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Vanity: Anyone with experience owning an Airstream Trailer
none ^ | Dec 24 2011 | Me

Posted on 12/24/2011 6:13:11 PM PST by Jet Jaguar

Just looking for advice. I am headed back to Alaska. I bought a 1964 Tradewind.

I gotta fix it up and use it. I am looking for people who may have been through this before.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Hobbies; Travel
KEYWORDS: airstream
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1 posted on 12/24/2011 6:13:14 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: Jet Jaguar

There are lots of clubs online that will help you out. Just get that piece of crap out of my yard.


2 posted on 12/24/2011 6:17:05 PM PST by mirkwood
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To: Jet Jaguar

I think I have a tank that fits one. It came from someone who had an Airstream before a divorce.


3 posted on 12/24/2011 6:19:39 PM PST by wally_bert (It's sheer elegance in its simplicity! - The Middleman)
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To: Jet Jaguar
I am headed back to Alaska. I bought a 1964 Tradewind.


4 posted on 12/24/2011 6:23:28 PM PST by bigheadfred (MERRY CHRISTMAS)
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To: Jet Jaguar

expensive

I hope you got money to burn. There are people who’s entire livelihood is restoring airstreams. I almost bought an old airstream motorhome(yes they actually made a drivable version for a short period) until I found out what it costs to refurbish one.


5 posted on 12/24/2011 6:24:55 PM PST by mamelukesabre
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To: mirkwood

I have seen that.

Looks interesting.


6 posted on 12/24/2011 6:46:54 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: wally_bert

Let me know the model. I might be interested.


7 posted on 12/24/2011 6:48:00 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: bigheadfred

Posted from someone who has never lived in Alaska.

The Summers make up for it. Believe me.


8 posted on 12/24/2011 6:49:54 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: mamelukesabre

Mine is a trailer. I need a space I can drag with me. Most easy to do work on. It looks like.


9 posted on 12/24/2011 6:52:09 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: Jet Jaguar

...So what’s the best trailer for cold weather camping / living...?


10 posted on 12/24/2011 7:01:50 PM PST by spokeshave (Ron Paul finally lit a match after dousing himself with gasoline)
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To: Jet Jaguar

Is this a trial visit or permanent?


11 posted on 12/24/2011 7:02:51 PM PST by presently no screen name (If it's not in God's Word, don't pass it off as truth! That's satan's job.)
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To: spokeshave

I don’t know. I have survived -50 in North Pole before. This thing looks like it could survive as well with proper care.


12 posted on 12/24/2011 7:06:17 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: presently no screen name

Permanent. I am to be stationed there again. I am traveling during the Summer months up there. So weather should not be a big concern.


13 posted on 12/24/2011 7:07:58 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: Jet Jaguar

For winter, too? LOL! Okay.

Slap a layer of polyisocyanurate insulation all over the outside of it (top, sides and bottom, none on the inside of the trailer—toxic fumes if burning), and seal it all really well. Get some insulated window shades. Get some kind of storm windows on it—some that are easily removable (for switching wind directions). Get two of the most powerful Platinum Cat catalytic heaters (5200 BTU each, IIRC), and install those properly (vents). If you’re going to be off-grid, study PV solar systems thoroughly, and install one of those properly—at least 400 watts of charging (PV modules), but more is better (600 watts or more), with great charge controller, inverter, all of the switches required by code, and at least 6 golf cart batteries in an array two wide (series) and three long (parallel). Make sure that your water and waste won’t freeze.

Generally, the gas-fired appliances in travel trailers are dangerous in winter and often start fires.

Get an on-demand propane water heater with a good vent installed, and do thorough study on how to keep that from freezing (possible but very involved). The heat exchangers in those will freeze very easily if not installed with much technical consideration. Make sure that it has its own vertical air intake just under it (through the floor), because the forced exhaust heater might draw air through the water heater vent and freeze it up.

It will look like a space shuttle, when you’re done, but it will work if done well. Better yet, park the trailer in a heated building. That will work for sure. ;-)


14 posted on 12/24/2011 7:13:14 PM PST by familyop ("Wanna cigarette? You're never too young to start." --Deacon, "Waterworld")
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To: Jet Jaguar

What an adventure - All the best! Keep us posted.


15 posted on 12/24/2011 7:17:31 PM PST by presently no screen name (If it's not in God's Word, don't pass it off as truth! That's satan's job.)
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To: familyop

It’s a camper.

Not gonna be living it year round.

I will winterize it when the freeeze comes.

Just using it to travel back up to the north.


16 posted on 12/24/2011 7:21:41 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: presently no screen name

You bet.


17 posted on 12/24/2011 7:22:31 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: familyop

It would almost be easier to go with all electric appliances and even electric heat...all powered by a massive generator, I think. He’s gonna need heat tape on all the pipes and tank heaters for fuel, water, and waste, and even heaters on his batteries. Might as well go totally electric.


18 posted on 12/24/2011 7:27:45 PM PST by mamelukesabre
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To: Jet Jaguar
There is LOTS of info here:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/

Lots of rebuild project, some very well documented in text and photos. They even have a big section dedicated to winterizing and winter living.

19 posted on 12/24/2011 7:27:51 PM PST by LegendHasIt
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To: Jet Jaguar

So once its there, it stays there? Are you going to take the wheels off?


20 posted on 12/24/2011 7:28:55 PM PST by mamelukesabre
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