Flappy64Astro
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"Glamping" ha? What's that? 6 days later 64' Shasta Astrodome in driveway.
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Post by Flappy64Astro on Jul 30, 2013 17:18:17 GMT -8
Hi All, Very excited to be here, purchased a 64 Astrodome. I have so many questions. I'm doing things I know how to do while watching many UTube videos via MobilTec, thank you Mr. Mobiltec, I will be making a donation. Here are a couple of Random questions if anyone can help me.
1. Anyone have experience towing the Astrodome or Astroflyte? I have a Buik Enclave wich is pretty rounded in the back but curious if anyone else has towed with like vehicles.
2. Door handle - It's pretty pitted but I have original keys an would like to salvage it. I was quoted $700 to restore the handle and and thing you pull yourself up the step (is there a proper term for this). Any thoughts on the best way to restore? Also, was there a light in the thing you pull yourself up in?
3. Layout, the one thing I don't like about the Astrodome specifically is there is nowhere to sit across from eachother like the Airflyte. I am considering removing the stove and working in booth type seatings but my delema is I want to keep it original. Any thoughts how to do this without loosing integrity or should I keep it original? I only have the fronts of the seats for whatever reason so it needs to be re-built anyway.
I bought this from a wonderful couple in Indiana and am located in IL. That's it for now, can't wait to hear back as I really have no idea what I'm doing.
Thank You, Char
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Hamlet
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Post by Hamlet on Jul 30, 2013 17:34:27 GMT -8
There was another version of the "dome" that had benches and a good-sized table in front (sort of under the dome. I think it was the Astroflyte. And if I remember correctly, there was someone here who reconfigured theirs to have the table/benches. Maybe it was on the old VSTF. Hmm.
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Flappy64Astro
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"Glamping" ha? What's that? 6 days later 64' Shasta Astrodome in driveway.
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Post by Flappy64Astro on Jul 30, 2013 17:40:52 GMT -8
As I'm sure everyone knows.. I meant 1964.
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Ten
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70 Shasta 16SC + 1964 Airflyte
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Post by Ten on Jul 30, 2013 17:49:46 GMT -8
First, Hi! Welcome aboard! Glad you could make it. Don't worry about the "Not knowing what I am doing" part...we all started there, and some of us are still pretty much there! that is what makes it so much fun! First, so far as towing it, please please PLEASE put safety first on your list of things to do! Find out for sure what your Enclave is capable of towing around before making too may big plans for trips. It isn't getting it to go that is so important, it is getting ti to stop! Door handle...every so often one will turn up for sale that is "new old stock", although they are very rare, but you can buy new old stock for less that that $700 figure. Re-chroming and restoration is expensive especially for a good job done, but the key here is patience. The layout question is a real challenge. There are a couple people that I know converted their SC models to include a dinette instead of the gaucho couch in the front. The conversion is rather intense, but can be done. The idea of keeping it original is really going to be up to you, it is such a matter of personal taste that there is no right answer to that. I'd really like to point you in the direction of a blog of a friend....this is a great point of perspective....an Astrodome turned into the Airflyte. Be sure to get back to the oldest posts...it is a dream makeover. www.schweetcruisers.blogspot.com/
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Flappy64Astro
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"Glamping" ha? What's that? 6 days later 64' Shasta Astrodome in driveway.
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Post by Flappy64Astro on Jul 30, 2013 18:23:46 GMT -8
Funny, I read that makeover twice before I understood the Astrodome to the Astroflyte concept but what I didn't catch is they did change the front to the booth seating. Thanks for pointing that out.
Also, than you for the safety tips. Luckily I work for a company that has an elite safety team that will be helping me asure everything is safe when all is done, we have a mechanic on staff. We haven't tested it out yet, looks like it will be ok though. I did read in one post about the trailer tipping over due to wind and almost taking the car with it. Is this common?
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saphie113
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Good Lord, I have NO idea what I'm doing.
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Post by saphie113 on Jul 31, 2013 6:08:35 GMT -8
We have a 61 Astrodome that we think we can tow with our Durango. But we aren't 100% sure yet. I am going to follow you and hope to learn from anything you share. My husband is on here too, he's Ad Shasta Per Aspera. He doesn't comment much, but if you see him, he's talking about our Astrodome too.
(We have a dinette in our pop up trailer, and rarely use it, I'm keeping our front gaucho and looking forward to it being a nice couch to sit and talk together.)
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Flappy64Astro
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"Glamping" ha? What's that? 6 days later 64' Shasta Astrodome in driveway.
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Post by Flappy64Astro on Jul 31, 2013 10:58:22 GMT -8
Hey Saphie113, I checked out your Astrodome and read a bit about it. Sounds great. Mine isn't in that great of shape inside but after looking at the interiors of many I guess it's about average. What are your plans for it? I have 6 yr. old twin boys so I want to make it fun and a memory for them in general so I am really strugling with re-store or re-do. I think I'm going to re-do but do my best to keep it looking in the era. I picked mine up on the 13th. How long did it take you to find her? Did you name her? I think mine is "Flappy" due to many issues getting it home and aluminum flapping in the wind. Previous owner started removing the jrail and the front top window was out (but all the rest were taped up) so when we started pulling it it blew out the sides. Talk about second thinking what the heck you are doing. We were so concerned about the weels, trailer hitch, etc. missed that one.
Well I look forward to hearing about your Astro and I am now following you too!
How did your husband post a picture.. can't figure it out??
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saphie113
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Good Lord, I have NO idea what I'm doing.
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Post by saphie113 on Jul 31, 2013 18:10:29 GMT -8
There's a tutorial on here somewhere about posting photos, I'm not sure, I leave the photo posting to Husband. Sorry!
Her name is The Gypsy Cowgirl Bar & Grill (I make the drinks, Husband grills.) it's supposed to be funny, I'm not sure if it is or not. We call her Gypsy. Today is her 52nd birthday. I invited a fellow Sister on the Fly member to come over for dinner and molten chocolate cake and to meet her in honor of her special day.
I looked for weeks, but everything around was... Well... Crap. Someone here posted a link to her on eBay, she looked good, and I got her for the lower end of what I wanted to pay. Of course then it cost me ver $1000 to have her shipped here, but, that's the way it is.
My plans are to patiently wait while my husband tries to take her old rims off (liquid wrench, impact wrench?) so we can put her new tires on, then take her to a guy another Sister recommended for a complete checkup. I want them in particular to check the frame on the back panel, install or repair electric brakes, upgrade the electrical system, and... I forget, I've got a list. Oh, yeah, the teeny tiny leak in the bunk vent. Probably going to ask them to do a new floor, too. I don't think I want to mess with removing the original (asbestos) tiles that are in there under the carpet. We have two children, a three year old and a baby, it's hard to get a shower, not to mention hours to work on the trailer myself. Plus, the weather here is horrid. I'm on here to understand what I need to have done professionally, and then do what I can myself.
I'm a little unsure of what to do with her after she's road worthy and sound. She's so close to original, I hate the idea of even sticking a nail in the wall to hang a picture. But the whole reason I bought a new trailer was I wanted to make a cozy home away from home and our pop up has collapsible canvas walls. So I bought her to get her healthy, decorate and go camping, so I have to figure out a compromise - honor her past but make her ours for a future full of camping memories to be made for my boys. I'm planning on doing her in a vintage western theme. Old camp/trade blankets, quilts, hair on cowhide rugs, woven wool pillows, fringed curtains, some horns and antlers, vintage western themed paint by numbers, and a couple of tiny southwestern landscape oil paintings. You get the picture. I am thinking of painting her turquoise and cream, but that's only after EVERYTHING else is done. I don't even really want to get that far ahead of myself. I'm just praying she's in as good a shape as she appears to be.
I think I would have gotten sick if her sides had blown out. Good for you for sticking with it!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2013 18:36:07 GMT -8
Hey wait that's my blog! Sorry I don't come on here much anymore, but I probably have the most experience towing a Astrodome/Astroflyte with a modern SUV(sorry if that sounds cocky). My old tow vehicle was a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder, and while yes it fit under the loft the area's you need to be concerned about the corners when your turning and the major pinch point when the trailer is going downhill and truck is going uphill. I used a 18" hitch extension to tow mine when I first bought it, I felt the extension torqued the extension and frame too much to be safe even though I had a class 4 receiver. Think back to physics, and using a lever to pry something, the longer the bar, the more it will flex. Look at the photo below and notice the angle of the hitch extension and how much my Pathfinder was sagging in the rear.
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Post by vikx on Jul 31, 2013 21:37:34 GMT -8
I hear ya, Schweet. The domes tend to interfere when they can...
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Flappy64Astro
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"Glamping" ha? What's that? 6 days later 64' Shasta Astrodome in driveway.
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Post by Flappy64Astro on Aug 6, 2013 9:11:11 GMT -8
Thank you Schweetcruisers, I will definitely take that into account.. so much to think about. Crazy what you did to yours! Looks great though!
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peterr
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Post by peterr on Aug 6, 2013 10:17:54 GMT -8
I have a 1964 Astroflyte. The original tounge on the frame was extended . This allows me to tow with my jeep without any issues. I would not put to much faith is a 12 inch extention.. Just too much weight to be balanced .. I will post pictures later. link
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peterr
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Post by peterr on Aug 6, 2013 10:43:59 GMT -8
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Flappy64Astro
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"Glamping" ha? What's that? 6 days later 64' Shasta Astrodome in driveway.
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Post by Flappy64Astro on Aug 6, 2013 13:25:45 GMT -8
Thanks Peterr! This is what I'll do, Perfect. Now to find a welder. Add that to the list. Here she is, previous owners started her restore.. see the missing front window.. Imagine that on the drive home.. hence her name as of now.. flappy. blew out the sides from the air not being able to escape. Little daunting at first but we are plugging away. I'll post what we have done so far soon. ETA 10/31/13, LOL!
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peterr
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Post by peterr on Aug 6, 2013 13:28:19 GMT -8
Thanks Peterr! This is what I'll do, Perfect. Now to find a welder. Add that to the list. just remember your serial number is on the frame so you want to make sure they use that original piece
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