Well I got all excited to get my elderly nieghbors 1995 Air Stream Land Yacht, 35'WB, cummins, 20K miles, for $5K. It has been sitting for 8 Years uncovered, and was thinking I could just clean it up, and fix minor issues, only to find out it has been leaking, and ther are alot of areas where the skin is delaminating. I guess the only option now is to just part it out, or sell as junk, since repairing damaged wood, and redoing all the fiberglass is so expensive. I still have the option to purchase it, but it sounds like I better pass on this one.

People jump into a restoration project for two reasons.....to keep it themselves and use it, or to resell the vehicle. Here is a link to a really nice Airstream that has not sold. AirstreamThe coach has some age, and it will get some bidders for resale, but not enough to off set the cost of the restoration. Now, if you want to buy it for your own use, and you can handle ALL of the restoration, than it MAY NOT be a bad deal. Then again it may be a money pit that you will never get to enjoy. If what you see scares you, then the hidden problems will terrify you. It sounds like this is one to pass on.

So sad, but indeed, there are cases where restoration is a bad idea. If it has been sitting for 8 years, and has extensive damage due to a leak, there's also the question of whether the engine is frozen. Sorry this one isn't gonna work for ya.

That bunch that has that Air Stream on Ebay is iffy at best as I never deal with anyone that has "added fees" after the sale. + thats a almost 20 year old gasser. How much do they expect to get for it????? Does look good.

I bought a class C that was in "pretty good shape" and was 2 years out of having received a state inspection. I paid too much for it and then had to sink more money in to it to make it pass inspection on the CHASSIS side alone. I spent 4 or 5 years patching leaks as they popped up and tinkering with little fixes here and there but by no means did a restoration. I was done and sold it for a loss because I made sure every issue I knew about what known to the purchaser.Campers and camping generate enough issues to satisfy my tinkerers gene. I don't want to invest and engage in a restoration at this point.

Here is a nice Restoration thread on an Airstream

Class A restore bad idea | Good Sam Community

Kathy_of_Arcadi
Explorer
Jan 19, 2014
I have a 1984 Turbojet Airstream 30ft RV we bought in 1994, and have since replaced the Isuzu diesel engine and transmission. Now the new engine has 50,500. miles (100,000 old Isuzu engine)on it plus radiator rebuilt 3+ years ago with very little miles as also front tires, and the RV remains stored indoors. All of the coach items work from refrigerator to even new electric items, you know alternator, converter to all batteries. Can you tell I have done all those repairs? I am thinking this Airstream really would not be considered such a restoration project and would be ripe for sale. My concern: Does the aluminum skin require replacing rivets as a stage of restoration. Also, I was once told by acquaintance RV dealer that the aluminum itself would be of great value to bring even $10,000.? Would that be true? I appreciate any insights for me to proceed.

Kathy, Owner
P.S. I couldn't seem to list the information on my RV correctly for my RV profile. None of the years would take?
bob_b1
Explorer
Jan 20, 2014
Kathy of Arcadia wrote:
Also, I was once told by acquaintance RV dealer that the aluminum itself would be of great value to bring even $10,000.? Would that be true?

I doubt that the scrap price would fetch that amount. I live in a house with aluminum siding. Some of my neighbors are getting their siding replaced. Their old aluminum siding is worth $500 at the scrap dealers. I can't imagine that a motorhome contains more aluminum than would be on my house. Certainly not $10,000 worth.
Mike_Hohnstein
Explorer
Jan 20, 2014
Perish the thought of scrapping a silver bullet, unless it's a roll over.
wny_pat1
Explorer
Jan 20, 2014
ferndaleflyer wrote:
That bunch that has that Air Stream on Ebay is iffy at best as I never deal with anyone that has "added fees" after the sale. + thats a almost 20 year old gasser. How much do they expect to get for it????? Does look good.
"$399.00 non-refundable dealer documentation fee" - That is a standard ebay fee for ebay dealers. They lump title,temp tag, and paperwork fees in there, and end up with a few extra bucks on the deal. The bidding started at a $100. Let the bidder beware!!~!
wny_pat1
Explorer
Jan 20, 2014
bob_b wrote:
Kathy of Arcadia wrote:
Also, I was once told by acquaintance RV dealer that the aluminum itself would be of great value to bring even $10,000.? Would that be true?

I doubt that the scrap price would fetch that amount. I live in a house with aluminum siding. Some of my neighbors are getting their siding replaced. Their old aluminum siding is worth $500 at the scrap dealers. I can't imagine that a motorhome contains more aluminum than would be on my house. Certainly not $10,000 worth.

Scrap aluminum prices per pound. But I have no idea how many pounds of aluminum there is in a Airstream motorhome. As to aluminum house siding, it is awfully thin and light material.
Tyler0215
Explorer
Feb 02, 2014
Re; Scrap Aluminum. House siding is painted. Airstream is not painted so it,s worth more, but nowhere near $10,000.

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