[A/S] Re: Antique vs. modern

["j54mark" <jmrdse@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I am interested in something with quality, longevity and greatly 
> customized. Money on hand is a definite issue. I'll need to pay as 
> I  go.

This may be the key issue.  Just what do you mean by "greatly 
customized"?  At some point you would definitely be better off 
getting a quality shell and gutting it.  Things like relocating 
bathrooms, while possible, are never economically feasible.  But in 
general I doubt there was ever a better trailer than Airstream for 
customizing.  As one who has just about totally disassembled the 
interior of my 85 Sovereign I know something whereof I speak.

Another option is one of the custom trailer manufacturers - New 
Horizon comes to mind.

> I'm thinking of either A) renovating an A/S or similar, B) buying a 
> non-RV trailer (i.e. horse, cargo, etc.) and doing the inside from 
> scratch, or C) building the whole thing from the ground up (there 
are 
> sites on the net for plans).

A top quality cargo trailer of reasonable size will be $6 to $7 
thousand.  Refridgerators are $1,000 to $1,500.  Furnaces are $500.  
Air conditioners $700 to $1,000.  Sinks, plumbing, floorcovering, 
uphostery, holding tanks, electrical service, 12v and 120v, wiring, 
lighting, doors, windows, awnings, etc., will be several more 
$thousands.  You are now in the price range of a really nice used 
Airstream that will be ready to go.

>I have  lived in RV's longterm and thru Indiana winters and want to 
>spend the rest of my life traveling, so longevity is also vastly 
>important.

We do not yet know the lifespan of an Airstream.  They have only been 
made for 65 years or so.

> I don't believe very many RV manufacturers really put out lasting 
> quality no matter what the price and those that do I can't afford.

There are very few, but fortunately you only need to find one!  
Airstream, the aluminum Avions, Silver Streaks, Holiday Rambler, are 
the ones that come first to my mind.
 
> FINALLY, THE QUESTION!! (Thanks for your patience ;) Are A/S more 
> affordable in the long run, or is the attraction more for 
> the "antique, piece of history"?
> 
There are comparatively few people who buy Airsteams as some kind of 
collectable.  Most of us bought one to use and enjoy, and most of us  
would buy again because even a 30 year old Airstream can be the best 
for the dollar spent.

> I admire history, but I NEED to be live in it. And $ will never be 
> plentiful. However, obviously, it's wasteful to put a lot of time 
>and effort into a rig that won't last.

With reasonable care, any of the better quality trailers will last as 
long as you care to keep them, but stuff DOES wear out.  And it is 
the same stuff REGARDLESS of the manufacturer: A/C units, furnaces, 
converters, refridgerators.  There are only two or three 
manufacturers for most of this stuff, and Airstream's appliances are 
no better than anyone else's.

>And one website suggested that 
> virtually all older trailers needed to be stripped to the bones to 
> get rid of disease-causing toxins.

Not to trivialize this problem, and it CAN be a problem, you will 
note that website also SELLS a de-tox service.  Personally, I do not 
stay awake nights worrying about formaldehyde that was present in the 
wood when it was made 20 years ago.
 
>I'll likely want to do a very major interior re-fit, even if 
>everything's fine.

That is the voice of someone with money to burn.  If you are really 
on a tight budget, you need to just look at some available trailers 
and make some estimates as to what you want to change.
> 
> So, is an A/S renovation the better option? Or would I be better 
> building my own?

If you can live with the basic floorplan, a renovation is going to be 
the most economical.  Sofas can come out, cabinets can be changed, or 
even removed, storage added or deleted, sinks changed, twins made 
into full size beds (sometimes).  And an Airstream would be a great 
choice for this.

Building your own is a very difficult way to go, economically.  The 
RV manufacturers are buying their componenets wholesale, and you will 
be buying retail.  It is entirely possible that a custom builder 
could construct a unit to your specifications for less than the total 
of 1) the parts you would have to buy and 2) the value of your time, 
figured at minimum wage.  And they are far less likely to 
inadvertantly create a fire hazard, handling problems due to poor 
weight distribution, or any number of other potential problems.  If 
you build your own, you are not only the builder, but also the 
engineer.

Yours,

Mark