Little Green Airstream
The green renovation of a vintage travel trailer
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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Back in January, I was able to source and purchase fabrics for the upholstery & curtains for the Little Green Airstream: Finding someone who specializes in making curtains for vintage Airstreams meant that they would better understand the idiosyncrasies of these trailers’ interior construction, meaning less guesswork and a greater likelihood that they’d turn out right the first time. But conversely, my experience with custom work is that...
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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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One of the most important aspects of managing a renovation project is to regularly & tactfully communicate with all the people who are working with you. This not only helps to ensure that the work happens in a timely fashion, but it keeps all of the parties on the same page about the scope and costs as they (often) change over time, and it puts your project back...
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