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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Repairing Vintage Airstream Locks & Access Doors

Having started the polishing process, I didn’t want to lose sight of the more important “quality of life” tasks left on my list. Primarily, anything to do with the existing appliances / systems, addressing water leaks, and making sure that the trailer would be safe & secure. After I’d crashed my parts trailer the previous summer, I’d taken off all of the access doors and the original lock...

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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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