but will require abt 3,200.00 in melted parts and sealant to get her back in order. She will never be a beauty, but it was a cost effective way for us to rejoin the trailer camping world with our kids / grandkids.
I hope that you have as good of luck as we did. Just really look with a critical eye, know your limits (skills, of which we don't have a lot) and see it in person.
Susan
IAA is a national on-line bidding house. Some States require that you be a demolition company or a salvage comp. in order to qualify to bid. Other States, such as Oregon, do not limit who can bid. We were so lucky that the trailer we were interested in was located 2 hrs from us, so that we could preview it.

lstepp2 · 03-26-2015, 12:04 PM

Airstream is an old company, but it is also a very small independent company.
Overland 63 has the BEST EVER quote.

1. This a very small market, generally only tread on by 'Snowbirds and rich folk.

2. All the companies use Ford, GM's P-30 Bread Truck, unfortunately Chrysler
and Mercedes. The manufacturer places their personal bus a top the
chassis.
3. Old but only retired and former 'Middle Class, so I bought one from a guy who
bought an estate in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. I paid $7,500. The guy had
turned the milage backward and skipped town before I discovered the Money
trap I had bought.
4. $10,000 for a rebuilt engine.

5. Zero personal door handle is S250.00

6. $4,000.00 dollars for Michelins.

7. $250 for both exterior I traveled from Phoenix to Texas to scavenge parts
from tandem axle, mine is a dually so very so zero exterior parts and a few
fortune on nick nack parts. Most of the parts were useless for me.

8. The idiots continue to use rubber on the roof. After a year or so, the
rubber Rots and leaks occur. That fact alone makes me very mad.
I will have it converted to a aluminum. The after factory roof cost
cost $2,000.00 plus shipping.
If you live in a state that snows Place on your state's Craigslist, your
line place an online ad, place an add on your statewide digital and
in your Statewide Newspaper, Your state's newspaper of record;
Announcing "I require parts Airstream, ie (I bought thus and thus Airstream
and thus model airstream. Tell your audience between the year of and the
model of your bus/trailer and tell them the first year your model was made
and the last year it was may which with the model years Airstream
manufactured the bus..

BIGED52 · 03-26-2015, 01:57 PM

You may want to give FiveStarRVCenter.com a call @ 1-800-222-6737. They bought up all the stock of salvaged parts from CherokeeRVSalvage.com when they went out of business. They are located in Colorado IMS. Cherokee had loads of trailer parts from many manufacturers and have been a good source for Airstream parts for many years. Hopefully you can find what you need from them. Let me know how you make out with them. Ed

CBWELL · 03-26-2015, 02:20 PM

I have seen many Airstreams on IAA and Copart Auctions, and have bid twice on them. You have to be a Dismantler/Broker in many states to purchase. They have all sold, but nobody seems to know where they went. Most could not be repaired, and are therefor salvage. Where are they??? I have called several salvage yards, but no Airstreams!!!
Just got off phone with Five Star, and virtually NO AIRSTREAM parts!!! The search continues!!! Chris

vhaalen · 03-26-2015, 04:20 PM

There's one in Hatch, New Mexico!

duncans · 03-26-2015, 07:24 PM

Be sure to consider the cost of getting the "wreck" to your location.

CBWELL · 03-26-2015, 07:37 PM

I am looking for a source of used parts, not planning on buying the complete trailer. For example, I need one of the mirror closet doors, as the previous owner "destroyed" the center door, on my 34'. Many of us are rebuilding and could use original "used" Airstream parts.

lstepp2 · 03-26-2015, 11:29 PM

Check with State Farm and all the other insurance companies. I stumbled onto an insurance sponsored, 'Great' Junk car auction years ago. One man's junk is another Man's treasure.

overlander63 · 03-27-2015, 04:56 AM

I know of at least one Airstream that was totaled, rebuilt with a salvage title, and sold as "Primo". I saw it at Alumapalooza last year. Things about the trailer looked a little "off", but I didn't make the connection until I saw the rebuild tag placed on it after the state it was re-registered in inspected it.
If they ended up keeping the trailer, I'm sure there was some rather intense renegotiation after they went back to the dealership they had just purchased it from. So, there is another place wrecked Airstreams go, back on the road after they are rebuilt.

ssopko · 03-30-2015, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwchant

Anyone know where I can give away some interior parts from my '66 Sovereign? I gutted it as gently as possible thinking I'd be reinstalling most of it but decided to change direction and go with new. Have appliances and most cabinetry. No beds or gauchos as trailer was being used as office when I rescued it. Not looking for money. Just haul it away or maybe I can ship?

Hi, not sure if you still have any of the appliances from this, given it was so long ago. But we are looking for the stainless steel folding cover for the gas range top. Do you still have? We are in Albuquerque.