VAP INDEX Episodes 1 – 25
Move news
Air conditioning
Installing an A/C in a closet 22
Adding a two-piece a/c 28
Prepping for the A/C install 39
Two A/C’s for Perry 47
Front window a/c unit 70
Crazy air conditioner cover 70
Airforums
Airforums NorCal rally 70
Airstream Dreams (see Vintage Trailer Supply)
Interview with Steve Hingten about Airstream Dreams.com – 5
Airstream Factory
Airstream factory tour 22
AS needs to advertise more 57
Airstream Life
Rich Luhr of Airstream Life Magazine 2
Airstream Life’s Editor/Publisher Rich Luhr. discusses Vintage Thunder and his upcoming adventure with the Tour of America! 3
Aluminitus
RK Aluminitus…. does Kevin have it?! 4
Mrs. Worner’s Aluminitus 18
The cure for Aluminitus 40
Women immune from Aluminitus 50
10th Wedding anniversary metal… Aluminum of course 50
Aluminum
Aluminum vs. Steel 30
What kind of aluminum for repairs 38
Vintage Aluminum vs Newer Aluminum 39
Dissimilar metals 45
Aluminum thickness 64
Aluminum sign patch 70
Boeing Surplus 71
Making an aluminum frame 71
Ambassador Update
Update 22, 23, 24
Update 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32
Sealing up the Ambassador 32
Ambassador Update 33, 35
Restoring the Ambassador to code 37
The Ambassador Update 38
The Ambassador Blog 38
Bad week for the Ambassador 38
Ambassador update 39, 40, 41, 45, 46,48, 49
The Ambassador’s Tahoe trip 50
The Ambassador Video 52
Ambassador Update 62
Announcements
Test VAPcast 0
Introduction to the Vintage Airstream Podcast (VAPcast) 1
How to become a part of the show 1
The 411 on GSM Vehicles 1
Airstream in Arizona X4
Off to Minneapolis, MN 26
Bought another one an hour ago 26
Oh no! Trailer fire! 28
Appliances (See stoves, refrigerators, heater, water heater, etc.)
Period appliances restored offer boon docking benefits 12
50’s appliances 37
Burner used in Caravel 45
Installing the hydraulic actuator 48
Argosy
A polished Argosy? 12
Gary buys Vintage Thunder, a 1977 Argosy trailer, a painted Airstream 13
Calling all Argosy owners 75
Astradome
Astradome reproduction 29
Installing an Astradome 29
Awnings
Colin’s vintage pole and rope awning 18
Axles
Bad Axles? What can happen? 1
Axle show 3
Episode 3 recap: More axle options 4
Single axle advantage: Toll roads! 16
Dexter axles on their way 40
Welder installs torsion axles 48
Are your wheels going to fit? 48
Changing axle height
54
Starting axle angle 64
Torsion angles explained 64
1960 last year for leaf spring axle 58
Dura-toruqe axle comes in ‘61 58
Heightening a shot axle 70
Backing Up
Backup cameras and tops 18
Bathroom
Disassembling the bathroom 24
Removing stains in bath fixtures 26
Patching molded plastic sinks 26
Tub painted with epoxy paint 30
Bathroom dry fitted 31
Painting bathroom fixtures 35
Bathroom throw down 60
Restoring a bathroom 60
Refinishing the tub 60
Plumbing problems 60
Rob’s tub story 66
CBR Bathroom Throw Down 66
Bathroom Update 67
Final Judging of Bathroom Throwdown 68
I need a shower 71
Adding an outside shower 71
A shower without a curtain 73
Battery
Battery Show 13
Power concerns while boondocking 27
Hidden power draw 27
Charging your batteries while boondocking 27
Conserving power is the key 27
Lifeline AGM battery from Best Converter 35
Battery box and venting 45
Checking DC wiring 54
AGM vs wet cell batteries 72
Car battery vs. deep cycle 72
Parasitic loads 72
Golf cart batteries 72
Wiring batteries (Link) 72
Charging while driving 72
Bearing
Hot bearings 71
Belly Pan
Exploratory surgery or dropping the belly pan and repair 5
Removing the belly pan 28
Belly pan insulation 66
Blog
VT Blog big hit 3
Rob’s Sweet Sovereign Blog 6
The Ambassador Blog 38
Bonded By Aluminum Blog 40
Frank’s blog 59
Long Long Honeymoon Blog (link) 69
Polishing updates (link, link, link) 70
Books
Review of Airstream’s book: Wanderlust – Airstream at 75
Boondocking
Power concerns while boondocking 27
Hidden power draw 27
Charging your batteries while boondocking 27
Conserving power is the key 27
Water Thief 27
Blueboy portable grey tank 27
Why boondock in the first place? 27
Until you boondock, you don’t know what your getting into 55
Brakes
Hydravac disc brakes 29
Hydraulic disk and hydraulic drum 29
Tandem brakes with hydraulic and electric explained 29
Airstream parking brake 29
Brake controllers should not be used for sway control 32
How to adjust a brake controller 32
Brakes on a ’63 Bambi 35
Running hydraulic disc brake lines 49
Bleeding the brakes the hard way 49
Building
Building a shed for a trailer 66
Bulbs
ABC’s on LED’s 18
ABC’s on LED’s 19
12v light bulbs 29
Buying Vintage
Where to look for floor rot 1
What to look out for when buying vintage 1
Is body skin condition important? 1
Narrow your search: choose by era 1
Older is lighter …decade matters 1
Small Trailer vs. Large. Are small trailers on their way out? 1
Buying New vs. Used. choosing what’s best 2
A fair price. RJ’s Price vs. Condition 2
How to find an Airstream to restore? …You already know! 4
Classic vehicles have character 4
What will happen to the restored trailer? 4
Airstream quality is more than skin deep 4
Helpful tips for picking up a vintage trailer 7
Full-timing trailer: New vs. Vintage 9
Take time to learn the trailers design, layout, and usage 12
Tim’s advice: sometimes you gotta walk away 15
Finding the perfect trailer 20
When dream trailer turns into a nightmare 28
How to locate a trailer 50
Patience is the big one 50
How to find the right trailer for you? 50
Vintage folks have to be handy 50
Are YOU right for vintage? 50
Try vintage 50
Start with your tow vehicle 50
Shorter trailers go fast, act quick 50
Shop when you’re not ready to buy 50
Vintage long trailers the best 53
Locating vintage parts 54
How to find an AS 60
Cabinetry
Removing cabinetry 54
Camping
Most unusual camping spot
55
California camping 57
Kate’s Lazy Meadows 57
Setting up a vintage unit at a campground 67
The Cracker Barrel plug 69
Chaisse
Moving cross-members 53
Inspecting the chassie 54
Classic Rides
Colin and Rob’s Classic Rides 4
Clubs
Trailer Clubs? 24
Colin Hyde
Colin’s RV earthquake preparedness 7
Rob / Colin add to their Airstream collections 16
Colin’s twelve sleeper 19
Where’s Colin? 28
Colin’s Ambassador Update 29
Colin wakes up! 29
Colin picks up a new ‘53 36
Colin picks up a ’73 Sovereign 37
Blood everywhere! 37
Colin’s Ambassador update 38
Colin takes Shiner to heart 37
Colin’s heading South 38
Why Colin has no hair 39
Colin’s electrical *issues* 39
Sparks flew out of it! 39
Colin’s Airstream adventure 43
Colin’s BreakWind 45
Is Colin as nice as he sounds? 46
RJ’s fault Colin’s into Airstreaming 47
Colin at the International 48
Colin’s time warp 48
Colin gone at the Woodsman Rally 50
Colin’s Woodsman’s Rally 51
Colin gets a new mistress too 51
Collin in Stout, OH 54
Colin at the Tin Can Tourist rally in Fla 64
Colin’s aluminum walker 65
Colin’s bathroom update 67
Happy Birthday Colin! 67
Colin picks up a ‘63 70
Colin’s 1970 Ambassador rescue 73
Contributor
Formica 28
New Contributors 29
New contributor: All-Rite! 30
Byler Rivet Supply: Rivet shaver, Power Link, Mandrel trimmer 32
SeaTech: Plumbing fittings, valves 32
Dometic 36
Dometic contributes Heat Pump 39
Cadillac Contributor? 39
Nuvite! 40
Selectabed. com 46
Tri-Pedic Mattress 46
Dexter 48
Tekonsha 48
Barker Manufacturing 49
Cooking
Cooking a five course meal while camping 6
RVGauge.com sends new sensor
52
Bestconverter.com carries Aluminum battery boxes 52
Best looking BBQ tanks! 52
Converters
Statpower converter w/remote display 10
Converters and inverters 11
Best Converter 23
How to tell if converter is bad 39
Original Univolt vs modern converters (Link) 72
Tri-state converters 72
Detectors
Mounting a LP detector 10
Safe-T-Alert detector 10
Doors
Rob’s trailer door commits suicide! 8
Doohickey to save doors bent on destruction 8
AS suicide door poppings explained 8
Repairing door hinge 54
1964 last year of door within a door 58
60‘s Door knobs 58
Door won’t close on a ’78 62
Fixing a sprung door 63
EBAY
How to find an Airstream to restore? …You already know! 4
EBay show 13
Cash vs. Cashiers check 22
1956 Overlander on eBay 36
Picking up an Airstream won on eBay 45
Electrical system (See tail lights, battery, bulbs,)
Upgrading the electrical panel 31
Rob’s danger socket! 31
Wires everywhere 32
Wires, wires, everywhere
35
A/C polarity tester a must 39
Checking DC wiring 54
Electrical inlet was an outlet 70
Grounding while boondocking 72
Vintage trailer may not have grounded outlets 72
Trenching a ground rod 73
How many amps for a coffee maker? 74
Fiberglass
Tim lacks fiber glassing skill 30
Flag Pole Holder
Rob’s Aluminum flag pole holder 27
Floors
Where to look for floor rot 1
Epoxy floor repair, when NOT to use it! 2
Listener’s question: Floor Repair 5
Laminate floor vs. vinyl and installation tips11
All trailers have floor rot 14
Level chassis and floor critical 16
Sub-floor repair, sealing seams, insulation 23
Forbo Flooring 23
Picking floor coverings 24
How do you prevent floor rot? 27
Sub-floor repairs 28
Elevator bolts from Fastenal.com 28
Forbo Marmoleum Click! Installation 29
Installation tips 29
New floor = new trailer 29
Marmoleum floor great 49
Frame
Frame and step welding work 26
Frame repairs 27
Frame inspection w/o problem indicated 33
Pipe frames not for extended travel 37
Ladder frames come about 37
The ladder frame evolves throughout the 50’s 37
’49 Clipper pipe frame 45
Prepping floor for tile 53
Removing the rotted floor 60
Fitting the new floor in 60
Securing the subfloor 60
Composite floors 66
Sheet flooring buckling 70
Cedar plank floor 70
Fake subfloor repair 70
Cheap honeycomb flooring 71
Frame
Moving cross-members 53
Gaining access to the c-channel 60
Why is it a C channel when its clearly a J 64
Rust paint preferred 60
Insulating the floor 67
Out rigger issues 62
Making an aluminum frame 71
Finding 4″ outriggers 71
Frank
Frank Throw Down update 64
Frank finds a mistress 51
Frank’s xmas wish list 59
Frank’s blog 59
Frank selling? Giving up? 60
Frank’s bathroom update 60
Frank’s bathroom update 67
Frank’s Dometic story 73
Frank’s fridge repair 74
Full timing
Rich, a REAL full-timer 3
Full-timing Show 9
Furniture
Leg-O-Matic chairs 6
Bunk original or not? 73
Gauges
SeeLevel gauge sensor error 49
Put the sensor on wrong 49
Heaters
Precision Temp: TwinTemp Jr.24
Prepping for the TwinTemp 31
Mounting the TwinTemp 33
Twin Temp nice quiet heat 38
Installing Dometic’s Heat pump 40
Twin Temp Jr. exhaust 40
Furnace vs. catalytic 60
Time for heat 60
History
Beatrice ownership years 21
Why International is centered around July 4th 21
The 30’s and 40’s
Airstream trailer in the 30’s 30
Late 40’s trailer amenities 30
THE 50’S 37
1950 the year of change 37
Trailers shrink in the early 50’s 37
Wally Byam’s Holiday 37
1950’s offers a full AS lineup 37
Original Cape Town to Cairo 42
2001 Panama Canal Caravan 42
60’s show 58
Wally’s trailers loose his influence 58
1969 sees a new trailer body style 58
Hitches
Reese’s Product Hitch Straight- Line Hi 24
Bob from Reese Products 32
What is weight distribution? 32
How to get the correct hitch 32
Roundbar vs Trunion 32
Bar weight ratings 32
Over weight bar rating woes 32
Setting up weight distribution bars 32
What is sway control? 32
Passive sway control 32
Active sway control 32
How the Reese dual cam works 32
Dual cam benefits 32
Hitch maintenance 32
How to address a used hitch setup 32
Know your tongue weight 32
Brake controllers should not be used for sway control 32
What can you do in a sway condition? 32
How to adjust a brake controller 32
Is weight distribution necessary 40
Align-Quick Hitching Guides 42
Hot water
Prepping for the TwinTemp 31
Mounting the TwinTemp 33
Twin Temp test 38
Water everywhere 38
Twin Temp nice quiet heat 38
How to order from Precision Temp? 39
TwinTemp Jr. tested and running 39
Installing Dometic’s Heat pump 40
Twin Temp Jr. exhaust 41
Hydraulics
Hydraulic woes 22
Insulation
Expandable spray in foam vs. standard insulation 18
Sub-floor repair, sealing seams, insulation 23
Insulating the floor 67
Insurance
Vintage tow vehicle/trailer insurance is scary 56
Interviews
Rich Luhr of Airstream Life Magazine. 2
Rich Luhr discusses Vintage Thunder and his upcoming adventure with the Tour of America 3.
Kevin Tetz from DIY Network’s Classic Rides!. 4
Steve Hingtgen from Vintage Trailer Supply formally Airstream Dreams. 5
In a Toaster Moon – Ric Seaberg 6
Jini Keasling, Airstream Marketing Designer for the BaseCamp trailer 7
Meet the Luhr family, Rich, Eleanor, and Emma as they take the journey of their lives on the Tour 9 The Vintage Airstream Club historian, Fred Coldwell. 12 Rob’s run in with Dicky Riegel, Group President of Thor 12 Gary Borders who purchased his Bambi on eBay and listed his vintage trailer for sale on the online auction site 13 David Winick of VintageTrailering.com. 14 Bill Kerfoot about how he purchased a 1954 Airstream Liner 3000 miles from his home! 15 Leo of SaveWally.org. 15 Weekend Warriors Uwe and Carlos. They have built their dream trailers and they tell us their stories! 17 Three rally attendees who tell us their personal Airstream stories . 18 Matt Worner, this years CBR co-host for an insiders point of view. 18 Airstreamer Herb Spies whose trailer is so polished it was chosen to be in a magazine advertisement for Reese Products! 19 Arlen and Shirley Manning, owners of the “ Shiniest Trailer on the Planet!”. 20 Forrest Bone who renewed the Tin Can Tourists club in 1998 25
Tim League of Alamo Draft House Cinema. Tim organized Netflix’s Rolling Roadshow promotion where they gave away a vintage Airstream in Arizona X4
Fred Coldwell discusses Airstreams early trailers 29
Talk with two Airstreamers from AZ 31
Dave from Tempe, AZ 31
Jerry from Mesa, AZ 31
Bob Tooker from Reese Products talks about weight distribution and sway control 32
Special guest: Doug 33
Antsy McClain – the Trailer Park Troubadours 34
Guest VAC Historian, Fred Coldwell discusses Airstream trailers from the 1950‘s 37
Don and Claudia talk about being Bonded By Aluminum 40
2009 Cape Town to Cairo organizer Burt Kalet. 42
Tom Numelin of PerfectPolish.com 43
Leo Garvey of SaveWally.org about the WBCCI motorhome debate. 45
Airstreamers John and Rick 46
RJ Dial of VintageAirstream.com. 47
Update from John & Rick 48
Classic Motor Homes with Steven of Classicmotorhomesonline.com. 51Airstream honeymooners, Sean and Kristy 55
Rikki Rockett of Poison 57
VAC Historian Fred Coldwell 58
Special guests Frank and Steve 67
Live at the Cherry Blossom Rally 68
Frank Bates, Bates RV and Airstream Ranch 69
Special guest Frank 70
Special guest Rivka 71
Special guest Frank 73
Inverters
Intellipower vs. Univolt 10
Converters and inverters 11
Inverters (Link) 72
Wiring inverters 72
Keys
Getting hatch keys 71
Leaks
They ALL leak!
35
Rain rain go away 38
One little drip… 38
Water at the entry door 38
No more leaks …hopefully 39
Water leak test? 40
They all leak 52
Sealing leaks on a 2007 53
Sealing leaks before floor repair 60
Leveling a Trailer
How level is level? 5
Listener’s question: Levelers up or down? 7
LP Gas Systems
Locks
How to service a deadbolt? 8
Metals
Dissimilar metals 45
Galvanic corrosion 46
Miscellaneous Cut an Airstream in half? . No way! 4 Harleys, Vespas, and Airstreams 4 Employee’s NOT eligible 4
Two trailers is too many 13
How to get a free Liner and a vacation 15
Dissenter in our midst 19
Beefsteak defined 19
Globe Trotter in Reese hitches ad 19
Heading East! 21
California patch 23
Toaster Tales 28
Aliens from outer space 30
The K.I.S.S. principle 33
News and notes 33
Peacocks vs. Free Wifi
35
T minus 18 and counting 38
For sale leaky trailer and Internet radio show 38
Rockem Sockem Robots 38
’60 Traveler 38
Air Parts Inc. 38
How do you make a bulkhead? 39
Bulkhead wall made 40
Fridge gas line in 40
Guess what I just won on eBay 40
What to do with the living room 41
Bonded by Aluminum cancelled 43
Survival Pod
43
Got another Airstream 43
Free Wanderlust 43
I miss the Bounder Buddy 43
Need for West Coast GSM 47
I heard this loud pop in the truck 48
You sound like my dad 48
Yeah, but when are you going camping? 48
Did the firemen show up yet? 48
New PO Box 49
The KOA Refugee 52
The 1936 Skipper? 52
I carry two wallets! 53
Building a 3/5 scale trailer 54
Space to do restoration 54
Scary movie, The HIlls Have Eyes 56
Three Airstreamer’s in the dog house 64
Mobile museum 64
Favorite parts of our Airstreams 64
Bob the Airstreamer 64
Valentine’s wishes 64
Rockett Drum Works 57
Alclad Drum 57
The pee story 57
Newbie Restorer 59
New Years resolutions 60
Salvage registration 60
Airstream’s Marriot 62
Vintage snob 63
Adding a bicycle carrier 63
Airstream skid row 65
Airstream Ranch 65
Episode 227 65
Gas prices 65
The three hour newbie 67
How many trailers do you need? 67
90mph Airstream! 67
Baked potato vs twinkie 71
Apology please 72
Stanton or Stanton 73
Airstreams were designed to work 73
Crazy desert people 73
Ridding on three wheels 73
The Airstream Spirit 74
SOB owner goes vintage 74
Airstream matchmaking 75
Motorhomes
Common motor home restoration problems 51
Low miles not necessarily a benefit 51
Hard to find parts? 51
Motor home as an investment 51
News
Air Katrina: Live from the Astrodome …ABC News Article 2
USA Today article 48
Painting (See Zolatone Paint too)
How could you paint an Airstream? 3
Get an education on Paintucation! 4
Painting tips 10
Crime to paint an Airstream 35
Painting bathroom fixtures 35
Crime to paint an Airstream?
35
Paint stick master 39
Changing badly painted walls 51
Painting an Airstream 53
Rust paint preferred 60
Argosy painting questions 66
Paneling
Updating the 70‘s paneling 63
Plastic
Patching molded plastic sinks 26
How do you refinish ABS plastic fixtures? 31
Plumbing
SeaTech: Plumbing fittings, valves 32
Bathroom plumbed with SeaTech fittings
35
City water inlet installed 35
Pods cast
Vintage Vagabond Podcast? 6
The VAP _The New Airstream Podcast 19
Polishing
EPaint Pro Kevin, learns to polish aluminum 4
Polishing, last step in your restoration …resist the urge! 5
How is Rob’s trailer being polished? 12
Fighting the polish: Filiform Corrosion 12
A polished Argosy? 12
Shiniest Trailer there 18
Airstreamer Herb Spies whose trailer is so polished it was chosen to be in a magazine advertisement for Reese Products! 19
More Polishing 20
Arlen and Shirley Manning, owners of the “ Shiniest Trailer on the Planet!”. 20
Perfect Polish 27
Colin’s polished trailer 31
How do you keep water spots off a polished trailer? 31
Polisher in Michigan 35
Quick polishing from India 57
Polishing the rub rail 66
Polishing updates (link, link, link) 70
Polishing updates 71
Cheap polish vs. good stuff 72
Plumbing
Winter is coming, take care of that plumbing1
SeaTech: Plumbing fittings, valves 32
Bathroom plumbed with SeaTech fittings
35
City water inlet installed 35
Power Systems (see converter, inverter,)
Trailer power systems explained 11
Precision Temp
Prepping for the TwinTemp 31
Mounting the TwinTemp 33
Twin Temp nice quiet heat 38
How to order from Precision Temp? 39
TwinTemp Jr. tested and running 39
Twin Temp Jr. exhaust 41
Precision Temp hot water is awesome 48
Setting the thermostat on the heat pump 49
Price
How to find a fair price RJ’s Price vs. Condition 2
Propane
How many aluminum propane tanks can YOU sell in 24 hours? 5
Is your propane system a pro pain? – Tips on checking out your propane system 6
How to get hard to ignite gas appliances lit 6
LP gas systems explained 11
Travel with LP fridge on or off? 11
Auto switching LP regulators 11
OPD – Overfill Protection Device explained 11
Propane line woes 58
LP Copper grades 66
Rallies
Want to organize a rally? Rob tells us how! 2
Cherry Blossom Rally 18
Colin & Rob – Rally Celebrities 18
# 1 Fan – New Jersey Dave and his Unofficial CBR report 18
Rally activity rundown Show 18
Why International is centered around July 4th 21
Colin at the International Rally in Salem, OR 23
Lots and lots of Aluminum 23
Colin in his element 23
Cherry Blossom Reality Rally 28
Florida State Rally 38
Florida State Rally 39
Snowball rally 40
Cherry Blossom Rally 42
2007 International 47
Colin gone at the Woodsman Rally 50
Colin’s Woodsman’s Rally 51
Cherry Blossoms Rally 68
Trailer Jam ’08 (Link) 72
Rob’s boondocking rally 72
Vintage Trailer Jam (Link) 73
Rear end separation
Years and rear end separation 21
Beatrice years and rear end separation 21
Recovering a Trailer
The Mission 35
Scary Flying Cloud recovery mission 56
Refrigerator
Adding a fridge w/o a chimney hole 3
Running an 110v/12vdc fridge off an inverter 3
12vdc compressor fridge vs. propane 3
Travel with LP fridge on or off? 11
Modern fridge in old trailer 33
50 year old Dometic fridges still going strong 36
Fridge installation begins 39
Dometic fridge work great 49
How to choose the right refrigerator 53
Dometic recall (Link) 72
Dometic recall story 73
Frank’s fridge repair 74
Ice box cooling 75
Restorations and refurbishments
What will happen to the restored trailer? 4
Preservation, Restoration, Refurbishment, and Modernization 12
Most renovations are refurbishments 12
Request for DIY restoration comments and questions 12
Rob’s Sovereign somewhere between a restoration and refurbishment 12
Restore or refurbish with trailer use in mind 12
Your dream trailer turns into a nightmare 28
Vintage nightmare overwhelms 28
The key, think baby steps 28
Late 40’s worth saving? 36
Major commitment. Major funds 36
Keeping it original 36
Show changes 36
What to buy, Vintage or New? 39
Restored in 9 months! 40
Don’s restoration thread 40
Restoring a ’73 Avion 49
Price VS. Condition 47
Restoration Update
Introduction to Colin’s VAP restoration project 3
Colin’s Restoration Update 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, 19, 22
Rob’s Sovereign update 75
Rivets
It’s all about polish and rivets 5
Buck and Olympic rivets 16
Need a rivet shaver! 30
Byler Rivet Supply: Rivet shaver, Power Link, Mandrel trimmer 32
Olympic vs solid rivets (link) 70
Frank’s olympic rivet rant 70
Rob Baker
Rob / Colin add to their Airstream collections 16
Rob’s International envy 22
Rob hates snakes! 24
Rob gets a new vintage Airstream 26
Rob still in search of International Globes 37
Rob’s William Hung connection 28
Rob’s bad day 28
Rob’s old 1948 Aero Flight Falcon 30
Rob-less? 31
Rob’s VAP groupie 31
The Rob-In show? 31
Rob’s recovery mission 35
Rob finishes The Mission 36
Bringing the Sovereign home 38
Rob’s got two out of three 38
Rob’s needs a listener delivery service 41
Robs STOR first rally in 40 years! 42
Rob’s tried it all 43
Courtesy parking in Rob’s used AS lot 47
Rob’s Courtesy Parking 47
Rob won’t quite the WBCCI 48
Rob’s SOTR at Bozeman 48
I’m known for my laugh not for my singing 48
Hello, I’m Rob Baker 48
Rob’s visit to Vintage Trailer Crazy 50
Rob’s venture AirstreamMatchMaker.com 50
Rob’s decal obsession 50
Rob would have done it 51
Rob’s camping again 52
Rob’s scary yard 56
Scary Flying Cloud recovery mission 56
Rob’s Airstream raffle 59
Rob’s new trailer 60
Rob’s diddy 60
Rob’s laugh unprofessional 62l
Rob *custom* seat 62
Safety Rob 63
Rob’s 1958 dog house 64
Rob’s update 64
Rob’s AS 54 Safari recovery 65
Rob’s blog (link) 65
More trailers for Rob 66
1964 Tradewind raffle(link) 66
Rob’s tub story 66
Rob’s bathroom update 67
Rob’s ‘64 Tradewind raffle (link) 70
Rob’s foolish mistake 71
Rob’s back paddling 71
Rob’s ‘58 vs Rivka’s ‘71
Rob’s baked bean polish 72
Rob’s flag pole lightning rod 72
Rob’s fake international 72
Rob’s boondocking rally 72
Hail storm for Rob 73
Rob’s first sponsor 73
Courtesy parking at the Baker’s 74
Happy Birthday Rob 75
Rob’s Sovereign update 75
Rob’s Rally Report
Rally Report. 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 21, 24
September rally report 26
October report 27
November rally report 29
Rob’s January Rally report 33
Rob’s Rally Report 48
Rob’s Sovereign
Update 52
Running Gear
The ins and outs of running gear balance 3
Sealing Seems
Sub-floor repair, sealing seams, insulation 23
Sealing seams: Parbond, Alcoa Gutter Seal, Acryl-R 23
Sealing up the Ambassador 32
Seam sealing a Pacer 36
Sealed end cap seams with Parbond 38
Main door seals 38
Shell
How to remove trailer shell 16
Trailer construction details 16
End caps 41
Anything can be done!
41
Stretched formed end caps 41
Patching molded plastic sinks 26
Sinks
Who needs two sinks? 71
Size of trailer
Small Trailer vs. Large. Are small trailers on their way out? 1
Skin
Is body skin condition important 1
No more patina 29
Installing Aluminum panels from AirParts Inc 30
Aluminum vs. Steel 30
Is it always necessary to remove the inside skin? 31
Colin’s mice stories 31
How to replace inside skin to get CCD look? 31
How to remove dents in compound curve? 31
Rob’s Ding King 31
Repairing panels 63
Creatively hiding panel damage 63
The Ding King (Link) 63
Repairing rear panel damage by adding door 71
Smells
Weird trailer smells 58
Solar Power
Adding chimney vs. battery/solar bank 3
Solar panels 52
Sovereign Update
Rob’s Sovereign update 28
Rob’s Sovereign of the Road update 29
Steps
Frame and step welding work 26
Rob’s rebuilt steps 26
Sweepstakes
Robs sweepstakes suggestion 4
Taillights
Repairing 70’s corroded taillights 18
Repairing 70’s corroded taillights 19
Tambour Doors
Tambour door repairs 26
Tanks
Custom made replacement tanks easy 5
Homemade tanks are possible 5
Welding stainless steel tanks 10
Testing the All-rite tanks 31
SeeLevel Gauges: Tank monitor 32
Can you pressurize plastic tanks 33
Fresh water tank installation 46
SealTech leak detection 52
Stainless Steel tank gauge
– 53
Sloped bottom tank 53
Tank heaters needed? 53
Tank macerators 53
Tanks black
Black Tanks 101 5
Robin Williams has black tank trouble in his RV movie 11
Flush your tank with a hydroflush 11
Sewer hose connections Valterra’s universal adapter 15
Fiberglass black tank repairs 26
Vintage poop problem 30
New black tank design 30
Is Thetford’s thermal waste destruction system practical? 31
Black tank away from toilet 33
Dump valve adapter for early 60‘s 60
Black tank handle pulls loose 62
Extending a valve handle 62
The black tank story 74
45 foot stinky slinky 74
Tanks Grey
Adding a grey tank? Frame and axle upgrades are a good idea! 7
Adding a grey water tank 21
Making room for a grey tank 26
Modifying the grey tank 29
Blueboy portable grey tank 27
Grey tank mounted
35
Grey tank install 53
Grey tank inlets, top or side 53
Technology
Technology tips for working on the road 9
Throw down
The throw down 60
Throw-down flack 70
Tim Shephard
Tim’s new trailer 21
Tim for President! 33
Tim lacks fiber glassing skill 30
Tim organized Netflix’s Rolling Roadshow promotion where they gave away a vintage
Tim for President! 33
When is Tim going to join the WBCCI? 39
Tim WBCCI # 4827 46
Maiden voyage to Santa Cruz
49
The Ambassador’s Tahoe trip 50
Tim 75 years old 52
Tim goes Mac 53
Tim turns 40 65
Tim’s CBR fundraiser 65
Tim will be at the CBR 67
Tim’s trailer fence fight 70
Tim’s 2000+ mile trip 74
Tin Can Tourists
History of the Tin Can Tourists 25
Tires
How to tell when tires are bad?
Toilets
Thetford Style Lite toilet 27
Vintage poop problem 30
Tools
Tim’s drill bits are garbage! 29
Need a rivet shaver! 30
Electric shears 28
Air hydraulic riveter 28
Safety glasses vs goggles 64
Towing 15
Safety chains & tow ball sizes 14
Rob’s road test, using the wrong ball size 14
Bill Kerfoots account: Picking up a trailer 3000 miles away 15
Too old to tow? 30
Tow vehicle is a ’68 Ford truck 40
Is weight distribution necessary 40
Start with your tow vehicle 50
Towing Harleys behind your AS 63
Tow Vehicles
Vintage tow vehicles 41
Another money pit 41
What makes a good vintage tow vehicle? 41
Get two for parts 41
Another Suburban? 51
Vintage tow vehicle/trailer insurance is scary 56
Airstreams and Rolls Royce’s 66
Trailer Construction
Trailer construction details 16
Ladder frames come about 37
15-panel trailer? 37
The ladder frame evolves throughout 50’s 37
’49 Clipper pipe frame 45
Trailer Park Troubadours
Trailer Park Troubadours announcement 49
Free Troubadour concert for Airstreamers Sept 8th 49
Trailer Park Troubadour’s concert 50
Anty’s looking for an Airstream 50
Trailer Restorer
California restorer – Area63 Productions (link) 75
Trailers
Colin discusses some oddities of Steve Hingtgen’s trailer Extra 1
Vintage Thunder -SOLD- 3
How to replace VT – A 2006 Safari 30′ Bunk! 3
A new kind of Airstreamer 3
Why a 1970 Overlander? 4
BaseCamp: Ins and Outs 7
Ore-A-Gone and War-Chester 7
Vintage Torpedo modern design = BaseCamp 7
Is the BaseCamp eligible for the WBCCI? We weigh in! 7
What happened to the T@B? 7
The 2005 Safari 7 sleeper 9
They still make those? 9
Sound seeing tour: 1971 Safari 10
A polished Argosy? 12
Rob’s Sovereign somewhere between a restoration and refurbishment 12
Gary buys Vintage Thunder, a 1977 Argosy trailer, a painted trailer 13
Gary buys 2002 19’ Bambi on eBay instead of a Casita 13
Camping in a 2002 trailer vs. a 1977 trailer 13
David buys a ’68 Caravel 14
Pros weigh in on the Winick design 15
Herb Spies and his ’63 Globe Trotter 19
Pros weigh in on Square Streams 21
Beatrice years and rear end separation 21
Video tour of the Caravel’s restoration 22
Airstream not making motor homes 22
Rob’s Spartan Tip 23
Sand Airstream 24
The 30’s and 40’s 30
Remodeling a ’05 Bambi 30
Not much known about pre-war trailers 30
Dr. Holman’s 1935 Torpedo NOT a kit 30
1936 Clipper $1,495 30
Curtis Wright Clipper 30
Old granddad trailer at Jackson Center 30
Flying Cloud name origination 30
1949 Airstream Liner News 30
’65 Caravel questions 35
Brakes on a ’63 Bambi
35
What to do with a ’53 Flying Cloud? 35
1950’s trim levels, Standard, Land Yacht, International 37
Wally Byam’s Holiday 37
Noah’s Trailer 38
Museum of Modern Arts ’63 Bambi 40
Claudia buys a ’63 Bamb 40
Baby Wally B. 45
World’s smallest lightest Airstream 45
Colin’s BreakWind 45
’49 Clipper pipe frame 45
Baby Wally B. doing good 47
RJ’s ’57 Flying Cloud 47
Restoring a ’73 Avion 49
Caller Steve ‘67 Ambassador 53
Trailer stripped bear 53
Caller John ‘67 Sovereign 53
Sovereigns Rule
53
Last of the legacy trailers 54
Museum trailer exhibit 56
1934 Thompson House Car 56
1949 Hunt House Car 56
1935 Bowlus Road Chief 56
Rikki’s ‘64 Bambi II 57
Coolest tour bus with Basecamp in tow 57
Basecamp neat idea that falls short 57
Airstreams 27′ toy hauler? 57
Bobby Dall had an Airstream 57
Tour bus vs Bambi 57
60’s show 58
Park models up through ‘62 58
How do we like a ‘62? 58
1969 sees a new trailer body style 58
61 Ambassador 63
Frankenstream 63
Airstream Ranch 65
Airstream Hornet + 3 65
Steve on why 67‘s are great 67
90mph Airstream! 67
Frank Bates’ Airstream Ranch (link) 69
Ambassador? 71
Why ‘70s are great 71
Rivka’s Caravel 71
Rob’s ‘58 vs Rivka’s ‘71
Trout Stream 73
Caller on why he likes his ‘74
Shout out to the 70‘s trailers! 75
36 foot 1969? 75
Using a vintage airstream for temp housing 75
Calling all Argosy owners 75
Travel (See Tour of America)
An Airstream is for travel 3
Off to Utah 40
Time for an overseas AS caravan 42
The 2009 C to C plan 42
2001 Panama Canal Caravan 42
John and Rick on the road to MI 46
What’s with the Cracker Barrels? 48
Maiden voyage to Santa Cruz 49
The Ambassador’s Tahoe trip 50
Two people that have the travel bug 55
Travel by AS is much different then a bus 57
Preparing vintage trailer for cross country trip 62
Planning a cross country trip 62
Gas prices affect travel 62
Gas prices 71
Travel Tools
Rob’s road kit: 15
Rob’s Marine wipes 16
Safety Skids only $16.95! 16
101 Uses for Baby Wipes 16
Rob’s $7000 plan 62
Tour of America
Part one of a two-part interview with Rich Luhr of Airstream Life Magazine 2
Part two of the interview with Airstream Life’s Editor/Publisher Rich Luhr. Rich discusses Vintage Thunder and his upcoming adventure with the Tour of America! 3
The Tour of America 9
Tub
Tub painted with epoxy paint 30
Refinishing the tub 60
Rob’s tub story 66
Upholstery
Thumbtack upholstery 70
Valves
Updating to OPD valves 33
The Vap
VAP Listener Map is a great asset! 7
Your feedback 11
We made it a year 26
Episode 0 26
theVAP Rap – Year end wrap up! 26
theVAP heard in over 20 countries 28
The Call in show 29
Rob-less? 31
The Call In show not the Colin show 31
ON AIR* at the Flying J
33
Live from Canada 33
Another one? 33
Live from Tucson, AZ 36
YouTube Video 36
VAP Sticker across the ocean 41
TheVAP around the World 41
Courtesy parking needed in Norway 41
TheVAP Survey 41
Thanks for not hitting us! 43
theVAP in Trailer Life Magazine 43
Listener feedback on Episode 45 46
Donation from Switzerland 48
8 VAP Stickers left 48
Listener requests show dates 51
Two year anniversary show coming 51
Congrats to new VAC Technical Advisor 51
Congrats to the new VAC 3rd VP 51
Be on the anniversary show, call now! 51 51Listener comments 2yr anniversary 52
Only room for one VAP Rap 52
Be on the Call In Show! 52
Call In vs. Phone In 53
Who’s our email intern! 54
Panel Pro’s been naughty or nice? 59
Airstreamers xmas list 59
The Panel Pro Challenge 59
Rob *custom* seat 62w Voicemail Line 60
New VAP stickers on their way 60
Give us a review in iTunes 60
iTunes reviews 62
Episode 60 revisited 62
Thanks to Frank for the final judging of the Bathroom Throw-Down 68
Thanks to Dave for recording the show for us at the CBR! 68
Episode 83 the end of theVAP? 72
#1 Vap Fan 73
Episode 74 the last one?..75.
Vents
Fantastic Vent 23
Installing a Fantastic Vent 24
Astradome reproduction 29
Installing an Astradome 29
Vintage Airstream Club
The Vintage Airstream Club and historian, Fred Coldwell 12
RJ’s intro to the AS world 47
Let’s build a website 47
VintageAirstream.com is born 47
VintageAirstream.com
RJ’s intro to the AS world 47
Let’s build a website 47
VintageAirstream.com is born 47
Vintage Trailer
Build up a vintage unit as new 57
Most celebrities are into vintage 57
Rikki’s vintage trailer ideas 57
Vintage snob 66
Setting up a vintage unit at a campground 67
Vintage Trailer Supply
VintageTrailerSupply.com is born 5
theVAP Listener Survey 8
Your feedback 12
Vintage Trailer Supply 27
Vintage Trailer Supply: Door seals, Running lights 32
Vintage Trailer Supply windows seals
35
The new voice of Vintage Trailer Supply 38
Replacement windows from VTS 58
Walls
Replacing the walls 28
Updating the 70‘s paneling 63
Changing badly painted walls 51
67 Quilted ceilings 67
Washing
Washing your trailer 27
Water Heater
Tank-less water heater 38
Water Systems (see plumbing, tanks,
Trailer water systems explained 11
Shurflo water pumps 23
Water Thief 27
Can you pressurize plastic tanks 33
City water inlet installed 35
WBBCI
Outcome of the controversial vote to change the name of the Wally Byam Caravan Club International 22
Wally Byam Caravan Club 24
WBCCI Motor home vote 43
Leo Garvey of SaveWally.org about the WBCCI motorhome debate 45
WBCCI website (link) 60
WBCCI.savewally.org (link) 62
Websites
New website to support Tour of America 3
How to find a price. RJ’s Price vs. Condition 2
Kevin weighs in …Airstream Forums is a great resource! 4
DYI’s website resource 4
AirstreamDreams.com begins 5
VintageTrailerSupply.com is born 5
SaveWally.org 15
Cherry Blossom Festival 18
Arlen and Shirley’s website 20
WBCCI Motor home vote 43
Leo Garvey of SaveWally.org about the WBCCI motorhome debate 45
Classicmotorhomesonline.com. 51
Kate’s Lazy Meadows 57
VAC Classifieds (link) 60
Airforums Classifieds (link) 60
WBCCI website (link) 60
Smash Labs (link) 65
Classic Rides on YouTube(link) 66
Frank Bates’ Airstream Ranch (link) 69
Cadillac Ranch (link) 69
Nebraska’s Carhenge (link) 69
Weight
Older is lighter …decade matters 4
Ounces makes pounds 37
Vintage weight vs. modern weights 65
Trailer weights (link) 65
Trailer weight and gas mileage 66
4000lb vs 9000lb 74
Vintage trailer weights (link) 75
Wheels
Caravel’s wheel ratings 29
Aluminum wheels for the Ambassador 41
Are your wheels going to fit? 48
Wheel well design
Wheels that fit 54
Have your trailer loose weight 60
Windows
Pros and cons of the different windows used in Airstreams 21
Vintage Trailer Supply windows seals
35
What’s a jalousie window?
35
Window frame 38
New window screens 41
Replacing a window 43
Replacement windows from VTS 58
Fixing window seals on 70‘s AS 63
Vista View water leaks(link) 66
Airstream storm windows 67
67 first year for the Vista View 67
70‘s windows 71
Winter Camping
Winter use & tandem axle advantages 16
Cold camping tips 16
Winter camping 59
Winterizing
Winter is coming, take care of that plumbing 1
Time to winterize 59
Wiring
Checking DC wiring 54
60‘s bring about modern electric wiring 58
Aluminum wiring 58
Running wires in the bellypan 73
Woodwork
Refinished the cabinets with Howards 30
Re-skinned kitchen cabinet 33
Cabinetry work 41
Colin’s axe cabinet 41
Zolatone Paint
Zolatone paint 101 8
Will zolatone paint hold up in a shower stall? 31
Changing badly painted walls 51
Removing endcap zolatone 54