[A/S] 14 x 26 vent cover - search

["Colin Hyde" <chyde@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Debbie,
We fabricate the  14 X 26 Astradome cover for Vintage Trailer Supply
(Airstreamdreams) and have done so for several years now. It is an exact
dimensional duplicate of  the covers used on late 56 models through 65 or 66
which is when the large radii vent lids started. We searched for quite a
while to find an original sample to use as a model. The original production
quality was very poor and suffered from a lot of imperfections in the
gelcoat surface and the  lay-up resin tended to be very lean around the
perimeter. The current version uses modern gelcoat with UV inhibitors along
with stainless steel reinforcements in the area where the lifters are
attached. Virtually all of the original covers have degraded over time and
were lost due to lifter fastener rivets pulling through the mounting
surface. If the new cover is installed correctly and closed during travel
this should not happen. As these parts are handmade in low volume you will
see variations in the light transmission through the cover, just like the
originals. Vent covers like this have never shown up on ebay as far as I
know. The original 14 X 14 aluminum Hehr vent covers and frame work show up
on ebay quite regularly and I have seen them sell for as much as $450 for a
polished one. Generally the cover alone without the frame, fan or lifters
will go for around $125-$200, used and dented. These vents were used by many
trailer manufacturers in the 50's.
The version sold by Inland RV is made from thermo formed acrylic and doesn't
look anything like the original late 50's and early 60's version that we
build. It does however have a "thermal barrier"  which might be a nice
feature in certain areas. The draw back in my opinion to this cover is that
there is a small air gap between the two skins where the lifters attach. I
have heard of people cracking the cover when they install the lifters with
pop rivets, and if this happens, they are not returnable.
As Andy from Inland RV has said in the past, and I agree, "low volume
production costs". If there was a market for 10,000 of these per year,
production methods would be different and the retail price would be much
lower.
There was a home built cover on my 59 Ambassador International when I
purchased it several years ago. It was a flat clear acrylic sheet screwed to
some aluminum angle. It worked quite well and was kind of neat at night as
you could see the stars through it. The downside was that it was like
sitting under a magnifying glass in the daytime. That was the main reason
why we went to the effort to reproduce a period correct part. If you were to
spend the time & money for materials, and build the "simple cover"
yourself, you would probably decide in the end that it would have been much
easier to just buy one. Welcome to the world of Vintage Airstream's.

Colin Hyde
GSM Vehicles Inc.
www.thevap.com