irmatrailer
New Member
Posts: 18
Likes: 3
'64 Shasta Airflyte
Currently Offline
|
Post by irmatrailer on Jan 12, 2018 12:04:08 GMT -8
Greetings from Jacksonville! Just wanted to reach out to all of you who have shared their experiences and expertise on this forum. I am a lifelong car guy and had multiple old trucks and street rods so I am used to moldy old things and knowing that when playing with old things, you need to keep your eyes wide open! After reading posts on multiple vintage trailer sites, watching a bunch of Larry’s videos, and studying everything I could find on Vintage trailers, we began looking for a vintage trailer. We liked the traditional canned ham shape and fell in love with the Shasta Airflyte. We found out quickly that vintage trailers are much rarer in Florida than vintage cars so we started looking coast to coast. The first trailer we viewed was supposedly a rebuild. We even had a DVD on the project. Was not impressed with the quality of the work or the overall condition of the trailer. We found a 64 Shasta Airflyte in Topeka Kansas that looked nice on the inside but needed a few repairs and a paint job. When hurricane Irma hit Jacksonville, we had evacuated the Friday before and decided to head to Topeka, Kansas to look at the trailer. We had agreed upon the price and found the trailer was as advertised so we became first time Canned Hammers! Sooo, our little Airflyte is now IRMA! I had sought advice early from Tim Heintz and he suggested that we not take on a full-blown restoration and to be careful and avoid rolling rot. We absolutely love our Shasta and my wife and I are about 70% finished with the rehab. All the windows were removed, a new curb side lower skin was installed, and the jrails and awning rail was removed. We then prepped and had the trailer painted. We have spent the last 3 – 4 weeks repairing, re-sealing and installing the windows and screens. We just finished the reseal and install of the j rail and awning rail and she has her wings installed!! She is no longer a camper second class.... she has earned her wings!! We bought a new 3-way refrigerator and need to install it and finish a few other small items inside but plan on camping in her in late February down near Bradenton. Hope to see some of you in our neck of the woods! Thanks for all your sharing. It really made the difference between enjoying our first vintage camper project or regretting it.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Currently Offline
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2018 12:11:24 GMT -8
Can I ask why he suggested to not take on a full blown restoration? Do you have any photos to share?
|
|
irmatrailer
New Member
Posts: 18
Likes: 3
'64 Shasta Airflyte
Currently Offline
|
Post by irmatrailer on Jan 12, 2018 12:16:57 GMT -8
Good question. As I am still working and also have a 56 Chevy pickup that I am restoring, Tim thought it would be too much work and would not fit in our time frame...(camping by February). He gave me some great advice and also provided some repairs on Irma as well as inspected the trailer after we bought it.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Currently Offline
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2018 14:56:47 GMT -8
I don't know Tim, but maybe he would want you to pay them to do the restoration instead of you taking it on yourself? Personally, I wouldn't consider anything but a frame off restoration, unless it would be pristine. But that's me, and I do have the tools and shop space. Also, February is a really tight timeline, so I'd guess you wouldn't be camping by then if you took on a full blown project.
Can you post photos?? I'm sure everyone on this site would like to see what you've done so far. There is so much to learn here - lots of experienced folks. I'm certainly not one of them, as I'm fairly new to this adventure myself!
|
|
mobiltec
5K Member
I make mistakes so you don't have to...
Posts: 9,822
Likes: 3,749
1954 Jewel In Progress...
Currently Offline
|
Post by mobiltec on Jan 12, 2018 17:52:44 GMT -8
Welcome to our little mad house! Yes. Photos are a must. It's great that you resealed the trailer. I guess you were able to see what the framing was like underneath when you replaced the lower skin. Don't want to bounce that thing down the road with a rotten frame.
Anyhow welcome to the forum and be sure to look at the tutorial on how to post photos.
|
|
nccamper
Administrator
Posts: 7,744
Likes: 2,871
1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
Currently Offline
|
Post by nccamper on Jan 12, 2018 19:19:36 GMT -8
|
|
irmatrailer
New Member
Posts: 18
Likes: 3
'64 Shasta Airflyte
Currently Offline
|
Post by irmatrailer on Jan 18, 2018 12:50:31 GMT -8
flic.kr/p/22dER5ZHope this works!! More to come... this is about 1 month after we purchased her... all windows were removed and jrail and awning rail removed in preparation for our next step, bring er home and start prepping for painting. The PO had already replaced all of the damaged wood and restored the interior.
|
|
nccamper
Administrator
Posts: 7,744
Likes: 2,871
1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
Currently Offline
|
Post by nccamper on Jan 18, 2018 16:40:20 GMT -8
|
|
mobiltec
5K Member
I make mistakes so you don't have to...
Posts: 9,822
Likes: 3,749
1954 Jewel In Progress...
Currently Offline
|
Post by mobiltec on Jan 18, 2018 19:20:29 GMT -8
I recognize that shop from seeing it on Craig's List. They sell a lot of half finished campers so that people can pick their own colors and stuff. I've done that also.
|
|
|
Post by vikx on Jan 18, 2018 21:15:36 GMT -8
Are they doing good repairs and lifting the skins??
|
|
mobiltec
5K Member
I make mistakes so you don't have to...
Posts: 9,822
Likes: 3,749
1954 Jewel In Progress...
Currently Offline
|
Post by mobiltec on Jan 19, 2018 7:32:55 GMT -8
Are they doing good repairs and lifting the skins?? I haven't seen the actual repairs. Just the finished products...
|
|
charliemyers
Active Member
Posts: 181
Likes: 58
Currently Offline
|
Post by charliemyers on Jan 19, 2018 11:24:41 GMT -8
Are they doing good repairs and lifting the skins?? If that's Tim Heintz's place, you can bet that the important things are done right. I don't have first hand experience with his work, but photos of his facilities & the work that he's produced along with his extensive knowledge of vintage campers says that he's the real deal when it comes to restoration & repair. Charlie Save
|
|
|
Post by vikx on Jan 19, 2018 11:43:35 GMT -8
I've heard good things about Tim Heintz.
|
|
irmatrailer
New Member
Posts: 18
Likes: 3
'64 Shasta Airflyte
Currently Offline
|
Post by irmatrailer on Jan 21, 2018 16:38:40 GMT -8
Someone gets the Eagle Eye award! The picture was taken outside Tim's shop in Panama City, FL after he finished putting a new skin on the lower half curbside. He prepped the trailer for painting by removing all the windows, jrail and awning rail. This was taken in October, about 3 weeks after we dropped it off at Tim's place and before he finished taking the rear and front windows out. He had already replaced the lower skin. Yes, he is fastidious and detailed about his work. Wish I could have afforded to have him do more. Sorry for the delay in getting pics out. I should have about 8 - 10 in the next 3 - 5 days. Heading to Atlanta on business and to visit my grandson.
|
|
irmatrailer
New Member
Posts: 18
Likes: 3
'64 Shasta Airflyte
Currently Offline
|
Post by irmatrailer on Feb 5, 2018 13:05:50 GMT -8
|
|