New Deal for Wheels of Steel

Working in Manhattan as a residential construction project manager, one of the things my bosses clued me into was that the further along you get in a renovation – creating pristine, finished surfaces – everything else around your work starts to look a little rougher. Such was the case with my Airstream’s vintage wheels. I’d already put a lot of work into the systems and interior, but once...

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Finalizing Your Airstream Renovation Budget

In my last post on this topic, we covered the basics of preparing a first draft budget for your renovation. Creating a budget for your Airstream is the same process you’d follow with any other type of architecture, so any experiences you’ve had in the past working with a home renovation can help give you a sense of confidence and familiarity. The main differences are that there are...

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Airstream Polishing (Part 1): Removing the Plasticoat

One of the tasks I wasn’t sure I’d cover during this phase of the renovation is polishing. The Airstream is famous for its mirror finish, and completing a proper renovation meant that I’d eventually want to shine it up. On the other hand, it’s primarily a cosmetic job, irrelevant to the goal of getting safely & comfortably to my destination. Despite earlier delays that added months to my...

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Crash Course in Recycling a Vintage Airstream

By the end of June, I’d started moving forward with my new contractors, Éamon and Paul McMahon. We’d placed orders for replacement parts for the chassis, and agreed on the following scope of work: To supply & install five new outriggers for replacement on the chassis To sandblast and paint the entire chassis, including the A-frame and bumper To fix the entry stairs (which were wobbly in part...

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