Vintage Airstream Motorhome as the perfect SHTF BOV? Seriously considering this......

here's another sweet one that could use a little exterior tlc for 20k!

[link to www.vintage-airstream.com]

Airstreams are easy to tow. I guess it would just be easier to tow a trailer, unhook and your off to play!
It would also be easier to get into a metal barn in the lower trailer.
I think the clearance on the motorhome is quite high.
I live in the mountains on curvy roads. Those big rvs have trouble in our town turning and such. It is a tourist town. I would rather not be in a big ass rv. I think they would be harder to get into remote areas.

Hey OP, check this out! Went and look at one of these yesterday....I like them, but more for a permanent thing.
I still want my Airstream!!!

[link to slabtowncustoms.shutterfly.com]

harder to get into remote areas than a truck trailer combo? backing those things up is a nightmare! i definitely see pros/cons on both sides. i guess i just dont want to go through all the trouble of selling my truck and getting another one as i wouldnt be able to afford much in the way of an upgrade. have done a good job of avoiding taking out lines of credit so far in my life (other than some stupid mistakes when i turned 18 lol).

ive never driven an RV though. i think trying to rent one for a couple weeks would really help my decision making process for sure. probably wont be able to rent an airstream but im sure i could rent something with a similar engine and year range.

haha yeah those things are DOPE! been reading a lot about people who build their own on large trailer bases. pretty cool movement!

holy shit. looks like decent sized rv's cost about 250-500$ a day to rent. wtf.....

I would look on Ebay and local RV-Trader mags.

Motorhome is not as flexible as a crew-cab diesel 4x4 or extended cab.

I got some other threads on survival in the archives here and others at www.lesteronsurvival.blogspot.com; a couple go into detail on RVs as BOVs.

If you own a truck, something decent like a 3/4 or one-ton, you got lots of options. Would not buy an Airstream, better to find a 5th wheel or maybe just a slide-in like a Lance or an Alaskan which is the low profile jack-up alum shell camper.

Have you looked at www.theturtleexpedition.com? A really amazing site. The owners have 4x4 trucked all over the world including Siberia and South America. Worth a look-see.

An older diesel like a Dodge Cummins 12V which you could buy very affordably would be my choice for a tow vehicle. I owned a Powerstroke F350 4x4 and the Cummins makes more torque and better miles per gallon. Towing 8k and w/1500 in the bed, my Cummins got 16-18mpg hauling up-hill through CO, WY, and MT. Awesome power if you build to obtain it. So you buy used for $7k or less and have the transmission beefed up and the injectors replaced, injection pump tested, and a better flowing air filter.

Truck and a gear trailer will enable you to move more gear and setup a real homestead where you wind up. A yurt or USGI HD canvas tent can be pitched on a platform foundation and integrate a woodburing stove for heat and another for cooking. Get a liner for cold weather and spar arrestors for flue pipe and you are set. Carry an ATV with a decent trailer and you can get your gear into the outback, down trails no truck will make.

The older small-frame toyota and nissan 4x4 trucks will run forever and can go down many tight trails, but I never saw one run thorugh deep swamps...

Rather than sink all your money into a motorhome think about the cargo trailer and truck. Can convert the trailer into a living quarters or locking storage unit and you got the truck to work with. Most RVs are limited to pavement or decent gravel roads. Sure don't want to take one down dirt roads in rainy season.

A wide jon boat is also a ticket away from the road. Something with a deep gunwale and wide beam so you can carry gear with a good outboard, maybe a jet lower if you are in shallow rocky waters.

Really dunno what else to mention if don't know the area you intend to head to.

One thing will recommend is reconnoitering your route well in advance. Take your time and really look over the route and look for alternates and work-arounds.

If you want to see if you can handle a motorhome, might try renting a 28' U-Haul. They're pretty easy to drive once you learn the dimensions and the steering. A U-Haul won't cost much and you can get the feel for making turns and backing etc.

One other option might be a Class C or Van Conversion. Can often find older Class C motorhomes very cheap and well maintained. These are the one-ton van chassis rigs with dual rear wheels and the camper box mounted to the chassis. Should be able to find a very decent on w/genset, full kitchen & bath for about $5k or less if you can do engine work or some interior renovations.

Might look for a one-ton Van with 4x4. I've seen these in diesel and they are really a great combo for pulling a trailer and doing your own interior work.

Motor home, 1986 motor.

While on the surface that may sound like a good idea, underneath its a bad idea.

Why? because engine technology has vastly improved over the past 20+ years when it comes to RV motors.

Another thing that has vastly improved is the weight of materials used to build an RV.

The upside to both those factors is nearly double the gas/fuel mileage.

Another downside. A majority of that structure is going to be off gassing. [link to www.google.com]

MDF, Plywood, laminate flooring, linoleum, vinyl flooring, the foam in the mattresses, the high plastic containing fabrics - all of these will be off gassing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) none of which are good for you nor your health. While staying a weekend or two inside of one of these things won't harm you, living inside of one for several years could very well harm you - a lot if you are sensitive, have asthma or something.

Retro-looking is NOT retro. Back in the 1950's and 1960's when they built these things they built them to last. While a laminate ply was used, it was made with more organic (i.e. healthier) glues and coated with more organic (again healthier) clear coats. The 1/4 inch laminate used in trailers, rvs and the like also used hard woods, not soft Douglas fir coated with an oak or other hardwood veneer.

Horse hair, cotton batting and 100% cotton fabrics were used in the upholstery. today it is plastic (poly fabrics) and plastic foam. They are treated to not burn, but guess what, they do burn - slowly and when they smolder they put off enough toxins to where in that tiny space a small fire can kill you without filling the whole place without smoke, without starting the whole thing in blazes.

Today they use PVC and CPVC piping for sewage and water supply. Back then it was iron (cast iron) sewage pipe and copper tubing for water supply.

While those things weighed far much more than the plastic, laminated RVs of today, it was safer, cleaner and built to last. This is why one finds trailers from the 1950's still standing and in great shape, compared to trailers made in the 1980's.

A farday on wheels may sound like a good idea and sound simple, but its not. A faraday cage has to be grounded in order to work. that means driving a 10 foot long copper 'spike' into the ground and hooking up heavy cage wires to it and to the skin of your building/RV.

My house has copper siding and a metal roof. all of it is interconnected and in order to keep it safe I had to drive 2 10' long copper spikes into the ground then hard wire those with the siding. for a 450 square foot home that has all of its wiring already grounded.

I live in a Faraday cage. I can not have wireless connections. there is no place inside that I can put my computer and wireless network to where the siding and roof doesn't interfere. In order to use my cellphone I have to go outside. In order to listen to the radio I had to put up an antenna.

And yes I do have metal screens on all the windows, in their metal frames which are attached to the metal siding which is grounded at four corners into two grounding rods.

Living in a small home is NOT a problem. The two of us (plus two dogs, a large and small) have no trouble managing in our 450 square feet. Storage is a non issue. the bed itself is basically a short chest of drawers on either side with a platform for the organic, natural fibre futon. As long as you find a place for everything and keep everything in its place, small home living is not a problem.

You may have to give up somethings - such as a 101" TV - but I assure you 45" is more than enough in HDTV entertainment ;-)

Ultimately you will have to remember that this RV (or any RV) is designed for temporary 'camping', not for year long living. You most likely will discover it has next to no insulation, thus a real hog on the heating/cooling. You most likely will find that doorknobs and drawer handles are poorly attached, that hinges for cabinets and the toilet door break, that a hundred or so tiny things simply break.

Not so much because they are poorly designed, but because they are not intended for daily use over 2-5 years of steady living.

You've heard of "Peak Oil"?

You've heard of the "Oil Wars"?

You know the U.S. is running out of nations that are oil-rich to invade before they will have to turn on the Saudis?

You won't be able to find enough gas (let alone afford it) to run the thing SOON.

BTW, since late December, 2011:

Japan is trading with China in yen not dollars.

[link to www.financialsense.com]

Japan is trading with India (up to $90 billion worth) in yen not dollars.

[link to www.yomiuri.co.jp]

China is trading with Japan in yuan instead of dollars.

[link to www.asiantrademagazine.com]

India is trading with Japan in rupees not dollars.

[link to blogs.voanews.com]

Iran has asked India to trade for oil and pay in yen.

[link to www.businessweek.com]

And, wait for it, India is trading for oil from Iran and paying for it in GOLD.

[link to www.forexcrunch.com]

So...given that the U.S. is (and has been for some time) tapping into our strategic oil reserves, no I wouldn't buy a huge GAS HOG to ride around in.

You will find yourself parked, permanently.

THE PETRODOLLAR IS DONE!

You could, however, consider building an ARK...

Just sayin'...

I think it would get old after awhile unless living in one is strictly out of necessity - if that were the case, your motorhome would be a castle. Better than living under the freeway in a cardboard box.

dude, thank you. this is some seriously awesome information. heading to bed but will give it a closer read in the morning.

I hate to be the party pooper, but in a SHTF scenario your kick ass Airstream motor home screams out I'M RICH ROB ME. Also every time you pass a FEMA roadblock you have a high risk of having it confiscated by some bum who last week was a short order cook at McDonalds, but this week is an NCO. You resist and he can kill you quite legally.

You'd be much better off with something that's well maintained, but looks like a piece of crap on the outside.

My wife and I have the same Airstream model shown. The stock version came with the polished aluminum and blue painted lower section. I have seen the same with red painted lower section. It has served us well for many years. The aerodynamics are nice and it really gets better mileage than you would expect from something that large. Flys down the highway and handles well at 75 to 80 mph. We are now getting toward retirement age and have always done our own home remodels. The wife is looking into converting ours into the "pimped" version shown in your photo. What is shown is just the aluminum after being polished and then clear coated.

Not clear on the reason for the EMP paranoia, but to each his own. I can tell you that as they come, that aluminum shell provides good protection against cell and wifi signal penetration. This one had a cell signal booster mounted on the interior of the front windshield so a phone works well. To pick up free wifi, you have be near a window. I'm thinking metal screening to cover the unscreened part of the sliding widows should deal with your EMP fears. The price you mention is about right.
Back in the day those models sold for about $120,000 new. Used is the way to go then customize as you see fit. The airstream configuration was built on an airplane design, so a lot of your modifications will have to be adapted to the interior curves, especially the upper areas. That 454 generates plenty of power, enough for the previous owner to tow a small car all over the southwest for years. After all these year the roof is still water tight. Must be the aircraft riveted panel design, plus the curve naturally sheds water, not allowing any pooling.

If you plan on traveling much with it, and I would if I were your age, tuck some cash away for replacement tires, you may have noticed how many it has! And they aren't cheap. Those are full blown truck tires that run at 100psi. Eight total when they all get replaced. Gross weight of that model is about 16,000 lbs. The rear two are non-driving with automatic pneumatic load leveling. They keep the unit nice and level as fuel and water levels change. I'd really like to pop in an Allison 6 speed tranny to optimize power and fuel consumption. But that stock three speed is fine if you don't plan on road tripping all the time. Those machines are made to customize and if do put in the time to do quality work it will only go up in value. Have fun.

A couple of other thoughts. External power supply is 240V 30A, so you will need to have access to that at the Grandparents. The usual connections for sewer and water, plus the power make it pretty hassle free when parked. Setting up a legit sewer connection at grandparents might be a little bit of a project but anything can be done with effort.

As far as driving it, I can tell you that although it seems big and long, mine drives a lot like a Chevy suburban. Much easier than one would expect. The one thing to watch is the rear end swing around corners. As my kids reached driving age I coached them easily and we all shared in driving that beast around the country. If they could manage it you certainly can. Have no fear.

Sure, there are endless other options. The other posts are great. You can go diesel truck and tow a nice Airstream trailer. Done that, it was great. Had a 25 ft Airstream trailer, dragged that thing all over mountain roads in the winter for cross country skiing weekends. Bought it for $4000, used it for four years sold it for $9000. They have that same nice aluminum shell. Those really appreciate in value.

But really, can't say if that Airstream motor home would make the perfect SHTF BOV, I doubt it. it's what we have, and I'll use it for that. But if you would rather stick your money into a livable moving space and save the rent money, hey, why not go for it. Like I said vintage Airstreams seem to hold value. Use it, play with it, sell it for more than you paid and upgrade to a better BOV.

It is all really just a big adventure. Have fun and experiment.

If you put one in a shipping container that itself is buried in the earth and you have the perfect shelter at the bottom dollar cost.

IF the SHTF all the roads will be closed and ambushes set up every ten meters or so.
This is guaranteed.
Nobody will be going on holiday or road trip once SHTF.
I can promise if it was me I would allow no access to any property I am on. Traffic in is a threat and traffic out will be seen as a threat to everyone with road frontage in any direction.

Bugging out is a heavily promoted fantasy that intends to make you think you have somewhere to run away and hide.
It's intent is to make you abandon everything you have and set out on a suicide mission where death and destruction is guaranteed unless you have an armoured personnel carrier that is impervious to 50 cal ammunition or fire.
Stopping road traffic takes just a few moments and a few bullets or a downed tree across the road and you are dead meat and all your preps will go to the master of the roadblock.

Camper idea is cool...as long as you can sit in place.