Little Green Airstream
The green renovation of a vintage travel trailer
The original Armstrong air conditioner that was installed on my ’69 Airstream came with a plastic shroud (cover) to protect the unit from the elements. Over time, the plastic degrades, and the shroud needs replacement. In a case like this, where the company is no longer in business, finding parts can present a challenge. On top of that, when parts are not universal and need to conform to...
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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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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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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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