The Airstream makes its first post restoration trip

"dumpsterfire!" (2020covidsux)
10/30/2020 at 09:28 • Filed to: None

So you may or may not recall, my GF and I bought a 1973 Airstream 31' about a year ago. We dragged it from New Mexico back to Colorado. This spring, we rented a shop space for a month to pull the shell off the chassis to redo the floors, amongst other tasks. Got it back to her house for interior build out. Planned to pay somebody to polish out a few decades of oxidation, but he flaked on us, so she did most of the industrial grade polishing herself.

T his past weekend was the maiden voyage from western Colorado to Bryce Utah. Aside from some minor hiccups, the trip was a success. At least right up until the early winter storm came through our last 100 miles, which ended up taking about 18 hours due to closed Interstate.

The Bryce Canyon amph itheater was spectacular and the little slot canyon in Escalante was empty and much better for a fall Saturday in Zion.

DISCUSSION (35)

My bird IS the word > dumpsterfire!
10/30/2020 at 09:53

Fantastic job on the resto! Looks amazing.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > dumpsterfire!
10/30/2020 at 09:55

Man that is a cool trailer, glad your first trip in it went mostly right.

I may have missed this in previous posts, but you’d you be willing to show what this project costs versus the current value of the trailer? I’m sure it was a good investment.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > dumpsterfire!
10/30/2020 at 10:02

Ooooooh! That interior is gorgeous.

Wow!

dumpsterfire! > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/30/2020 at 10:05

initial purchase was $4k, probably another $8k in parts. too many hours to count. we have it insured for 30k, but waiting for a more thorough professional appraisal.

dumpsterfire! > My bird IS the word
10/30/2020 at 10:05

thanks!

smobgirl > dumpsterfire!
10/30/2020 at 10:06

Oh wow! I’d live in that!

MonkeePuzzle > dumpsterfire!
10/30/2020 at 10:07

gasp! I love the interior! more tiny house than RV.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > dumpsterfire!
10/30/2020 at 10:09

Great job!

My folks were out there in the canyons about 2 weeks ago. Some of those spots are like an alien planet.

dumpsterfire! > MonkeePuzzle
10/30/2020 at 10:13

thanks, she did a great job.

dumpsterfire! > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/30/2020 at 10:13

thanks, my GF has skills!

dumpsterfire! > smobgirl
10/30/2020 at 10:15

thanks, she and i just might do that at some point.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > dumpsterfire!
10/30/2020 at 10:15

I’d think 30k is a very low estimate. But even at that sounds like you did good.

arl > dumpsterfire!
10/30/2020 at 10:16

Holy hell that is cool ! Great job on the restoration. Killer interior as well.

Tripper > dumpsterfire!
10/30/2020 at 10:33

Wow dude, fantastic work by you two. It looks fuckinawesome!

dumpsterfire! > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
10/30/2020 at 10:33

It was amazing coming to the Bryce Amphitheater- the canyon is literally invisible until you get to the edge!

dumpsterfire! > arl
10/30/2020 at 10:33

thanks

onlytwowheels > dumpsterfire!
10/30/2020 at 10:34

That’s a fine looking rig.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > dumpsterfire!
10/30/2020 at 10:37

Impressive

EngineerWithTools > dumpsterfire!
10/30/2020 at 11:04

That’s a beautiful trailer!

Such good work. Much approve!

dumpsterfire! > Tripper
10/30/2020 at 11:12

thanks

dumpsterfire! > EngineerWithTools
10/30/2020 at 11:12

thanks

dumpsterfire! > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
10/30/2020 at 11:12

thanks

dumpsterfire! > onlytwowheels
10/30/2020 at 11:12

thanks

Speed > dumpsterfire!
10/30/2020 at 11:39

I was browsing the comments to see if anyone had asked this same thing. My wife and I want to buy an RV and I insist on an old Airstream. I’ve loved them since I was a kid and if I’m going to put money in one, I’d rather it be one that can hold some value. Thing is, the only way I can really afford one like I want is by finding one with solid bones and doing a restoration like you guys did. Have you documented the build process anywhere? I’d love to see how this came together. Brilliant work! Thanks for sharing.

dumpsterfire! > Speed
10/30/2020 at 15:44

thanks. I didn’t really document the process except a photo record on my phone. After gutting all of the interior, renting a large shop space for a month was crucial. we built some gantries out of lumber and bought 2 chain hoists to separate the shell from the frame. it was more stressful than pulling a motor for the first time.

my GF is much more task focused than i am with big projects, as evidenced by us actually taking this thing glamping, while my garage is loaded with unfinished projects.

dumpsterfire! > Speed
10/30/2020 at 16:29

https://photos.app.goo.gl/dETooRCbYzTqXuxe8

This is a link to a public Google photos album, if the settings were done right.

ranwhenparked > dumpsterfire!
10/30/2020 at 23:22

That came out so well, and it looks so bright and airy inside. Less claustrophobic feeling , and no doubt, better finished, than most new trailers you could buy.

jminer > dumpsterfire!
10/31/2020 at 00:40

That Air stream looks awesome and like it was an amazing weekend.

newnamesameme > dumpsterfire!
10/31/2020 at 08:54

Amazing job by the two of you, looks incredible! Im a native of CO and currently live on the Western Slope and see a bunch of these airstreams out and about but not sure ive seen any as shiny.

HammerheadFistpunch > dumpsterfire!
10/31/2020 at 18:18

willis creek?

dumpsterfire! > HammerheadFistpunch
10/31/2020 at 18:31

That's the place.

HammerheadFistpunch > dumpsterfire!
10/31/2020 at 18:32

best easiest slot ever.

dumpsterfire! > ranwhenparked
11/01/2020 at 08:45

thanks.

dumpsterfire! > jminer
11/01/2020 at 08:46

thanks

dumpsterfire! > newnamesameme
11/01/2020 at 08:46

thanks, lots of hours into polishing and of course 100 miles on sunday into monday of winter white made it less shiny now.