I just found a 51 Airstream trailer, im considering buying it. partially restored, renforced frame, new floor, new windows- seals, was wondering if any one had any pics ,comments, suggestions or warnings
Their used to be a website called"Trail of Tears" . It was actually a site for teardrop trailers but they had links to the airstreams. Are you getting one of the smaller ones?
If you do some research, you'll find avions and airstreams are very, very similar, except avions are built better. They just weren't around as long. Here's a 1962 T-20 Avion sitting in my driveway. It's actually only 17ft long, with a 3' tongue. The early avions can be polished like airstreams also, up to mid-63. Then they changed the aluminum and stayed with a brushed look. Here's our T-20(it's forsale too )It's needs polished.
Not an Airstream but I pick this up tomorrow. We can't wait. It needs some personal touches but it's all there and should be a ton of fun.
I dig old trailers, my family and I have had some killer goodtimes with our old Airstream, I have recently sold it, and have a new RV project. Here it is, The Streamline Travel Home. This is an old pic, I've done a little fixup since.
Zgears, I have had a couple of them and every time i bought one i looked for one shorter and shorter... we started out with a 27, then a 24 and then a 17.. it's wierd but as a general rule of thumb the shorter ones seem more desirable... I think it's because they tow (turn arounds) easier. I also learned the hard way belly pans are a drag to repair... and if you need to rewire anything, that is the quickest access point... on the ones I had that was the only steel part that seemed to be a "rustible". I had all 3 when we lived in CA and they were rusty... but i recently looked at one back East here and the belly pan was really thin.... Good luck can't wait to see pics..
69 Scotty Sportsman Hilander 15'. I'd like to do a matching car too, maybe the 53 plymouth we have but the engine in it won't haul itself and a 1500lb trailer so it'd need a V8 heart transplant.
I'm looking for a Spartan to use for a new office...the sides of the airstream are too round for what I need, too bad.
I agree, I bougt a 31 ft '79 sovereign Airstream. It's just long enough to be damn scary towing on the freeway. Make sure your tow vehicle is rated for 5,000 lbs + and get a stabilizer. Kinda wished we got a 24 footer, or even a Bambi!
Grumpy, Your Airstream and Suburban are a great pairing - they appear to have been made for each other. Breaking a commandment here coveting your stuff there!
Grumpy, my wife loves old Airstreams. If I'd known you had one for sale, I'd have had my friend 1lowlesabre pick it up when he got the Suburban!
Don't think the wife would let me. Just got it about a year ago, and having a blast with the family. Should be at the drags this coming weekend.
is it a for a good price? those 50's ones go for big bucks.. even if you bailed out on the project, you could still probably flip it.
Airstreams have a great following and hold their value well but I understand (my brother is in the vintage trailer restoration biz) that restoring an old one can get pricy. A lot of parts are Airstream only and either hard to find and very expensive. The 50's canned hams (Shastas, ect) or much more home builder freindly.