Home Sweet Home

Even though I had already had a plan of what I wanted in an Airstream, it was now time for me to actually make it happen. Rosemary and I sat inside and just looked at all of the original interior with the browns and the painted walls and cabinets. The gauchos and laminate flooring as well as the fiberglass tub/toilet/shower were all originals and in need of replacement of repair. The sub-floor felt strong but I knew it needed to be replaced. If I was going to travel the country in this trailer, it would have to be restored, starting with the frame, belly pan, wiring, sub-floors, cabinets, appliances, and well......everything.

In my life, I have done many things such as Peace Corps, MBA, study abroad, renovated 2 house I own, etc, but this, I feel, will be a different type of experience. Who knows, I may be wrong, but I feel drawn to this project. I am going to be making a home away from home on wheels.

Below are the pictures of the interior as well as the exterior as it was when I purchased it. Coming up next are the photos of demolition and breaking this beautiful trailer down to the skin and bones. Enjoy!!

A Dream Come True

So.......Where do I begin. I guess I should start by mentioning the guy that opened my eyes to Airstreams, Jeff Langford. He is one of those guys that has everything, and when I pulled up int his driveway a few years back, he had a 1978 Safari with blue pin stripes. It was kind of like his clubhouse and sanctuary for when he needed some space from his lovely wife.

It did not take many of his on-the-road stories to get me motivated to purchase an Airstream trailer of my own. So after a long year and many changes in my life over the past year, I finally decided to move forward with my purchase. I ended up charging it to my credit card even though I was offered $$$$ to help the dream come true. I figure, if I am going to do it, I should do it on my own. Kind of like the restoration that you are about to witness.

So it all began on August 22, 2008 when I drove down to Sagon RV Center and met with Peter. I had been searching for a 19 footer with a single axle with the exterior in good condition. I ended up with exactly that, and the floor even felt strong. The interior was actually in great shape for a 44 year old trailer. The original owners manual and lifetime waranty were still inside. So the purchase took place and I drove her home without any problems. I always wanted to know what it was like to ave a lengendary item being towed behind my truck. It was nice to see it in the rear view mirror, I could tell that this was just the beginning of a lifetime with these trailers.