Airstream Life SPRING 2014 by Church Street Publishing, Inc.

BAKING A BUSINESS • CLEANUP TIPS • AIRSTREAM & WEBER

Spring 2014 AIRSTREAM LIFE ONLINE EDITION | A IRSTREA ML IFE .CO M

TABLE OF CONTENTS

traveling well

Spring 2014

The official Airstream lifestyle magazine

EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PAGE

INBOX

Baking A Business In An Airstream

Tips For Cleaning Your Airstream

AIRSTREAM FOOD

LIVING THE LIFE

Airstream & Weber In The UK

RIVET BIT Baking A Business In An Airstream, Page 10

Tips For Cleaning Your Airstream, Page 13

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Airstream & Weber In The UK, Page 17

It’s just how we roll.

When the open road calls, we answer. Life’s waiting, let’s roll. Check us out at airstream.com

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EDITOR’S PAGE

Take A Different Path

ABOUT OUR COVER Combining an attention-grabbing idea that Airstream founder Wally Byam first used in 1948—turning an Airstream upside down on a giant rotisserie stand—with a giggle of silken curves, Airstream created this show-stopping display for its 1962 “Caravanorama” tour. Subscribe to the print edition of Airstream Life to read the “Old Aluminum” article by Fred Coldwell, and get a full explanation of Caravanorama and more photos. Bottoms up! Thanks to the Estate of Helen Byam Schwamborn for this image.

It used to be said that there are two types of Airstreamers: campers, and travelers. (These days there’s a third type: non-campers who own Airstreams as pool houses, guest houses, or showpieces, but that’s another story.) Campers tend to go shorter distances, focus on the weekend or vacation getaway, have campfires, hold social events at their Airstream, and decorate their site. They load up with the awning lights, elaborate ingredients for cookouts, lots of chairs for friends to use, musical instruments, fire wood, etc. and mostly just plan for a few days out. Travelers tend to use their Airstreams as rolling homes and offices. Travelers pack for weeks or months and carry tools for on the road repairs, rather than pink flamingos. When they arrive, they’re more likely to break out a laptop than the s’mores ingredients, because they’ve got things they need to do at the destination. It’s still fun to go to a great place and explore, so the traveler’s basic enjoyment of the freedom afforded by the Airstream is the same. It’s just some of the practicalities that differ. Because my family travels on Airstream Life business extensively, we are travelers most of the time. It’s a big deal when we finally switch gears and use the Airstream as a weekend getaway. On the last few days of our trip back west last September, we thought about the prospect of being in the house all winter and (as always) started talking about places we could go instead of staying home. Before we even pulled in to our driveway we had a weekend trip sketched out for a destination 120 miles from our home. This was a ridiculously short trip by our “traveler” standard, but that was part of what made it interesting. We packed hardly anything (again, by our standard) and even made reservations, which we rarely do in travel mode. It all felt strange, but I knew that for the weekend to be successful I had to embrace the practicalities of “camping mode.” While it’s boring to have a weekend with nothing to do at home, it’s very nice to have the same in the Airstream in a beautiful scenic park. In the mornings around 8 a.m. the sun crested the Superstition Mountains to our east and illuminated the Airstream, reminding anyone who was still in bed that another beautiful day awaited. In the afternoons it was a little warm and the drone of the fans inspired napping. Nice hiking trails surrounded us, and there were things to explore in nearby Phoenix,

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traveling well

but we decided there should be no obligations when you are weekending, so we let each day happen without much planning. Even if you have put the Airstream away for the winter, or your Airstream is just a backyard ornament, you can enjoy a short “staycation” in it without going anywhere. All you need is a fully charged battery and some propane, and a little imagination. Warm up the Airstream, bake some cookies, watch football, read a book, listen to music, play a game, or maybe even spread out the maps and plan your next summertime trip. I’m glad we took that weekend to explore the “other mode” of Airstreaming. Going to camping mode reminds us of why we got into this lifestyle in the first place, and it keeps us balanced. I recommend that anyone who loves their Airstream make some time to try using it in another way—even if only for a weekend. You’ll be reminded that your Airstream is not just an expedient for travel or camping, but is also a way to reconnect with the outdoors, our family, and ourselves. Send me a note about the way you’ve used your Airstream, with a photo if you can. Use the “Contact Us” form on our website or email: editor@airstreamlife.com I’m always interested in seeing what people in our community have done with their Airstreams. See you on the road!

Rich Luhr Editor & Publisher PS: A correction to the Winter 2013 issue, where I mentioned that five writers who contributed to Airstream Life’s first issue are still with the magazine. I overlooked Fred Coldwell, author of our long-running “Old Aluminum” column and the “From The Archives” feature. So that makes six great Airstreamers who continue to delight us all with their efforts.

Don’t Miss The Next Issue! Now it’s even easier to change your address when you move, find out when your subscription expires, or renew your subscription to Airstream Life. Just visit www.airstreamlife.com/renew, and identify yourself with your email address and zip code.* With just a click, you can see what issues you’ve received, which issues you are still due to receive, change your mailing or email address, and renew your subscription!

It’s quick, easy, and secure! Visit www.airstreamlife.com/renew *If we don’t have an email address on file for you, log in with the username and password printed on your mailing label instead, as shown here.

The official Airstream lifestyle magazine Editor and Publisher: Rich Luhr rich@airstreamlife.com Associate Editors: Tom Bentley Becky Blanton Layout and Design: OneTree Marketing lisa@airstreamlife.com Advertising Sales: Brett Greiveldinger brett@airstreamlife.com (802) 877-2900 Ext. 2 Editorial Illustrator: Brad Cornelius Culinary Consultant: Eleanor O’Dea Customer Service: David Winter Associate Contributors: Jody Brotherston J. Rick Cipot Fred Coldwell Renee Ettline Bert Gildart John Irwin Forrest McClure Charles Spiher CONTACT Airstream Life 411 Walnut St #4468 Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 Telephone: (802) 877-2900 Fax: (802) 610-1013 www.airstreamlife.com AIRSTREAM LIFE ONLINE EDITION You can get Airstream Life online, for free! Each issue we select 15-20 pages of the upcoming magazine and make it available on the Internet to readers who sign up at www.airstreamlife.com/ online. It’s a sneak peek, with no cost, no obligation! CUSTOMER SERVICE Airstream Life’s world headquarters are the dinette table of a 2005 Airstream Safari 30 We’re always glad to hear from you, but if you have a simple question, please check our website for help first. There you can subscribe, renew your subscription, change your address, get advertising information, download writer’s and photographer’s guidelines, notify us of an address change,and get answers to frequently-asked questions. See www.airstreamlife.com or call (802) 877-2900. Airstream Life (ISSN 1550-5979) is published quarterly by Church Street Publishing, Inc., 411 Walnut St #4468, Green Cove Springs FL 32043. Subscription price is $24 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Ferrisburg VT and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Airstream Life, 411 Walnut St #4468, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 © Copyright 2014 by Church Street Publishing, Inc. AIRSTREAM® is the property of Airstream, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in CANADA.

INBOX

Seeking Megaliths in Connecticut Hi Rich, After reading your article on Edward Tufte’s Airstream lawn sculpture in the Summer 2013 issue I was enticed to pursue this oddity in person. This has been a bit elusive. Even though it sits on top of some rolling hills among many other mega sculptures it is on private property out of site from any of the nearby roads. Talking to some of the townspeople of Woodbury, CT, I learned that Professor Tufte holds an open house one day each year usually in early October. Here we are beneath this awesome megalith. Thanks for hours of enjoyment reading your magazine. Especially love the articles on Airstreams of intrigue. Bard & Kathy Fuller Southington, Connecticut

Learning The Beauty of Airstreams Dear Editor, My husband, Kenny, and I have been together for 14 years, since we were 20. We have learned to love Airstream together. Some of our dearest and oldest friends, Carrie and Jay, introduced us to Airstream after Carrie inherited a vintage trailer (“Chipotle”) from her grandfather. We look forward to the winter, when they back Chipotle into our front yard and plug in for a month or two. Over the years, Chipotle has grown on us. From Trailer Trash to Glamping, we’ve learned the beauty of Airstreams. We have found our Airstream provides us a way to connect as a family, get away from our busy lives and enjoy each other. In 2010 we bought a vintage Argosy, which Kenny began meticulously restoring. However, it didn’t take long to realize that this could turn into a restoration project that could go on forever. While Kenny wanted to keep working on our Argosy, I wanted to go camping before we retired! So, in 2011 we sold our Argosy and bought a 28 foot International. Malakai, our five-year-old, named it after Spiderman. Now we have an excuse and a means to travel and be together. We take our Airstream to festivals and camping with friends, we use it any chance we get. We took these pictures in the summer of 2013. I wanted a great family portrait which played on the idea of glamping.” Because who doesn’t camp in leopard print stilettos? Our close friend, Rebecca Joelson, is an amazing photographer, and fortunately I convinced her to travel to the Sweetwater Summit Campground in Bonita, California, for this photo shoot, just before a camping trip planned with a group of friends. We used to sleep in tents, now we glamp! Meggin, Kenny, and Malakai Hurlburt San Diego, CA 6

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Let’s DIY More! Hi Rich, Many thanks for a wonderful publication. I have just completed the renewal of my subscription and noticed, on the page that came with my last magazine, the section at the bottom concerning “something you’d like to see in the magazine in the future.” Having just read the Fall 2013 edition I was very interested in the article on “Sealing your Airstream.” I find this quality of information priceless and would dearly appreciate more articles of this nature. As a first time owner I am always scouring the Internet for resources on Airstreams and especially “How To …” articles. I returned from the dealership yesterday having had my Flying Cloud 25FB winterized. I followed along with the service engineer as he explained the process to me, so I could perform the process myself next year. Although there are many excellent “How To” videos on Youtube explaining the process of winterization, I really want something more specific to an Airstream. Maybe this is something you could look into for a future edition. I now have my checklist for winterization and am thankful for being shown where to find my water pump and how to hook up the winterization kit. (I have to say I’m very surprised how inaccessible the compartment for the water pump is, why doesn’t Airstream provide easier access for winterizing?) Here’s a picture of us out in the Badlands this summer.. Thank you again for Airstream Life. I look forward to each edition very much.

Many thanks for a wonderful publication.

Yours sincerely, Alan Simpson Alan, don’t forget The Newbies Guide to Airstreaming that you got with your new trailer. It has answers to many of the questions asked by newer owners like yourself. Happy travels!

Invasion Of The Furniture Men! Our city hosts the International Home Furniture Market twice each year and have done so for many years. Since there are many people who come to the area during the Market, there is sometimes a shortage of housing. My husband and I rent our entire home to “furniture men,” and we live in our Airstream for 10 days. This year was quite unique as I had had foot surgery in early October. I was on a scooter for five weeks. During that time, my husband and I lived in our 30 foot Airstream for the ten days, scooter and all. It was very interesting having a scooter in the trailer, but we endured. John and Ann Teague High Point, NC AIRSTREAM LIFE ONLINE EDITION | A IRSTREA ML IFE .CO M

INBOX

Swiss ‘Streaming Rich, It was nice to meet you and Eleanor at the Airstream gathering in Weilburg, Germany last June. Reading your daily reports, I’m glad that you have enjoyed your trip. I hope to have you back in Switzerland again. As a “bait” I’m sending you a picture from our most favorite camping site at the lake of Brienz. Denise and I have spent the weekend in Lauterbrunnen again. We stayed on the same campground as last time and went hiking yesterday. Our next trip will be in four weeks when we’re going to travel to Gstaad for the annual country night. Last time the top act was Martina McBride, this time it’s going to be LeAnn Rimes and Gretchen Wilson. Bernhard Graser Switzerland

Your “quick start” guide to traveling, camping, and owning an Airstream travel trailer! This fun guide is filled with succinct, practical and tested answers to the most commonly-asked questions and typical new owner challenges. Includes sections on all kinds of “newbie” topics: understanding all the systems, camping, towing, solar & generators, maintenance, winterizing, simple repairs, packing, backing, dumping, filling, winter travel, Internet, cleaning, tools, myths, and sample checklists. Makes a great gift for new Airstream owners, and a handy reference even for experienced owners. Includes over 30 illustrations, and an indispensable eight-page “Jargon Guide” with definitions of commonly used Airstreaming terms. Spiral bound (so it lays flat while you're reading it), and 6x9" paperback format so it will fit on Airstream shelves. 104 pages. Written by Rich Luhr (Editor of Airstream Life) with contributions by Airstream Life staff. $9.95 at the Airstream Life store at www.airstreamlife.com/store and Amazon.com. Available as an eBook for Kindle and iPad/iPhone too!

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Help Identifying 1980 Airstream Dear Sirs, I have a 1980 International that has a manufacturing date of 7-23-79. It has the brown decal on sides that loop around the back. I have only seen a few Airstreams in my life with brown instead of blue. I don’t know if the trailer is a 30’ or 31’. I measured from hitch to rear and measured 31 feet. I also don’t know where in the chain the International would be: low, middle or higher price range. It apparently did not come from the factory with any awnings. The window cover in front is aluminum or stainless steel. If anyone has any info they would share, I would appreciate it very much.

We used to sleep in tents, now we glamp!

Thanks, Dean Voan Shepherd, TX Dean, the late 1979 manufacturing date and the International badging peg your trailer as a 1980 model. (In 1979 the 31-foot model was called Sovereign.) In 1980 Airstream offered an International 31-footer with four different ﬂoorplans (rear bath double, rear bath twin, center bath double, center bath twin). They were quite light for their length, coming in at about 4,600 pounds empty. International models were the middle of the line in 1980. Only three models were offered: Caravelle (documented in our Winter 2013 issue), International, and Excella.

The Air Department Dear Editor: Denny Pelletier and I collaborate musically as “The Air Department,” and just released a music CD called “Airstream,” which I thought your readers might like. The genesis of this release has been filled with serendipity, and it continues right up until this moment. What were the chances that I would make a connection to Airstream with this? Well, probably about the same as me finding the CD cover image of that gorgeous 1952 Airstream on Flickr, complete with the calligraphy … a CD cover practically made to order! (The photo was taken by James Lee Needham. He’s one of the best photographers in L.A., and was very gracious in negotiating my use of his stunning image.) The complete catalog of releases by The Air Department can be heard & downloaded: http://www.jango.com/musicT he+Air+ Department?l=0 You can also find us on Facebook as TheAirDepartment. Best, Roger Ebacher

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AIRSTREAM FOOD

BAKING A BUSINESS IN AN AIRSTREAM By Rebecca Withers

Lo’s Sweet Treats & Other Eats at The Yacht Club on College 617 N. College Ave. Fayetteville, AR, 72701 479.595.4407

Lauren French knows a thing or two about making the grade. When the former-teacherturned-baker’s lease on her Airstream sweet shop comes due in May, she hopes to “graduate” to a full-service bricks-and-mortar bakery. In the meantime, French’s pastry venture, Lo’s Sweet Treats & Other Eats, operates out of one of three Airstreams currently parked at the Yacht Club on College, a mobile vending pod in the shadow of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. At the Yacht Club, a “good report card” usually means moving on, notes French. “Most people leave (the trailer park) and start successful shops in town,” she says, adding, “In Fayetteville, the Yacht Club acts kind of like a business testing ground.” One neighboring truck, a French café called Bouchée, was leaving the lot Thanksgiving week for a more formal sit-down dining room on Fayetteville’s town square, and another of the Airstreams, a clothing shop, would soon be changing hands, too. French, who has until late spring in her Yacht Club Airstream, says that the regulations for the trailer businesses in Fayetteville are fast changing, but for now, the city permits trailer cafés and shops for six months, with a renewal option for a second six months when a variance is granted. This short term leasing approach has been ideal for French. “It’s been a great way to start out,” she says enthusiastically, “with less risk and cost up front. I was a high school English teacher over in Little Rock, and wanted a change. Baking has always been a passion of mine, so my family encouraged me to come here to Fayetteville and enroll in the pastry program at the community college. I had already been to college once, so at first I didn’t really think of it as an option. But, I did it. I loved it. And now, with the Airstream, I’m getting to do what I love.” Customers love Lo’s pies in particular, though the soups, sandwiches, homemade ice-cream sammies, and brownies—fudge blanketed and sometimes even bacon plugged, get rave reviews too. “Lo’s just HAS to keep it up in Fayetteville,” one waiting customer lamented, considering French’s pending summer 2014 departure. “Lauren has the best pies around.” Continuing in business elsewhere will put Lo’s in the company of some of Fayetteville’s other small business success stories, all of whom got their starts inside Airstreams at The Yacht Club on College, too. There’s Pigmint, the colorful floral and fragrance shop that left its painted trailer to operate from a swanky shop downtown, and Grey Dog Vintage, a University area clothing and accessories boutique. Grey Dog exited The Yacht Club for a larger space a few blocks away, and its former Airstream now serves as a photography studio for another creative entrepreneur, who rents the trailer parked now in Grey Dog’s own parking lot. Until at least May, Lo’s signature pies are sold from the screened window of her Airstream at the Yacht Club lot, where three ovens fill the small caravan with a delectable scent. French fires up two conventional and one convection oven daily inside the Airstream, each turning out the made-from-scratch pies that have become Lo’s trademark. There’s coconut cream and chocolate cream, a lemon icebox with a crumbly graham cracker crust, a walnut crumb apple pie, plus a traditional southern Possum Pie (no critters involved) that involves a thick swirl of whipped cream over a cream cheese and chocolate pudding filling studded with roasted pecans. “It was definitely hot in the kitchen this summer with three ovens,” laughs French, but she clearly loves to take the heat, and has no plans to get out of the kitchen—likely just locate a new spot come summer time. “It’s a dream job,” she said, “I mean everybody loves pie!”

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is on call 24/7 if they should ever need help. will call the road their home this weekend.

24/7 ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. Your weekends are spent on the open road. What makes it even easier is knowing that with Progressive’s 24/7 Roadside Assistance you will never be stranded. In fact, Progressive will tow your RV and your vehicle, even if your vehicle isn’t insured by us. Drive comfortably. Call 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, go to progressive.com or call an independent agent.

PROGRESSIVE.COM

Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. and its affiliates, Mayfield Village, OH. Roadside Assistance is subject to policy terms. 10D00070 (06/10)

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CLA MC

KIDS

The best Airstream event of the year returns! • Meet: 400 fellow Airstreamers and camp on the grounds of the Airstream factory • Learn: 20 educational seminars & demos

COME

A NT

May 27-June 2, 2014 at the Airstream factory in Jackson Center, OH

• Listen: to music by Antsy McClain, and others • Relax: with daily morning yoga and cycle rides • Eat: Dutch Oven cooking, chef-led demonstrations, Open Grill, catered dinner • Compete: Riveting contest, Backup Derby, and more! • Tons of great door prizes daily! • Factory tours twice daily • New Airstreams on display • Happy Hour, Open House, Roving Happy Hour All activities and events are subject to change before event dates.

$80 per adult. Camp 3 to 5 days, your choice, from $155 to $205 per site. All sites have water hookup and dump station. Choose generator section or 3-amp rally electric. Register now with your smart phone by scanning this code

FREE Memorial Day cookout for early arrivals (boondocking only). Full info & online booking at alumapalooza.com or call 802-877-2900 ext. 4 Be a friend of RB Alumapalooza on Facebook for regular updates Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/alumaevents

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LIVING THE LIFE

Squeaky Clean:

Tips for Cleaning Your Airstream Your Airstream is not only your iconic treasure, it’s your home away from home. Like any home, your Airstream needs routine cleaning. Yet household cleaners are not the solution to all Airstream cleaning needs. So what’s an Airstreamer to do? Not to worry. We went directly to Airstream and to some of the component manufacturers to get the scoop on the best way to clean Airstreams. Here’s what we found out.

By Renee Ettline

Aluminum Interiors — Pledge® Orange Clean safely cleans aluminum interior skin as well as stainless steel, metal and chrome. Beaufloor® Vinyl Flooring — Sweep regularly with a soft broom. Clean with a damp mop, or if needed use a mild non-abrasive detergent mixed in water or a cleaner designed for vinyl flooring. Rinse and wipe up any remaining water. Never use bleach, scouring pads, spirit-based products, or anything that might damage the floor such as vacuums with beater bars.

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LIVING THE LIFE Corian Countertops — Soapy water or an ammonia-based cleaner will work for most cleaning. Avoid window cleaners since they can dull the surface. Wipe up spills immediately to avoid spotting. To disinfect, wipe with dilute solution of one tablespoon of bleach to one gallon of water. Rinse and wipe well after disinfecting. Day/Night Shades — Vacuum or use a dry brush to remove dust. To remove stains use the suds of a mild detergent to gently scrub the spot without soaking. Do not use detergents with bleach. Wetting the shade may result in loss of pleats so be sure to use only the suds. Exterior Aluminum 1999 model year and later — Starting in 1999, Airstreams have been produced with a pre-coated aluminum that shows no fading, peeling or cracking if properly maintained. To clean, first rinse to remove grit since abrasives are likely to scratch the finish. Wash when the exterior skin is cool, using a 5% solution of any non-abrasive and mild soap, or detergent and water. Use a soft cloth rag or wash mitt and always rub gently lengthwise (with the “grain” of the aluminum). Rinse with water. To prevent streaks dry with a soft cloth or chamois. If sap, asphalt or other difficult items remain on the surface, they can be softened with the careful use of de-natured alcohol or light mineral spirits. Then gently wipe moving lengthwise.

Airstreamers are flocking to Sarasota for this all new event!   

 

Local Excursions and Guided Tours Live Entertainment Nightly Fun & Educational Seminars Every Day Airstream Parts Store Catered Meals

New Airstreams on Display and for Sale  On-site Running Gear Service by Dexter  Tons of Great Door Prizes  Bluegrass Jam Sessions 

Held at the former location of the Florida State Rally: the Sarasota County Fairgrounds, just five miles from white sand beaches!  3 amp electric, water, and dump, OR upgrade to 30-amp  Handicapped parking section available  Kids very welcome

$195 per campsite; $70 per adult; kids are free under age 15! Add $100 for 30-amp upgrade.

Register on your smart phone by scanning this code. Brought to you by the same people who produce Alumapalooza, Alumafandango, and Alumafiesta: R&B Events.

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Reserve your space now, or get the latest news via email: www.alumaflamingo.com or call 802-877-2900 ext. 4 “Like” ALUMAFLAMINGO on Facebook for regular updates

twitter.com/alumaevents

Exterior Aluminum prior to 1999 model year — The proper cleaning product to use on these models depends on which finish or polishing process has been used and whether or not the aluminum is coated. Be careful not to use products unless they say they are safe for your particular finish. If you have polished the Airstream, check the polish label for cleaning directions. Glare® makes a Professional Polish. The manufacturer says the application of two coats a year will help reject bugs on the exterior surface. Glare® Spider promises to remove swirl marks and scratches (applied before Glare® Professional Polish). Walbernize Cleaner Polish and Glaze eases the removal of spots of tar and road oil while cleaning, polishing and leaving a waterproof glaze finish on uncoated metal. (Not to be used on clear-coat finishes.) Stainless Steel — Stainless Steel Cleaner/Polish (made by several manufacturers such as 3M and Zep) may be used on chrome and other washable, non-porous surfaces. Never use steel wool pads. Use ScotchBrite® pads only on the sides and bottom of the sink bowl, never on the shiny deck of the sink. Kindred, the producer of the sinks, does not recommend using chlorine bleach products since they will damage the sink’s protective layer.

We went directly to Airstream and to some of the component manufacturers to get the scoop on the best way to clean Airstreams. Toilet — Dometic recommends SeaLand® Toilet Bowl Cleaner for their porcelain toilets as the preferred cleaner for routine cleaning. The toilet may also be cleaned with most toilet bowl cleaners providing they are not abrasive. Be sure to also clean the ball and seal by slowly flushing the toilet several times. Thetford Aqua Clean™ non-abrasive cleaner is recommended for Thetford plastic toilets. Do not use any abrasives or acids as they can harm rubber seals and plastic components. Trailer Curtains — All Airstream curtains can be machine-washed on the gentle cycle with Woolite®. Lay flat to dry. Airstream recommends dry cleaning curtains in the Safari, Bambi, and International CCD models. It has been reported to Airstream that soaking curtains in a mixture of ¼ cup Oxi-Clean® and two gallons of water for two hours works well too. Just soak, rinse, and then air dry. Ultraleather™ — Wipe with a damp soft rag with soap and water for regular cleaning. Fantastik® or Formula 409® can be used on tough stains. Use a damp rag with clean water to remove any residue. Air dry. Wheels — Glare Turbo Action Wheel Cleaner can be sprayed on wheels and hosed off. If dirt is ground in, a brush may be needed. Zip-Dee Awning Fabric — Frequently hose off the awning with fresh water only to prevent dirt and other build-up. About every two to three years clean the awning thoroughly using a soft-bristle brush to brush off and loosen dirt. Then hose off the awning, and use Zip-Dee Wash Out Powder Concentrate according to directions. Commercial awning cleaners and detergents should not be used because unlike most other awnings, Zip-Dee awnings are made from Sunbrella® fabric. A IRSTREAM LIFE ONLINE EDITION | A IRSTREA MLIF E .CO M

LIVING THE LIFE

These are suggestions from the manufacturer, but they aren’t necessarily the only products you can use. Generally speaking, products with less fumes (such as orange-based cleaners and other “green” products) are more pleasant to use in the small confines of a motorhome or travel trailer, particularly if you’re sensitive to chemical smells. No matter what you use, always be sure to follow product directions, and when in doubt, check with the product manufacturer for additional information. Because of their efficient interiors and aluminum body, Airstreams clean up fast, so most interior tasks shouldn’t be huge chores. Keeping your Airstream clean will make using it more enjoyable and will enhance its resale appeal as well.

rental

airstream

journeys

For the first time ever, you can rent a current-model Airstream, fully outfitted including a GMC Yukon Denali. We provide custom travel, or just take it & go. Exclusively authorized by Airstream, Inc., please visit airstream2go.com or call 800-780-9880

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RIVET BIT

Airstream & Weber In The UK Eating and drinking in the outdoors has always been a part of Airstream owners’ lives. So when Weber Grills was looking for a promotional tool to market its appliances in the United Kingdom, what better vehicle to use but an Airstream trailer? Once the decision was taken a trailer was found at P&S Trailers in Helena OH, in 2009 and shipped to the UK, where Weber employed restoration firm American Retro Caravans to rebuild and adapt it to become a traveling shop window on wheels. The 32-ft, twin axle Land Yacht International cost £17,000 to buy and export, and had travelled an average of 8,000 miles a year since being built in 1975. Weber chef and trainer Daniel Cooper said: “It was sitting in a field somewhere. The shell was in quite good nick. The chassis was a bit worn out, but generally the Airstream was in quite good condition.” The trailer was shipped to the UK for a 12-day voyage across the Atlantic covering 5,800 miles before landing in Southampton and being taken to ARC’s workshop in Taunton in the county of Somerset. The £65,000 restoration job started in July 2010 with an eight-month program of repairs put in place. “We worked with ARC and told them what we wanted.

By Ian Evans

The Weber Airstream attending a show in the UK. It’s towed by a gray Land Rover, license plate WEB 3R. Follow it at www.weberexperience.co.uk.

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RIVET BIT

OPPOSITE PAGE: Chef Cooper prepares a bacon and cream cheese stuffing for a mushroom appetizer, inside the Weber Airstream. TOP: Chef Dan Cooper inside the gleaming renovated interior. ABOVE: Weber and Airstream, both “born in the USA.”

A I RS T R E A M L I F E O N L INE EDITIO N | AI R S T R EAML I FE.CO M

They came up with computer-generated illustrations with good 3D images of what it would look like,” said Daniel. “We wanted to use it as a marketing tool to show off our products but also to cook in at shows, fetes, festivals. We thought a classic American icon like an Airstream with our iconic products was a good marriage.” Restorers stripped back the Airstream, removing the body from the chassis. The frame was then sandblasted, cleaned with acid and galvanized to give it protection from future rust. A new aluminum belly pan was fitted and the body strengthened to allow for a new, large hatch to be cut into the side of the structure to form a platform and demonstration area. ARC used 56 sheets of aluminum to complete the job. Inside the restorers needed to install plumbing, a sound system, LEDs, flat screen TV, display cabinets and high quality Corian worktops with aluminum trim on the doors. A total of twenty people worked on the restoration, which saw 1,700 rivets used inside the trailer. A hot water supply was also fitted for washing up after food demonstrations and for keeping the inside and outside of the trailer clean. Two wireless remote control winches have been added to help set up the stage area.

Daniel said: “We decided on a color scheme of red and black. We wanted to recreate a retro American diner feel inside and I think we achieved that. It’s got great clear lines and is very distinctive.” Since its completion in 2011 and its first promotional event in April that year, the 3-ton Airstream trailer has travelled an average 16,000 miles a year covering England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland, being towed by a Land Rover Defender 110. When not parked at the Weber headquarters in Oxfordshire, the Airstream is at garden centers, food festivals, country shows, vehicle galas and generally events where the company can show off its grills and the cooking customers can do on them. “We wanted something iconic,” notes Daniel, “something people will remember us by, and the Airstream ticks all the boxes. We have had so much feedback from people which has been really positive. Airstream is synonymous with the great outdoors and so is barbecuing, so the two go together.”

The Collected Adventures of

Tin Hut VOLUME I

At last the complete story of Mr. and Mrs. Tin Hut can be told! If you love the Huts, or haven’t read all of their memorable adventures, here’s your opportunity to get 22 stories in a single volume. From nightmare trailer park to traumatizing family reunion to disastrous Now Available Mr. Ed Convention, Mr. Hut somehow manages to find the silver lining in every episode. His lifelong love, Mrs. Hut, tells her story too, while standing by her man as best she can in the wake of enraged farmers, insulted performers, horrified fellow campers, bewildered contest judges, and pierced in-laws.

in Print!

Long a favorite of Airstream Life magazine readers, this is the first collection of Tin Hut stories ever published. It might be the last, too, considering that in this collection he manages to get stuck in a horse costume, hung from a tree, nearly electrocuted in bed, diagnosed with Fainting Goat syndrome, and set on fire. Includes all the hilarious illustrations by Brad Cornelius!

Order your copy now from www.airstreamlife.com/store, just $14.95

Also available as an ebook for Kindle and iPad. A IRSTREAM LIFE ONLINE EDITION | A IRSTREA MLIF E .CO M

Experience the Haydocy Airstream & RV Difference!  One of the largest Airstream inventories – Home of the Sharpest pencil in the country  Service, collision and parts staﬀed with Airstream Factory trained technicians  Visit and enjoy a meal on us from the “Fabulous Land Yacht BBQ!”  Located next to the Hollywood Casino Columbus, Ohio  Located 1 hour from the Airstream Factory tour – Pick up and delivery anywhere in the United States  Airstream trades, purchases and consignments welcomed  Welcome International clients! Let us help you with customs  Special “Airstream Discount available on all New Trucks at Haydocy GMC & Haydocy Chevrolet HA Y

www.HaydocyAirstream.com www.LandYachtBBQ.com General Manager Mike@Haydocy.com Airstream Sales Eric@Haydocy.com

VE TI

CY AUTOMO DO TH

ANNIVERSARY

1954-2014

Airstream & RV

Haydocy 3865 WEST BROAD ST. COLUMBUS, OH 43228

PHONE: (614) 279-8880 TOLL FREE: 800-233-5700

SUBSCRIBE TODAY to get the complete Spring 2014 print edition of Airstream Life! See what’s inside... TABLE OF CONTENTS

traveling well

Spring 2014

The official Airstream lifestyle magazine

EDITOR’S PAGE

INBOX

Baking A Business In An Airstream

Pivot Point Projection Hitches

The Airstream Beverage Experience

The New Traveling Neighborhood

Rome, 1956

AIRSTREAM FOOD TECH TIPS INTERIORS FEATURE The Airstream Beverage Experience, Page 14

FROM THE ARCHIVES

MARKETPLACE

Built To Tow?

Hospitality Boondocking

AIRSTREAMING

Names, Lengths, And Widths

BUYERS GUIDE

Taking The Show On The Road

OLD ALUMINUM

Searching For A Giant Among Giants

NATIONAL PARKS

TOWING

Taking the Show on the Road, Page 37

PUZZLE

Airstream & Weber In The UK

Tips For Cleaning Your Airstream

Flooring Replacement

RIVET BIT LIVING THE LIFE TECH TIPS PARKS SHOWCASE Searching For A Giant Among Giants, Page 42

A I R S TRE A M L I F E | S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 | A I R S T R E A M L I FE . C O M

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