First off, we’ve been training for the LIVESTRONG Challenge coming up next weekend.  We are planning on cycling 45 miles through the Hill Country west of town.  We checked out the course and agree that it’ll be a great personal challenge, but more importantly, a way to make a small difference in the fight against cancer.  You can see our fund-raising page here:  http://austin08.livestrong.org/steve.

We’ve been taking advantage of the Vintage Trailer Supply sales to purchase two 30-lb aluminum propane tanks (free shipping) and more recently purchased the remaining curved glass windows we’ll need to finish the weatherproofing process.  Along with the glass we purchased some new glass clips and the metal trim that was added to the ‘68 models.  We’ll probably get started on the installation process next weekend when the parts arrive (good thing we have a full work day before the big ride).

In the mean time we’ve cleaned and weatherstripped four of the windows (two curb-side, front and rear).  We have the small curved window next to the door, the window that currently has a room air conditioner hanging out of it, and the front street-side window.

Once the windows are complete, we are debating our next move.  We still have a few projects to finish in and around the house.  Knowing the Airstream will be sealed up eases our minds however we really want to dig in to the floor and see how extensive the frame damage may be.

We’ll have more here in a few weeks when the remaining windows are done and we have a plan for the next project.

While I was in there, I took apart the window crank assembly and gave all the parts a once-over with steel wool as well to remove some of the oxidation and give it some shine. I removed the window catches from the ledge and replaced all of the rusted metal screws with new zinc ones of the same size.  That seemed to be the only rusting component besides the window clips (I’m nervous to replace those as they could easily break the glass during removal). I re-greased the window operator and re-assembled everything.

After cleaning the weatherstripping area with alcohol, I rough-cut the new weatherstripping to length and then cut the miters for the corners. A quick peel of the backing and the windows were sealed up. I shut the window tight to hold the weatherstripping in place while the adhesive set up. On the 29 inch window I found a small gap toward the top of the curve that didn’t sit tight against the weatherstripping. I’m not sure if the glass is warped or the Airstream shell is slightly out of shape. Judging by the rain we got later in the day, it doesn’t look like an issue for now though I’ll keep an eye on it.

All told, I completed two windows and started the weatherstrip removal of a third.  It was clearly slow-going to find the right products clean up all of the components however I now have a working idea of how the windows need to be restored so I’ll tackle a few more this coming weekend.

We left the dealership and headed north to Charles Maund Toyota.  We had contacted internet sales and had a quote on a ‘08 Sequoia SR5.  They didn’t have the quoted vehicle at the dealership (the owners were using it as an around-town loaner).  We headed up to Round Rock Toyota, whom we had also contacted.  They had two 4×4 SR5s in stock.  We quickly ruled out the white one as it lacked a few features we were looking for (and the color played a bit of a role too).  We opted for the pyrite model with a few upgrades including leather seats, sound system, sunroof, back-up camera, power 3rd row seats, etc.  It’s a bit more lux than we were aiming for but it met the basic criteria too (tow package, cold weather kit, 4×4).  After minimal negotiation on our trade-in, we wrapped up the deal and were on our way back down I-35.  Not a bad way to finish an Airstream-oriented day.

We should make note that our trade was a Scion xA so we have a bit of adjusting to do with our “rig.”  70 mph on the highway feels more like 55 and looking down into pick-up trucks and minivans is a bit unnerving.  The Sequoia is huge!  We’re certainly late to the SUV party and given the continuing rise of gas prices, have been receiving sidelong looks here and there (even in Texas!).  We’re a bit heavy-hearted about the environmental footprint of our new vehicle though know it’s a necessary part if you buy into Airstream ownership.  At present, public transportation will not get either of us to our jobs but we’ve already adopted carpooling several days a week.  We are aiming to minimize non-towing miles on the Sequoia as much as possible.

We’re planning on making a few online orders to get the Airstream sealed up within the next few weeks and then tackle that floor rot.  We’re back on the warpath of this rennovation project — stay tuned!

The rear of the Airstream has some mortar mix patching in the corner of a closet. We dug a bit of it out and found that the floor was damp in this area as well. There must be a leak near the vent pipe from the plumbing.

Based on these findings and wanting to fix-up this trailer only once, we may end up gutting the whole thing, replacing the entire floor, and re-constructing the woodwork. That said, the summer trip may need to be postponed to fall/winter. We’re both getting adjusted to that fact and after wrapping up the kitchen in the house, plan to tackle sealing up the windows and doors. We’ll probably place our order with Vintage Trailer Supply for windows this week.

Let’s just say that we got inspiration and a whole lot more.  We’ve been contemplating joining the WBCCI for a little while but thought we’d sign up once we’re actually on the road.  The rally definitely changed our minds as we met more and more friendly people willing to share stories, tips, and their own Airstreams for us to inspect.  What a great bunch of people!  Granted we were out-aged by about 30 years but we were readily welcomed to the club and  hit it off with the whole crowd.  I’d been in touch with John Irwin a few weeks prior since I saw his writing in Airstream Life and found out he lived in Austin and grew up in Pennsylvania (double-coincidence).  We met him early Saturday and he introduced us around to several others from Austin and the surrounding area.  We were quickly shown around the first few Airstreams on display while we furiously jotted notes to keep up with ideas and suggestions from the proud owners.  As the afternoon wore on and warmed up we settled into a routine.  Ellen got our stats down, “‘68 Ambassador, 28 feet” and raised a few eyebrows with her enthusiasm for all things Airstream.  We petted dogs lounging in the shade of their aluminum homes, talked to a few full-timers from Canada and met several Airstreamers from other regions.  The common theme was genuine interest, friendliness and a shared bond of understanding for what I’ll call the ‘Airstream spirit.’

The best part of the day was learning about the International Airstream Rally occurring this summer in Bozeman, Montana.  Perfect!  We now have a timeframe, location and most importantly a tangible goal for fixing up our Airstream and going on our honeymoon.

Open roads, here we come.

The lower window next to the door has been collecting water on the inside sill.  That explains some of the water damage I found on the floorboard near the door.  It appears that the topmost window in that section may be contributing to the damage as well.

The stovetop vent also has a small leak towards the rear of the mounting which has probably caused the rotted plywood behind the kitchen countertop.

At one point the street-side bedroom window was retro-fitted with a window air conditioning unit.  The remaining window opening was covered in plexiglass.  The air conditioner sits on metal brackets on the window sill and around this lower edge there is a small gap.  It doesn’t appear to be leaking, however there is water pooled in the metal channel below it.

All of the rooftop vents and AC unit look to be leak-free.  I was worried about one of the vents as the aft handle is disconnected from the vent top.

Priority number one over the next few weeks will be to find replacement gaskets for the windows and door.

The front of the frame slides out and the couch cushion unfolds to become a double bed.  The sliding action seems smooth and all stops are still intact.

Once the main frame was removed, the lower hinge and frame area was revealed.  This frame is secured to the tops of the under-couch cabinets and into the front wall of the Airstream.  The wall screws were either loose or missing, leading to a sagging frame and small crack in one of the cross-pieces.  As you can see, the center support is no longer attached.  Also to note, you can now see the freshwater holding tank.  We haven’t investigated it yet for its condition (we can’t open the inlet cap on the exterior of the Airstream either).

On each side of the couch there is a small plywood panel side frame that squares off the curved wall and provides a form for the armrest cushions to fit.  The plywood subfloor is visible in this image and there appears to be some water damage in this corner (next to the exterior door).  More to come on that investigation later.