I did it...

I finally finished every past episode of The Vintage Airstream Podcast and I feel like a true Panel Pro without all the fancy tools or actual experience.  I've always been told that having a little knowledge can be dangerous...now it's time to test that saying.  

I would like to encourage everyone to give the real Panel Pro's a listen and I think I will even give them a donation...I want one of those cool stickers!!!

Now that I've listened to every episode, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my iPod...I suppose I could listen to every episode again while I wait for the new ones to come out...naw, that would just be weird...right???

I LOVE Vintage Trailer Supply!!!

So over the weekend I had an issue with my rivets not being delivered to the correct address...if you recall I was pretty frustrated.  On Monday I called Vintage Trailer Supply and talked with Kim and explained the situation.  She informed me that she would hunt down the package to ensure I receive my items.  I expressed my concern that it may take several days...and she agreed.  So I asked if I can just cancel my order and get a refund and she told me that wouldn't be a problem.  I asked if I would also be refunded my shipping costs, at this point she stopped and stated that she wasn't sure because this had never happened before, however she would check on it.

I hung up the phone and went out to a local hardware store and bought my rivets.  As soon as I returned home there was an email waiting from Kim at Vintage Trailer Supply that read:

• Hi Chuck,
  We just talked on the phone a little while ago.  We were very sorry to hear that UPS lost your package.  We have canceled your order and refunded the price of your order, (including your shipping charge), as you requested. We applied a credit of $18.11 to your Mastercard ending in the numbers ****.  We will take care of the UPS claim for the lost package.  We are very sorry for the inconvenience.  Thank you for your business.
  -- 
  Kim Greeno
  Vintage Trailer Supply
  800-644-4620 x1
  http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com

This reply made me VERY happy because I didn't want to "fight" about a couple bucks, however, since I was frustrated, I had my fists up and was ready to rumble.

The above email and the customer service from establishments like Vintage Trailer Supply is what makes the Airstream community so wonderful...and the next day I ordered about $100 worth of stuff I didn't really need from VTS just to show my appreciation.

Thank you Kim and Vintage Trailer Supply for all that you do!!!

Frustration...

So a little over one week ago I ordered some rivets from Vintage Trailer Supply to reattach my belly pan...I was ready.  I took the advice of Tim from the Vintage Airstream Podcast and purchased an Air-Hydraulic Rivet Gun from Harbor Freight.  He mentioned on one of the earlier episodes that he got one and it made installing his belly pan a lot easier...and if Tim suggests it...I'm gonna do it!  (No, there are no subliminal messages in that podcast whatsoever).

I drilled out all the old rivets and I was ready to go.  It was going to work out real nice because the rivets were scheduled to arrive on Friday, this would give me the weekend to get 'er done!

I sat at my house Friday afternoon anxiously awaiting the delivery guy...waiting...waiting...waiting.  At about 6pm I decided to check the tracking info.  I checked the info and the website stated that my package had been delivered...strange...  Maybe the delivery guy put on his or her super-stealthy outfit and delivered them un-noticed.  I opened the door with eager anticipation...nothing!  I thought, "no big deal...I'll just call the delivery company and they can track it down."  Have ya every tried to contact a business on a Friday night!!!  In this day and age of 24-hour internet service I would have thought it would have been easier.  Needless to say, when I finally did get to talk with a real person (2 hours later) all they told me was I needed to contact the shipper...and do you think Vintage Trailer Supply is open at 10pm on a Friday night...of course not...they are not even open on the weekend.

So I sit here, frustrated and unable to complete my weekend project for my beautiful Airstream...looking in every possible hiding spot that a package of rivets could hide...calling all my neighbors, hoping that they had accidentally received my sought after rivets...depressed over a tiny bag of rivets.

I Got Him...or Her...or IT!!!

So after setting about 50 mouse traps in my beautiful, non-stinking Airstream, I walk out this morning and what do I see at my feet...no, not a million dollars...a dead mouse!!!  I kid you not...a dead mouse laying on the ground right next to the Surfin' Safari.

I guess that mouse won't mess with me anymore!!!  I'm a bad arse, mouse killin' machine...you can call me the Mousinator!

So my next question is this...what do I do with 50, barely used, mouse traps...maybe I'll post them on ebay...

Central Control - The Close-up...

I have had multiple inquiries regarding Central Control (if your a Star Trek Fan, the 1968 version of "The Captain's Chair") and since it has been requested by Aage in the Air Forums to post a close-up of it....here it is...enjoy.

Victory!!! (i hope...)

I spent the weekend under the trailer and I finished removing all the insulation, removed the air ducts under the trailer and I placed the first coat of my super-dooper enzyme stuff (to remove the urine smell).



First some good news, as you can see from the picture to the left, I don't have any "dung dunes" as described by Wabbiteer in the Air Forums.

Secondly some better news, the smell is gone!!! Even my wife (who has a nose like a hound dog) can't smell it...yipee!!! So if the smell stays away, I don't think I am going to place a coat of Kiltz Stainblocker under the floor (nor will I have to remove the interior walls...yahoo!!!).

Now, for the not so good news...I found a mouse nest (see the picture to the left) and ironically, it is under the furnace and I have had a mouse trap right next to it for about a week and do you think I have caught the mouse...heck no!!!

So the search for my adversary (the mouse) continues...

Yikes! Attack of the Killer Mouse!

So I was underneath the trailer this afternoon getting ready to spray on the enzyme "stuff" and lo-and-behold I had a little visitor...nobody ever told me nor have I read anywhere that I needed to watch out for killer mice as I fix up my Airstream...what's next???

Rascally rats???

Sneaky snakes???

Urgh, I'm creeped out!

Editor's Note: If there are no future posts...send help immediately...the mice have gotten me...

The process begins...

                                              

Before...

After...

I have completely removed the belly pan and cleaned it (see the before and after picture above)...I will now move on to phase 2...I have received several recommendations from my post at Air Forums, some of which I didn't want to hear, for example, Insideout stated, "My guess is that if there is mouse pee in the floor insulation, it's also in the wall insulation."  I don't want to have to remove the walls...but I might have to (I regret stating the other day that I am a "project guy" and needed a project...I don't need no stinkin' project!).

Anyho...here is the plan for phase 2:

1. As suggested by 62overlander, remove all the insulation from the floor.
   
2. As suggested by HowieE, check for floor rot using an ice pick around the C channel.
3. As suggested by Overlander63 and Sariahjoy, I went out and purchased some enzyme that is designed to remove the urine smell.  I purchased a product called "Urine Gone", it comes with a fancy black light stain detective...and since I own an Airstream, I like shiny things, and lights are shiny...so I bought this product...(man, I am a marketers dream).  I will spray it on...wait one week and spray on another application.  I will update the blog to let everyone know if it works, or if the "As seen on TV" claim is junk...
4. As suggested by Wabbiteer, I will paint on a coating of Kilz stain blocker to the underside of the flooring.  I will also remove all ductwork in the flooring and clean that out...one of my favorite quotes from his post, "my ductwork had dung dunes built up."
   
5. As suggested by Insideout, remove my walls and then the insulation in the walls...I don't want to do this...I don't want to do this...I don't want to do this (I hope if I write that enough the smell will go away and I won't have to)
6. As suggested by ME, pray and hope the smell goes away!

What's that smell???

So the trials and tribulations of owning a vintage Airstream begins.  This morning when I walked in to the trailer I was almost knocked out with the terrible smell.  After a little investigating I have found some leftover mouse "stuff" under the trailer in the belly pan.

I have dropped the belly pan (btw, the black stuff on the belly pan is not mud!) and cleaned it off.  I have taken out the insulation and am seeking input from the members at Air Forums to remove the smell from the wood.  Visit the post and offer any suggestions you have...I need them...my wife doesn't like strange smells...

Inside Tour

So after looking through the inside...the SS Airstream looks very cool.  I 

especially like "Central Command" located to the right of the kitchen sink...it really makes me think, "Star Trek".

One thing that is great about the trailer is that everything is totally original and is in very good condition.  However, this is also a real problem for me...cause you see I'm a "project guy" and really like a project...this trailer doesn't really need anything done...yet...

Since everything is original, we are going to have to replace the Gaucho cushions...nothing lasts forever!

I really like the teal and it will be a real challenge to find a close match for the fabric...ah ha!  I have a project to do!!!

The favorite part so far for my wife is the teal "wall paper" that is located on the bathroom door.

Picked up the new Airstream!

Well here is a picture of Zach driving our new Airstream in a parking lot. We picked it up from an older gentleman and it has been sitting in a cement bottomed barn for about 16 year and boy is it in very good condition...EVERYTHING IS ORIGINAL...boy this is gonna be fun!

It is a 1968 Airtream Safari, Land Yacht Edition with the double bed, pictures will follow in future posts.