March 15th, 2012
do you have a vintage camper that you’ve fancied up?
we’d love to share an eye candy photo on *camp1899*
just send us one {or more if you wish} photos to hello@camp1899.com
…please put eye candy in the subject line
(photos:pinterest)
March 7th, 2012
A big hello to neighbors from the North.. Greg, Jennifer, and their two boys hail from Canada and sent me an email sharing their Airstream adventures, tales of renovation, and tips for those thinking of embarking on the same journey.. thanks Greg for taking time out to answer my questions and share photos.. ♥ that cotton candy pink!
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1. Do you travel full or part time (or just for weekend trips)?
Jennifer is from Northwestern Ontario; she is used to being at a cabin in the summertime, and my family cottage is in Inverhuron. We decided to purchase a “traveling cottage” so that we could explore all the beautiful provincial parks in southwestern Ontario and give our boys the experience of Ontario’s beautiful natural lakes. Our traveling is limited to weekends and summer holidays with our sons, aged 8 and 1 ½.
2. How did you decide on an Airstream as your RV of choice?
We have always loved the timeless lines of the Airstream trailer ~ their clean lines look both modern and retro. The attention to detail and history were a real draw. With Airstream, we knew we’d own a trailer that was beautiful, functional and that held its value.
3. What year is your Airstream and did you do the restoration yourself?
We wanted an Airstream that was pre-1970 because we were very interested in the natural teak interior. Our 31” Airstream Sovereign Land Yacht was built in 1969 in California. We did the restoration ourselves over a period of five months. Fortunately the exterior work had been completed by the previous owner who restores antique aircraft. He decided to paint the exterior silver instead of polishing the aluminum. He basically said: “I want to spend my limited weekends and holidays camping and enjoying the outdoors, not buffing my trailer.” We are happy with the painted finish, it stays shiny without all the manual labour of buffing and looks great.
The interior was useable but was showing its age. Thick carpet covered the trailer from bow to stern (even the entire bathroom floor…..hello mold factory!). At the time of purchase, the owner mentioned that there were “spongy spots” near the toilet, but that he hadn’t wanted to poke around too much. We ripped all the carpet out and discovered rotten holes around the toilet and along the rear wall. In fact, the only thing holding up the rear of the trailer was the black tank as the floor had completely rotted away from the supporting channel. Complete rear end separation!
In the front half of the trailer, water had seeped down through an improperly replaced window, causing rot in the floor along the wall and underneath the “gaucho.” To track the water damage, all the front interior wall skins were removed, wiring was inspected and repaired, new insulation (Roxal) was installed before removing sections of subfloor and replacing with ¾” pressure-treated plywood. All of the rivets were drilled out of the leaking window, a replacement Lexan pane was installed and tinted to match the other windows, and finally re-riveted.
The bathroom was totally gutted, right down to the frame rails and the ribs. The wall skins were removed, wiring was re-wrapped and replaced, new installation installed, and an inverter was added. A new sub-floor was added (much to the relief of the black tank), and covered with a new vinyl one-piece before reassembly. A new toilet, new fixtures, and copper/ABS plastic plumbing, as well as an “improvised” copper shower curtain to keep our little tub splashers from getting too wild. Last, but not least, we discovered the old water heater had frozen and the tank was split; we ended up installing a new 10-gallon Atwood electric/ propane water heater which was absolute heaven and definitely lifted our “camping” experience to the “Airstream” experience.
On our brand new subfloors we installed a cork floor from the bathroom forward. Lightweight, durable, and a perfect compliment to the vintage teak interior (not to mention, reasonably priced), the cork floor was perfect for little bare feet to patter along.
Cosmetically, our trailer needed an update. The original pea-green and old-gold colours had to go. We stripped the old mactac off of the overhead bins and replaced with a brighter, turquoise/brown polka dot pattern. Speaker covers, switchplate covers, the oven trim plate were all spray painted a soft gold. After online Airstream forum research we decided to paint all interior walls in a light turquoise using Zinsser Perma-White Mould & Mildew-Proof Interior paint (yes, it’s tintable!) ~ the bathroom we painted in a vintage Cotton Candy Pink.
We replaced all of the old screens with black aluminum screening. The spline size is not the typical standard size as we found out after a few failed attempts. The screens were damn difficult to replace, but we got the hang of it. We found the right size at Lowes for a fraction of the Airstream dealers price. We also removed the old blinds and replaced with bamboo roll-up blinds. The kitchen curtains, throw pillows, and the dividing curtain were reupholstered with a complimentary fabric in vertical stripes and trimmed with white shell trim to echo the polka dots. We also replaced the bathroom blind with a new white vinyl roll up blind. We reupholstered all of the couch cushions with a durable brown velvet fabric that would be kid-friendly and not clash with all of the other colours.
All of the 110V electric receptacles and switches were updated. Interior lights were all converted to use LED/incandescent with a two-position switch. The LED saves battery power but doesn’t have the ambience of the incandescent light. We could go on for a few more pages, but you get a general idea of the work done inside.
4. What tips do you have for those thinking of restoring one themselves?
Ask yourself: how much do I love my marriage? Ha Ha! (love this! we say the same thing!!)
Do not attempt a complete restoration in five months.
Absolutely investigate any “squishy spots” and do not install carpet. Ever.
A propane/electric water heater is a beautiful thing.
A propane/electric fridge… also good. We were able to stop wherever we wanted, cook up a lunch for the kids, and get back on the road.
5. 31 ft is not the biggest, but is a long Airstream, do you find that challenging or is it totally worth the extra space?
We were amazed by the space. Definitely worth it if you have a vehicle that has enough power to pull it. Longer camping sites need to be reserved farther in advance we’ve found, so “spur of the moment” camping sprees are somewhat limited.
6. What do you know now that you wish you had known when you first got started?
“Squishy spots” are expensive. Buy a rock guard for the front window, it’s well worth the $500 as 1969 is the only year with the “squared off” corner on the side windows which cost $500 to replace.
7. Have you traveled in the U.S. as well as Canada? What are the major differences if so (in relation to camping)?
We haven’t taken the trailer to the U.S. yet, but we have friends who highly recommend Michigan’s National Parks.
8. We can’t wait to explore Canada, any need to know info for traveling throughout?
We have yet to leave our province of Ontario, but would like to travel to the eastern provinces in the next couple years.
Provincial parks have great websites for viewing your actual site which can be reserved in advance. Here is a link to the Ontario one we frequently use : http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/index.html
9. Favorite camping spots?
Algonquin Provincial Park
The Pinery Provincial Park
Inverhuron Provincial Park
Sauble Falls Provincial Park
10. What’s your number one advice for anyone thinking of rv’ing?
Educate yourself on how all of the systems on your trailer work and what condition they are in. There is a pile of information available on Internet forums, do some research before you jump right in.
February 28th, 2012
We are so happy to share a question and answer & home-on-wheels tour today with another Argosy owner, we love our tiny painted Airstream and never once ran into someone else with one while traveling all of last year, it’s fun to see others (as owners particularly) because the layouts are very similar in many models with only slight tweaks.. this 24ft model is much different with the middle bedroom but otherwise there are still lots of similarities. We were introduced by fellow airstreamers Tiffany & Deke over cyberspace and hope to meet up one day on the road… David has given tons of fantastic advice/information in this Q&A.. anyone thinking about taking the plunge will be loaded with good info..
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1. How did you decide on an Airstream as your camper of choice and specifically an Argosy?
I’ve noticed Airstreams all my life, and I’ve always been fascinated with them. They were pretty much the only RV that didn’t seem “frumpy” to me, though I still find that the interior of some of them is a bit of a disconnect from the sleek streamlined exterior. Chris Deam commented on the same thing, saying it was odd to walk into the door of the ’90s Airstreams and go from the retro-modern exterior into “grandma’s kitchen.” (Owners of Classics will probably give me hell for that answer.) I’m a bit obsessive about research and when I found AIRForums I dove in headfirst, reading a ton about the trailers (and learning about the construction of other brands in the process) and realized that the durability/restorability of Airstreams made it more appealing than most other brands (Streamline, Silver Streak and the older silver Avions would also qualify there.)
Our Argosy was just a happy coincidence… I wasn’t specifically looking for or avoiding Argosy trailers, but it happened to be The One. When we found out we were staying here for at least a few years, I started looking. I checked out several vintage trailers far and near, and ended up finding the Argosy only 12 miles from the house. I happened to see the listing 15 minutes after it was posted, called the same day to make an appointment to inspect it 2 days later, and thus began the grand adventure/addiction. I was very skeptical about it, because the seller didn’t even post any pictures and the price was higher than lots of the listings, but it was better than even the description in the listing, and I’m still convinced it was worth every penny.
2. What year/length is your Argosy and were you looking for a particular size?
Our trailer is a 1975 Argosy24 (so 24 feet from bumper to hitch). I was looking for a mid-sized trailer (22-27 feet) mainly because I was a little intimidated at the idea of towing a really big trailer (and I didn’t want to feel like I needed a big truck) and I knew that the smaller sizes are in higher demand and therefore a bit pricy. So far it’s turned out to be a “just right” size for us… we’re both big guys, and when we travel with the dogs it’s good to have enough room for everyone to settle somewhere without tripping over one another.
3. We love having a painted Airstream versus the traditional silver, have you ran into many on your weekend outings? (we never do)
We’re also very happy with the painted trailer, though our paint is the original 1975 paintjob, so refreshing that is going to happen somewhere down the road. So far I haven’t seen another Argosy when we’ve been camping, though 2 different random people at gas stations and a few Airstream owners have said they used to have an Argosy. Every one of them has said they regretted selling it too! One of the advantages of an Argosy in Texas is that they don’t heat up in the sun quite as much as the silver trailers. It’s still MUCH better to have good shade, but even with our antique AC unit we can usually keep it comfortable inside.
4. What do you love/hate about your set up?
We really love the panoramic front windows. It’s the biggest advantage of an Argosy over a silver trailer of the same era, the Airstream models didn’t get panos until the 80s (on a few models.) If you buy an Argosy, PROTECT YOUR PANOS! You just can’t get the clear-glass panos anymore unless they come from a scrapped trailer, we had custom padded protectors made for when we’re towing that remove easily, so we get great light when we’re camping (the Airstream rock guards have a dark tint).
The next problem we need to solve is the mattresses (both, ours is a twin-bed floorplan.) They’re not original anyway, so I’m not conflicted about it like I would be if we had to replace the cushions on the dinette w/ their funky ’70s fabric. They’re just not thick/supportive enough for big guys, and we often wake up with sore/stiff backs and shoulders. We need thicker mattresses with denser foam and perhaps a memory-foam layer on top.
5. Are you equipped for boondocking? Did your Argosy already have a gray tank and if not did you install one?
In theory we could boondock in moderate weather, but we haven’t yet tried it out. We still have the recalled original Suburban furnace, and the only way to check whether or not the fix for the recall has been done involves taking it out… which involves dismantling the galley cabinets, which means removing the range and sink… funny how satisfying a little ceramic heater can be when you have 120v power! (; They started with (tiny!) gray tanks in 1974, so our trailer has 15 gallons of graywater storage. With careful use we’ve had 4-day stays without a sewer hookup and hadn’t filled it. We’ve only got 1 battery and still have mostly incandescent lights, so 2 nights boondocking with VERY careful power usage would be our limit without buying a generator.
6. Advice for those dreaming of buying their very own?
Research first, then DO it. And don’t be in a hurry to buy the first one you see. There is a fantastic “airstream trailer inspection checklist” on the AIRForums website that I’d recommend anyone use (just do a Google search for the string I have in quotes, it’s currently the first result.) Don’t expect a $4000 trailer to be perfect, odds are you’ll spend that amount on it again getting it into good shape. Ours was in very good shape (and cost well over $4k), we could have gone camping right away, but there are still things to improve. I hear from people with brand new ones that those also cost money to keep road-ready.
Also, think VERY carefully about the sleeping arrangements. If one of you thrashes about in your sleep or needs lots of space, a double bed ain’t enough for 2. A “real” queen (that’s not in the corner) or a twin-bed plan may be better for you, it is for us!
7. As gourmands, any challenges in the kitchen?
The size of the range has been a problem from time to time. Even though we try to have right-sized cookware, those burners are CLOSE together and getting everything done at the same time takes a little practice. We’ve learned to plan meals that are galley-friendly, such as one item finishing in the oven while the rest finish on a burner or two. We’ve also bought a nice little Coleman propane grill with a burner so we can cook part of the meal outside.
8. Favorite spots you’ve been to?
Mill Creek Park near Jasper, TX is a nice place if it’s not too hot. It’s a Corps of Engineers campground on Lake Sam Rayburn, with great tall trees and good spacing between the campsites. Blanco State Park is also very nice. We’re still trying new places for most of our trips, we haven’t had the Argosy long enough to do a lot of repeat visits.
9. You belong to an Airstream group.. is that fun?
We belong to two, a unit of the official WBCCI club and the unofficial AIRForums group. Both have been great for us.
We’re in the Heart of Texas Camping Unit of the WBCCI, which is a “virtual” unit in that we have our business meetings/votes/etc. online via email, and all of our events are about camping. It’s a great, diverse, welcoming group of people and has been very rewarding, we’ve made good friends in the unit. So far our “social” camping trips have been split pretty evenly between HoTCU and AIRForums, and both kinds of trips have been great fun.
AIRForums is a mostly-online organization. The discussion forums have an unbelievable amount of valuable information about using, maintaining, restoring, modifying and/or improving Airstreams, as well as a treasure trove of specific info about various different models, etc. It’s all user-contributed, the moderators are just a group of people even more fanatical about their “aluminitis” who volunteer to chaperone a bit. Quite a few people arrange gatherings from informal camp-outs to big rallies via AIRForums, so there’s a good in-person social aspect to it as well.
10. Parting words of wisdom…
If you’re thinking about investing your time, treasure and toil into an Airstream (new or vintage) seek out people online who are already hooked on it and benefit from our experience. Most WBCCI units welcome visitors to their rallies, and that’s a good place to see various different models and ages of Airstreams. We’re generally proud of our streamlined portable houses (to a fault) and love to show them off and talk about them, so don’t expect a quick peek and departure, but it’ll give prospective Airstreamers a chance to learn a lot and decide if it’s a good choice for them without writing a big check, and can help decide between new and old, large and small, etc. Quite a few Airstreamers I know have traded through a couple of different configurations before settling on one that is “just right.”
**thanks again for sharing david & david**
Filed Under: airstreams & campers
Tagged: airstream argosy, airstream blog, airstreams, airtream forums, campers, diy airstream, restoring airstreams, restoring vintage airstreams, travel blog, vintage airstream, vintage airstream argosy
*please & thank you* link back to us if you re-post something you see here.
January 31st, 2012
Tiffani and Deke are living the dream full-time in their Airstream… they downsized (for maybe ever.. so they really downsized) and recently made a big cross-country life move from hot hot Texas to the Pacific Northwest (super jealous.. one of our very favorite spots). Tiffani is one of those treasures of a friend that I’d have never known if it weren’t for blogging and I’m so glad she and Deke took time to share what their past year has been like. If you’re wanting to do the same or just love all things Airstream, pop over to their blog www.weaselmouth.com and catch up on their adventures.
Happy 1 Year Anniversary of your life on wheels!
1. How did the idea first come up between you two to buy/live in an Airstream?
We’d had our 22′ International in Chicago for a few years, but because of the weather, couldn’t really use it that much. Then we moved to Texas, and the more we camped, the more we loved being in/around the Airstream! It made everything so much better, so we sold our 22′ (if anyone has it, send pictures!) upgraded to a 27 ft, and when our lease ended in Dallas, we decided to try and live in it full-time. Finding an RV park close to a city was tough (it seems to be like that around cities everywhere) but we were lucky to live in an area that had a few options that weren’t too far from where Deke worked, so we figured why not? That was February 13, 2011.
→ Our first Airstream ←
→ Our first fulltime campground, Blue Bonnet in Texas ←
2. What were the hardest parts of deciding to go for it?
Psychologically, it wasn’t hard at all, it was a natural decision. I think when you love something like we love spending time in the Airstream, you just try to make it happen! Practically, it was hard to get rid of things. Books, photos, clothes, sentimental tidbits…but we did it slowly with yard sales, giving things to friends, selling books. It all worked out, but it took a few months. We still have a few things we haven’t gotten rid of yet and I refuse to throw away, but I guess that’s another story.
→ All That’s Left ←
(On the day we moved out of the house this was all that we had — and it all fit in the truck, thankfully)
3. Do you have an estimated time you want to live in the Airstream or do you feel like it’s forever?
We hope to live in it forever. Ideally, we’d like to find a nice plot of land to park it on so we can have a garden and maybe a shed to store some things, but still travel in it when we want. Right now we have no desire to own a house or condo again. Been there, done that. Our needs might change, who knows — it would nice to have a bathtub again, and Deke would love more space for Men’s Town, but for now this is really an ideal situation for us.
4. Did you have any preconceived ideas about your new life a year ago (when you were just starting out) that has proven completely different than you thought?
We both thought we’d travel more…like every weekend, which we don’t. Everything we own is here, and because we use it every day, things are lying out for convenience. Not that it’s hard to put away spices and pack up patio furniture, but it does get annoying to do it every weekend. We need to work on that!
5. What do you wish you knew prior to this past year that you now know?
We wish we would’ve had some previous RV experience. We had none, and only through experience can you really learn about living like this full-time. We made a lot of rookie mistakes, and some cost us (literally), but we really tried to reach out to the network of people we knew out there to get help. That’s another reason we started the blog — we’re hoping newbies can learn from the mistakes we made in the first year and save themselves some time and money.
6. What are the three hardest things about living in an airstream? three easiest?
Hardest:
1.Keeping up with things — whether that be dishes and laundry, or fixing a leak. Sometimes I think it’s harder to keep a small space clean!
2. Making repairs to the Airstream while living it. Major fixes are hard to do without getting a hotel.
3. Trying not to accumulate too much stuff.
3.5. Finding an RV park to live in fulltime.
Easiest:
1. We never have to rummage around for things. We have 3 drawers instead of 6, so everything goes into one place. If it’s not there, it’s probably lost.
2. Comfort. We’re super comfortable and cozy here — the design makes it really easy to live in.
3. Getting around and traveling is easier than we thought — it’s a lot easier to tow than we expected!
7. If you could change anything about your Airstream what would it be?
I would love to get California Closets in here — the closet is a decent size, but it needs shelves or something. The bedroom area is always cold because it lifts up into the storage area which is connected outside — the temperature of the bed reflects the temperature outside whether its 110 in Texas or 30 in Seattle, and it can be uncomfortable, so I’d change something there. I would also make the kitchen table smaller and lighter. That thing is a monster – I really cant put it up by myself!
8. What do you find to be the biggest misconceptions of living in an RV?
That you cant possibly have enough room to live comfortably. You’ll have enough room if you keep what’s important and necessary. Sure, this would be a horrible lifestyle for people that collect things! We’ve also had a lot of people give us ‘that look’ — you know the one — the “Oh, how interesting, you live in an RV park” look. We’ve found beautiful parks that are infinitely better than the neighborhoods we lived in and filled with the nicest people we’ve ever met.
→ This is the view from my park that I get to see everyday! ←
9. financially has this cost less than you thought, more? and what has been the most unexpected expense you’ve incurred?
We thought this would save us oodles of cash, and to a certain extent, it is cheaper than a mortgage, but we think overall it costs more than we thought it would. Gas is a huge expense, and RV parts and service aren’t cheap — it’s the little things that add up like LED lights, a generator and internet service. But in the long run, I think it’ll be cheaper as long as we take care of our things.
10. what advice would you give someone considering following in your footsteps?
Before we bought our first Airstream, we researched and looked at them for about 2 years. By the end of that time, we knew we wanted one, we were confident we could take care of it properly and we did a lot of soul searching about the lifestyle and if it was for us. We didn’t intend on living in it full-time at that point, but because we were so confident in our decision to buy an Airstream, we never doubted ourselves, so that paved our way to living in it full-time.
As far as specifics go, we’d advise:
1. Don’t live in your trailer in tornado alley during tornado season.
2. Buy a generator. You’ll need it at some point, and when you do, there won’t be any around to buy.
3. Always put the awning up at any sign of rain and always overnight. (We broke ours…)
4. Be mentally ready to get rid of all your stuff.
5. If you plan on living anywhere below 45 degrees, get a mattress pad warmer!
November 28th, 2011
remember guests Julia & Yuriy… (see their q&a here)
they’re giving away one of their 2012 calendars with (amazing) photographs from their travels..
visit their blog today to enter…
..and each month can be clipped & sent as a postcard (although I’d want to keep all of mine)
Filed Under: airstreams & campers
Tagged: airstreams, campers, giveaway, julia & yuriy photography, mr & mrs globetrot
*please & thank you* link back to us if you re-post something you see here.
October 6th, 2011
Another great home-on-wheels tour… with a vintage airstream and a couple doing it all with 2 kids and the dogs, a true family adventure. Nicki gives a run down of what life on the road with kiddos is like, the challenges, the busy schedules and home-schooling to boot. They have tons of good advice and many of her points resonated with us as well. Things like… it is not a full-time vacation (read all about that here), don’t schedule too many things in advance because you will end up missing things, you cannot see everything in every place unless you stay awhile, laundry takes planning (although I can’t imagine planning for four) and people really don’t care about your rig that much.. we too thought lots would be interested, not so much. Some Airstream enthusiasts were, but we almost never saw another Airstream. Instead people saw us as.. the really young couple on the road. (;
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1. What made you decide to go full-time in an RV?
It was a natural progression. We have moved every two years since 2005, when summer 2011 rolled around we knew we were moving and didn’t know exactly where we wanted to go. We’d already made the decision to try out homeschooling our kids, we were renting a house, Shawn works from home, and we already had an Airstream. We didn’t really have any major obstacles to hitting the road. Somehow along the way moving to a sticks and bricks house changed into moving into our Airstream. I’m not sure we ever had a “Hey, let’s hit the road and full time” moment. It was more, the opportunity was there so let’s take an extended trip and see how long it lasts.
2. What were the greatest challenges of packing and preparing your whole family (kiddos & dogs) for a life on wheels?
I know most people would say getting rid of stuff and deciding what to take. Since we moved so often we didn’t have as much extra “stuff” as most people. I do remember it took Shawn several days to get the bed of the truck situated. He had to figure out how to fit two dog crates, two blue boys, four bikes and a storage bin in the back of the truck. (We now have a bike rack for the kids bikes)
The kids had a hard time imagining how life would work on the road, they weren’t crazy about leaving the familiarity of life in our neighborhood. I think it might have been easier had we been moving to another sticks and bricks house. I think they feared the unknown of RV life.
The loss of bedroom space was another issue for them. We’d always allowed them a large amount of freedom with decorating their rooms. Suddenly all of that was going away. We found little ways to combat this, they got to bring their bedding from home instead of me picking something that matched the trailers decor and small cork boards on the walls throughout the trailer allow them to decorate and create a little bit of “their space”. They, naturally, had a bit of a problem picking out which toys to take.
3. What have you found hardest to have left behind?
The superficial answer, for me, would be putting my Treadle sewing machines in storage and not being able to use them. Shawn misses having a place to work on the trailer, there is no longer any way to make cosmetic changes without inconveniencing the entire family. On a deeper level, I think the entire family would say leaving Memaw.
At this point, adult friends that we have from previous residences are already accustomed to email and phone contact. I do sometimes miss what I call the incidental daily contact. The people you’d always talk to in line waiting to pick up your kids, the bank, the grocery store, etc. or the occasional invite for coffee. What I found about life on the road is that you are always being asked to tell your story to someone new, you rarely run into anyone who already knows it.
4. How long have you been on the road? and do you have a schedule?
We officially left on May 29, 2011. As of now, 18 weeks in, we are still “newbies”. We started out with a hard schedule, due to mother nature it changed often. A flooding Missouri River and triple digits temps changed all that. Now we have a tentative and flexible schedule. We have a date we need to be somewhere but adjust our stops as needed or desired.
5. What made you choose a vintage Airstream?
When we originally bought Minerva we had no intention of hitting the road indefinitely. We were to be weekend and vacation warriors. Although I was longing for an Airstream, Shawn wasn’t as sure. So, we checked out all of the options in the travel trailer market except Airstream. Keeping in mind, although we had an Airstream Certified Service Center, there were no Airstream dealers in Oklahoma.
We had very specific needs and wants. Shawn did not want any slides. We wanted room to take our dogs with us. It needed to be affordable, we didn’t want a note on a trailer when it something we had never done. I wanted one that wouldn’t give me a headache from the “new RV” smell. Basically, we wanted to test the waters first. We started looking on Craigslist, and to my delight, Airstreams were the only ones that appealed to us in the used market. There was a nostalgic feeling looking at those 70′s interiors. It reminds me of that period in childhood when life had no apparent problems. Shawn just fell in love. He also likes that, except for a few things, he can do most of the repairs himself. Resale value and lack of depreciation were a plus as well.
Shawn says “Because they are cool”. There is also a community already in place to welcome & help you.
6. What do you know now that you wish you had known before you got started?
Flexible Schedules. Don’t promise to make birthday parties, holidays, etc as it can cause you to rush around and miss many great things.
Heat – Vintage (un-renovated) Airstreams, even with a new A/C, aren’t exactly good in full sun on days that reach 113.
Local Conditions – Check the local news for stops on your destination. We had an entire week spent in North Platte, NB for Nebraska Days where everything we had planned on doing was canceled due to flooding. We couldn’t get to our campground in Nebraska City due to the flooding in Missouri as well.
Bike Rack – We should have just spent the money in the beginning instead of waiting till we got to Montana. It would have saved us a lot of aggravation.
Laundry – Most people take for granted the ability to throw a load in the washer. Although you can usually do all of your laundry at one time on the road, it does take some planning. With the limited amount of storage I have for dirty clothes and the number of people we having creating dirty clothes, I do laundry roughly every 2.5-3.5 days. I have to consider if I want to do it before we travel, after we arrive at a new destination, will I be able to do it at the campsite or will I have to go to a laundromat, and do I have enough cash to exchange for quarters. What I’m trying to say is that laundry is no longer a chore of opportunity since I will be gone from the trailer for 2.5-3.5 hours depending on the dryer’s efficiency and the items to be laundered. It also depends on Shawn’s work schedule and any planned activities. For most full-timers laundry is a once a week activity but not for us.
7. How are the kids adapting to full time travel?
They miss their grandparents and occasionally will mention something they’d like to have when we have a “real” house again. As for now they are enjoying it and still look forward to doing it. We do ask them regularly how they feel about it.
As for the homeschooling, it has good and bad days. They like that school is often over after lunch. They like the freedom it allows them. I like that I can easily spot when they are having a problem with something and either Shawn or I can give them the one on one time to figure it out.
We have seen their imaginations flourish. They can’t wait to get outside and play. It is a joy to see them in the dirt playing with their toys and using their imaginations to entertain themselves. Things they took for granted in a stick house have become privileges on the road. The wii is for rainy or 95 plus degree days, we can’t even remember the last time we got the wii out. Television has become limited to rainy days or true family time with the kids. We have, at their request, family game night about once a week. We do allow them a movie in the truck on travel days.
8. What is a “typical” day like for everyone?
School days-
(Mornings must go a certain way or everything is off about the day.)
The blasted phone alarm goes off. Shawn is up first. Unless work intrudes, he takes the dogs out for the first walk of the day, makes the coffee (he is proprietary about the coffee machine…the kitchen really). While he’s out with the dogs, we get ready and unmake beds. Finally when everyone is back in the trailer, the dogs get moved into the bedroom hallway.
Now that everything is settled into daytime mode-
We have breakfast then schools starts. Work for Shawn may or may not have already started depending on his schedule.
Dog walk/School break (usually mid morning)
Lunch – at lunch we figure out what’s left to do for school
After school is done I pack away school stuff/figure out what I need for tomorrows school. Kids play until Shawn gets off work, and after work can be relaxation, errands, or an activity
Dinner
Dog walk
Family time
Getting ready for bed/ house cleaning.
While the kids are getting ready for bed I remake their beds for them and dogs get moved to the front of the trailer and fed dinner
After an hour, the dogs get another walk.
Bedtime
Friday is packing day and not a school day. Shawn’s schedule remains the same but for the kids and I this is a free day… unless something from school was unfinished. For me this is a last chance to do laundry before moving and packing away things after we have finished with them for the day. By the end of the day we try to have the television stowed away, the stabilizers raised, the water hose unhooked, bikes back on the roof rack and anything else needed to ensure we get off to an early start the next day. We aim to start hitching up on Saturday as soon as quiet hours end.
Saturday is travel day. Sunday is free day. We use this day to visit the major local attractions.
9. Best advice you would give other families considering following in your footsteps?
Research. Even if you love the first RV you step into, look at them all. Really think about how you will use the space. This will be your home.
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. This can apply to so many things in full time life. Maybe I this should monogram it on a pillow or hang it on the wall. (joking)
Make small trips in your RV first, then a few bigger trips.
You won’t need half of what you think you do.
Fully weigh what you will be experiencing against what you will be leaving behind. If you can’t go a month without visiting your family, 3 months will be depressing and 6 months will excruciating.
Things that look okay on paper might not translate well to life, like traveling 350-400 miles a weekend. It is doable but exhausting when you have to get up the next day to work or teach.
This will be your “normal” life. If you are working and teaching on the road, you are NOT on vacation most of the time. We are working/teaching full-timers. There just isn’t a way to see everything at one place at one time without staying there for weeks or months. There will be many places where you just skim the surface. We look upon this as a reason to return.
We would recommend getting an honest to goodness mail service. Check out the other benefits to joining mail services companies. The one we use has heavily discounted parks.
Once on the road you need to be careful of what you buy. There is a common RV’ers rule for this “For everything that comes in, something of equal size must go out.” Our souvenirs are postcards stored in a photo album.
You will be in somewhat of a social bubble. Most of the older full-timers will tell you what a wonderful thing you are doing and how they wished they had done it. However those of our generation look at us in disbelief.
Have patience. Everyone will feel the need to express an opinion on your life. Take the good to heart and let the rest go.
It is easy to get out of touch with the rest of the world. We are not as aware of global events as we once were.
Enjoy yourself!
10. What has life on the road taught you?
More about my kids personality than I would ever have known before.
Patience.
There is no escape from problems… deal with them head on. Annoyance in a house is not such a big deal, something that bothers you in a 27×8 foot trailer is a different matter.
Sometimes you just have to stop moving and rest.
Certain time zones stink.
When we left we thought it would be the Vintage Airstream that got the attention. Most people don’t really care about your rig… except other Airstreamers. Mostly we have become known as -
The people with the big dog.
The people with the big dog in the small trailer (I’d say 90% of full-timers are in 5th wheels or motorhomes).
Occasionally we are known as the people with the big dog in the small trailer with the kids.
Listen to your elders. Some of these retired full-timers have been out there for 20 plus years. Many of them have great suggestions for places to visit. Most are willing to help with problems.
How much we enjoy going to National Parks/Monuments and taking a Ranger led tour, a family favorite.
Trying to maintain 3 blogs while teaching two kids just isn’t feasible. (Nicki)
Speak up when you need personal time. I can’t stress this enough. Shawn, the kids, and I rarely require time apart but due to the space allowed us, when we do need it, we have to speak up for it.
When repairs are started it is critical to get it done as it effects the entire trailer. A water leak, for instance, shuts down the water for the whole family. Consider the problem thoroughly before starting… is it critical or just inconvenient?
The regular things you take for granted like hair cuts, doctors visits, exchanging items from storage, the availability of RV toilet paper can effect your travel schedule.
Adjusting to the lack of “I have to be here at this time to pick up the kids. I have to take the kids to soccer, swim, baseball….etc”
Adjusting to the refrigerator size when trying to grocery shop for a family of four.
Thanks for sharing photos of your 1971 Airstream International and special thanks to Nicki for taking time out of your (very!) busy schedule to do the Q&A! Want to see more home-on-wheels tours? go here.
Filed Under: airstreams & campers
Tagged: 1971 airstream international, airstream blog, airstream tips, airstreams, campers, full time rv'ing, full-time traveling, home on wheels, rv blog, rv tips, vintage airstream, vintage airstream blog
*please & thank you* link back to us if you re-post something you see here.
September 29th, 2011
About a month ago we met blogger friends Ayo & Yair when they visited us in Denver… it’s such an amazing thing when you can connect with people online, but so much better when you get to actually hang out in person. Ayo & Yair are some of the few we’ve met online that are also young RV’ers. They’re very down-to-earth and community centered and we had the best time with them. Yair and I made a date to do a Q&A to share and just finished… thanks for taking time out of your schedule to share a little about your life on the road. Pop over to their blog here.
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1. How was the idea to travel full time born?
It started out less of an idea to travel full time and more of an idea to leave behind the corporate life. When we had both left our jobs we realized that there were lots of places that we wanted to explore and live. That’s where the full-time travel came in. We decided to start off RV’ing and will probably transition to longer-stay (6 months to a year) traveling in a year or so.
2. What preparations/changes did you make to be able to hit the road full-time?
We made sure to have no debt and to keep our expenses low, avoiding ‘lifestyle inflation’ as we each started working and bringing in a paycheck. We saved diligently and were surprised at how easy it was to live a comfortable life while putting away serious cash for the future. Ayo left her job in August 2009, and we made sure by that time to have a date set for my resignation. That avoided the “Maybe just another month and we’ll be ready…” phenomenon.
3. What was the hardest thing to leave behind in your brick & mortar life?
It really hasn’t been that huge of a transition, but high on the list are seeing family in person and taking long baths.
4. How did you decide upon what type of rv to purchase?
RVs depreciate rapidly, so we wanted a used RV that would have a long life ahead of it. We decided on a 1999 Tioga 23B. The RV had only 25,000 miles when we picked it up, and everything was in good condition. In the last 13 months we haven’t had any major problems with it (fingers crossed!), and I don’t expect any issues down the road. We also wanted an RV that was small enough that we could park anywhere unobtrusively, but that was large enough that we wouldn’t go crazy if it was raining for a few days. (Right now we’re parked next to a park minutes – walking – from downtown Eugene, OR.)
5. What do you love about your Tioga? What would you change?
I love the size of the rig, which strikes the perfect balance between comfort and inconspicuousness. Giving up a “master bedroom” for a larger kitchen and bathroom was a great decision, as was our installation of a large solar array on our roof.
We’ve talked a few times about things that we might change and haven’t come up with much. Two things do come to mind, however. First, we’d prefer a door that opens and folds back on the RV body. Ours opens to 90 degrees. Fully functional and pleasant, but a door that folds back completely would be ideal. Separately, an overcab with a higher ceiling would be great. As with the door, our overcab is very comfortable as is. Just a ‘wish list’ item.
6. What are the benefits/challenges you’ve found so far having a motorhome (& no tow car) versus travel trailer?
We love having an RV as compared to a travel trailer. If we RV again down the road we might mount a small scooter on the back, but we’re happy to not have a towed vehicle. Our RV is maneuverable enough to use as our primary vehicle, and it would be very difficult to “stealthily” park in a city with a travel trailer. We carry two bicycles on a bike rack and try to use those for local trips.
7. What advice do you have for those thinking of hitting the road full-time?
No debt. Low expenses. Save hard. Pick a date.
8. Yair, you have an Astronomy gig that you do while traveling, can you tell us about that?
I run a program called Astronomy On The Road, whose mission is to share science with people across the country. I want to get people excited about science through free telescope viewing and fun classes.
9. What have you learned about yourself throughout the journey thus far?
That I don’t like big cities as much as I thought, that I really love the natural beauty in the west, and that there are all kinds of awesome people out there.
10. What is a “typical” day like for you?
No such thing! But nowadays…
(yesterday): Rock climbing, making lunch, biking to a volunteer opportunity, stopping by an outdoor market, filling our fresh water tank, and going with Ayo to a hooping / fire spinning meetup.
September 22nd, 2011
Today a vintage beauty for our home on wheels tour.. a tiny & shiny ’65 Globetrotter…
and I’ll tell you right now that I’m super jealous of their Home Sweet Home screen door push plate.
Mary & Tom are the proud owners, even though Tom got pulled into the whole thing a little unawares! (;
They gave us a shout, shared photos and did a Q&A.. thanks you two!!
1. How did you get into RV traveling? and do you travel full or part-time?
For probably 10 years prior to getting our vintage Airstream, I wanted one. My dad actually found this one in Northern Michigan about 6 years ago. I screamed with delight when I knew I actually owned it (bought it sight unseen). My husband, Tom, was not as thrilled as I was. He didn’t realize we were actually going to travel in it. He thought I was just going to leave it parked in the yard to use as a studio.
2. What year & model is your Airstream?
1965 Airstream GlobeTrotter, 20′ long
3. What made you choose Airstream, and vintage at that?
It’s a design icon!
4. Have you traveled in other types of RV’s? and if so, what and why did you make the switch?
Never even camped before getting our Airstream.
5. Did you restore your trailer or was it already good to go when you purchased it?
It needed a lot of work. We had a long (very long) list of things that needed to be replaced or repaired. We tried to prioritize the list because we couldn’t afford to do everything at once. Since we didn’t know anything about trailers we made some beginners mistakes along the way. For example, before we had the water hose fixed, we couldn’t use the faucet. So, we decided to take gallon jugs of water for our first trip out. I put these in the upper storage bins above the sink. When we arrived at our destination and opened the trailer door, we saw a huge mess. What happened?? The weight of the jugs of water had pulled the storage bins away from the wall and all the jugs split open so everything was soaking wet. What an expensive lesson we learned! What was the lesson?? Never store anything heavy in overhead bins. Of course any experienced camper knows things like that, but we didn’t. These are the kind of things you learn through doing.
6. What do you love the most about traveling in an Airstream? The least?
The people you meet along the way is the most fun part. The least fun is all the work of setting up once you get somewhere and trying to figure out things when they don’t work!
7. Where are you from and what are your favorite spots to camp at?
We live in Ada, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids. We love Platt River Campground in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It is located in Northwestern Lower Michigan along the eastern shoreline of Lake Michigan. The closest city is Traverse City, 25 miles to the east. We also enjoy Camp Dearborn in Milford, Michigan for the Tin Can Tourists Rallies.
8. Best advice you could give wanna be Airstreamers?
Buyer beware! Know what you are getting yourself into if you purchase vintage. If you don’t know enough, find someone who does and is willing to check things over so you don’t end up owning something that is a money pit.
9. I know you went to Alumapalooza this year, do you belong to an Airstream group? and what’s that like?
Yes, we belong to WBCCI (Wally Byam Caravan Club International) and the Vintage Airstream Club, an intra-club of WBCCI. We also belong to Tin Can Tourists, a club for all makes of vintage trailers (although some Airstreamers call the other makes, “SOB’s”…. some other brand!) We especially enjoy belonging to these clubs because you meet some great people, have activities that promote kicking back and enjoying a simpler way of life. Also, it is wonderful to meet people willing to share ideas about how to fix things or answer questions you have on how something works. And, it’s always enjoyable to share a meal over the grill or marshmallows over the campfire!
10. What has traveling in an RV taught you?
Patience, enjoyment of seeing new things, meeting new people, slowing down and experiencing nature. Also how much you can simplify life and still get along quite comfortably.
September 8th, 2011
We’ve got a fun home-on-wheels guest today, newbie Airstreamers.. Peggy & Derald. They’re brand new to traveling by Airstream and not only that, they jumped in with both feet, choosing a vintage model that they fully restored/renovated. They’ve documented their renovation process on their blog and have tons of good tips, be sure to pop over and see them! Thanks so much to you both for sharing your insight thus far!!
1. How did you decide on an Airstream?
It was an easy choice. My husband recently retired from the sheet metal trade and I knew a vintage Airstream would be a fun ‘project’ for him to ease into retirement. Metal or plastic? Metal.
2. What model Airstream do you have and what made you choose the one you have?
We are the proud owners of a 1962 Safari Land Yacht Airstream. This model has a twin bed floor plan manufactured in Ohio. We were looking for a ‘vintage’ model with a length around 16 – 20′ and this trailer is 22′. We had looked at one Argosy located in AK but I was dead set on the shiny Airstream. We scanned the web daily for trailers for sale and on Sept. 9th we found this one on Craigslist in WI. Sept. 11th we purchased it and were on our way to MO.
3. What do you love about having a travel trailer versus a motorhome?
The closest thing to a motorhome we have had is a Sportsmobile van. I do love the Sportsmobile, it is very ‘stealth’. You can park it about anywhere. It is a dream to drive, extremely comfortable on the road and has a mini kitchen with sink with running water, a stove top and a microwave. The dinette in the back converts into the bed. This model is set up to have a penthouse but we did not opt for the bed ‘upstairs’. The pop up top with surround windows is great, but the downside is no bathroom. A porta-potty is like a postage stamp for a bathroom.
I love the Airstream and all of its amenities. Derald has done so much custom work with metal (in ours) that is beautiful, yet we have been able to keep a lot of the nostalgia such as the 1962 Dometic refrigerator. He has refurbished that baby with parts from all over the United States to make it run. When you look at our blog and see the work he did on the inside of the unit you can really appreciate the work that has been done. This Safari model has a couch that converts into a double bed and two twin beds in the front that pose for the dinette as well. We have comfortably slept 4 adults and 2 Jack Russell’s for 4 nights! Every woman that has looked inside has marveled at the ‘bathroom’ with a sink, toilet, tub and shower! When you add it all up……PRICELESS.
4. What do you like the most/least about a travel trailer.
Most: Bathroom Least: Having to pack up to go to the dump station…. (; (We BOTH agreed on that one!)
5. What advice do you have for others who are considering purchasing a vintage model Airstream?
*1. Read as much as you can on blogs so that you have some tiny idea of what you are getting into. Tiny as it may be, you will feel better about it.
*2. Go to ‘vintageairtsteam.com’ and download the article on ‘price vs condition’ and have that in hand when you deal with the seller. If there is any sentimental value in the price you will need some leverage. Our seller had our trailer since 1963! He had it all the years he raised his family.
*3. Be a handy man or marry one. Or have lots of money to spend on the renovation.
*4. Don’t try to count the hours you spend fixing it up and don’t try to count the extra money you spend….just enjoy every moment of it.
*5. Go to a rally and check out all the models and years. Talk to the owners. Most all Airstreamers are more than happy to give you information.
6. Any camping tips to share?
HIS:
Leveling blocks (we use rubber stall mats, 3/4″ thick, recycled tires, cut in to 8″ x 12″ chunks), dutch oven, trial run on the dump station using fresh water….just in case of an ‘episode’.
HERS:
Clorox wipes, baby wipes, towels that dry FAST, a good mat in front of the door (on the ground), know how to take the awning down by yourself, understand where everything of importance is (how to turn on/off the hot water heater….etc.), how to level the trailer, have a check list to use every time (to make sure your windows are latched, refrigerator is buckled down, fantastic fan is latched down, step is up…etc.)
7. What do you tow with?
We originally towed our Airstream home with the Sportsmobile. It was a bit of over kill, like having a duplex. We recently purchased a 2002 Dodge Ram 3/4 ton truck and it tows the trailer like a dream.
8. Do you boondock or stay at RV camps more? and what do you like about each?
We have boon docked more, and have stayed in parks ‘in route’ to our destinations. We are really new at this so our parks are limited to 2 places. Our first park was our shake down trip where we realized we must have AC… MO has been very hot this summer. It was back to the drawing board on a couple of things. The refrigerator wasn’t cooling properly, venting hot air in to the trailer, plus no AC, it was HOT. We have since installed an AC and fixed the refrigerator. That baby will freeze ice now. Also, Derald had a bike and was in the process of trying to convince me that I wanted one. He enjoyed riding around the park on his bike on our first major trip to CO. If you have ever been to this state, a bike is a must! I found a bike on Craigslist and took it to CO. By the first week the bike had a basket, decorated with flowers I might add, and a proper name, Grace. I am sold on a bike when Airstreaming, it is a great mode of transportation when the Airstream is parked and you don’t want to use the big diesel truck to run to the market. Our boondocking experience was perfect. We were in the Crested Butte area which is simply beautiful in every sense of the word, wildflowers were everywhere, the temperature was perfect, about 83 in the day and 50 at night. There was a teepee near us but no one was ‘home’. We had the BLM all to ourselves for most of the time. There was a mountain stream within steps of the front door where Derald was fly fishing and every view from the Airstream was a painting waiting to happen. I was in paint heaven. What more could you ask for?
9. Favorite places you’ve visited so far?
With our limited experience I will say Colorado will be hard to beat.
10. Best advice overall for someone considering traveling in an RV?
HERS:
Take a computer. You can find dump stations, parks, tons of information. Plus, I created a blog for our family and friends to live vicariously with us.
HIS:
Take it slow and enjoy life!
Filed Under: airstreams & campers
Tagged: airstream, airstream blog, airstreams, campers, home on wheels, rv blog, travel blog
*please & thank you* link back to us if you re-post something you see here.
August 31st, 2011
Welcome Kayla & her husband Michael! Kayla is a blog reader who sent me photos of her Apache that I am head-over-heels in love with and now totally want one for myself! I had never seen or heard of the vintage Apache’s and wonder why oh why they aren’t still made.. how much better than canvas. I immediately emailed with tons of questions and requests for more photos please! We ended up with a really fun post for all of you in blog land.. anyone else reading have an Apache? If so, send in your photos, we’d love to see them… Thanks so much Kayla for taking time to answer some questions….
1. What made you decide on a pop-up versus another type of trailer?
We really didn’t want a truck, we’re just not truck people. We had kind of already decided what kind of car we wanted and it has a tow max of 5000lbs, but it’s really not recommended that we tow over 3500lbs. That put us into pop-up territory mainly.
2. For those who have never seen an Apache Hard Side, what can you tell us about them?
They are super neat! I had never seen one before we bought, but I liked what I saw, googled it and fell in love. Set-up starts out like a regular pop-up but the door is attached to the side walls, not the ceiling. The beds slide out, but the bed ends fold up like a puzzle and hook onto the celing inside. The kitchen folds up just the same. They also still manufacture parts for them-that is a huge plus!
3. What are the benefits (and negatives.. if there are any) to a hard side over a soft side?
There is no canvas whatsoever, so we can fold ‘er up right after the rain without a chance of mildew. We camped through a thunderstorm and still slept peacefully during the night, so we feel safe and secure in the camper. The windows are plexiglass so we have beautiful views without letting the a/c out during the summer, or heat out during the winter, but we still have screens for letting the breeze in. Hard sides do hold heat/ac better than a soft side.
4. What do you love about a pop-up and what’s not so great?
It’s very easy to haul and can be stored in my garage at home. I wouldn’t want to travel full-time in a pop-up because of the set-up and tear down but because we are occasional campers, it doesn’t bother me enough to think about giving her up.
5. What amenities do you have in the camper?
We have two pull out beds, one full size on each end. The dinette table also turns into a small twin/full bed. It came with a propane stove and hand pump sink but we took both of those out for more counter space. We bought a hot plate for cooking-we also use an electric griddle or the microwave we added. It came with an ice-box that we removed and replaced it with a mini-fridge.
6. What do you pull your Apache with and how heavy is it?
We bought a 2009 Acura MDX because we knew one day we’d have a camper, our camper weighs 1390lbs according to the manual.
7. For someone looking into a pop-up what would you consider must know advice?
This is our very first camper so we were newbies-pretty much I googled “rv park courtesy” and “things first time rv-er’s should know”. We made plans to go with friends our first time out, that helped us when we couldn’t figure something out- like how to get the trailer tongue off the hitch!
8. Where have you been so far and what are your future travel plans?
We’ve camped in Dahlonega, Ga at The R-Ranch in the Mountains Resort (it is members only and our friends have a membership), we’ve also camped closer to home on Lake Lanier at Shoal Creek Campground and Old Federal Park. We are helping organize the Southeastern Apache Meetup at Lake Hartwell this fall. And we planned our first week-long camping vacation in our Apache at Grayton Beach State Park in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida this September. This park is unique in that on one side is a rare coastal dune lake and on another side is the ocean, only 300 yards of sand separate the bodies of water- talk about gorgeous views!
Filed Under: airstreams & campers
Tagged: airstreams, apache camper, apache pop up, campers, guest Q&A's, pop up campers
*please & thank you* link back to us if you re-post something you see here.
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