Airstream Nuts and Bolts

Happy Thanksgiving!

Flat tires on an Airstream can be a real bummer. After a little TLC and a few new parts this 16’ Bambi Sport is good as NEW!

Few pics of last weeks build. Not the best pics but it’s what I had. 600Ah of all the toys and 800w of solar will keep this 27’FBT powered up off grid. Thanks for bringing it by. .

Couple of quick pics of a Segment Quilt install I did yesterday. Belt and Suspenders kinda guy.

Happy Daughters Day to the best and Dad could ask for! Love You Olivia!❤️

Doors half open and the blow-in. It’s been so nice to be cool and dry!

Doors are installed. Now we have a lockable building. Time to get busy installing stuff! .inc

Here a a few pics of last weeks install. We’ve been super busy with installs, but the weather (rain) has slowed the service center construction considerably. Hopefully we will make some huge progress this week with the building and we have a super big surprise scheduled for Thursday!

Super FUN week at ASN&B! Did a Super cool install on Dr J’s 28’ International and it was John’s , our new employees 1st week! You guys will start seeing a lot more of John as he learns the ropes and helps us continue to turn out the work we are famous for. Everybody give a warm welcome to the New Guy. He is going to be a great addition.

Guess what I did this morning!

Can you spot the problem? Can you identify what the fuse is in this system?Someone emailed me this photo today. I’m not sure who’s install it is but there’s a problem…. This is why it’s important to have a qualified person do your install. I don’t get paid for my looks. I get paid because I’m qualified and understand the complexities of system design. If you are a installer or DIY person please do not use a 300A rated switch with a 400A fuse, because the fuse will not blow the switch will melt!

Can you spot the problem? Can you identify what the fuse is in this system?Someone emailed me this photo today. I’m not sure who’s install it is but there’s a problem…. This is why it’s important to have a qualified person do your install. I don’t get paid for my looks. I get paid because I’m qualified and understand the complexities of system design. If you are a installer or DIY person please do not use a 300A rated switch with a 400A fuse, because the fuse will not be the fuse the switch will!

Sometimes things have to get a little (a lot) messy to get the install as clean as I’m accustomed to turning out. I go through every electrical connection to ensure everything is up to my standards before we install anything. Lots of things have to come apart for the end result comes together.

Super cool to get to spend time with these guys this week. We did some great MODS to their Rig and Spent some time touring our new Service Center Location. Tricia and Tera even cooked us a delicious Dinner tonight. Thank you for allowing us to be a small part of the KYD community and for allowing us to share our dreams with you!

It might not look like much but, this is the 3D drawing of my NEW Airstream service center. This represents a significant move toward meeting my Airstream Customers needs. I will still maintain the same One on One service and attention to detail that I always have but, with a Roof and more space!😂. Having a Building will Remove many of the variables (Heat, Cold, Wind, Rain, Ect.) I had to overcome on a daily basis while working outside. The (5) 20’x50’ Bays from left to right will be Service Bay 3, Service Bay 2, Service Bay 1, Shop Space, and Covered Wash Bay. It will also have a 12’x100’ Canopy across the entire front of the building giving me a total of 6200 square feet under roof. With 16’ eves and a 4-12 pitch roof I will have plenty of ceiling height for a 24’ while still maintaining safe clearance for roof work. If you can’t tell I’m super excited for the future and how this will allow me to continue to serve my customers and the Airstream Community. Continue to follow along as the simple Drawing becomes the first class Airstream Nuts and Bolts service center! .inc

One of this weeks projects will be this Pottery Barn Special Edition! I will be installing an AirKrafters/Onan generator. Stay tuned!

Allow me to introduce the newest Member of the Airstream Nuts and Bolts team! Meet our new tractor D.W. pronounced (Dee Dub-ya). We are naming him DW because he will be used to Do Work! A good friend of mine uses the slogan DW for Do Work! So I thought in honor of him and his incredible desire to encourage others to just buckle down and Do What it takes we would name our new Tractor after his mission.

Did some re-work today…. This install had improperly sized wire, fuse, an lacked a proper disconnect switch. I replaced the wire, fuse and added a 400A rated disconnect switch. I also Reprogrammed the system with the correct settings and updated the Firmware. Now this system should provide years safe trouble free service.

A few photos of the work I’m doing on this 30’Office this week. It’s a BIG job with 1000W of Solar, 540Ah of BattleBorn and all the Victron Toys!!

I work very hard to focus on the small things that add up to make my solar installs works of art. A simple coat of white paint on the cover of this combiner box serves a couple of purposes. #1 It matches the Airstream Roof color and #2 The paint helps protect the cover from harmful UV rays. Attention to the smallest of details add up in the end.

Here are a few photos of the 23CB BEAST!

Clean…. Just finished wiring in this install on . This 23D has got to be the most power capable 23’ Airstream in the world. With its 500Ah of , 600W of rooftop solar, 3000W Victron MultiPlus Inverter and all the other Victron accessories like Touch 50. And Now the onboard Onan generator this little Airstream is a POWERHOUSE! I installed all this equipment without loosing a single inch of storage space. More photos tomorrow.

Limited space is the name of game in Airstream Installs. Here is a custom offset copper busbar to connect the Main DC switch to the main fuse block. Bending offsets in these bars means that I can keep things nice and compact.

Sometimes I just spend a lot of time laying around……. But that’s how I get stuff done!

Today was Lift Day. This 25’ RBT got a 3” lift and new Shoes! Michelin Agilis 225/75-r16 wheels and Sendel TO3 BM rims.

Finishing up the last install of 2022! We all share the love of RV travel and Airstreams in particular. Thank you for allowing me to be alert of your adventure.

This is what 1126lbs of Newpowa Solar panels looks like on my 100% extended CG2200XL Cargo Glide. Fully extending and still holding strong. Having a Leer Topper on my Truck makes carrying tall loads impossible so the Cargo Glide allows me to carry taller items with ease. It also means I don’t have to climb up in the truck bed to retrieve camping gear either👍. Thanks for making a 🇺🇸 product that performs as advertised.

Can anyone tell me the difference in these Solar Panels. They may all look very similar, but they are very different. Post in the comments if you have any ideas a stay tuned as we will be diving into solar panels and technology stuff in the near future.

It’s always super fun when fellow Airstreamers and Friends swings by for a visit Good Food, Good Beer, And Good People are all you really need for a fun Visit! Roll Safe guys on your way to FL!

Today the Truck/ Our Trusted Tow Vehicle got a New Front Bumper. While on our recent trip out West I managed to Hit a small but effective post…. The factory bumper was bent slightly. Not bad but enough to drive me nuts. So RanchHand to the rescue.

The AirKrafters Generator install. Push button access to 2500 watts of power from inside the rig is a thing of beauty! The Onan 2500W generator is super quiet and once installed there is never a need for adapters, Cords or extra generator fuel. Just push the start button and VOILÀ, instant AC power! I can’t make it any simpler than that.

AirKrafters Spare Tire Relocation kit! Only part of the AirKrafters Generator installation. Beauty comes in many forms and this is Beautiful to me. generator pics coming tomorrow.

Another one in the books. 400Ah of BattleBorn Lithium, Victron MultiPlus II, Victron 150/70 MPPT, Victron 12/12-30 DC/DC, CerboGX, Touch 50, and BMV712. 1000W of Renogy roof top solar puts the 30’ FC Bunk in the well Equipped Class for Boondocking Off Grid camping. With Plenty of Power to run the Microwave, Hairdryer, and even AC for a few hours this Airstream will provide it owners with all the comforts of home…. Away from Home.

Tomorrow I will release another well equipped Airstream into the wild. This fabulous 27’ Globetrotter now has 540Ah of BattleBorn Batteries, all the Victron Energy Toys and 800Watts of Roof Top Solar. Now this Airstream is a Boondocking Machine!

Sign Up Today At Airstream.com to hear me ramble on about how to be a power pincher and get the most out of your Batteries on your next Boondocking Adventure. Remember Knowledge is “Power” 🤪

I would like to personally thanks each and every one of my followers for their incredibly positive support over the last three month as we have traveled across this great country. It has, as always been a wonderful experience, but now it’s time to get back to doing what I’m “famous” for….. Kick Butt Solar/Lithium INSTALLS!
For those of you who patiently stood by while I continued to add to my “STREET CRED” the wait is over! For the next several months this page will be nothing but Solar/Lithium/Inverter/Generator installs. If this excites you Great your in Luck! If our travel was what brought you here don’t run away just be patient. We are Airstreamers first and foremost. Travel is in our Blood and will return but for now…. Let the installs begin!!! I will also continue my teaching by doing a “Ask an Airstreamer” webinar with Airstream Inc in a few days. This webinar will cover ways to extend your battery life for greater boondocking! So stay tuned for that.

Happy Birthday to this Guy! Today Drake the Great turns 14! It’s been pure Joy watching him Grow into the Young Man he has become. Way to GO Buddy!

We are back In TN visiting our Daughter at College. Wow what a trip. Right at 3 months 17 National Parks and Monuments, and over 10000 miles traveled. Trans-American trips are a lot of fun but also requires Planning, Flexibility, and some times a little Luck. I will be putting together all the details and Dirt of our trip in a future post. Let me know in the comments what questions you would like us to answer in that post. Or maybe if we should do a “ live” Q&A on Trip.

Dark skies are a wonderful side effect of boondocking! .tx

Solar and Lithium can allow you to spend more time off grid. For us Off Grid is the place to be if you want incredible views right from your Airstream. Having the ability to recharge your Batteries day after day only improves the camping experience. Being able to use your rig to it full potential… like running the furnace all night without the need to set the thermostat to some crazy low temperature…. I’m not saying RV Solar is the end all be all, but without it you are tethered to a power pedestal or generator. What are your thought on solar and if you have it what do you think?