We bought our AS!!!

[bullydogsmom]

Well, The man who we were buying our AS from called us back this afternoon and said he had found all the paper work for it and we could come buy and pay for it and then we could get it registered. So, off we went. I thought he meant when he said he needed to get the paper work together he was talking about the bill of sale and the owners manual, which he had told us he had. But no, he hands me a folder jammed packed full of all the original paper work that came with the camper in 72! And I mean all. It has every manual for every thing in the camper, fridge, oven, even the cook book!, stereo system complete with wiring diagram, AC, water heater, furnace, toilet, never knew there were so many choices in a toilet! most all the warrenty cards, and some stuff that is stapled together. Parts list for most of the things. All in all about 25 pieces, plus the owners manual and the original title to boot!

The owners manual has the original "airstream registration of ownership" glued in the front. This camper was purchased new only 35 miles from where we live! So she has spent her life in an very small circle. The original owner lived about 15 miles from us, the second owner about 8 miles from us and his son, who we bought it from about 6 miles from us. The first owner sold it to the second owner in 1976, have a copy of that bill of sale too. The second owner owned it until 2003, last register in 1980. then signed it over to his son in 2003. Only the 1st and 2nd owners had it registered, so I guess we are the 3rd registered owners.

The son said his father maybe used it 10 times, turns out his mother was more the "Holiday Inne Gal" his words not mine! Never liked it. They used to tow it with a yellow 76 Lincoln Continental. He also said that his father had a "spot" just for the AS which had a layer of gravel a layer of plastic sheeting then more gravel, so it never sat on grass or dirt. Well it's been sitting on dirt for 5 years now, so when we pull the belly pan we'll see if sitting on the special "spot" did any good or not. we've just hoping for no rotting cross members.

We went to DMV and sat for and hour and a half, gee I hate that place, got our hard plates so tomorrow morning we are going to tow her home. I offered our daughter 100 bucks to help me full up the carpets and vaccum out the mouse nests. So we're going to put on some masks and gloves and jump in! I will take some pictures and try to post them, not real good at that.

Will be back with a TON of question for all of you I'm sure.
Annette

[remcolent]

Be carefull and tow it slow to get it home.

[flyfshr]

Woooo Hoooo!!!


That's a great feeling. Congratulations!!!

Its so cool to know the history of your trailer, not many folks do. And its equally cool that its been in a 15 mile radius of its new home. By chance, did the past owner(s) have any photos of it on a prior vacation?

Now the fun begins. When you pull up the carpet, wear long sleeves, closed in shoes (not sandals), plus the gloves and masks as you mentioned. Before any work begins, photograph everything. Close ups, wide angles, everything, because as you renovate, you'll find these photos valuable. Plus as you progress, its nice to go back and look at your mini accomplishments especially when you've hit a snafu.

Post some pix, we all love pix.

Brad
FF

[willyd]

Great find. Best of success in your Airstream travels.

[bullydogsmom]

My huband says I can't type anymore tonight you are all gonna get sick of me.
Oh yeh but he does want me to ask you all one question. Do the torque flex componets break down and fail because of age or wear? OK now I'll really go, I wanna go watch the All Star game. GO RED SOX

Annette

[NevadaGeo]

I just posted this on another new aluminitis victim, but will work for you too. The axles don't "fail" usually, but they get tired and don't do the support they are supposted to do.

Your homework, right now: Study up, here on the forums, on the Torsion Axles system. Some learning, but not that terrible. There will be a test on the shape of your axles. Next, study up on brakes, again here on the forums. Do you have disc (better) or do you have drums. If disc, how are you going to push the hydraulic lines. Again, tough learning, but not that bad. There will be a test on what brakes you have, and how you gonna activate them.
If you decide to accept this mission, there will be only a few hundred folks here ready to help ya with the answers.
This message will self destruct in

[TBRich]

Congrats on your new Airstream...you are excited...we can tell! Good for you...Let the fun begin!

Ease on down the road...

[ROBERT CROSS]

Welcome...how we do'n so far, have'n fun yet?

This is a great place to learn Airstream.

Just ask the question, and study the suggestions, and procede at your

own pace.

Most important, keep it FUN