The Vintage Airstream E-mail ListDigest Archive Files
VAL Digest V1 #38
VAL Digest Friday, October 17 2003 Volume 01 : Number 038
-----------------------------------------------------------------
When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary Digest text
To unsubscribe or change to an e-mail format, please go to
http://www.tompatterson.com/VAC/VAList/listoffice.html
Topics in Today's Digest:
[VAL] Re: VAL Digest V1 #37 - Weighing the Rig
Re: [VAL] winterizing
Re: [VAL] Dent
Re: [VAL] vintage used to be 20 years - today it's 25 ? ? ?
Re: [VAL] vintage used to be 20 years - today it's 25 ? ? ?
Antenna (Was:Re: [VAL] Dent)
Re: [VAL] winterizing
Re: [VAL] vintage used to be 20 years - today it's 25 ? ? ?
Re: [VAL] vintage used to be 20 years - today it's 25 ? ? ?
Re: [VAL] g
Re: [VAL]door weather strip
[VAL] Canadian speed limits
[VAL] Polly, your good works
Re: [VAL] then 20 years, now 25 years?
Re: [VAL] vintage used to be 20 years - today it's 25 ? ? ?
Re: [VAL] vintage used to be 20 years - today it's 25 ? ? ?
Re: [VAL] vintage used to be 20 years - today it's 25 ? ? ?
[VAL] That Shiny Airstream
Re: [VAL] Canadian speed limits
Re: [VAL] That Shiny Airstream
[VAL] '78 brochure discussion
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 03:19:23 -0600
From: waymark1@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Subject: [VAL] Re: VAL Digest V1 #37 - Weighing the Rig
"> Can't you simply go to a truckstop that has certified scales and at
least 3 "pads" for the axles to get this done?"
Yah, sure. They don't do it for free, though. If a free scale is not
convenient, go ahead and use a pay scale
"...you could also figure that same weight is about 10-15% of your total
trailer weight when the trailer is unloaded and level."
How is that? Guessing at these distributions doesn't tell me anything
useful.
Why bother with home weighing (bathroom scale and board method?) when
there is a free legal scale nearby?
"> Your way "looks" as if there is only a single pad to weigh axles at
these remote weigh stations. True?"
Yes, there is only a single pad. It's long enough to get all of my axles
on it at the same time - Chevy Express long WB van + 31' trailer.
These scales aren't "remote" unless you mean Oregon is remote, from
wherever you are. They are on major highways and some heavily traveled
secondary roads. They aren't there for weighing travel trailers. They are
provided for DOT truck weight enforcement, and are often in use by DOT.
The ones on the interstates are run by the same agency, but they are in
use a lot more of the time. If DOT could get the funding they would run
all these weigh stations all the time.
"Oregon has six Ports of Entry and 81 other weigh stations located
throughout the state on major highways and secondary roads. The state
also has many portable scale operations [we're not concerned with these
here]. The Ports of Entry are located near Ashland, Cascade Locks,
Farewell Bend, Klamath Falls, Umatilla and Woodburn. Enforcement officers
at Oregon weigh stations primarily check truck size, weight, height, and
operating credentials."
www.odotbridgesee.org/index.cfm/action/content/contentid/23/nodeid/726.ht
m
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 10:22:34 -0400
> From: "T o m :-\)" <tmeeker@xxxxxxxxxx.rr.com>
> Subject: Re: [VAL] Re: VAL Digest V1 #35 - Weighing In
>
> Can't you simply go to a truckstop that has certified scales and at
least 3 "pads" for the axles to get this done? That way you get front
axle, rear axle and the trailer axle weight.
>
> At home you could get the tongue weight done with a small scale but you
could also figure that same weight is about 10-15% of your total trailer
weight when the trailer is unloaded and level.
>
> Once you weigh your vehicle with full fuel and maybe a passenger or two
at a truckstop to get front and rear axles without the trailer hooked up
it would be so easy to look at the differences in axle weights when you
get your entire rigged weighed in later on.
>
> Your way "looks" as if there is only a single pad to weigh axles at
these remote weigh stations. True?
>
> Tom
> WBCCI 5303
>
> From: <waymark1@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
> Subject: [VAL] Re: VAL Digest V1 #35 - Weighing In
>
>
> : There are many open, unattended weigh stations in Oregon. It appears
to be the policy of ORDOT to leave them open and turned on all the time.
> : There is one on ORHwy 99W between Newberg and McMinnville.
> : There is another southeast of Newberg near I-5.
> : I have used these a number of times. Only once has there been anyone
else using the scale.
> : They measure in 50 pound increments.
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 07:46:32 -0500
From: dean <dean@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: Re: [VAL] winterizing
That sure sounds like a lot of extra work.. When you run your pump,
pumping
the Pink stuff into your pipes the directions state run until the Pink
is seen
running out your faucets. Guess ware all that Pink goes... Yup, your
P Traps.
Keep life simple..
Dean
On Wednesday, October 15, 2003, at 10:27 PM, forrest@xxxxxxxxxx.org
wrote:
> Wyn,
>
> You might check to see if your 'P'traps have removable caps to drain
> them. I think
> the original factory 'P'trap was solvent welded with no drain, but
> when I replaced
> the plumbing in my AS I 'upgraded' the traps to the kind that have a
> removable cap
> so they can be drained individually. Perhaps a PO did the same with
> yours?
>
> Forrest
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 09:47:45 EDT
From: JPPOLLY@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Subject: Re: [VAL] Dent
Those dents and the dull grey finish on my 64 GT are what is called patina on
the Antiques Road Show. I live with them the same way I live with those
wrinkles I see in the mirror each morning! My SIL wants to polish my GT but he is
going to have to wait til I am gone to do it.
A question for Sovereign owners - how does the TV antenna on top go up? The
crank doesn't seem to be doing anything. This is a 74 model - I have not gone
up top yet to see what the problem is but thought there might be a catch or
some trick that I don't know about to make it go up?
Just Plain Polly
WBCCI 71113
1964 Globetrotter
1968 Sovereign
1974 Sovereign
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 10:16:28 EDT
From: JPPOLLY@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Subject: Re: [VAL] vintage used to be 20 years - today it's 25 ? ? ?
When I bought my unit in 85 I inquired of the factory and was told there was
no club for vintage units - that I just owned an old trailer, and they were
not very helpful at all, kind of turned me off on WBCCI in the beginning.
Just Plain Polly
WBCCI 71113
1964 Globetrotter
1968 Sovereign
1974 Sovereign
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 11:32:38 EDT
From: JSmith1805@xxxxxxxxxx.com
Subject: Re: [VAL] vintage used to be 20 years - today it's 25 ? ? ?
I was told very bluntly by an old geaser that WBBCI was never intender for us
who havec old trailers that it was for those who could afford the latest and
the best.I for one am proud of my 38 year old trailer which is a source of
extream pain and extream pleasure. I tjis person conceres VAC members thailer
Trash I am proud to be one of them.
Jim Smith
1965 Tradewind(The Silver Abaltross)
1992 Dodge Cummins Diesel
And our news family member Little Hemroid(our Spitz pup
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 08:37:46 -0700
From: "Roger Hightower" <rwhigh@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: Antenna (Was:Re: [VAL] Dent)
Polly,
You have to pull the crank handle down and then crank it to raise or lower,
push it up and crank it to rotate.
You might have a problem with the gears, but there are replacement sets
available.
Good luck,
Roger
Roger Hightower
WBCCI #4165,VAC
1975 31' Sovereign
Mesa, AZ
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 12:10:26 -0600 (MDT)
From: forrest@xxxxxxxxxx.org
Subject: Re: [VAL] winterizing
On Wed, 15 Oct 2003 23:57:27 -0400, "T o m :-\)" wrote:
What's a PO?
Sorry for the abreviation. PO is for Previous Owner.
Forrest
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 12:22:22 -0600 (MDT)
From: forrest@xxxxxxxxxx.org
Subject: Re: [VAL] vintage used to be 20 years - today it's 25 ? ? ?
"I was told very bluntly by an old geaser that WBBCI was never intender for us
who havec old trailers that it was for those who could afford the latest and
the best."
I think that is exactly the sort of elitist attitude that would eventually kill any
club, not just the WBCCI. "Those who could afford" might be translated by some as
"rich white people only." It is the sort of elitist BS that could quite possibly open
up the WBCCI to charges of prejudice and even racism simply because of its
exclusivity.
Forrest
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 17:17:42 -0400
From: <lindner.1@xxxxxxxxxx.edu>
Subject: Re: [VAL] vintage used to be 20 years - today it's 25 ? ? ?
10/16/2003 7:22:22 AM, forrest@xxxxxxxxxx.org wrote:
>could quite possibly open
>up the WBCCI to charges of prejudice and even racism simply because of its
>exclusivity.
Be forewarned that trying to say the very same thing even more gently got me kicked off the VAC list a few years back.
-- Lew #4239
'72 Safari
Custom Craft Megatow
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 18:21:57 -0400
From: Chris Elliott <celliott@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Subject: Re: [VAL] g
Wheres a good place to get weatherstrip for a 63 door inner and outer and I suppose
the inner screen door ?. I believe it was glued on type . I dont have the old to
compare , I noticed airstreamdreams has it for fifties trailers which rivets on , but
not for 63 , but would it fit ? also for rear compartment door . We had a big rain
here , makes me notice these things...
Chris
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 18:26:51 -0400
From: Chris Elliott <celliott@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Subject: Re: [VAL]door weather strip
whoopsie sent that out without the right subject line
Chris Elliott wrote:
> Wheres a good place to get weatherstrip for a 63 door inner and outer and I suppose
> the inner screen door ?. I believe it was glued on type . I dont have the old to
> compare , I noticed airstreamdreams has it for fifties trailers which rivets on , but
> not for 63 , but would it fit ? also for rear compartment door . We had a big rain
> here , makes me notice these things...
> Chris
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> When replying to a message. please delete all unnecessary original text
>
> To unsubscribe or change to a digest format, please go to
> http://www.tompatterson.com/VAC/VAList/listoffice.html
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 19:32:39 -0400
From: "Scott Scheuermann" <s.l.scheuermann@xxxxxxxxxx.att.net>
Subject: [VAL] Canadian speed limits
I am trying to plan a trip with the Airstream to Alaska for next summer.
Does anyone know the speed limits for the Yellowhead or Alaska Highways? We
are planning on traveling through Manitoba, Saskatchewan and part of Alberta
on the Yellowhead and I see that parts are two lane, parts are four lane. I
am trying to get a handle on how far we might be able to drive on any given
day. An outdated AAA map states that the speed limit on the Alaska Highway
is 80km. Is this still the case? Thanks.
Scott
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "M Tate" <firebirdesprit@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
To: <valist@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Sent: Friday, October 03, 2003 9:11 PM
Subject: [VAL] Vulkem sealant
> Good evening to all,
> Having used Vulkem 636 on my '65, I have located the
> manufacturer and a list of distributors. They do not
> make 636 anymore. They have a 911 in gray and
> aluminum. Having used the old, this is the stuff. Go
> to tremcosealants.com and they have a link to find
> your nearest distributor.
> The best part of all this, I found a distributor less
> than 5 miles from my house and only cost $3/tube
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search
> http://shopping.yahoo.com
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> When replying to a message. please delete all unnecessary original text
>
> To unsubscribe or change to a digest format, please go to
> http://www.tompatterson.com/VAC/VAList/listoffice.html
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 19:41:15 -0400
From: "T o m :-\)" <tmeeker@xxxxxxxxxx.rr.com>
Subject: [VAL] Polly, your good works
Well Polly, they must have gotten vibes from you back in 1985 because by the
time I contacted the front desk at Airstream in 1988 they couldn't do enough
to help me. Airstream sent to me at their expense, literature that was
copied from the original 1969 brochure and I forget how many total pages
there were but it was a bunch.
Keep up the good work, Polly.
Tom in NC - owners of 2 Airstreams, one "old" and one "not so old". ;))
WBCCI 5303
From: <JPPOLLY@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
: When I bought my unit in 85 I inquired of the factory and was told there
was
: no club for vintage units - that I just owned an old trailer, and they
were
: not very helpful at all, kind of turned me off on WBCCI in the beginning.
:
: Just Plain Polly
: WBCCI 71113
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 03 18:41:27 -0600
From: Roy Lashway <rlashway@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Subject: Re: [VAL] then 20 years, now 25 years?
With a little familiarity with how long it takes, took, WBCCI to
recognise B Vans, and Argosy trailers by Airstream for membership in
WBCCI it is fairly logical to conclude the Vintage Intra Club took years
to get accepted and adopted as an intraclub in 1993. So the existence
in 1988 or before of those interested in the vintage approach to trailer
recognition is quite reasonable surmise.
Roy Lashway
'78 Argosy,'56 Bubble
WBCCI 1610 VAC
rlashway@xxxxxxxxxx.com
web site: www.zianet.com/rlashway
(polishing report included)
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 19:43:21 -0600 (MDT)
From: forrest@xxxxxxxxxx.org
Subject: Re: [VAL] vintage used to be 20 years - today it's 25 ? ? ?
"So ... the VAC is for trailers which have to be at least so old. And the Classics
would be all aluminum travel trailers."
Tom
WBCCI 5303
Thanks Tom! Now I understand.
Forrest
WBCCI 2671
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 20:12:31 -0600 (MDT)
From: forrest@xxxxxxxxxx.org
Subject: Re: [VAL] vintage used to be 20 years - today it's 25 ? ? ?
"Be forewarned that trying to say the very same thing even more gently got me kicked
off the VAC list a few years back."
Lew #4239
Thanks, Lew. Point taken that my comment was possibly inappropriate for discussion on
this forum, as it was not significantly relevant to the forum topic (i.e. vintage
airstreams).
Mea culpa!
Forrest
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 22:46:17 -0400
From: Daisy Welch <jtdjtd@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: Re: [VAL] vintage used to be 20 years - today it's 25 ? ? ?
Hooray for a self-moderating list !
makes life much nicer. Thanks,
Daisy (list moderator )
forrest@xxxxxxxxxx.org wrote:
> "Be forewarned that trying to say the very same thing even more gently got me kicked
> off the VAC list a few years back."
>
> Lew #4239
>
> Thanks, Lew. Point taken that my comment was possibly inappropriate for discussion on
> this forum, as it was not significantly relevant to the forum topic (i.e. vintage
> airstreams).
>
> Mea culpa!
>
> Forrest
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> When replying to a message. please delete all unnecessary original text
>
> To unsubscribe or change to a digest format, please go to
> http://www.tompatterson.com/VAC/VAList/listoffice.html
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 23:33:48 -0400
From: Terry Tyler <tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: [VAL] That Shiny Airstream
Hi Gang,
One of the experiences we have with our shiny Airstream is the number of
strangers who come up to us with questions about it. They ask how did we get
it to shine like that, is the inside restored too, do they still make them,
are they as easy to tow as they look, where can I get a used one, and on and
on. Many just want to talk about the Airstream they once owned.
We didn't realize how much of a conversation piece our shiny Airstream would
become. After all, she was the same Airstream we had been towing around the
continent for years with rarely a comment. Here are a few that occurred
during the Fall 2003 Lighthouse Color Caravan around Michigan's Peninsula.
1 - While refueling just before our caravan rendezvous, a man in his 30s
pulled up to the next pump. There was a woman and two children in the front
seat of his pick-up truck. After he replaced the pump nozzle, he looked over
at me and asked: "Did you restore that Airstream?" I nodded, "Yes." He
asked, "How long did it take? " I replied with a grin, "Forever." He asked,
"How often do you use it?" I answered, "Each Summer, we travel with it for
several months."
I added, "The two biggest parts of restoring it were doing the mechanical
work to make it reliably roadworthy and refurbishing the interior. The
smallest part (10%) of the restoration was making it shiny. That was done
last Winter by a friend who specializes in refinishing Airstreams."
For a moment, he reflected on what I said, then mumbled, "Looks sharp" and
walked off to pay his bill. After I paid my bill, he walked with me back to
our vehicles and asked, "Where can I get one of those?" I replied, "The
Airstream Classifieds on the Internet. There were about 300 of them on the
list last week." We exchanged email addresses and I offered to answer other
questions he might have after he returned home.
2 - At a Taco Bell Restaurant, we parked along an edge of the Restaurant's
parking lot near two young men (20s) walking to their very large dump truck.
They looked over at me as I got out of our Suburban and commented, "I'll bet
that diesel has no trouble pulling your little Airstream." I replied, "It
does okay." One man asked, "Is it easier to pull a shiny trailer?" I said
with tongue in cheek, "It's much easier especially going downhill." In all
seriousness, he answered, "Yes, that makes sense." They continued walking
toward their truck. I smiled.
3 - In a McDonald's parking lot near Petoskey, a man came running out the
restaurant to ask me what kind of wax I used on the Airstream. I told him,
"There is no wax on it because wax would dull the shine. It's only the plain
raw aluminum with the oxidation buffed off." He was in disbelief. "How long
does it take to do that?" I replied, "Ten hours per running foot. This is a
22' Airstream." In disgust, he marched off muttering something about "too
much work."
Then, while waiting in line to order, he came over and asked, "What's the
inside like?" I told him all the woodwork is refinished, it has new foam
cushions, new upholstery, new drapes, new Berber carpet, all appliances work
perfectly and everything is white glove clean. His next question was
predictable, "What's it worth?" With some people I give a direct answer.
With him, I asked, "What are you willing to offer?" He replied, "Oh, I was
just curious." He didn't linger while my order was being taken, nor did he
express further interest.
4 - In an Arby's Restaurant parking lot, a father and son came over and
said, "We have a '67 Airstream just like yours," then asked, "Why do you
have solar panels?" I told them. "The solar panels keep our batteries fully
charged without being plugged into a utility box." They asked about rainy
days. I replied, "Our two solar panels charge our two deep cycle marine
batteries every day rain or shine AND every Winter even under three feet of
snow." They seemed especially interested, so I gave them a copy of four
handouts I wrote a few years ago when I did seminars on solar power.
Next, they wanted to know if I had trouble locating parts for our vintage
trailer. I asked if they had a computer at home. They said, "Yes," so I gave
them the website address of the Vintage Airstream Discussion List and told
them they could access 50,000 pages of archives describing everything about
restoring and repairing old Airstreams AND finding obsolete parts.
They hadn't heard of the Internet list, so I told them, "The Vintage
Airstream Discussion List is an e-mail based discussion group for Vintage
Airstream travel trailer owners and enthusiasts. The list is open to all
comers regardless of Airstream ownership or not. They do not need to be a
member of either the Wally Byam Caravan Club International (WBCCI) or the
Vintage Airstream Club (VAC) in order to participate in the discussions of
The Vintage Airstream Discussion List."
The father asked about the number of people on the list. I said, "As of last
week, the discussion group had about 800 members who read all comments and
questions every day of the year. Within a few days of asking a question,
several replies will appear in the daily digest. Many friendships are
started on the list long before we see each other or our Airstreams."
Both father and son seemed sincere, so I encouraged them to contact me
directly by email if they have any difficulty finding parts. I know from
experience it can take persistence and ingenuity to track down some of the
"difficult to find" parts. As every good investigative journalist knows,
intense leg work is often needed when tracking down leads.
Also, I told them, "It's common for many restorers of Vintage Airstreams to
hold off beginning the restoration until they have another identical trailer
to use for parts. They want their own mobile parts supply building. And,
there are others who buy any year of wrecked Airstream from a junk yard,
scavenger it for parts, and then sell it back to the junk yard."
5 - At a shopping mall parking lot outside of Mackinaw City, a man and his
wife stopped to ask how we liked our "small" Airstream and if it had a
bathroom. I told them we like it and prefer it for caravans instead of our
larger Airstream - specifically because of the bathroom.
I mentioned last July, when 200+ families walked through our Airstream at
the Vintage Airstream Open House during the International Airstream
Convention in Burlington, VT. The predominant comment was about the spacious
feeling in our 22' Airstream and its bathroom. One woman told us, "Your
bathroom is even bigger than the bathroom in our 34' Airstream."
Although I hadn't thought about it this way before, Sandie surprised me when
she said the bathroom in our 22' Airstream is twice as big as the one in our
32' Airstream. She misses the even larger bathroom we had in our '77 31'
Airstream.
6 - At a Wal-Mart parking lot, another Airstreamer (not with the caravan)
pulled up alongside of us, greeted us and said our Airstream was too shiny.
He wasn't smiling so I replied with, "Maybe so, it sure helps when I'm
recruiting for WBCCI and our local Unit." His next comment was that WBCCI
membership is down and some of the local Units aren't getting new members.
That was an opening I hadn't seen coming, so I told him about the Washington
DC Unit (WDCU).
"Several years ago, this new WBCCI Unit was started by a handful of folks
who owned both Vintage and newer Airstreams. Our group came from several
states in the Union. The name Washington DC was chosen because it
represents every state in the Union. Membership in WDCU has increased each
year since. Many of our members own two Vintage Airstreams, while a few own
several."
I mentioned to my Wal-Mart Airstreamer there are local WBCCI Units who are
increasing their membership by increasing their emphasis on activities for
owners of Vintage Airstreams. They join the Vintage Airstream Discussion
List and talk up the local rallies and caravans. New owners are invited to
rallies."
He wanted to know what I meant by "activities" for owners of Vintage
Airstreams." I told him about a recent WDCU rally where we held Two-Minute
Show & Tell Seminars on the nitty gritty of owning an old Airstream - and
about the International Rally where we held an Open House event with prizes
and ribbons for various categories. "Merely by adding a few different kinds
of activities to traditional activities, new owners and restorers of vintage
Airstreams are becoming more involved and many end up joining the WDCU."
There was more I would have mentioned, but I saw a glaze coming over his
eyes. My enthusiasm for talking about recruiting new members was on a roll,
but I sensed he had turned me off and was waiting for an opening to
"Yeah-but" me. I paused to see if I was right. Sure enough, he jumped in
with, "Yeah-but there aren't enough owners of Vintage Airstreams to make any
difference in WBCCI's membership." I thought to myself - "Really?"
With the rain coming down harder, I pulled back and let it go with, "Maybe
yes, maybe no. It'll be interesting to learn how it turns out. Perhaps we'll
see you again some time and can compare notes." I decided this was one of
those conversations which needed more involvement than I had available.
7 - About midway during the Lighthouse caravan, I commented to another
caravaner we had a "lady-in-waiting" (a '63 22' Flying Cloud Airstream) at
home which hasn't been restored yet. His immediate question was, "Why did
you buy a third one when you're still working on this one?" My simple answer
was, "She has smooth graceful lines that will shine up beautifully, her
interior is 1960s elegant, and there are only a handful of this model in
existence."
As soon as I spoke those words, I knew my problem. The more I learn about
which models are rarest and which have the prerequisite features for a good
restoration, the more difficult it is for me to ignore the opportunity to
buy one when I'm staring it right in the face - particularly when the price
is right.
Sandie and I have come to think of restoring these old Airstreams as a
healthy hobby. There is more fun and satisfaction in making all systems
"good to go" than we dreamed possible. It's a pleasure to pick out materials
and fabrics for refurbishing these old beauties. It's true that traveling
with a thirty to fifty year old Airstream and its mechanical needs can be
both a challenge and a treat, but there's a lot more to it than that.
It's about rubbing shoulders with similar minded people who spark on solving
problems where there are no manuals showing construction or engineering
details. It's about friendships with seasoned owners who share their wisdom,
their experiences and their insights. It's about creatively and diligently
bringing one of these most recognizable RVs in the world back to life and
into full dependable service.
It's about camaraderie with a wide variety of Airstream owners. It's about
the excitement, the exhilaration and adventure of traveling wherever,
whenever and however we choose with either a Vintage or a newer Airstream.
Before Sandie and I reach age 90, we may be forced to settle down and become
traditional "old folks." That day isn't close, but when it does arrive, I
hope we'll be able to embrace it with a style and easy poise similar to how
our shiny Airstream feels when cruising along. Maybe that's when we'll
write another book.
Terry
mailto:tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxx.net
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 21:40:27 -0600
From: "gshippen" <gshippen@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Subject: Re: [VAL] Canadian speed limits
Scott,
We returned to Wyoming in August from an extended trip to the East
Coast...home via Quebec, Ontario north of Lake Superior, approx. 1150 miles
of Canadian roads. The speed limits varied but seems like 80 km was the
norm. We averaged 230 miles a day on the return trip. Stayed in numerous
Provincial and National Parks in Canada. For the most part all roads were
excellent except road repairs across the Canadian Shield are rocky to say
the least. But the slower speeds made viewing the scenery all the better.
We found the Canadian hospitality wonderful, enjoyed every day of the trip!
Hope you have the same experience.
Gerald Shippen
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Scheuermann" <s.l.scheuermann@xxxxxxxxxx.att.net>
To: <valist@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2003 5:32 PM
Subject: [VAL] Canadian speed limits
> I am trying to plan a trip with the Airstream to Alaska for next summer.
> Does anyone know the speed limits for the Yellowhead or Alaska Highways?
We
> are planning on traveling through Manitoba, Saskatchewan and part of
Alberta
> on the Yellowhead and I see that parts are two lane, parts are four lane.
I
> am trying to get a handle on how far we might be able to drive on any
given
> day. An outdated AAA map states that the speed limit on the Alaska Highway
> is 80km. Is this still the case? Thanks.
>
> Scott
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "M Tate" <firebirdesprit@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
> To: <valist@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
> Sent: Friday, October 03, 2003 9:11 PM
> Subject: [VAL] Vulkem sealant
>
>
> > Good evening to all,
> > Having used Vulkem 636 on my '65, I have located the
> > manufacturer and a list of distributors. They do not
> > make 636 anymore. They have a 911 in gray and
> > aluminum. Having used the old, this is the stuff. Go
> > to tremcosealants.com and they have a link to find
> > your nearest distributor.
> > The best part of all this, I found a distributor less
> > than 5 miles from my house and only cost $3/tube
> >
> >
> > __________________________________
> > Do you Yahoo!?
> > The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search
> > http://shopping.yahoo.com
> >
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------
> > When replying to a message. please delete all unnecessary original text
> >
> > To unsubscribe or change to a digest format, please go to
> > http://www.tompatterson.com/VAC/VAList/listoffice.html
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> When replying to a message. please delete all unnecessary original text
>
> To unsubscribe or change to a digest format, please go to
> http://www.tompatterson.com/VAC/VAList/listoffice.html
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 23:54:32 -0400
From: pete highlands <satdjpete@xxxxxxxxxx.net>
Subject: Re: [VAL] That Shiny Airstream
Pretty Classy Terry,
Thanks for sharing, and have you ever thought of Sales
Pete Highlands
Terry Tyler wrote:
> Hi Gang,
>
> One of the experiences we have with our shiny Airstream is the number of
> strangers who come up to us with questions about it. They ask how did we get
> it to shine like that, is the inside restored too, do they still make them,
> are they as easy to tow as they look, where can I get a used one, and on and
> on. Many just want to talk about the Airstream they once owned.
>
> We didn't realize how much of a conversation piece our shiny Airstream would
> become. After all, she was the same Airstream we had been towing around the
> continent for years with rarely a comment. Here are a few that occurred
> during the Fall 2003 Lighthouse Color Caravan around Michigan's Peninsula.
>
> 1 - While refueling just before our caravan rendezvous, a man in his 30s
> pulled up to the next pump. There was a woman and two children in the front
> seat of his pick-up truck. After he replaced the pump nozzle, he looked over
> at me and asked: "Did you restore that Airstream?" I nodded, "Yes." He
> asked, "How long did it take? " I replied with a grin, "Forever." He asked,
> "How often do you use it?" I answered, "Each Summer, we travel with it for
> several months."
>
> I added, "The two biggest parts of restoring it were doing the mechanical
> work to make it reliably roadworthy and refurbishing the interior. The
> smallest part (10%) of the restoration was making it shiny. That was done
> last Winter by a friend who specializes in refinishing Airstreams."
>
> For a moment, he reflected on what I said, then mumbled, "Looks sharp" and
> walked off to pay his bill. After I paid my bill, he walked with me back to
> our vehicles and asked, "Where can I get one of those?" I replied, "The
> Airstream Classifieds on the Internet. There were about 300 of them on the
> list last week." We exchanged email addresses and I offered to answer other
> questions he might have after he returned home.
>
> 2 - At a Taco Bell Restaurant, we parked along an edge of the Restaurant's
> parking lot near two young men (20s) walking to their very large dump truck.
> They looked over at me as I got out of our Suburban and commented, "I'll bet
> that diesel has no trouble pulling your little Airstream." I replied, "It
> does okay." One man asked, "Is it easier to pull a shiny trailer?" I said
> with tongue in cheek, "It's much easier especially going downhill." In all
> seriousness, he answered, "Yes, that makes sense." They continued walking
> toward their truck. I smiled.
>
> 3 - In a McDonald's parking lot near Petoskey, a man came running out the
> restaurant to ask me what kind of wax I used on the Airstream. I told him,
> "There is no wax on it because wax would dull the shine. It's only the plain
> raw aluminum with the oxidation buffed off." He was in disbelief. "How long
> does it take to do that?" I replied, "Ten hours per running foot. This is a
> 22' Airstream." In disgust, he marched off muttering something about "too
> much work."
>
> Then, while waiting in line to order, he came over and asked, "What's the
> inside like?" I told him all the woodwork is refinished, it has new foam
> cushions, new upholstery, new drapes, new Berber carpet, all appliances work
> perfectly and everything is white glove clean. His next question was
> predictable, "What's it worth?" With some people I give a direct answer.
> With him, I asked, "What are you willing to offer?" He replied, "Oh, I was
> just curious." He didn't linger while my order was being taken, nor did he
> express further interest.
>
> 4 - In an Arby's Restaurant parking lot, a father and son came over and
> said, "We have a '67 Airstream just like yours," then asked, "Why do you
> have solar panels?" I told them. "The solar panels keep our batteries fully
> charged without being plugged into a utility box." They asked about rainy
> days. I replied, "Our two solar panels charge our two deep cycle marine
> batteries every day rain or shine AND every Winter even under three feet of
> snow." They seemed especially interested, so I gave them a copy of four
> handouts I wrote a few years ago when I did seminars on solar power.
>
> Next, they wanted to know if I had trouble locating parts for our vintage
> trailer. I asked if they had a computer at home. They said, "Yes," so I gave
> them the website address of the Vintage Airstream Discussion List and told
> them they could access 50,000 pages of archives describing everything about
> restoring and repairing old Airstreams AND finding obsolete parts.
>
> They hadn't heard of the Internet list, so I told them, "The Vintage
> Airstream Discussion List is an e-mail based discussion group for Vintage
> Airstream travel trailer owners and enthusiasts. The list is open to all
> comers regardless of Airstream ownership or not. They do not need to be a
> member of either the Wally Byam Caravan Club International (WBCCI) or the
> Vintage Airstream Club (VAC) in order to participate in the discussions of
> The Vintage Airstream Discussion List."
>
> The father asked about the number of people on the list. I said, "As of last
> week, the discussion group had about 800 members who read all comments and
> questions every day of the year. Within a few days of asking a question,
> several replies will appear in the daily digest. Many friendships are
> started on the list long before we see each other or our Airstreams."
>
> Both father and son seemed sincere, so I encouraged them to contact me
> directly by email if they have any difficulty finding parts. I know from
> experience it can take persistence and ingenuity to track down some of the
> "difficult to find" parts. As every good investigative journalist knows,
> intense leg work is often needed when tracking down leads.
>
> Also, I told them, "It's common for many restorers of Vintage Airstreams to
> hold off beginning the restoration until they have another identical trailer
> to use for parts. They want their own mobile parts supply building. And,
> there are others who buy any year of wrecked Airstream from a junk yard,
> scavenger it for parts, and then sell it back to the junk yard."
>
> 5 - At a shopping mall parking lot outside of Mackinaw City, a man and his
> wife stopped to ask how we liked our "small" Airstream and if it had a
> bathroom. I told them we like it and prefer it for caravans instead of our
> larger Airstream - specifically because of the bathroom.
>
> I mentioned last July, when 200+ families walked through our Airstream at
> the Vintage Airstream Open House during the International Airstream
> Convention in Burlington, VT. The predominant comment was about the spacious
> feeling in our 22' Airstream and its bathroom. One woman told us, "Your
> bathroom is even bigger than the bathroom in our 34' Airstream."
>
> Although I hadn't thought about it this way before, Sandie surprised me when
> she said the bathroom in our 22' Airstream is twice as big as the one in our
> 32' Airstream. She misses the even larger bathroom we had in our '77 31'
> Airstream.
>
> 6 - At a Wal-Mart parking lot, another Airstreamer (not with the caravan)
> pulled up alongside of us, greeted us and said our Airstream was too shiny.
> He wasn't smiling so I replied with, "Maybe so, it sure helps when I'm
> recruiting for WBCCI and our local Unit." His next comment was that WBCCI
> membership is down and some of the local Units aren't getting new members.
> That was an opening I hadn't seen coming, so I told him about the Washington
> DC Unit (WDCU).
>
> "Several years ago, this new WBCCI Unit was started by a handful of folks
> who owned both Vintage and newer Airstreams. Our group came from several
> states in the Union. The name Washington DC was chosen because it
> represents every state in the Union. Membership in WDCU has increased each
> year since. Many of our members own two Vintage Airstreams, while a few own
> several."
>
> I mentioned to my Wal-Mart Airstreamer there are local WBCCI Units who are
> increasing their membership by increasing their emphasis on activities for
> owners of Vintage Airstreams. They join the Vintage Airstream Discussion
> List and talk up the local rallies and caravans. New owners are invited to
> rallies."
>
> He wanted to know what I meant by "activities" for owners of Vintage
> Airstreams." I told him about a recent WDCU rally where we held Two-Minute
> Show & Tell Seminars on the nitty gritty of owning an old Airstream - and
> about the International Rally where we held an Open House event with prizes
> and ribbons for various categories. "Merely by adding a few different kinds
> of activities to traditional activities, new owners and restorers of vintage
> Airstreams are becoming more involved and many end up joining the WDCU."
>
> There was more I would have mentioned, but I saw a glaze coming over his
> eyes. My enthusiasm for talking about recruiting new members was on a roll,
> but I sensed he had turned me off and was waiting for an opening to
> "Yeah-but" me. I paused to see if I was right. Sure enough, he jumped in
> with, "Yeah-but there aren't enough owners of Vintage Airstreams to make any
> difference in WBCCI's membership." I thought to myself - "Really?"
>
> With the rain coming down harder, I pulled back and let it go with, "Maybe
> yes, maybe no. It'll be interesting to learn how it turns out. Perhaps we'll
> see you again some time and can compare notes." I decided this was one of
> those conversations which needed more involvement than I had available.
>
> 7 - About midway during the Lighthouse caravan, I commented to another
> caravaner we had a "lady-in-waiting" (a '63 22' Flying Cloud Airstream) at
> home which hasn't been restored yet. His immediate question was, "Why did
> you buy a third one when you're still working on this one?" My simple answer
> was, "She has smooth graceful lines that will shine up beautifully, her
> interior is 1960s elegant, and there are only a handful of this model in
> existence."
>
> As soon as I spoke those words, I knew my problem. The more I learn about
> which models are rarest and which have the prerequisite features for a good
> restoration, the more difficult it is for me to ignore the opportunity to
> buy one when I'm staring it right in the face - particularly when the price
> is right.
>
> Sandie and I have come to think of restoring these old Airstreams as a
> healthy hobby. There is more fun and satisfaction in making all systems
> "good to go" than we dreamed possible. It's a pleasure to pick out materials
> and fabrics for refurbishing these old beauties. It's true that traveling
> with a thirty to fifty year old Airstream and its mechanical needs can be
> both a challenge and a treat, but there's a lot more to it than that.
>
> It's about rubbing shoulders with similar minded people who spark on solving
> problems where there are no manuals showing construction or engineering
> details. It's about friendships with seasoned owners who share their wisdom,
> their experiences and their insights. It's about creatively and diligently
> bringing one of these most recognizable RVs in the world back to life and
> into full dependable service.
>
> It's about camaraderie with a wide variety of Airstream owners. It's about
> the excitement, the exhilaration and adventure of traveling wherever,
> whenever and however we choose with either a Vintage or a newer Airstream.
>
> Before Sandie and I reach age 90, we may be forced to settle down and become
> traditional "old folks." That day isn't close, but when it does arrive, I
> hope we'll be able to embrace it with a style and easy poise similar to how
> our shiny Airstream feels when cruising along. Maybe that's when we'll
> write another book.
>
> Terry
>
> mailto:tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxx.net
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> When replying to a message. please delete all unnecessary original text
>
> To unsubscribe or change to a digest format, please go to
> http://www.tompatterson.com/VAC/VAList/listoffice.html
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 01:51:18 -0400
From: "dave@xxxxxxxxxx.com" <dave@xxxxxxxxxx.com>
Subject: [VAL] '78 brochure discussion
whoa, didn't mean to start a brew-ha-ha. this 20-25 debate will make
for a great discussion at the next ice cream social. i'm sure it's
pretty apparent that katy and myself getting into airstreaming has been
all consuming. when i'm not working on our unit, i'm thinking about
working on the unit. when i'm not think about working on it, i'm
reading the wonderful discussions that happen here and on other
airstream lists.
one thing i can't exactly put my finger on is...why i like owning a
vintage airstream so much. leading up to our purchase i had been
bidding feaverishly on ebay for an older unit -- mainly because of our
limited cash on hand. and for some strange reason it was going to be an
airstream or nothing. can't rightly explain that one either.
when we kept getting beat in the bidding process - kate and i actually
considered buying a new one. i'm sure you've all heard the pitch -
little down and $400 a month (or less) for the next 15 years. i guess
they do 15 years so your trailer isn't already a classic when you
actually own it outright. we came close to buying a new one, as i
really like the new international (blue interior).
THANKFULLY, i saw an ad at airstream.net in the nick of time. made the
call and we were proud owners of our excella 500 twenty-five hours
later. guess what, i'm now $400 richer every month. actually not.
i've put more than that into it in the two months we've owned it. but
hey, once it's fixed up to our liking we won't have any payments. that
will leave plenty of cash to hit rally's with.
speaking of rally's - just read about the mexico-central america trip in
the new issue of Trailer Life. That sounds like a great time.
Now to really piss everyone off - i'm going to bed and will relish the
yankees ALCS victory tonight as i fall asleep. six trips to the big
show in eight years! woo-hoo!
- --dave
------------------------------
End of VAL Digest V1 #38
************************
-----------------------------------------------------------------
When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary Digest text
To unsubscribe or change to an e-mail format, please go to
http://www.tompatterson.com/VAC/VAList/listoffice.html
|