Interior Skin Replacement

[Mtiner]

We purchased a 1968 overlander airstream. The person before us, THREW AWAY all of the interior skins!
How to we create the inside skins?!? We have tried tracing paper, we have tried cardboard, we have tried cut, fit, cut again. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank you,
MT

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Just to be clear:

Are we talking about the aluminum sheets that make up the inner skin of the trailer or the stuff that goes on top of those aluminum sheets?

Bob

[dbj216]

Welcome from Colorado. You have purchased a worthy project trailer. Many folks prize the 68 model year as it is the last year of the old body style. The 69s were completely different.

The interior skins are easier than the exterior skins. You now have a chance to repair exterior joint leaks, rewire and replumb the trailer, and then improve the insulation. A well renovated 68 Overlander is worth quite a bit.

I kinda hope you have the fiberglass molded interior "end caps". Reskinning the spherical shaped end caps is a rear bear. There are "kits" for this with the aluminum pre-cut. Airstream went to molded end caps cause it's so much easier.

Toward the bottom of Airstream Forums you will find the Airstream Knowledge Base. These are forums by year and model of Airstream. Click on Overlander, and click on your year range. You can read a lot of interesting renovations and repairs directly related to your Overlander.

Interior skins can be replaced. Folks on these Forums have done it. You can use the google search function to find threads related to it. Here is a search I did that ought to get you going.

replacing interior aluminum skins site:airforums.com

David

[Mtiner]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

Just to be clear:

Are we talking about the aluminum sheets that make up the inner skin of the trailer or the stuff that goes on top of those aluminum sheets?

Bob

Yes- the aluminum sheets not the vinyl that is sprayed on.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Mtiner

Yes- the aluminum sheets not the vinyl that is sprayed on.

Hi

As mentioned above, the rounded skins are a bit of a pain to fabricate yourself.

Good luck !!!

Bob

[dbj216]

Actually the vinyl coating on the interior skins of vintage trailers is quite nice. The 66 Trade Wind vinyl held up very well through the years. It is easy to clean and very tough stuff. The 75 Overlander also appears to be good stuff although I don't like the pattern as well as the 66. I wonder if the vinyl wasn't laminated onto the sheets of aluminum?

Several interior decor in new Airstreams have just aluminum skins for that shinny look.

David