handkey
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Post by handkey on Jan 20, 2017 11:07:37 GMT -8
Tomorrow I'm riding along with a buddy who is looking at a 1974 31' airstream intl sovereign. Asking $4750 and owner will tow it back the 75 miles to my buddy's house. I told him 31' takes the trailer out of the coveted trailer size range . He is going to park it on some lakeshore property he owns so bigger is better for him! Anyway, what trouble spots should we be looking for when we start clambering around this giant culvert on wheels.
It's currently on CL located in grantsburg WI. If you want pics it's posted.
Desc: says rear bath tore out . Noticed window ac , hacked into the lower side wall. Otherwise looks original and intact .
$4750 is not the deal of the century. But is it a fair asking price? I told him to assume the entire plumping and gas operated systems will need to be gone through. Any airstream specif things we should look for? Rivet arthritis? Body out of round syndrome? A Snobby smell from previous owners?
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Post by danrhodes on Jan 20, 2017 11:25:36 GMT -8
Airstreams often need floors which require shell removal. Check all floor edges.
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handkey
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Post by handkey on Jan 20, 2017 12:24:52 GMT -8
Airstreams often need floors which require shell removal. Check all floor edges. Oh my. U tube videos do not make that look like fun! I like the unitized wall frame/ skin= shell . All foreign to me. Thanks for the tip.
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Post by danrhodes on Jan 20, 2017 14:08:49 GMT -8
Airstreams often need floors which require shell removal. Check all floor edges. Oh my. U tube videos do not make that look like fun! I like the unitized wall frame/ skin= shell . All foreign to me. Thanks for the tip. I had some thoughts of a 22 foot CA edition Land Yacht for $800. The PO had just layered plywood over the whole floor to cover the soft spots, but you could see the delamination at the door edge still. A little googling and I nope'd the heck out of there even though it would have turned a decent profit as a flip. I'll stick to putty tape and leave the rivets for the metalworkers. '
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handkey
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Post by handkey on Jan 20, 2017 14:34:42 GMT -8
Ok, I'm going to jump up and down on the floor and poke around near the edges looking for rot . Sounds like Water is still the enemy, just a very different way to fix em ...
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mobiltec
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1954 Jewel In Progress...
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Post by mobiltec on Jan 20, 2017 19:21:53 GMT -8
The bathroom is a fitted piece of plastic and fiberglass and not easy to replace. For that kind of money it should at least be complete which this one is not. I would pass unless your friend has an endless amount of money and time on his hands.
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Post by vikx on Jan 20, 2017 20:38:22 GMT -8
Check for BUTT SAG. Early 70s Streams with the rear bath are know to have compromised frames because of the holding tank dragging it down. Signs of Butt Sag are wrinkles at or behind the wheel wells and/or obvious droop in the rear. I'm not sure a 74 is included, but it certainly would be a concern. Rebuilders have found broken frames as well.
31 is very long and not a desirable length. If your friend wants a lake house, it would work well for that. Tight turns and hilly terrain are very difficult to navigate with 31 feet tagging along... check on that, too. Many campgrounds don't allow longer rigs, another thing to keep in mind.
Without seeing the trailer, (ad is gone?) it is hard to know what it's worth. And the bathroom is torn up, I think almost 5K is quite a lot for what you describe. It must have a title, be tow-able (safely) and everything should work for that kind of money. Tires should be good, etc. It's OLD and a long one...
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handkey
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Post by handkey on Jan 20, 2017 20:56:37 GMT -8
I think you guys are spot on. Just read a text from my buddy that The seller canceled at 7:00 pm so no Trip to see it and no Wisconsin tavern lunch. Kind of more sad about that last part ! I will pass on the info about 1 piece baths and butt sag on to him... sounds like the seller did him a favor . Thanks again . Btw . I can still find the add on MPLS Craigslist under airstream . It's listed as grantsburg wi inside the ad.
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Ten
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Post by Ten on Jan 20, 2017 21:14:09 GMT -8
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Post by vikx on Jan 20, 2017 21:23:31 GMT -8
Thanks Ten!
Hard to tell if it has Butt Sag or not... The photos are a little blurry and the A/C hanging out could be hiding a multitude of sins.
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Post by rogerthedodger on Jan 20, 2017 22:49:00 GMT -8
I have owned two air streams. Look for sag at the rear bumper, between the storage and the body. It will be obvious. From the pictures I don't see- any, but the owner may have it propped up with blocks. Also, use an icepick and check the floors around the bottom of the walls, and behind cabinets at the walls. Water flows downhill, and in an airstream, follows the curved roof to the floor. Also, the door leaks. Check the floor area in front of the door with ice pick. If the floor has been covered to hide leaks, walk away from it. You will put more money and time in it than you will ever get out of it. Axles will need replacing, they are rubber and have frozen up. This trailer is $2500 tops. Just my $0.02.
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handkey
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Post by handkey on Jan 21, 2017 4:25:47 GMT -8
This does not sound like a good project to take on. the restoration skill set is not a perfect overlap with canned hams etc. I would not be a great support person for him. Thanks again for the knowledge sharing.
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msgoehring
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Post by msgoehring on Jan 21, 2017 8:30:46 GMT -8
No comment on if this is a good thing to buy or not, I just want to know if that's the original television from 1974 sitting on the kitchen counter? And the a/c sticking out the side like it is makes this thing look even more wrong than usual LOL. I'm so glad your friend got cancelled on, he'll find something better and be much happier.
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handkey
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Post by handkey on Jan 21, 2017 9:54:59 GMT -8
No comment on if this is a good thing to buy or not, I just want to know if that's the original television from 1974 sitting on the kitchen counter? Could be a 1974 TV or 1974 microwave! They were about the same size.
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Post by rogerthedodger on Jan 22, 2017 8:29:45 GMT -8
That A/C hanging out the side is in the area usually occupied by the hot water heater and battery box. I guess the A/C on the roof is not working?
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