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1954 Airstream Renovated into Timeless Tiny Cabin on Wheels


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When people tell me they want to travel a lot with their future tiny house on wheels I always think, “hey, why not just go for a travel trailer because it’s lighter and easier to tow?”

And if you wanted you can always still live in a travel trailer just like you would in a tiny house. Especially if you get to completely renovate it.

In this case, we’ve got a 1954 Airstream that was wonderfully renovated into what I consider a modern tiny cabin on wheels by Timeless Travel Trailers.

1954 airstream to tiny cabin

Photo Credit Orvis

I encourage you to enjoy the rest of the tour of this awesome RV to micro cabin conversion:

1954 airstream to tiny cabin 1954 airstream to tiny cabin 1954 airstream to tiny cabin

Ok, let me take you inside:

Interior of 1954 Airstream that was Converted into a Micro Cabin

1954 airstream to tiny cabin 1954 airstream to tiny cabin 1954 airstream to tiny cabin

Kitchenette

1954 airstream to tiny cabin 1954 airstream to tiny cabin 1954 airstream to tiny cabin

Bathroom

1954 airstream to tiny cabin

Closet & Master Bedroom

1954 airstream to tiny cabin 1954 airstream to tiny cabin

Photo Credit Orvis via HomeDSGN

Can you see yourself in a travel trailer instead of a tiny cabin on wheels because of travel and mobility reasons?

If I wanted to travel around the country more I’d definitely go with a motorhome or travel trailer instead of a tiny house on a trailer because it attracts less attention and it’s more reasonable to tow.

But if I wanted to stay put on some land for a while and move very occasionally I’d definitely rather live in a stick built tiny home on wheels.

How about you?

If you’re interested in having a travel trailer professionally renovated for you consider Timeless Travel Trailers.

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Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 53 comments… add one }
  • Cahow
    September 28, 2013, 10:58 am

    Alex: were WE separated at birth and YOU are my long-lost twin?!? I swear, with exceedingly few exceptions, you and I have the same predilection for A-Frames, Modern-style Tiny Homes and Vintage Trailers. 😀

    You wrote: “Can you see yourself in a travel trailer instead of a tiny cabin on wheels because of travel and mobility reasons?” YES!!!, yes I can!!!! I don’t know WHY modern trailer companies don’t look in their archives (or do a quick websearch for “Vintage Trailer Floor Plans) for the sheer beauty and MAXIMUM use of space of trailers of yore. Each late Summer, my husband and I eagerly attend our local county fair, both for the corn dogs slathered with mustard (yum!) but also to visit “Machinery Hill” to look at outdoor machines and the over 50 travel trailers that are displayed there. With very few exceptions, I wouldn’t buy ANY of the current trailers on the market, regardless of size. Why? Horrible use of space, NO OVEN, and they are just down-right gloomy inside. There were some this year that had less interior light than a 1950’s bomb shelter and I could do no more than poke my head inside the doorway and refuse to enter their dark halls.

    Contrast these modern trailers to the inventive and cheery older trailers! Every square inch is designed wisely; many of them have actual working ovens and for someone like me who MUST bake to relax, having an oven on board is critical! Wrap-around wood paneling, windows enough to raise orchids successfully, working bathrooms and a real-life bed that is NOT in a loft…these vintage trailers are true Tiffany gems. <3

    You recently had a blog post about a couple retiring into a tiny home on wheels. Don't know if you went to the U.K. source or not but they finally closed comments down on that page. Commentors were NOT kind about the fact that these folks "thought" they were going to go whizzing down the highway with FOUR dormer's attached to the roof of the tiny house, creating more drag to the vehicle than if they had a set of parachutes behind them! I adore dormers and they make wonderful sense to create more usable space in a tiny house, but you're honestly planning on moving that thing constantly? Hope you won a petrol card for FREE petrol or you'll soon be dipping into your 401K savings to afford to haul it's dead weight around with you.

    I do so love when you feature these beauties, Alex! Thanks for making my Saturday morning a happy one. 😀

    • Alex
      September 29, 2013, 3:36 pm

      Thanks Cahow your comment made my day 🙂

  • Molly
    September 28, 2013, 11:47 am

    I want so badly to renovate a vintage RV. I want to travel around the country a good deal, although I would be parked for several weeks at a time in places. I love tiny houses that are stick built, and once I buy land that is the route that I would go, but I want to see all the wonderful landscapes we have on this continent first. I don’t know why but Airstreams have always attracted my attention, as have canned ham trailers. Sadly it often costs more to renovate an older trailer than it does to buy a newer one, but I agree with Cahow: new trailers are terrible.

    I have thought about contacting some of the tiny house builders I have seen online to see if they would build more of a travel trailer type tiny house. As I am still saving though, it’s still just a thought.

    • jerryd
      September 28, 2013, 2:10 pm

      Molly, there are a lot of vintage lightweight plywood trailers that are fairly easy and low cost to build. And many has cool aero shapes that were actually aero!!

      And could be done under $3k for a 16′ of cabin in material plus lightweight, aero enough to keep mileage up.

      After I move next yr to St Pete I’m going to have some Aero trailer shells made that have drag so low mileage will barely drop, if that. This can be done in plywood easily and how I’ll make the mold.

      If you can do the interior you can do the shell. If you need help, just hire someone or a friend to help what you can’t. Hiring usually works better if you can find a kind soul who does these things.

      I find it’s much better usually to do from scratch as redoing many times is more work, cost trying to make things work and many more limitations.

      • Stacey
        September 6, 2015, 3:14 pm

        Hey Jerry, This is exactly what I want to do! Where can I get more info? Thanks?

    • Toni
      September 28, 2014, 12:06 am

      Hey Molly, there is a team of guys that does do this. Alex musta had a story about them, I contacted them to see if they would turn my gooseneck horse trailer into a camper/tinyhouse. They said they would be glad to do that, and I haven’t gotten back to them yet, as right now, I know I have to be out of my house in about 10 days and I really don’t know where I am headed. Just praying this big monster house don’t get dumped on me, which is why I need to get out of it, or the judge will figure being I am still here, I must WANT to be here. That couldn’t be further from the truth, but with 2 horses, 5 dogs, 4 chickens and a cat, it ain’t like you can just move anywhere! Alex will know who I am talking about!

  • LaMar
    September 28, 2013, 11:49 am

    I have always liked air streams but try to find one these days. People know what they are worth and someone put a ton of money into remodeling that trailer. You can get small older camp trailers (not air streams) pretty cheap and they can be remodeled with better insulation and a modern interior to be a nice home on wheels. I have one project in the works now for my older camp trailer to make it 4 season and it can be towed with just a small pickup or even a larger car.

    • alice h
      September 28, 2013, 12:43 pm

      There was just an Airstream on Craigslist here recently for something around $3,000. 26′ or so I think. It had been gutted and poorly fitted as a site office of some sort. Don’t know what shape the running gear was in but it sure looked like a good project for somebody. There was a shorter Airstream on Craigslist a few weeks ago that was also reasonably priced but it had an ugly reno. Neither one lasted long on there.
      After spending a lot of time in my 13′ Boler I know I wouldn’t be happy with that rounded roof but this remodel is totally uptown! Too nice for me, I’d be worried about mucking something up. Also not keen on the layout, lining everything up on either side of a narrow aisle in the middle like that. It might be efficient use of space but it isn’t comfy use of space. I like some of the newer trailers with the kitchen in one end and a couch in the middle facing the door and a large window. If you rip out the dinette and replace it with a drop leaf table it opens things up nicely too. Some of the 5th wheel trailers even have enough head room in the upper area that you could sit in a chair up there.

      I think for regular use as a moving home a trailer or motorhome would be a better choice. If you’re only moving a few times a year a nice wooden house on wheels would be perfect. It all comes down to what you want and what you’re willing to put up with or without. My major dislike of most RV trailers is on aesthetic grounds, largely to do with the look of the outside. You can spiff up the inside just the way you want but those huge expanses of white, weird swoopy designs and huge brand names plastered all over are not my idea of good looking. That’s where an Airstream comes into it’s own, it looks great on the outside. I guess you could paint a trailer exterior more to your liking but I’m not sure how durable that is. I know it looks good on vintage trailers.

      • LaMar
        September 28, 2013, 1:08 pm

        Hi Alice, I recently picked up a 15 footer self contained for $900 and and I am remodeling it with insulation and better interior woodwork for a 4 season trailer. I do a lot of long term camping when I teach adventure courses and that will be my home away from home and will be solar powered. In the off season it will be a second bedroom for my son when he comes to visit and is my bug out trailer if ever needed. They can be painted to look more like a house and there are lots of addons for campers to make them function as a home. They are a lot lighter than a house on wheels and can be towed much easier with a smaller vehicle so that is a benefit. I will put in about $1000 in remodeling so for $2000 I get a nice second house on wheels compared to $20,000 for a wood built house on wheels. Just something for people to think about.

    • Stacey
      September 6, 2015, 3:23 pm

      Hi LaMar! I agree – Airstream is too much for me. Would love to see photos & info on your renovation when you get to it! PLEASE post!

  • David Ridge
    September 28, 2013, 1:21 pm

    Excellent job on the woodwork!

  • alice h
    September 28, 2013, 1:37 pm

    I’m looking at an older 26′ 5th wheel trailer with an open layout and decent windows for $1650. It has white aluminum siding, nice and flat for painting. If I get the thing I’d do a partial redo on the inside but it would be a hoot to do a trompe l’oeil log cabin effect on the outside and add a proper slanted roof for water collection, extra protection and looks. Under the bed area I can close it in as a shed. I wanted to paint in some funky window trim too and maybe flower boxes. It would actually be stationery since the place I have to put it has no actual road access and it would be a real pain to get it in and out. It’s just so cheap compared to building something from scratch and so fast. I can upgrade a little at a time and I have just about enough saved to buy it, get it set in place and do some work on it. It breaks my heart that I can’t build the tiny house I really want but it would take another couple of years to save up enough for that and a trailer would get me set up in a couple of months. The 13′ Boler I have now will stay and become a writer’s shack for a friend.

    • Cahow
      September 28, 2013, 2:23 pm

      alice h wrote, ” It breaks my heart that I can’t build the tiny house I really want…” < Reading this made me very sad. 🙁 I hate to see you sad, alice.

      Please allow me to make two suggestions that might seem silly and you can automatically dismiss them.

      1) How about Crowd Sourcing your desire to build a Tiny House? People could live vicariously through YOU and your dream of a tiny home. By posting a heartfelt introduction and having a realistic financial goal in mind, you could keep followers updated by a photo/writing blog. Heck, I must donate at least once a week to sites or the add-on donation on ebay, and I'd surely put some money into your Tiny House Kitty!

      2) Okay, be prepared to laugh, shake your head and exclaim loudly, "That Cahow is a doddering old cow!", but this is what helped me through my obsession with owning a really tiny house!

      I built one! All by myself! And it's completely Off Grid and furnished with custom pieces…as a 1"=1' scale model!!!! Okay, when you quit laughing, allow me to explain.

      I've been obsessed with tiny spaces my entire life and was granted them from the walking stage. On my grandparent's farm, any outbuilding not often used became MY house, which I would outfit with cast-off curtains, dishes and furniture. From the pump house to the old hen house to the abandoned milk shed, I "lived" in them from 5 years old until my grandparent's farm was sold when I was 16 y.o. Then, when they moved to Oregon to "retire" by giving up the cows for fruit farms, I moved with them and stayed in their truck camper (8' x 12') so "I could have my privacy," as Gran said. Back from Uni, I moved into a 12' x 12' studio, then got married, had babies, got degrees, and moved into homes the size our growing family needed.

      I was deeply inspired by Les Walker's "Tiny Tiny Houses" and after pining away 100's of hours on his floor plans, I came to the realization that building a model of what I wanted would fulfill that need. And so I did and it does…fulfill that need of wanting MY own space, away from everyone and everything that my mind can enter, alone.

      It now sits in my bookcase in a Plexiglass rectangle that I can lift off and "visit" any time life is becoming too stressful and I need to disappear for a bit of time. Then, when I'm all better, I pop the case back on top and go about my business.

      Hey, laugh all you want! It keeps me sane, was fun to outfit and cheap to boot!, and keeps me sane and in love with my family. What's to mock with those results? 😀

      • alice h
        September 28, 2013, 6:51 pm

        I’ll get over it, I’ve had worse things happen in my life and I always get over them. There’s always a Plan B and plenty more letters in the alphabet. Thanks for the suggestions and the kindness though. I couldn’t ask strangers for money, it just wouldn’t feel right. I’m quite stubborn about doing things myself and not being beholden to others. Not saying other people are wrong to do it, just not my way. I have a whole bunch of models of different tiny house plans I’ve come up with over the years and that Les Walker book has a prominent place on my bookshelf, right next to my battered old copy of Rolling Homes.
        Once I get something liveable for now I’ll restart the clock on the tiny house plan and start saving again. I’m not really giving up on it, just sidetracking for a while. Seems like there are an awful lot of sidetracks out there sometimes.

        • Cahow
          September 28, 2013, 8:07 pm

          Ah, a fellow lover of Les Walker! I actually wore my first book out; the pages fell out of the binding as I’d take it to bed every night until I fell asleep. I loved the diversity of what Les had to offer.

          Well, if you don’t want Crowd Sourcing, I can respect that. I’m not stubborn at all; I’m more goal oriented. So, I’d shove my pride aside and set one of these puppies up but then, that’s me. 😀

          By the way, I’ve read your mentioning your “13′ Boler” many times so I finally *bing*d it for images and it’s as cute as can be!!!! What a delight, at least the many shots I enjoyed looking at.

          Good luck to you, alice h. I hope the sidetracks stop coming and you’re on a direct path toward your goal of the tiny home of your dreams. <3

        • alice h
          September 28, 2013, 10:23 pm

          Just for fun, here’s a photo I found online of my old log house in Whitehorse. 18’x32′ with a little apartment in the basement. I did the original design and all drawings for permitting, the subcontracting and a heck of a lot of the grunt work. There were some hair raising moments during that project! (Link Expired)

        • Cahow
          September 29, 2013, 7:34 am

          LOVE your former home, alice h.!!! Thanks so much for sharing that beautiful Winter shot of the Yukon. I’m a huge fan of balconies and it looks like your home had two: one on the top floor and a second one on the main floor, which I guess you could also call a deck.

          If it’s not too sensitive or sad for you to share, why did you leave after putting in that much work?

        • Chel
          September 5, 2015, 9:09 am

          Alice your old house is beautiful. Two storeys with an outside space permanently out of the elements and on a small footprint. All wood clad too. Perfect.
          Yes, you are temporarily sidetracked but you will have a comfortable space to stay until you have your ideal completed. With the experience you have from your old house you will be able to do so much yourself to bring your dreams into reality.
          Cahow I love your idea of a scale model for escape time. Good project for me to work on now the nights will be drawing in.
          All the best to both of you and may you see your dreams realised soon.

        • alice h
          September 5, 2015, 5:30 pm

          Can’t believe how long it’s been since this was posted. Things kept changing then family caregiving obligations took over most of my life but I’m still plugging away at Plan XYZ-2 or whatever it’s up to now. Should be building a tiny skid shack this fall, 8×14 plus loft. Boler is staying on the property as a writing shack/guest house for a friend.

  • Ruth Vallejos
    September 28, 2013, 8:38 pm

    Gorgeous Reno. I would normally say if the house were to be primarily rooted, I’d go with the tiny house on wheels. But… I had some clients who lived in an older air stream that they had surrounded with a deck and planters. The planters had pink jasmine that had crawled over the trailer. It was cozier than most houses I knew.

    These friends just knew how to nest. Eventually they built a gorgeous home on the same land, built from the lumber salvaged from disassembling an old water tower. They held onto the lumber for 15 years while they saved up enough to build the house. The trailer became a guest house.

    • Cahow
      September 28, 2013, 8:55 pm

      “These friends just knew how to nest.”< one of the lovlier phrases about someone I've ever read. I hope you don't mind my using it when the occasion demands. You're friends are lucky to have you. 😀

  • Jenifer
    September 29, 2013, 4:18 pm

    This is one thing that I think I could do (with our family), but my husband is not so sure. Though, we have talked about taking a year to campervan around the US/Canada — during which time we would live this way.

    I love the look of the vintage ones, but have no real reno skills. A better option for us would be an older (like 70s-80s) that is not a great name and has had a decent reno. I’ve found several on craigslist for $6-9k. They aren’t pretty, but they are functional (basically comfortably appointed with better insulation). Decoration isn’t as important to me as functionality, really, and decoration can be managed with a can of paint and different fabrics, really (and taking off wall paper borders).

    So, I could definitely do this. 🙂 My husband? Not so much. Different strokes, I guess. Even in the same household! 😀

  • alice h
    September 29, 2013, 6:00 pm

    CAHOW – I left because of the (unrelated) deaths of 2 close friends; a chance at a promotion at work that took me to Baffin Island, then Yellowknife; the onset of osteoarthritis and then my family needing my help in Vancouver. It was a crazy few years there for a while! I just barely finished the house and it was time to go. Actually didn’t get to finish it, the new people put the front deck on. It was bought by a neighbour that used to stop by to watch it being built.

    • Cahow
      September 30, 2013, 5:36 pm

      Thank you for sharing, alice h. You said it…”crazy few years”! I’m glad, at least, that someone you knew would cherish your home bought it. Here’s a e-hug for you. ((((((alice)))))))<from me to you. 😀

  • Barb B
    September 30, 2013, 4:26 pm

    Never been a fan of Airstreams before but this one is the coolest! I have hopes of building a TH on a trailer BUT just thinking about toodling around anywhere you would want to go in this nifty traveler is really getting me thinkin’–Wow what fun! Cahow, I can identify with you—in my other life, I lived in a large apartment in Dallas & used to daydream about decorating & living in my walk-in closet & subleting the apartment!

    • Cahow
      September 30, 2013, 5:47 pm

      Barb B: I love to daydream, too! It’s FREE and keeps me in a happy place. 😀 I’ve seen some of the square footage of those walk in closets; definitely tiny house material!

  • libertymen
    November 17, 2013, 8:11 am

    Very nice.Probably cost $$$$$ to do.

  • Duane Bennett
    November 17, 2013, 1:07 pm

    I have a 31′ airstream, I’ve lived in fulltime for the last year. I’ve towed it all over the country. Everything is pretty much original. And everything works. I’d love to sell it and build a small cabin. If anyone is interested contact me @ [email protected]

  • AL-APL
    March 13, 2014, 6:53 pm

    This reminds me of an episode of “You Live in What?!” that showed a man (I think) in Santa Monica. He had beautifully renovated several Airstreams (seriously they were all simple yet chic-and the bathrooms had full sized tubs). He lived in one & rented out the others! Very smart & very cool. 🙂

  • Comet
    March 13, 2014, 8:50 pm

    Not to take anything in any way away from this beautiful Airstream but if this is—as I believe it is–an ORVIS project—there was NO money spared. And it is probably for sale for a hefty amount of money!

    If you ever get the chance to visit the Orvis Flagship Store in Manchester VT go and see if the amazing custom built all wood all hand built TEARDROP TRAILER is still in the lobby. I forget how much this one is but not cheap —but gorgeous! I live nearby and have been ogling it for years now.

    Our own plans might be to buy an older self contained RV with as low mileage as we can—and some of these have been barely driven—buy or build an enclosed trailer for our motorcycle and GO. We will re-hab the inside and the FIRST thing to go will be the “dinette”. Hate them. I find that these are all cheaply built and fail over time so ripping will serve two purposes—getting rid of crap and giving us what we WANT and in my case need—as a person with a handicap I find it hard to do that “sideways shuffle” as do a lot of full size adults! Also they take up a HUGE amount of room for little return. So when you rip them out you can use a flip down table/storage system or a folding table and chairs or—well there are a lot of options! Next to go will probably be the couch—another space-suck and usually uncomfortable as well. I say often that I am going to go to Orvis and order two of their amazing leather chairs and get two tables and that will BE the living room! In these older RV’s there is often large deep space that was formerly dedicated to the TV and other large electronics–we don’t NEED those anymore so that space can be re-thought.

    We also don’t need nor want an indoor “fireplace”; an indoor/outdoor TV; a premium indoor/outdoor sound system to WOW the neighbors with; an indoor/outdoor kitchen that sits so HIGH you would need to be a GIANT to access it with a washbasin for the SINK; we don’t need or want to sleep a platoon; and all that polished luxury finish—the lovely (admittedly some of it IS lovely) wood; all that takes up SPACE that can be used to store stuff you DO need on the road or in camp. And this IS what you are paying those astronomical prices FOR.

    So that’s my plan!

    And—BTW—I saw a GENIUS idea for people getting into/out of RV’s and other spaces–go to TRACTOR SUPPLY and for about $50 they have a MOUNTING BLOCK that has a handle cut out and sits right at the height of the bottom RV step. If the RV is sitting high–then this becomes the “mounting block” to get in or out for those first two steps. And it will fit right in the staircase when underway. I am sure clever people can make one of these too but here is one idea already out there and for a very reasonable price that can also be hosed off easily.

  • Comet
    March 13, 2014, 8:52 pm

    Oh and I don;t know if it is still avail but there was/is a PARK MODEL RV stripped (partly) for SALE near me in Eastern Upstate NY (Washington County) ON the trailer for I believe $800 OBO. Contact me and I can see if I can locate details. You could not buy the TRAILER for that!!!!! Guy bought it and his town had a zoning issue with it–he sez it is towable and was towed to him recently.

  • Martha
    August 18, 2014, 2:40 pm

    I LOVE! the airstream! Of all the tiny houses I’ve seen here over the past couple of years, this is my very favorite and the one I know I could live in. A few years ago I lived and traveled full time in a 34′ 5th wheel and the roominess and very adequate storage in it was amazing.

    The problem I found with RV trailers is the exhorbitant cost of appliances and the lack of any kind of standards the mfrs of these appliances have to follow. I’m talking about Thetford and their ilk – toilets, refrigerators, etc. If I was going to park and live somewhere and not travel constantly, I would replace the fridge with a residential model. I don’t know what you can do about the waste system – possibly the problem lies more with the hoses & such than the unit itself, but I seemed to manage ok for the time I had to deal with them. The only way I could deal with it now is to have solar panels because the electrical systems in RV’s aren’t satisfactory and I doubt they would pass any kind of code.

    That said, I LOVE the airstream conversion and I could live in it for the rest of my life. Thanks so much for presenting it.

  • Wade
    August 18, 2014, 3:27 pm

    The interior and exterior are beautiful. That full renovation couldn’t have been cheap. But I do like it. I could live in that. Thanks for showing.

  • Comet
    August 19, 2014, 10:55 pm

    Checking back here after the first post of this!

    Have been looking for older model self contained RV’s and gotta say—you really NEED to do your homework! Some are of course in great shape inside and out but because of their age have lower price tags–these are the ones to GRAB.

    Then there are the “frogs” (as in::: You gotta kiss a lot of frogs before you find your Prince)

    These are the ones on Craigs that you would be horrified to use their pics as YOUR “Before” shots they are so bad. I am not Suzy Home Maker but—when you see the poor thing literally piled with CRAP–stay away! It might be a prince but—-

    There are a few things to look at seriously::

    The rust factor–it’s not just the undercarriage either. Have EVERYTHING checked from axles to brake rotors. None of this stuff is cheap and if you have to hire it done–whoa nellie!
    The tanks—ALL the tanks–and hoses etc (these can be replaced but–)
    The kitchens are often laid out VERY badly

    The siding can bow leaving cracks for water to get in–and creatures
    The windows can leak as can the skylights and vents and roof seams–there are fixes for this but you also have to worry about the underside.
    The carpets in these things are the first to look trashy so you are prob gonna want to replace them with a laminate
    The older generators and even some new RV ones are crap—sell it if it works and get a Honda—you will be happy you did
    You can retro-fit solar panels for many uses
    The older engines—many of them were carb units and can be foxed with a nail file and a roll of duct tape. This is not a bad thing. Newer ones have so many computerized parts and boards that fixing anything might be well beyond your skill and means.

    I agree wholeheartedly about the newer “gel” and “clearcoat” ones with the absurd swoopy graphics. Just a way to plant THEIR brand name on YOUR house.

    I DO find the older ones have better use of space but a lot of them were for Weekend Warriors and not made for full time or long term. There are a million ways to better use these spaces either by re-building or re-thinking and re-doing—see below!

    Go look at Pinterest for tons of pics of all sorts of RV’s and travel trailers etc and also tips hints re-mod ideas etc. Just don’t go there if you have anything ELSE to be doing for awhile!

    ALSO—We have recently been looking into how much it COSTS nowadays to PARK one of these rigs. The first place we checked was nearby and we saw two giant Titan-class Class A’s towing Mercedes SUV’s behind them–the cost for ONE NIGHT there was $75.00. Now–for those people with their $250000 “Coaches” and $60000 SUV’s this is probably cheap. For me–not so much! I also looked farther South (that first place was in Lake George NY) and the prices were more reasonable but still approaching $50 a night. Which is about the price of a hotel room down there in road side places. Soooo—

    Yes. You would have your own bed and stuff
    You would have a kitchen
    You would have stopped somewhere to get food and other supplies

    But—

    You would be paying for GAS
    You would be paying for PROPANE
    You will be paying for ELECTRIC
    You would be paying for REPAIRS
    You would be paying to BUY and RE-DO and REGISTER and INSURE
    You would be paying for food either way
    You would not have (most likely) a full sized bathroom
    You would be PAYING to dump those grey and black water tanks and clean them out–peeeeeYouuuuu!!!
    And paying to fill them

    I am almost thinking of getting a van sturdy enough to pull our bike and outfitting the back as a mini kitchen and screen room. We enjoy roadside hotels and cabins and since I am handicapped and tenting is not realistic for us–this MIGHT come out to be lower expense wise. I can’t climb into a giant ass pick up OR a Fifth-wheel with a raised bedroom (which is often at the complete OPPOSITE end as the bathroom–not a good thing! ) I can’t “Hop” around at night either.

    IF we find one that suits our needs it might be a “base lodge” for us but—it might be less of a pain to find interesting cheap places to stay on our travels.

  • Mama Lulu
    August 20, 2014, 6:14 pm

    Alex – this airstream is awesome!!!! I now know what we are going to retire in. I love tiny homes! I also like to travel. I just love this! Thanks for sharing this. Exceptional woodwork!

    • Alex
      August 20, 2014, 6:39 pm

      Thanks Mama Lulu! Really glad you found something that really hits home for you 🙂

  • Adam
    September 27, 2014, 3:53 pm

    I heard these have problems with extreme temperatures, Is this true?

  • tegmapat
    September 27, 2014, 4:11 pm

    I love this, but have one thing I would change, and that is the table. I’d want it larger so that 4 people could eat there. I understand this person tho’t getting in & out of the booth easier with a small table, but let’s face it, we squeeze into small spaces in restaurants with much larger tables. Otherwise, I love the whole thing! Wish it were mine!

  • Brian
    September 27, 2014, 10:24 pm

    Heaven on wheels

  • NikiRose
    February 7, 2015, 9:50 am

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE this. It is so beautiful. I recently bought a 56 Caravanner and would love to do this burnished look endcap. Anyone know how they did that? Just WOW Coolest Airstream I have seen!

  • Marsha Cowan
    September 4, 2015, 3:41 pm

    Amazing! Really amazing!

  • Valerie
    September 4, 2015, 7:24 pm

    That is a very sweet cabin with a rustic feel. Although I would have like the shower in tile some sort style instead of steel look.

  • ichael
    September 4, 2015, 8:11 pm

    As many others I like Airstream or better Avion. However, as others said before its a matter of cost to get and redo one.
    This example is very well done and I guess their owner invested a lot of money and efforts into it.

  • Dale
    September 5, 2015, 1:27 am

    I’m Jones-ing for an old airstream. I found this web site of an Alabama architect that rennovates them. http://architectseries.com/. Enjoy.

    • Andrea
      September 5, 2015, 2:33 pm

      Thanks for sharing Dale!

  • Theo
    September 6, 2015, 7:48 pm

    Makes a ton more sense than most of those ‘homes’ built on a trailer. And no steenkin’ loft either. Great interior. And costly as all get out I would imagine.

  • mark
    August 28, 2017, 6:35 pm

    Looking at all the options and price. 2018 Aistreams are gorgeous and modern. But head over to something like the Escapes 28ft Tiny House under 60k and it becomes a no brainer. Airstreams are in the 100k plus and have no real bathroom, laundry or real kitchens compared to the Escape http://www.escapetraveler.net/ .

  • Gbosey
    August 29, 2017, 11:44 pm

    I’m curious about any laws governing the high polishing of aluminum trailers. I’ve been stuck behind cars with back windows reflecting almost blinding sun at certain times of the day. Wouldn’t a highly-polished Airstream present a similar hazard?

  • Gabriella
    September 6, 2017, 9:14 am

    Is a great extra luxury “bean”

  • August 15, 2019, 3:45 pm

    I liked that you said that one reason to consider remodeling an airstream is to create a tiny house to live in that will allow you to travel from time to time. I have been thinking about moving and I don’t have a family so buying a vehicle that could be transported to new locations would be feasible for my situation. I will be sure to consider buying a remodeled airstream to give me a unique, cozy, and mobile way to live.

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