[VAC] retrofitting my 1955 22' flying cloud with modern amenities

[Wayne <wayne2@xxxxxxxx>]

Hi everybody,

I bought my first trailer, 1955 22' Flying Cloud on Memorial Day 
Weekend. I then left the country three days later on a trip to Eurpoe 
that I'd had planned months before I caught Airstream fever. So, all 
this time away has been torturous -- I've not been able to actually 
do anything to it yet, only think and read about what I want to do. 
Very frustrating! The time has come and I am finally about come home 
and I'm definitely ready to get this trailer on the road.

The state of the trailer is typical of one of it's age that wasn't 
kept by someone who appreciated the full beauty of an Airstream. It's 
well worn and well used, and recently had fallen into total disrepair.

Our long-term plans are to do a complete body-off restoration, 
including replacing the entire floor (due to water damage doorside as 
well as around the rear hatch, i.e., the usual places), completely 
redoing the AC and DC electrical systems, the propane system, 
replacement of all appliances, etc. When it's done, it will be a new 
trailer.

The trailer's interior is more than half-gutted from use/misuse by 
the previous owner and his guests, so I plan to completely gut it and 
start over. For now, I'll just haul the junk out and give it a good 
cleanup for my first use. Long term, everything comes out.

Exterior needs a little but not a lot of work. No accidents, major 
scrapes, tears or dents which is why felt OK in buying it as a 
restoration project. The only real work needed on the exterior would 
be to replace the two missing rear-most side running lights which 
have fallen off (rotted off due to oxidation, really) since over the 
years, the bases of the lights oxidized the aluminum. This will 
require those areas to be repaired by replacing the entire panel or 
welding in a patch or riveting in a patch as well replacing the 
lights. Also, the hanger that holds the door in the open position has 
also oxidized the aluminum and fallen off long ago, leaving an area 
there also to be repaired. I guess the lesson during this restoration 
process would be to replace *all* external metal parts that touch the 
aluminum with other aluminum or stainless steel hardware so that 
doesn't happen again. That is the worst damage on the exterior, so I 
have faith that these challenges can dealt with.

Comments on how to best approach these type of exterior skin repairs 
are much appreciated.

Finally, I intend to have the entire exterior (and possibly interior, 
not sure yet) polished by someone who's got a good reputation for 
that work.

But all of those are long term plans and they won't stop me from 
having some fun with the trailer before I set out to do the full 
project.

After having non-stop Airstream dreams and reading the VAC and 
Airstream lists and every web site I could find during my journeys, I 
am really excited to get back to do some basic repairs to make it 
road-worthy so that I can use it once before it's completely torn 
down and built back up.

I am now looking for all you more experienced folk on recommendations 
of brands and sources for the following items:

-best rooftop air conditioner that can be mounted in my trailer's 
middle air vent
  (is there also a combo unit that also heats or has a swamp cooler 
type function for arid
   climates?)

-best heating system (gas, or ac, or ?)

-best fridge (gas, ac, &dc??)

-best on-demand water heater

and, most importantly:
-best road tires for a single axle 22' trailer

Any comments are greatly appreciated. I only have a couple of weeks 
from the time I get back to the US to get the trailer ready for my 
two-three week camping trip to Nevada so I am hoping to get these 
items sourced and hopefully installed in as short a time possible.

really excited to hear all your thoughts and thanks much,

Wayne
1955 22' flying cloud