AEG Airstream

noreply@blogger.com (airstream renovation specialist) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:22:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (airstream renovation specialist) — Fri, 23 May 2008 23:51:00 +0000

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noreply@blogger.com (airstream renovation specialist) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:03:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (airstream renovation specialist) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:56:00 +0000

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noreply@blogger.com (airstream renovation specialist) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:14:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (airstream renovation specialist) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:22:00 +0000

Compounding aluminum makes gives the trailer a more spacey feeling. Not to mention a cool effect.

kitchen counter frame

couch frame.

painting

noreply@blogger.com (airstream renovation specialist) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 07:21:00 +0000

dry walling

noreply@blogger.com (airstream renovation specialist) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:52:00 +0000

Weight is a big issue in trailers, so adding dry wall was an idea that had to be thought out along with every other future installment. Everything weighs something and if you go over that fragile weight limit, you can have some real bad axle/brake problems.
Another issue that had to be thought out was the curvature of the aluminum siding. Much like a jet airliner, there is no flat surface to lay down a sheet of dry wall. This is why every Airstream and airplane model have some kind of vinyl finish to cover their aluminum interior.
Any yet another issue that had to be taken into consideration is the fact that trailers expand, contract, and move around. This movement factor could form noticeable cracks around window sills and other mudded areas.
After talking it out, and trying to see if this was actually possible. It became obvious that if a job like this was taken on, it would be an incredible feat.
In time ideas turned into solutions, and the job started to seem plausible and worth it.

I started measuring the height, length, and width of every window and outlet casing. Checking every measurement twice, I laid each 4x8' -1/4" slab of dry wall on the trailer floor and proceeded to cut out my drawn out template. I'm proud to say I never made a mistake that couldn't be fixed.

Each screw was drilled equally, not more than 1 foot apart from the next. This job sometimes takes two people. One person presses the dry wall flat and the other drills.

Not a lot of people can put dry wall on curves. The front of the Airstream was definitely the most complicated. The dry wall needed to be cut in strips, drilled, and then mudded.

After 3 coats of mud, and 3 separate sanding sessions. the trailer had come to life. I on the other hand looked like a ghost.

Caulking around the window sill should keep it from cracking over time. This should look cool after I sand it down a little more. I can paint it any color I want.

exterior aluminum riveting

noreply@blogger.com (airstream renovation specialist) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:14:00 +0000

Here are some pictures of what I have
done with some of the exterior work. Lots and lots of riveting and chalking.

The exhaust system on the furnace never lined up properly. I made the ventilation hole wider, and put some aluminum backing behind the vent cover. It looks natural.
I took this picture after I chalked, so ignore the smudges.

As you well know, the door was bashed in and the door knob/dead bolt needed to be replaced. The outside siding needed to be replaced as well because the previous door handle left a massive rectangular hole where the door knob needed to sit. The chalking you see in the after picture will be removed.

The front end had been bashed in and banged out from the inside, causing a very noticeable eye sore. I took this section out during the demolition and replaced it with some airplane siding. Looks as good as new.

planning and dry-walling

noreply@blogger.com (airstream renovation specialist) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:58:00 +0000

Sitting in K8's chair, I planned for hours. Continually going back and forth doing final measurements.

This is the basic frame structure for the couches in the living room. There will be extra storage inside the framing.

Who do you know that has dry wall in their Airstream? Dry walling around curves is not an easy process. The final painted result will be amazing.

We will leave the top section bare and polish into a mirror finish.

We thought it would be wise to frame the wheel wells. They will have a bedding system resting on top of them.

Inspired potential fueled by the internet.

noreply@blogger.com (airstream renovation specialist) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 23:40:00 +0000

A deadline was given. By February 20th 2008, the "Silver Fox" would depart from AURA headquarters and venture off in another Fish Bum expedition. Within this short time period I was ordered to have the "Silver Fox" renovated and in good health. Meaning, it needed to be liveable under Fish Bum qualifications. (There needed to be a place to comfortably hang up Waters, and tie flies.)
The water logged floor was definitely a step back from my schedule, I felt as if I were back-tracking from my set goals. In the days to follow the water incident, conditions worsened and my stress level began to rise ever so slowly. However, I tried not to let this problem deter me. It would only slow down the renovation process. I needed to see which appliances worked and which one's did not, immediately.

Whatever can go wrong with Airstream's, went wrong with this one. In fact, I'm not sure how it even made it from Washington State down to Southern Oregon with only one wheel plugged into its brake system. (Kate, you might want to check you break pads, I doubt you have any.)

Most appliances need 120 volts to run, the main ones include refrigerators, blenders, air conditioners, coffee makers, etc. However, when 120 volts evaporates before it leaves your breaker pannel.
You might have a serious problem on your hands. Or in my case a catastrophe. If it's not going to my appliances, where is it going? Hopefully nowhere that I'm going to touch.
At this point, some might give up and find themselves an electrician that will touch something other than a grounded house. I guess there is a "liability issue" and most licensed electricians will not touch piles of junk on wheels. To many potential problems to get blamed for... However, there are people out there that specialize in this work, and do not mind the liability. The only
problem is that they cost a lot of money.
Instead of giving a grand to a "specialist," I did what any stubborn college kid would do and decided to take on this job myself. The folks at "Diamond Home Improvement" are extremely knowlegeable, however their expertise dwindles off by the time I explain which doo-hickey goes into which chiga-daroo. The Internet was the only reference I had.
Other than the lights working a few weeks back, I found my first source of inspiration on the internet. I can't even began to describe, how big of a craze "Airstream Renovation" is. There is a subculture out there, that make lifestyles and careers out of what I do everyday. Immersing myself in "airforums.com" was the best thing I could have done at this point in the renovation process. Each post submitted was answered within minutes by the same type of people. All helpful, and knowlegable in "Airstream Science." I was bombarded with wire diagrams, inverter recommendations, followed by the ussual, "check out what I recently did with my airstream model." My inspiration was created by these people, every single one of them was gleaming with pride in their work. The need to feel that same pride, fueled my desire to dive into my work even deeper.
I'm not going to lie, I gave up on the fuse box and asked my dad to come down and help me with the wiring when he had a chance. Some might consider my quest to fix the 120 volt problem a failure, however I doubt it would have brang me to the internet for help.
The refrigerator was extremely rusted and needed to be replaced whether it worked or not, I felt like I never lost any ground.
When you consider how close the furnace and stove top was to my faulty water pump, you might began to understand the amount of rust that developed each time someone turned on said pump. Why anyone would constantly turn a cracked pump on is beyond me...Were they expecting a different result?
The only appliance that worked was the oven... I do not understand why.
I finally saw potential in what I originally thought was the Hellen Keller of the airstream world. There was a glimmer of hope within those aluminum walls even with the nearly approaching deadline. Thank you airforums.
On a side note...the recent rain has uprooted another problem, it looks as if the seals around the vents have cracked, along with the chaulking around the window sills. I am going to spend the rest of the day mopping it up... and sealing outside cracks. This is rediculous.

The "Silver Fox"

noreply@blogger.com (airstream renovation specialist) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:25:00 +0000

After my unwelcomed introduction, I was still very hesitant on getting to know the "Silver Fox" on a personal level. Scraping mold off the window sills and mopping up mildew from water logged floor boards left me sick in my bedroom with strep throat for a couple of days. Finding needles under the sink, and behind cabinets had me worried about other sicknesses as well. Even so, I loved the challenge and felt compelled to make something of myself and this pile of junk.

I came back from my isolated bed ready to see what this empty shell was made of... To my dismay, the propane hose was cut, and every fuse was blown. Somebody had cut off all signs of life. We had purchased a dead RV.

Within the next week I began thinking of the "Silver Fox" as a job rather than a chore. I found myself going down to hardware stores and talking about propane connections and rv-fuses. It became obvious that with every simple question I asked, the more it looked like I was either going to electricute, or blow myself up. Eventually I overcame every one of my obstacles and earned myself a degree in propane connections and fuse box science.

I had high intensions for the "silver fox,"at this point in time I felt like I was giving her a new heart. This was all she needed to come back to life. With the propane plugged in and fuses in place I raced to the electrical outlets ready to fire this puppy up and check the appliances.

The first sign of life was through light. All of her lamps shinned bright with 12 volt electricity, comming from the fuse box. Reaching up toward the lit control pannel, I turned on the water pump. I heard "verrrr...tut tut..speeeewwccchhhhhhh...." Thinking this was the sound of water running through the copper pipes, I kept my finger on the trigger. It wasn't... Instead water came up from the pump, through a massive crack, and on to my bare floor. Puddles and mildew spots that I tried so hard to dry up with AEG heaters and de-humidifiers came back to life. The disease spread all the way down into the rusted underbelly. Crushed... I kept my composure and spent the rest of the day cutting out "soft spots" in the floor boards.

first impressions

noreply@blogger.com (airstream renovation specialist) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:32:00 +0000

Chris (my brother) called me into his place of business and asked me if I would clean out an old vintage air stream that he purchased from a man in Washington state. Being an unemployed student living off the McDonalds dollar menu I quickly replied "yes."
We then walked out to a 31' 1974 "Sovereign" parked in the AURA river center parking lot.
As we both approached the front door, he kept on saying how this was a "huge job" and that I might want to pick up a mask and gloves at the local hardware store. I blew off his concerns knowing his lack of cleaning experience. Bleach can kill anything right? I should have taken a hint after he picked up a screw driver and began picking the dead bolt. Luckily someone already bashed the casing in with an axe and it didn't take that long to unlock...

The door creaked open and the trailers green shag carpeting released its noxious fumes. First impressions mean everything, especially when they involve you gagging and gasping for air. The mildew stench hit Chris and I like a brick wall. While backing away, Chris did his trademark smug grin and left me to give myself a tour.

As I braved through the stench and grime it dawned on me that there was actually some human like creature living in this dump before AEG purchased it...

Everything was literally contaminated with either mildew or mold. So I did what any logical person would do and threw it out the front door.
As I tossed out mattresses, and cleaned out closets, it became clear that our personal possessions reflect who we are as people...The previous owner of this classic air stream is not someone I would like to meet in person. Or talk to on the phone for that matter. I over turned some rocks that should have been left untouched.

Welcome Message

noreply@blogger.com (Terry Wolvert) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:17:00 +0000

Welcome the AEG Airstream blog.

Kyle Owens and Dan have got their hands full with a project that allows AEG low cost lodging. The "Silverfox" will make her maiden voyage in late February in search of Steelhead.