A Running List of Things I Bought to Renovate the Airstream

If you click on any of the affiliate/advertiser links on this page and make a purchase on that website, I earn the tiniest commission paid by the retailer at no cost to you. This helps fund my future travels and allows me to continue to share my journey with you. The products are all ones I have used and did not immediately hate/return, so they were good quality and worked well for the purpose.

Demo

Tools I Borrowed

My family has an extensive multi-generational collection of random tools. So I was very lucky in not needing to buy any of the below. However, these are tools I used frequently and think were the most useful in the demo phase. They are listed in order of importance. Like the things down on the end are probably not that helpful or needed but it was nice that I had them! Also, since I already had them I went with the same brand as what we have. Do some research on the product and make sure they are still quality before purchasing.

Crow Bar: https://amzn.to/4maKMH8

Wrecking Bar (A Big Crow Bar): https://amzn.to/4c7CafF

Impact Driver: https://amzn.to/4sNY8LY

Angle Grinder: https://amzn.to/4sU2zF3

Hammer: https://amzn.to/4tQaK5B

Wrenchs: https://amzn.to/4tn5vK4, https://amzn.to/41dK7LB and https://amzn.to/4siaD1c

Adjustable Wrench: https://amzn.to/4sU39md

Vise Grip: https://amzn.to/4e5bKhi

Cordless Drill: https://amzn.to/4caDs9O

High Torque Impact Wrench: https://amzn.to/4vfsj0d

Heat Gun - Harbor Freight or equivalent.

Demo was mostly tools (see tools I borrowed) but there were some items I purchased.

Drill bits, removing all of the interior and eventually the exterior rivets was a lot! I went through dozens of drill bits. Because drilling out the aluminum they seem to get dull quickly. That and I'm not easy

on them and I broke a few in the process. The dewalt seemed to hold up to me the best. I bought a set and then multiple two packs of the 1/8 and 5/32 bits.

https://amzn.to/4tqaGZL

Rivet Removal Tool: This was key when it came to removing the buck rivets.

https://amzn.to/4vlfrG3

Angle Grinder Discs, I went through a lot of these on the demo of the trailer frame. I used a variety of attachments from grinding off rust to cutting off the outriggers. I typically went to my local box store to pick these up but here are some examples.

Cut Off Wheel: https://amzn.to/4caz3ny

Wire Brush Cup: https://amzn.to/4vtufCy

Shell off to Shell Back on

All the rivets were removed and I lifted the shell and these are the things I used during that part of the renovation. See the blog for more details on why I used some of these items.

POR15: https://amzn.to/3O19VaK and Prep: https://amzn.to/4sXHdqv

Rivet Gun: https://amzn.to/48d63u0

Clecos: https://amzn.to/3PJTMah

Rivets: Vintage Trailer Supply

Outriggers: Directly from Airstream

TEK Screws

Seal-Once Marine: https://amzn.to/41jceZL (Used 1.5 Gallons)

JB Weld Steel: https://amzn.to/47J5Pus

AL Welding Rod: Harbor Freight

The Beginning

Mini Air Die Grinder: https://amzn.to/3PRnl9O

WaterWeld Putty: https://amzn.to/4vjOwui