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we’re making some changes around camp1899…..
up till now we’ve had 4 separate blog pages (phew!)
now everything is all together at camp1899.com
all the same stuff: our home diy, travels, me & him,
life in the fast lane, the grits, dear ask me….
most days i’ll post 1, 2, or 3 times throughout the day,
thanks for following along!
(photo)
Filed Under: Uncategorized
Tagged: camp1899
(source)
Filed Under: travel shoptalk Tagged: airstream blog, denver colorado blog, state infograph, states, travel blog, vintage trailer blog, what your state is known for
how amazing are these for some home town/state love..
by stately tables
Filed Under: airstreams & campers Tagged: airstream blog, denver colorado blog, state tables, stately tables, travel blog, vintage airstreams, vintage trailers
…little reminders of home when traveling (if you’re camper isn’t too teeny tiny)
& the u.s.a. map would be perfect for charting your route… {by dirtsa studio}
Filed Under: airstreams & campers Tagged: airstream blog, chalkboard maps, dirtsa studio, etsy, travel blog, vintage camper blog, vintage trailers
»»»a few camper goodies from etsy artists«««
{from top left: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, center}
Filed Under: airstreams & campers Tagged: airstream blog, denver colorado blog, etsy trailer art, travel blog, vintage airstreams, vintage campers, vintage trailers
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)
Filed Under: airstreams & campers Tagged: airstream blog, airstreams, camper interiors, campers, eye candy, vintage airstreams, vintage camper blog, vintage campers
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.
Filed Under: airstreams & campers Tagged: 60 airstream sovereign, airstream blog, airstream diy, airstream interiors, airstream renovations, airstreams, campers, denver colorado blog, vintage airstream blog, vintage airstreams
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
….there’s an RV Network? It’s not available everywhere via tv land (yet) but here’s a list of the where’s and how’s of piping it into your home (on wheels or not). The home base for the network is in the rv capitol of the world.. do you know where that is? (it’s here if you don’t know..we didn’t). Their goal (by our interpretation) is to educate, inform, highlight, share, and create a fun & informative community for those who rv, travel part and full time, and who have the spirit of travel in any way, shape or form.
They offer a variety of programs, like.. Ask the Professor (maintenance, tips & instruction), Gadgetplex (watch your men here ladies…), RV Kitchen (finding your footing in a kitchen on wheels), RVNN tv (interviews with travelers like Gone with the Wynns (rv’ers) & Captain and Clark, world travelers), Tails from the Road (keeping the 4 legged travelers happy & healthy) and if you think you have a show in you they are on the lookout for good talent.. details at Produce Your Show.
If you haven’t already, pop over and check them out.. here’s their website, facebook, and twitter sites. And a big hello to Courtney & Andrew.. awesome hosts of RVNN tv (among their many jobs..).
Filed Under: airstreams & campers Tagged: airstream blog, denver blogger, denver colorado blog, rv blog, rvnn, rvnn tv, travel blog
a little bit back miss jenny of vintage sugarcube sent a sweet hello my way,
and later sent me a link to this fun photoshoot & i couldn’t not share.
now i’m sitting here wishing i had a peanut butter & chocolate ball (sweets are her thing)
and i’m smitten to the highest with her fab-u-lous hair. makes me miss my
redheaded days, and for sure leaves me wishing for more hair, this girls got volume.
thanks for letting me share miss vs, y’all pop over and see her shenanigans & say hello.
Filed Under: airstreams & campers Tagged: airstream blog, denver colorado blog, peanut butter balls, rv blog, travel blog, vintage airstream, vintage airstream blog, vintage sugarcube
