elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Sept 5, 2015 15:13:38 GMT -8
Thanks, they are a great trailer. Probably put together better than an Airstream. They have a stronger frame and a better body to floor attachment method.The problem with most of these Aircraft trailers is that the body assembly allows water, that gets in, to travel down to the plywood floor and rot out the floor around the edges. All under the cabinets where you never see it. Plumbing leaks do the same thing. It's a big job to fix, but then there is very little body frame problems since the whole framework is Aluminum. A huge plus there. Even though it's really not a "canned ham" the look is growing on me. Even my wife likes it. It goes with her restored 1916 Heights bungalow, and her BMW. Though she would swear up and down that she has never been into image.
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Sept 5, 2015 7:06:07 GMT -8
I have just started some clean up on the outer shell and posted a few pics of that process on my website. Fortunately most of you don't have to worry about anodized aluminum skins. What a pain. Wayne
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Post by elewayne on Aug 4, 2015 20:47:06 GMT -8
I wanting to redo all the interior lighting in my Silver Streak to LEDs What do I need to know? Are these lights all 12 volt? Do they require special fixtures? What do I do to accomplish this? Electrical is not my strong suite. Wayne
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Post by elewayne on Aug 1, 2015 9:02:05 GMT -8
OK, in the planing stages of the rebuild. Looks like the floor will indeed have to be replaced, not a small job. I will have to remove at least lower inside aluminum panels, so I might as well redo wiring. What do I have to know to do all the lighting in LEDs? does that mean different fixtures of just bulbs. Anything else I might need to know? I don't really have any nice fixtures in the trailer now, except the one cool gas one. Wayne
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Post by elewayne on Jul 9, 2015 7:35:17 GMT -8
In Houston, even my Home Depot has 1/8" birch plywood. $10.00 a sheet. But that being said, In Denver where we were living for some years, I couldn't find any in town. The dry air turned a stack of the stuff into potato chips in no time. Try to find a "Hardwood dealer" rather than a lumber yard( two different things entirely) They will be the ones to stock 1/8" plywood. It may be sold as door skins. That's how I always ask for it. I've been a furniture and cabinet maker for 40 years. Good luck on your trailer, looks cool. Wayne
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Post by elewayne on Jul 7, 2015 7:54:48 GMT -8
Your right Bruce, Having all the pattern pieces will make it all easier and faster, even though I am capable of figuring all that out for myself. I don't have any big problem with the layout and will probably keep the plan, just use much nicer materials. I will set up removable bunk beds over at least one of the singles in the middle. I need to be able to sleep two adults and three kids, (small at this time), for either the parents, or my wife and I, with the kids.I need for this project to move along as quickly as possible. Yes, I love the gas light fixture. There is not much else in the way of fixtures though. Another thing I like a lot is the curved windows in the front. The air works but there is no heater. I'll get all new clean hardware for the doors. I have to clean the shop before I can start the strip out, so I have a place to put stuff. Dreading that. For the two years I've been back in Houston we have worked on the house so the shop has stayed a huge mess since I have not needed to really do any production out there, like when I ran the cabinet shop. so much stuff needs to leave so I can handle a piece of plywood onto the saw. Starting this week, sigh. The architect son is so excited about the Silver Streak. He really wanted me to get one of the aircraft style trailers but I kept saying I thought they were too expensive. IF I found one I could afford, it needed too much work on the sheet metal. That's about the only reason you find a good price on them. Silver Streaks don't hold quite the same value an Airstream does. Airstream's marketing was overwhelming. So far I pretty happy with the purchase. I did spend some time worrying over this one though. I just hope the floor is in reasonable shape under all the cabinets. Also hoping there is not a lot of frame rot under the aluminum belly pans. we'll see. All can be fixed but it can be a real job. Wayne
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Jul 6, 2015 20:28:13 GMT -8
Thanks, I was hoping someone would do that. Wayne
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Post by elewayne on Jul 6, 2015 12:54:10 GMT -8
After a lot of deliberation I decided that with limited funds and a loss of $4,000 on the stolen Lodger, it was probably better that I did not start again with a trailer that needed a total rebuild. Time is becoming an issue too. Also I have no place to work indoors here in Houston. It would be difficult to do a total rebuild outdoors. I would have to build some sort of shelter over the trailer just to stand the heat. We have had a very rainy spring and summer so far as well. So after looking at a lot of wonderful trailers, most of which were too far away, trying to make deals on several which fell through, and deciding some were just too expensive to buy and repair, I decided to go with one with a good shell, leaving me where I left off with the Lodger, ready to start the interior rebuild. A few months ago I'd have said I didn't like the Silver Streak based on it looks. It has grown on me though. Right after the Lodger was stolen I ran across a Yellowstone 19' with two doors on the curb side. I fell in love with these long canned ham trailers from the late 50's. I found a Yellowstone 19' and a 24', a Fan in both sizes too. Then I discovered the Boles Areo in a similar design. All needed a lot of work because of leaks and rot. Total redo trailers, each. Then I ran across this Silver Streak for just $4200. About the cheapest I've seen of the aircraft type silver trailers. In decent shape, that is. It was a decent price, relatively close (in Oklahoma City), and the interior was trash so I didn't have to pay for a decent interior just to trash it anyway. SS did most of their interiors way too dark for the size space in a trailer. That just sucks up all the light. I think they were dog ugly as well. This one was in bad shape too, so no loss. I plan, with the help of my wife and Architect son, using all my furniture and cabinet skills, to rebuild this thing as a very high end trailer. That's the plan anyway. I'll repaint the aluminum interior walls, do a nice floor, and replace all the woodwork with birch or maybe maple, and keep fabrics colorful and cheerful. IT will get all new appliances, as there are none in it now.It needs tires and new axles/brakes, and some dress up on the outside. Should be fun. I'll keep pictures coming. I hope to finish next spring.] Wayne Pictures are at www.silverlodger.com/ Bottom navigation button. Maybe someone could transfer one here for me. I'm going to keep the Silver Lodger site up just in case someone sees the stolen trailer. I'd like to at least get back my $4,000.
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Jul 6, 2015 12:19:10 GMT -8
I have the new trailer on the old SilverLodger.com web site under the last nav button marked Silver Streak, go figure. I'll do a new thread for the streak. Maybe someone could get a picture on the first page of that thread for me. Wayne
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elewayne
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Post by elewayne on Jul 4, 2015 17:16:47 GMT -8
Oh yes, I can feel that pain. If I get down on the floor lately its just plain hard to get up again. Getting old sucks. so I don't have many more of these projects left in me. thanks to everyone. I'll start a new thread called the Silver Streak soon.
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Post by elewayne on Jul 4, 2015 9:11:20 GMT -8
We made it all the way back from Oklahoma City, 10 hour drive. The trailer pulled well, although I thought it might have pulled smoother. Don't know what they should pull like, actually. I managed to back it into my narrow drive way with several people watching. Got a big thumbs up. Can't wait to get started. I do have to finish a project for the house before I start any building. Part of a deal with the boss. I will start tearing out the existing cabinetry. I need to check the condition of the floor.Really hoping not to find a bunch of rot. I'm following a blog of another SS where the guy had to lift the body and replace the plywood floor. Not too expensive but a ton of work.Maybe I can just put a layer over mine, glued down real good and leave it a that. I plan to paint the inside aluminum unless my architect (oldest son)comes up with another idea. All the cabinetry will be wood, birch or maybe maple. I want to keep it light but still fairly warm in tone. It needs all new appliances, nothing there now. I'll start another website page for this trailer as soon as I get a minute. Today's the forth of July, people are coming over, so that may not be today. Can't wait to get the grand kids out on a camp out. We have a girl 5, an boy 3, another girl 9 mo and another ? due in this month from the younger son and his lovely wife. I know the Silver Streak is not a canned ham. I hope I'm not considered a sell out. I'm 66 years old and I think I only have have a few more years to do this kind of stuff. A time will come when I just can't drive, pulling a trailer any more. There is not much external work to do on this one and the interior work is what I'm good at. Hoping to have it ready to go by next spring. My brother and his wife are holding me to that so we can go camping with them. They just bought a new Colman trailer this spring. Wayne
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Post by elewayne on Jul 1, 2015 16:40:12 GMT -8
Worked things out with the wife to some degree and I'm leaving in the morning to pick up the Silver Streak. I have been on quite a roller coaster for the last couple months. I've seen a lot of great trailers for sale. Even tried to buy several but have unable to make the deal. I've been back and forth over getting a basket case cheap rebuilding it. something I'm perfectly able to do except for the money. the wife wants to retire soon and "will not be financing any projects for me". though I've never asked her to. In the end I've decided to spend a bit more up front to get a good shell which puts me about where I was with the Lodger.This trailer needs an interior. At their best SS build dog ugly interiors and this one is not in good shape. That's OK I can deal with that. Should end up with a cool trailer when I'm done. Hopefully in retirement we can still afford to go camping once and while.I will start pics as soon as I get back.Thanks for all the help looking for a trailer. Wayne
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Post by elewayne on Jun 30, 2015 20:21:54 GMT -8
That Barth is cute and seems really well built. I really like the radius corners. Of course they are almost always dented and a very difficult repair. Expensive, I'm sure. Also I've never seen or heard of one before you mentioned it. But that's not all that surprising.
On the axles thing. I think the guys I read about were having problems replacing the older bearings and brake parts from the stock axles, and the expense was just about the cost of new axles and no problems in the foreseeable future if one was to brake something on the road. At least one guy used straight axles instead of the 2" drop axles that came on the trailer. That gave him a little more clearance for his tanks and plumbing.The Silver Streaks come with just common leaf springs, a pair for each axle. No fancy torsion stuff at all. Some owners wish they had gone with a softer suspension, like Airstream, it seems. I wasn't worried about replacing the axles unless there was a big safty concern. Like they might brake in half or something. SS used the old Hadco square drop forged steel axles, may be getting hard to replace parts or may not meet safety codes today for manufacturing with them any longer. I don't know the story.
Not sure yet but I'm about to give up on the whole thing. My wife is way less than supportive on this subject.
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Post by elewayne on Jun 30, 2015 7:17:55 GMT -8
Vikx , Nothing fancy about the SS suspension. Just simple leaf springs on each wheel location. I've seen two blogs where the guys replaced the axles during a rebuild. Of course neither said why. one guy did straight axles instead of the drop axles that were original to lift it some, I think. He got a little more clearance for his tanks and plumbing. Wayne
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Post by elewayne on Jun 29, 2015 18:47:26 GMT -8
Any thoughts on 60's Silver Streak trailers? Very much like Airstreams. Also is there some reason one would want to trade out Axles from that time period? For new ones. Would they be likely to brake?
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