Well, that's what it feels like.
Of course, it's my own choice to be in this belly. Life would be much simpler if I could just accept a half-!@#ed job, button up the floor and walls and say, 'good enough.' Alas, a few life experiences no longer allow me to circumnavigate those waters. "Why do it right when you can do it cheaper?" is no maxim to follow when renovating an Airstream. You can't have better, faster, cheaper. You might be able to have two of the three, but all three spell disaster.
And this is why the shell is coming off. The prospect of trying to get the floor into the floor channel was impossible due to all the perimeter being rotten. I had to push, pry, cajole, sawzall, drill and rip it out. Some of it's fairly mangled, so I'll have to invent some ways of securing floor to ribs at those spots. "L" brackets come to mind. So, thanks to the folk at Drivin' & Vibin' (this couple has serious production values. Me? Not so interested. Here's their video: https://youtu.be/tshn3xP0mes). I watched their video a few times, talked to my nephew Karl (Wunderkind with all things practical—saved me from making some SERIOUS errors, potentially catastrophic [this is what happens when you work above your usual pay grade]) and decided if others have done, it can't be that difficult, right?
Mostly true. Building the skeleton to hold the shell was easy. Here are a few shots.
Of course, it's my own choice to be in this belly. Life would be much simpler if I could just accept a half-!@#ed job, button up the floor and walls and say, 'good enough.' Alas, a few life experiences no longer allow me to circumnavigate those waters. "Why do it right when you can do it cheaper?" is no maxim to follow when renovating an Airstream. You can't have better, faster, cheaper. You might be able to have two of the three, but all three spell disaster.
And this is why the shell is coming off. The prospect of trying to get the floor into the floor channel was impossible due to all the perimeter being rotten. I had to push, pry, cajole, sawzall, drill and rip it out. Some of it's fairly mangled, so I'll have to invent some ways of securing floor to ribs at those spots. "L" brackets come to mind. So, thanks to the folk at Drivin' & Vibin' (this couple has serious production values. Me? Not so interested. Here's their video: https://youtu.be/tshn3xP0mes). I watched their video a few times, talked to my nephew Karl (Wunderkind with all things practical—saved me from making some SERIOUS errors, potentially catastrophic [this is what happens when you work above your usual pay grade]) and decided if others have done, it can't be that difficult, right?
Mostly true. Building the skeleton to hold the shell was easy. Here are a few shots.
 |
| Start by laying out the stringers. |
 |
| Create cross members (not to be confused with folk at church business meetings) |
 |
| Voila! The spiny skeleton that would make a Pike proud. |
The shell will be raised with five jacks, placed under the stringers. As soon as the shell is 5.5 inches up, 2x6s will be inserted back, middle and front, and then we'll continue to raise the shell until the wheels on the chassis can clear the shell (six sawhorses will carry the weight of the 2x6 beams). Then the real fun begins. First, I'll be grinding away at rust in order to prepare for painting. Then, my neighbor Pat is going to teach me how to weld some additional support to a few out riggers. I was fortunate: my trailer didn't live near the ocean or travel salty roads. The issues are mostly surface rust, with a few outriggers that look like a mouse has chewed on cheese.
On another note, I made my first order with Vintage Trailer Supply, Vintage Trailer Gaskets, and Airparts. By the end of the week, I'll have what's needed to begin reattaching windows with new weather seals, and begin aluminum fabrication (got a buck rivet and pop rivet gun coming, two essential tools). The belly pan is in really good shape but I've got enough 5052H32 aluminum arriving so I'll be able to make entirely new sections.
I called Colin Hyde last week to get a quote for new axles. Things are starting to happen! I'm slowly moving from demolition/preparation to some rebuilding.
Hope your week went as well as mine.
No comments:
Post a Comment