Solar Panel on the 'Stream

I finally did it--I got a solar kit for the Airstream and installed it over the weekend. It was a pretty easy installation and not too many surprises during the project and it was easy enough and actually kind of fun.

I researched lots of different kits and settled on the AM Solar's AM-100-22B kit. They're super to deal with and walk you through everything in getting the right parts. It was shipped quickly packaged impeccably with lots of attention to detail. If I were to recommend that they do anything differently it would be that they post the instructions online so that you can readily read-up on the instructions the night before on your laptop.

It probably took me about 5 hours in total to install it, and I went the route of using the 3M adhesive as opposed to screwing it into the roof. I was apprehensive at first but after applying it, I have no doubts the stuff will hold on to the roof. I did just in case mount the panel to roof mounts along the ribs of the trailer so I can always run a screw or rivet should it seem necessary. Probably the biggest hassle was running the power from the roof down to the factory pre-wire area behind the fridge--it was a bear to get the new panel wire down behind the fridge and I could have pulled the fridge to do it but I didn't.

Today I had a brief chance to check the charging status and not in an optimal position it was charging at 5.8 amps which I consider to be very satisfactory--I believe this should be ample for keeping the batteries charged under most circumstances unless we're really using the power (i.e., lots of furnace time or lots of time using all the halogen lamps).

This is likely to be the biggest upgrade/modification I do on the trailer for some time as there isn't a whole lot more that I would want to do for some time.

On Commuting

After moving back to California I have a 22 mile commute each direction. We could have moved closer to work but we really like Petaluma. If I had a job any further south we would probably move but I consider it an acceptable commute, particularly by motorcycle where I can take back roads (at least when there's daylight after work) and I can split lanes once I get to the traffic congestion. As much as I like the area driving/riding it day after day can get a little boring. I recently wired my motorcycle helmet with thin Chatterbox earphones that I inserted into the space behind my ears in the helmet and have been listening to podcasts on my iPod. I find the podcasts perfect because I can pay attention to the road without big volume changes in the audio and am still able to pay attention to the podcast. Lately I've been going through the Vintage Airstream Podcasts and am really enjoying them. I seldom have the time at home to sit pay attention to a 50 minute podcast so this really works out nicely. Of course when I finish those I'll have to delve back into my Click and Clack, The Tappet Brothers.

My 'Stream

I thought this would be as good as any place to describe my own Airstream and what I've done to it so far.

First, it's a 1972 Airstream Trade Wind (not Tradewind). The options on it include:
dual front Vista View windows
double step entry (aluminum)
Dual full-sized front and middle gauchos

What I've added or upgraded:
New Suburban NT-30 furnace
New Dometic Single Door fridge
New front Fantastic Fan with thermostat
New Suburban 22" range/oven
New Shur-Flow Whisper Quiet water pump
New catalytic heater
New 6 gallon propane and electric water heater
New porcelain bowl toilet
Added 19" widecreen HD television
Added AppleTV with 160 GB hard drive
Added Sony car stereo with iPod and auxiliary inputs
New tires
New break-away safety switch
New Optima battery
Added low profile A/C with heat strip
Added new vent/range hood with light and fan
Replaced and added several area lights
Replaced original mattresses with memory foam mattresses
Replaced original Univolt with Inteli-Power 65 amp charger/converter
New OPD 7 gallon propane tanks
New LPG regulator and hoses
New Ultrafab 3500 lb jack with extension

I still have to install the new 'Bat Wing' antenna and I'd like to replace the flooring with a laminate, also need to replace the weatherstripping

I also fantasize about adding a gray tank and polishing the trailer, as well as adding an awning, but the reality is that I will probably replace the trailer with my dream 25' Safari SE FB instead of doing that work. In the mean time we have a bunch of fun with the trailer as it is. I find it absolutely amazing the cult following Airstream trailers have. There's a vintage Airstream podcast ('The VAP') that broadcasts every couple of weeks, DIY Network has produced a series on it, and the on-line resources are HUGE. It's a fun brotherhood to belong to.

Modern Nomads

Having an Airstream makes it hard to not become interested in the history, living with one, and what others are doing with theirs. My in-laws gave me a subscription to a relatively new Airstream magazine called Airstream Life. I recently listened to a VAP podcast interviewing the founder and publisher. Turns out the gentleman, his wife, and daughter sold their house and are traveling full-time with their Airstream and they have a great blog. Most recently they have been in western Montana, my old stomping grounds and it's a really nicely written blog/journal. I've enjoyed the magazine and now knowing some more background on them makes it that much more interesting. Even if you're not an RV fan, they visit some pretty neat places and are having some wonderful experiences.

Vintage Airstream Resources

Owning any old item that you're trying to maintain or restore requires a strong network of other enthusiasts and resources. Having a 35 year old Airstream travel trailer is no exception, here are some of my most frequently visited resources....

• The Vintage Airstream Podcast
• Vintage Trailer Supply
• The Vintage Airstream Club
• Airstream
• Airstream Forums
• Vintage Airstream Photo Archives
• Vintage Airstream Resources
  

Any others you recommend? Please post them!

On Camping & Airstreams

Since having a baby, I've been wanting to start camping again. As a child my parents would frequently take us all camping in remote areas in Montana and Canada. Our camping gear consisted of Army-Navy surplus tents and Coleman fleece sleeping bags. Invariably, we would end up someplace beautiful but there would be lots of wind and rain and often cold. If you have any experience with the old canvas tents you can relate to standing in the rain and wind for an hour trying to get the tent together, only to discover that the thing really doesn't keep water out very well. And as cozy as the Coleman sleeping bags are on a warm or slightly cool night, they really don't do much for you below 55 degrees. Of course, I don't think we were really aware of another novel camping conveniences known as a sleeping bag pad or mattress. I don't fault my parents, we just didn't know about these things, they hadn't grown up with them, and we couldn't have afforded them. Nonetheless, despite the leaky tents, cold sleeping bags, and rocks in the back, it was still a lot of fun and my brothers and I all have fond memories and still enjoy camping, but we do have more amenities....

A few years ago I bought my wife-to-be parents Coleman tent trailer. While it was a standard model that lacked a shower, toilet, fridge, and heater, it was still a huge upgrade from sleeping in a tent on the ground. It had a stove top, large comfy beds, a dinette, built-in 12 volt lights, etc. It was a HUGE improvement. We took the trailer to Montana with us, went camping in the Sierras, and even early this year I added a propane furnace to it. After having Sadie I really wanted to use it but we did desire some more conveniences, such as a shower, toilet, hard sides, etc. Once we determined that we were ready to upgrade, I started scouring the web and local papers for a vintage Airstream. After several months of looking (including a trip to southern California to look at one totally mis-represented on Craigslist) I found one south of Sacramento and we went out to look at it. It was very clean, functional, and almost ready to use. I bought it and picked it up a few days later. We wanted to camp on the way back but that didn't work out and makes for an amusing story for another time.

I sold the Coleman trailer to my brother who lives in Albuquerque and we met at Mt. Charleston near Vegas to do the hand-off.

The Airstream, a 25' 1972 Trade Wind, is now pretty functional with new appliances, an LCD TV, a 160 GB AppleTV, a nice Sony head unit, new tires, and some other stuff. We towed it to Montana through Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho and have probably camped in it 12 or so nights so far this year. It's cozy, vintage, cool, and though I enjoy it thoroughly, it also makes me lust for a newer Airstream 25' front-bed (FB) Safari Special Edition with the recessed halogen lights, aluminum interior, and a great floor plan.

With that said, my standards for camping have changed but we all have a lot of fun with it and have been to many new places and camped where we never would have before. It's a bunch of fun and even still one of Sadie's best nights of sleep is in the Airstream.