Our New Old Set of Wheels

We have mused and fantasized about owning an RV or trailer for as long as we’ve been together.  

Just the thought of taking to the road and living like turtles with our house on our back, appeals to both of us. We’ve talked about Winnebagos and FMCs and other motor homes and fifth-wheels and you name it. We’ve looked inside new ones and used ones. So when we were in Bothwell last Saturday for the annual classic car show and happened upon a 1969 Airstream, completely gutted and going for half a song, we gave it some serious thought.

I was amused by a few people who stuck their heads inside and wondered aloud what the point would be of buying a gutted trailer. DUH. We got excited! Airstreams are aluminum so they don’t rust. There’s a whole community of people out there who use them and in some cases, live in them.  And despite its age, this baby is in remarkably good shape.

We made an offer, it was accepted and now it’s ours. We have already spent more time than you can imagine looking at YouTube videos of how others have renovated their Airstreams.  We’re pretty sure we’ll put in a sofabed midships instead of a bedroom at the back, for versatility. And I want easy-to-clean floors. But the rest is all to be decided including the timeline for completing the project which will be mid-to-long-range. Do we want to dress it in a vintage look or modern?  We don’t yet know and that’s what makes it fun!

We brought ‘er home yesterday and she’s sitting in our driveway until she can be adjusted to fit under our breezeway.  Part of the way home we were waved over by a Union Gas worker. The door to the trailer had cut its bungee cord and snapped its duct tape and was flapping in the breeze!  She gave us some PVC pipe and more duct tape and we were grateful for her help. Yes it needs a lock for the door among about a million other things. Now…we dream and scheme.