Trailer Access Hatch

People have asked where I got the access hatch. It was from Ebay - and they have 6 more available. Ebay: item number 140217741216. Good luck. They are 12" x 12" aluminum.

Cuttin the hole!

Frank called me a whimp the other night on the latest episode of theVAP - and said to "Just cut the hole!" - so, since the fridge access is the smaller of the two, I cut my first hole. So, here are a couple pictures. I borrowed my buddy John's electric snips and man do they give a good cut. It came out pretty well. Now I can bolt that fridge down and get the gas line run into the rear of the fridge. Now to the H2O heater hole on the other side of the trailer tomorrow. Thanks John.

Let the Flags fly!

I sold one of my flag holders to a West Coaster. He sent me a shot of it today. Thanks Jot for the photo. Glad you like it! Love the colors!

Been busy, been sick and been on travel

It's been slow going - I've been on travel alot lately and was sick on travel all last week, spending all day on Saturday in bed. Ugh! Here are a couple shots of where I am. The tub is in, the pex is 80% run, and I'm getting ready to CUT the HOLE for the water heater. Next is propane lines. I've got to get this fresh water tank in as well. Check out those LEDs under the galley shelf. It feels as if the trailer is an utter disaster. I'm getting there!

Win a 1964 Airstream

My town is doing an Airstream Fundraiser. The prize: a 1964 AIRSTREAM Trade Wind 24’ Travel Trailer w/ a new axle. As Wally said:

"Don’t stop. Keep right on going. Hitch up your trailer and go to Canada or down to Old Mexico. Head for Europe, if you can afford it, or go to the Mardi Gras. Go someplace you’ve heard about, where you can fish or hunt or collect rocks or just look up at the sky. Find out what’s at the end of some country road. Go see what’s over the next hill, and the one after that, and the one after that." This is the message and the legacy of Wally Byam – founder of Airstream.

Become a member of the WBCCI (you have to own an Airstream) and begin your dream of adventure and exploration – all in your own Airstream.

The how - tickets are $25 each. Once the town sells 400 tickets, they’ll draw a winner. So here’s your chance to win big!

New Axle, Polish has been started. This trailer will need to be restored, but it’s a chance to have a clean canvas for your own customized Airstream! Interior is all there and the outside shell is near perfect - so Start DREAMING now! I'll be posting the how to get tickets shortly so check back soon!

Working out the bugs

Mechanically, I lost the drive shaft to the rear end. So, that's getting fixed. The 454 is running great and the Buick runs down the road great! All new Michelins mounted and once the drive shaft is re-connected, we're in Business. I'll continue to cruise locally to work the bugs out. Only 1 month until CBR. I've got so much to do! I've been terribly busy at work too so it's been hard.

The final outcome

I like it. Now to get turned onto the plumbing. This weekend.

The Love Tub

So, what does everyone think of the tub? - we painted it last night. Thought Frank and Tim would like it.

270 miles yesterday, 461 miles today

We made it to the NC/VA border tonight. I'm beat and tomorrow is another long day of towing... but in familiar territory and the weather looks great! Here are a few pictures. The Safari is towing great! I have a picture somewhere with my grandfather's Airstream in front of a Stuckey's sign somewhere. Only 500 miles to go!

Some inside pictures

We're in Brunswick, GA heading North. The 54 is towing nicely thus far. Some inside pictures. The floor on this thing is REALLY bad - gone - Capute! The front is all there, but the rear interior is basically just an open canvas. That's a very old Fedders AC in the middle that is vented out under the bed out the rear - pretty professional job on it too. Enjoy!

The 54 Safari Recovery is underway!

The Recovery. Today we spent the day at Dinosaur World in Plant City, Florida. Then we went over to the Tampa Electric Company to see the Manatee viewing center. On the way over, we stopped at Bates RV - home of the Airstream Ranch. It was alot of fun, even though it was a short stay - most likely, the Safari will be stopping into Bates for a fresh packing of the wheel bearings and a tighten up before the 1200 mile pull home, all while we enjoy our Florida stay. The Airstream Ranch is pretty neat! Nice meeting you Mr. Bates!

Udvar Hazy

Today, while on the road, I had to stop and get an aluminum fix. Here's the trailer used to house Armstrong upon returning from the moon. Stanton, my oldest son at 6, took the picture of me standing in front of this customized Airstream - I've always wanted to see this trailer. And then the Clipper Flying Cloud plane... how cool is that. We'll be in Charleston, SC tomorrow, through Wednesday when we go get that 54 Safari, and maybe Florida State Rally in Sarasota for a few hours. We're definately hitting the Tampa Electric Company to see the Manatees. Enjoy!

And it moves

Here's a picture of the Buick... I took it for a test drive this afternoon. It rides nicely down the road. The Suburban chassis is gonna make a nice tow platform, with the looks of Vintage. I've got to let the valve job sit, and then I'll see if the 4 Barrel will open up on the 454... HANG ON!

Lights, Catches, Latches and a Buick too!

Things are going slow because it's only single digits out and it's cold in the trailer. Brrrr! Well, it's been a bit since I've posted. First, last week I mentioned the bunk latches. Well, on my fourth latch, as I was installing it, I noticed that the catch was the wrong size. So, I emailed Vandykes, and they promised to send me out the last latch in the finish they had.. they are discontinuing the polished nickel finish... and I got it, and it is the right size - phew! I've installed the fourth latch so now the bunks will ride in the up position during travel. They look good and it's amazing how much bigger the bedroom area feels with them up. I've installed the chrome paper towel holder in the galley and I have to find a place for the spice rack. I've been measuring and placing where I should be putting my Byam hooks. I have 6 original Byam hooks and they will work nicely for hanging keys, towels, a shirt, etc. A few months ago, I had ordered 4 12 volt LED lights that will be installed in the galley area under the galley overhead storage. I've purchased a toggle switch that will control them. They put off alot of light and will be perfect for our boondocking trips. Then, I've been working on the 12v lights that are in the bedroom area. A while ago I bought two 110v gray flexible lights from Ikea. I've cut the plug ends off, have found 12v light bulbs that fit them and have them wired into the 12v system. They will work perfectly so that we will have both 110v and 12v lights in the bedroom. Once these are installed, the bedroom will be complete, except for 6 drawer catches I have to install on the bedroom drawers to keep them from opening while in transit (I bought these catches at Ikea too). The Buick, our future Sovereign of the Road tow vehicle, a 1959 Buick Electra, is now mounted onto the 75 Chevy Suburban with a 454 that has just had a complete valve job on it. It's purring like a Tiger and is running perfectly. The Buick is all registered and will be driving tomorrow. I am excited!! Enjoy the photos.

Back home

Well, I left the house last Tuesday night and I got home last night. Wow... Frank might win if this time away keeps up. So, needless to say, not much has been done. Shark-bite fittings have arrived for the PEX, and VanDyke's has sent me a replacement latch for my bunk. This week I should be getting to the tub and pex. I also got a huge package of Ebay parts for our Magic Chef stove (I needed a burner). I'll be posting pictures of our Buick Electra on the Suburban as well; we drove it down the road today - the 454 is rebuilt and purs like a kitten - or Tiger I should say. So, stay tuned!

Another bunk latch and the bath

So, tonight I went out and got another bunk bed latch on the curb side in, and then I turned to the toilet area. Here it is mocked up without the aluminum molding and glue to glue down the marmoleum. And here is also one of the new toilet paper holder. Little by little I'm getting there.

Cancel Ogden BOLO

Well, thanks for two of our blog readers, Doug and Mark, here is my latest find. I hope the feed is moveable so I can get it to come up and out of the counter. Sweet for the Sophia (SOTR's name). It appears that I can move the feed so that it might work - wish me luck. Sorry Frank - I'm glad I bid first :) A good deal in my book for $24.95.

Vent tubes and some bunks

Yesterday afternoon, worked on the vent tube plumbing from the black tank. Man it was hard cutting a hole in that new cabinetry but once done, and the plumbing through, I guess it wasn't that bad. I've come out of the tank, into my rear closet (toilet is on the curb side) on the curbside, turns 90 degrees up, up through my closets top shelf, again turning to head towards my pre-existing hole in the roof where the original vent tube went through. And so I have a black tube sticking out of the roof of the SOTR. I have to install a vent cover (one is on order from Vintage Trailer Supply). From there, I moved to my bunks. Dick Perkins was over, giving me plumbing advice and helping me cut the 1 1/2 tubing, and he helped me hold the bunks up while we were measuring / installing the latches that will hold the bunks in place during travel. We've manage to get the road side bunk mounted and so now, the bunk can be put up during the day as well - it really makes the bedroom area appear alot bigger with those up and out of the way. Thanks Dick - cause it's really a two man job. Here are a couple photos in the up position. Last night, after the Marmoleum was inside warming up for a while, I cut the pieces needed to cover my black tank under the toilet and on the kick panel in front of the tank, and so now, I just need to glue it down (it has to warm up some) and put down the aluminum edging. I'm getting there!

61 Ambassador Recovery - and another Bolo

Well, we made it. 700 plus miles and the 61 is at it's new home in the driveway about 10 miles from me. It was a nice day for towing. When we picked it up, down in the cabinet under the sink was this nice Ogden water purifier... and I'm on another mission to find one - another International model feature. So, Be On the Look Out for one for me please!!!! That Sprinter is one nice tow vehicle John!!

SYDTR!

BOLO

Be on the Look Out!!! I need one of these emblems. I've sourced over the past three years, all three of the International emblems for the SOTR, but if you were an International, two steps up from where the SOTR was originally, you had this Land Yahct emblem as well. These are very cool, as I've had a trailer that had this emblem ( Doh! ) - but for some reason I wasn't thinking... So, I'm on the lookout for one of these. Perhaps one of my readers / buddies has one out in his yard and he won't mind ( good luck I say ). Today, we're off for Cape Cod to recover John's Ambassador... wish us luck.