Where to begin?

[Robertson925]

We purchased a 73 tradewind from a scrap yard. Obviously gutting it is the first step. Looking at Pinterest is overwhelming. What was everyone’s first step when doing a complete overhaul on their airstream?

[BIGED52]

Are you able to get it titled & registered in your state? So times when scrapped they are not able to be returned to usable by the state laws. I wouyld check this out first. Ed

[Belegedhel]

Welcome to the Forums! I grew up in Colorado Springs--a great place.

So why was this trailer at a scrap yard??? Is the body wrecked where the pics don't show? Definitely take the advice above and ensure you can title it...

My guidance regarding rennovating a vintage Airstream would be to hope for the best and expect the worst, and plan a shell-off from the beginning.

You can feel your way there by getting out the buyer's inspection checklist, going through everything, making a list of what needs to be repaired, and then tackling it one project at a time, starting at the "deepest" level of disassembly and working your way out. Or you can do the following:

1) Spend up to two years looking for the trailer that is in the best shape, with the best price, with the best floor plan, only to drive too far to look at a trailer, and buy it out of desperation, as you don't want to go home empty handed.
2) Remove the interior including all inside skins and insulation--store it in a temporary shed (that will become permanent).
3) Build a set of gantries--you'll need them.
4) Lift the shell (using the gantries) from the frame and set aside.
5) Use the gantries you built to lift and flip the frame.
6) Remove belly pan, gas lines, etc., and set aside.
7) Perform all repairs on the frame, address rust and paint (again, lifting and flipping in the process).
8) Install new floor on frame.
9) Flip, insulate the underside of the floor, install retro-fitted grey tanks.
10) Install belly pan with frame still upside down.
11) Install new axles (with frame upside down, using the gantries as a crane).
12) Pressure wash the interior of the shell--make every effort to get rid of the mouse piss and old insulation--this is your only chance.
13) Lift the shell, wheel the frame back underneath, and set the shell back in place.
14) Complete reconnection of shell to frame.
15) Replace all door and window seals, plumbing vent seals, perform any shell patches, panel replacements, AC replacement, etc. (use the gantries as scaffolding to access the roof of your trailer).
16) Seal the inside of the shell, every rivet, every seam.
17) Spray primer on the inside of the shell to not only protect from corrosion, but to seal in funk.
18) Write a mysterious message to the next restorer on the inside of your shell.
19) Rennovate/install any awnings and ensure that any new shell penetrations do not leak.
20) Confirm that your shell no longer leaks.
21) Assess wiring in the shell. Rewire if necessary, realizing what a PITA it will be, trying not to nick any wires.
22) Strip the clear coat off your shell if needed.
23) Polish the areas around the trim, emblems, clearance lights before reinstallation.
24) Thoroughly investigate every kind of insulation known to mankind and then install the pink fiberglass stuff anyway.
25) Reinstall interior skins after thoroughly cleaning them--paint the backsides with primer to encapsulate the old stank you can never wash off.
26) Rebuild electrical distribution system (battery, fuse board, etc.).
27) Layout your future cabinetry.
28) Begin to run water lines, realizing some of them will go under/behind furnishings
29) Start from the rear of the trailer and rebuild the interior furnishings, cabinetry.
30) Lay down new flooring.
31) Rerun the gas lines.
32) Finish installing appliances.
33) Do the blinds/drapes/upholstery.
34) Finish whatever polishing you want to do on the exterior
35) Seal every exterior seam
36) Discover new leaks and throw a fit
37) Throw away all the receipts, as it is just too depressing to know how much you just spent.
38) Count the gray hairs/hair loss that has resulted from the years you have spent on the project.

good luck!

[OTRA15]

Good advice so far, and another welcome to the forum!

FYI there may be fellow AS owners who would be willing to inspect your AS. Go to the Portal page [top left grey tab]:

http://www.airforums.com/

. . . and on the right edge there is a process for locating an inspector by state. In your location there should be a few helping hands nearby IMO.

The new search function in the blue box above works great, if you are using the main desktop version of this site IMO. Here are the results for "buyer check list" which may help:

https://www.google.com/search?q=buye...com&gws_rd=ssl

"The Love Shack" thread is one of many you might consider reading, for an in-depth understanding of the path on which you have embarked:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f227...ck-183431.html

Good luck,

Peter

PS -- These "shell off" results may also point to helpful places:

https://www.google.com/search?q=shel...=airforums.com

[Bumpy]

You may want to consider robbing a bank!

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Welcome !!!

Assuming you can get a title ....

1) Is there obvious damage? If so that can cost a lot to fix, figure that out first.

2) Read up on what people have done, it's a lot of money / a lot of time to rebuild one of these beasts. Are you up for all that?

If you are still onboard, you now need a space out of the rain to do the work. That's not to say "indoors" but out in a field will be a major pain. There's a lot of pulling things out and sorting through things. You need a place to work for a couple years.

Once you have a work space, pulling *everything* out of the trailer is likely the first step. You need to (at the very least) get at the flooring. You may have to go further than that, but it's the first big task. All that gets pulled gets saved (for now), thus the need for a pretty good sized work space.

Bob