Little Green Airstream
The green renovation of a vintage travel trailer
Happy 2017, everyone!!! 2016 was an incredibly transformative year all around, and this little project was no exception. With the indispensable work of several vendors & contractors and a bit of luck on my side, I was able to get so much done to renovate & restore this 1969 Airstream Trade Wind over the past 12 months! I repaired an (unbeknownst to me) dangerously rusted chassis, fabricated new...
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One of the key benefits of working with my new contractors, Paul & Éamon McMahon, is that both of them are very capable and have been available to work on the trailer in their spare time. So, to some degree I’ve been able to take advantage of their combined experience simultaneously. While Éamon was working to repair the chassis of my ’69 Airstream, Paul went to work updating...
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Once my contractors and I had established an initial scope of work, we then ordered or otherwise salvaged parts that would be used in the renovation process. It was important for me to help establish a sequence for completing the scope of work. So I provided the following list, in order of importance: Chassis Welding Floor Rot Prime & Paint Sandblasting Deadbolt Lock Install Electrical Install new converter...
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Probably the most famous element of the Airstream’s construction is the riveted aluminum paneling, originally inspired by aircraft design. Airstream’s motto, “live riveted,” equates these little fasteners with the trailer brand and the lifestyle of their owners. I’d learned through the Vintage Airstream Podcast and Airstream Life magazine that there are three different types of rivets that are typically used in Airstream construction, the most prominent of which...
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