If your wish is for a fully custom interior, you can often find someone else’s abandoned project for cheap. This Airstream arrived fully gutted and ready for a custom interior design.
Even though someone had already installed a new subfloor, it was removed to ensure that there was no rot and to add insulation and new tanks. The endcap, window surrounds, and interior skin still need to be removed.
A wood-burning stove in this Airstream provides heat and ambiance, a unique feature that you do not find on a production camper. Both the galley and bathroom are split into two sections. There are no overhead cabinets, which lends to the feel of an open space. (Photo Courtesy Joe Roberts, Abaci Photos)
Behind the art glass, a 43-inch TV is hidden and raises and lowers via a remote control. This is a clever way to hide an often-taboo item like a TV in a recreational vehicle. Vents at the front of the TV cabinet provide heat from the Aquahot system. (Photo Courtesy Joe Roberts, Abaci Photos)
The solid-surface counters in this Airstream are easy to clean and work well with their simplicity. The range is opposite of the sink to increase counter space. Instead of factory plastic knobs on the window levers, custom aluminum handles complement the marine window shades. Another custom feature is the walnut droplights above the countertops. (Photo Courtesy Joe Roberts, Abaci Photos)
The interior features custom walnut cabinetry, Marmoleum flooring, and new aluminum skin. The front endcap features back-mounted woofers for the sound system, while the tweeters are mounted above the front windows. For entertainment, a 43-inch TV is hidden inside the cabinet by the door. Art glass in the TV cabinet ties into the glass found at the end of the galley, which covers the audio system’s amplifier.
Art glass is also used for the shower and bathroom doors. This glass was crafted by a local artist for this project and is intended to represent Aspen trees. The green glass leaves also coordinate with the custom lounge upholstery.
The split galley (sink on one side, range on the other) houses two high-efficiency Engle refrigerators/freezers. Two are used to maximize space. Having two fridges is a common practice on land yachts, where efficiency and space is a priority.
On the sink side, a clothing washer and dryer are housed in the cabinet. This unit is for shore power or generator use only, like the low-profile Dometic A/C unit mounted on top of the Airstream.
The countertops are a solid surface and were produced by a local manufacturer.
Dual 12-volt fridges help to maximize space, while the drop-down counter and lounge area can do double-duty as a computer workstation. Across from the fridges, a washer/dryer all-in-one unit is hidden in the cabinet. (Photo Courtesy Joe Roberts, Abaci Photos)
The exterior was left as is to ease maintenance, rather than stripping the clear coat and polishing. On top of the coupler is the Aquahot water heating system and a propane tank. (Photo Courtesy Joe Roberts, Abaci Photos)
CHAPTER 1
GETTING STARTED
Restoration, a term used loosely in many fields, is defined as the act or process of returning something to its original condition by repairing it, cleaning it, etc. For vintage campers, returning one to a concours level or to museum quality might not fit your intent or purpose. But some of these campers are treasured pieces of Americana and should be treated as such. That said, retaining the essence of your vintage camper is just as important as making it more habitable than its current, unrestored state.
Because camper restoration involves many skills (from metal fabrication to carpentry to upholstery to paint), you need to focus on your strengths and arrange to outsource your weaknesses to skilled professionals for a quality end product.
In one circumstance, you might plan on a museum-piece restoration, where respecting originality and preserving as much as possible is paramount. In that case, cloth-covered wiring and retaining factory split rims are some of the details that are crucial to the camper’s originality. Unfortunately, they’re both often lost, understandably, in favor of safer, more modern alternatives.
In another circumstance, you might plan to bring the unit up to a usable state by replacing the axles and wheels with modern alternatives. Given the choices available, I like to divide restorations into three categories: the Usable Weekender, the Park Model (an off-grid cottage/rental/mother-In-law version), and the Show Camper (a museum/concours renovation).
The Usable Weekender restoration includes addressing all major systems to produce a vintage camper that can be towed to any destination and provide all the comforts expected of a camper.
A Park Model restoration is essentially building a unit that’s dependent on the grid (shore power, city water, and waste-water hook-ups) and not focused on stand-alone systems (12-volt/liquid propane).
A Show Camper restoration carefully retains all original components, materials, and building techniques of the era. And, in some instances, it avoids repainting or upsetting the originality of the unit, only preserving decay-prone materials.
You need to decide what priorities are essential to your goals and plan accordingly.
A Show Camper requires attention to detail and respecting the originality of a vintage camper. But this doesn’t mean you can’t make improvements to safety or usability without compromising the vintage essence of the camper.
Built in a similar manner to Airstream, this Boles Aero can be a less-expensive alternative due to less brand awareness. The downside is less parts availability. The challenge and reward of finding and creating working solutions makes the restoration process gratifying.
Models to Consider
While Airstream is a household name, many manufacturers from the heyday of interstate travel share general construction techniques. This book focuses on the “riveted” style of fabrication that’s favored for its low weight and structural integrity. The process is loosely based on airplane manufacturing and many of the tools are interchangeable.
Silver Streak, Barth, Avion, and Boles Aero, to name a few, all use aluminum ribs riveted to aluminum sheet metal; and, because they’re not branded with the Airstream name, prices can be more reasonable. At least half a dozen manufacturers share this construction method, and the techniques used in this book can be applied to many of them.
The downside to a non-Airstream riveted restoration is that these manufacturers have not received the aftermarket love that Airstream has. You may find it difficult to source some unique components for these trailers. But the challenge and reward of finding and creating working solutions is part of what makes the restoration process enjoyable.
Things to Avoid
When shopping for a project camper, there are some important things to avoid that make the restoration go