Airstream Trailer Answers and Questions
Of course it’s going to take me awhile to get all the details and photos together, but here’s one in the meantime -
There are plenty of photographs of interiors that I will go through and perhaps create a slideshow soon. It’s almost time to get in and go to Paradise – to work on our trailer. Soon soon.
We just got a call from the oilfield service company we work for, and it looks like we are back out on the Barnett for April. That’s a double-edged deal because it will definitely take care of all the restoration expenses for the Airstream, but we are likely out of the restoration work for that month.
That just means we have to get there with the two weeks we have left and get it on! Hope springs eternal when it comes to our future in the Airstream. Really, the infusion of funds will go a long way toward the time when we actually go out in the fields with our Airstream in tow. Heck of a deal.
Reader photo sent in from somewhere in Texas. It’s a roadside donut stand.
I welcome photographs of Airstreams from readers of the Airstream Diary. This is a site about the trailers and their adventures, so any stories that go along are welcome too.
Sunday’s transport of the Safari to A&P Vintage Trailer Restoration went off without a hitch … almost. Is it okay to say “without a hitch” when talking trailer lingo?
I had lowered the trailer onto the hitch of the Toyota fully expecting the 500-pound tongue weight to take the rear of the Toyota to the ground. I was mostly shocked when that didn’t happen, and instead the weight leveled out the car’s rear and made for almost a straight line body mass parallel to the ground. Amazing. It must be the suspension on the Sport version of the 4 Runner that provides the backbone.
The timing was precisely right as far as when to be in transit during a low tide of law enforcement on the road. Nary a peacekeeper was stirring until we hit Decatur, and what must have been a shift change. Still, we made it through town. There was some kind of auto flea market on the outskirts that featured just about every domestic classic car, mostly in rusted pieces, on trailers, and in piles. The wind blew dust clouds through that event, and that was enough to keep us from thinking about stopping on the way back through.
WE breezed to Cottondale, actual town where A&P Vintage is located, with only a couple of navigational miscues. The Toyota ran more smoothly with the load than it does without, and although there was high wind, 18-wheelers and rough roads, no anti-sway – none took away from the ride, or took us near a point of danger in this short jaunt.Up the driveway, the last great challenge of the day’s road, and to the end of the distinguished line of Airstreams waiting their turn.
Leslie got out of the car, with no need to kiss the ground, and said, “Hey Shannon, there’s something missing.” Immediate adrenalin for me. “The air conditioner is gone.” Sure enough, daylight was all that was left of where the a.c. on top of the trailer once sat. Gone, as in without a trace. Talk about a sick feeling. Not about losing a great a.c., more about possible damage to others, and probable littering of the Texas roadside – something I hate to see.
Nothing but blue sky through the hole, the third opening in the roof, besides the two vents that came standard. That was another piece of knowledge imparted to us by Paul; our Airstream came stock without an a.c., and a third hole was cut to place the unit near the middle of the trailer. The a.c. was going to “go away” as it were, but I had hoped to dictate the time and place of its final departure.
I knew for a fact that the a.c. was just sitting there sealing the hole from the elements, and had asked Leslie an unnamed helper to re bolt the unit securely using wood to cross over the opening. The key words there are, “cross over.” I wasn’t paying attention to the fact that the unnamed helper had cut a perfect shape piece of plywood to fit precisely in the opening, therefore securing the a.c. to nothing but the board. It was a clean separation, like when the different stages of an Apollo moon shot separate. There was only a telltale scratch extending down the side of the trailer where it fell away once we had separation (down the curbside and probably right out of traffic).
Paul whipped out a quick rain patch, crawled atop the Airstream, and taped it over the hole. Another thing learned; Airstreams would support a person crawling around on the top of them – just try to hit the supports and stay off the hollow spots. I just figured the whole thing would taco, but chalk it up.
We quickly took our leave, and headed back retracing our route in expectation of having to pick up shards of an old brittle plastic trailer a.c.. What we found was nothing. There was not a trace of plastic, compressor, injury or maiming to be found. Relief was unanimous.
Perhaps our future junk was someone’s treasure that day? We’ll probably never know. What I do know is, that this Airstream is turning into our “box of chocolates” a la Forrest Gump.
We are hitched up and out in front of the house now. It has been the longest journey that never left, and now threatens to peak over the walls of fantasy and have a long look at reality.
It’s about forty-three miles to A&P Vintage, and we will be running a gauntlet of traffic that, with luck, will have no DPS cars or small town PD’s looking for an easy ticket. No lights – check. No current license plate sticker – check. No anti-sway. Hey, Tilley has been a driveway princess until tomorrow. After tomorrow, everything changes … and gets into the realm of “expense.”
I find it hard to imagine how many places we would have already been IF the economy of the past decade hadn’t beaten me to a pulp of my former self. It’s not like it is any better for my business now, but when faced with the “fix it, or forget it” ultimatum … well I have to try to get this done just to salvage the hours I already put in it. Sounds like a relationship doesn’t it?
I’ll take some pictures at A&P tomorrow, and see if they have any new trailers at their site. Just driving up is like seeing people’s presents under their Christmas trees. One thing is certain; tomorrow is going to be an interesting day.
It’s getting down to brass tacks. I was looking for a 2-5/16″ trailer ball, and realized that I don’t even have one. Guess what? Wal-Mart doesn’t have them either. I headed out on the highway to Camping World, and they were closed. Maybe they took President’s Day off?
This wind has to let up before I pull Tilley out of the driveway though. We did have wind warnings here in North Texas today, but I think they are done tomorrow. I’ll find that trailer ball tomorrow as well.
Finishing up the button-up on the trailer today included pulling street side hub and checking the bearings, repacking them and putting it all back together again. Just another day for the Airstream grease monkey. There weren’t any metal pieces or shavings in the old grease, so I know all the noise coming from the hub must be brake rubs, rusted drums and shoes.
It’ll be interesting to see how the trailer sits on the Toyota, with a 500-pound tongue weight.
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