Have a large extended family in Alaska, and whenever they come down we get together. I will also get calls a few times a year when somebody needs help finding/getting/shipping/repairing things.
One of my uncles recently came down and called me to meet up with him. This particular uncle is a very straight shooter, which makes him unpopular with certain family members. Me? I've always gotten along with him, even as a little kid (my dad was in Vietnam for awhile, so this uncle and my grandfather would pack me around a lot back then- good memories). My older daughter's violin lesson just ended, so we headed up to go see him.
We meet, then he decides that we should head over to the local airport- cool, no issue and the daughters seemed intrigued.
Mom's family in Alaska made/makes their livings in energy, transportation, and fishing. Most do rather well, this uncle was no exception. Back in late '75 he ordered a Travco 320. I remember this vehicle very well because in '78 my family spent most of that summer in Alaska with the family- camping, hiking, Alaska State Fair, salmon derbies. Most of the time I was in grandpa's Pace Arrow or the uncle's Travco when it was time to sleep.
In '99 or '00, the Travco was shipped down and was re-upholstered and re-striped on the exterior (had yellow/gold stripes). It has always been stored, never just left out- Alaska kills stuff when that occurs. When those things got done, the aunt & uncle took off on a trip.
Over the next three-four years, they used it a little bit. Now the aunt has early-onset Alzheimer's and it has just been sitting for the last few years for the most part.
When we got to the airport, the girls all sat down and my uncle takes me back to the hangars. Tells me there are two reasons why he asked to meet, one was for family business (which I don't have a problem with) and the other was to give me the Travco, if I wanted it...
It got new brakes a couple years ago on the back axle, the interior is still mint, and although dirty from sitting, the paint is still in good shape. Strangest part? 26,241 miles on it- that's it.
I've changed the oil and filters (oil, air and the two fuel filters), put fuel treatment down the tank necks, and pulled the deep cycle battery for replacement. It will take a bit more work before I am comfortable taking it out on the road- the belts, hoses (coolant and fuel), trans service, brake fluid flush, AC service, et cetera all need to be changed and/or serviced. I did notice the Bilsteins on all four corners, the sway-bar/control set-up on the front, the Gear Vendors overdrive, the Michelin X tires are fairly new (19.5" rims), and those lights on the bumper are vintage Cibie`- I took the covers off to clean & restore them, the exterior plastic was grungy & crunchy after 37 years.
One of my uncles recently came down and called me to meet up with him. This particular uncle is a very straight shooter, which makes him unpopular with certain family members. Me? I've always gotten along with him, even as a little kid (my dad was in Vietnam for awhile, so this uncle and my grandfather would pack me around a lot back then- good memories). My older daughter's violin lesson just ended, so we headed up to go see him.
We meet, then he decides that we should head over to the local airport- cool, no issue and the daughters seemed intrigued.
Mom's family in Alaska made/makes their livings in energy, transportation, and fishing. Most do rather well, this uncle was no exception. Back in late '75 he ordered a Travco 320. I remember this vehicle very well because in '78 my family spent most of that summer in Alaska with the family- camping, hiking, Alaska State Fair, salmon derbies. Most of the time I was in grandpa's Pace Arrow or the uncle's Travco when it was time to sleep.
In '99 or '00, the Travco was shipped down and was re-upholstered and re-striped on the exterior (had yellow/gold stripes). It has always been stored, never just left out- Alaska kills stuff when that occurs. When those things got done, the aunt & uncle took off on a trip.
Over the next three-four years, they used it a little bit. Now the aunt has early-onset Alzheimer's and it has just been sitting for the last few years for the most part.
When we got to the airport, the girls all sat down and my uncle takes me back to the hangars. Tells me there are two reasons why he asked to meet, one was for family business (which I don't have a problem with) and the other was to give me the Travco, if I wanted it...
It got new brakes a couple years ago on the back axle, the interior is still mint, and although dirty from sitting, the paint is still in good shape. Strangest part? 26,241 miles on it- that's it.
I've changed the oil and filters (oil, air and the two fuel filters), put fuel treatment down the tank necks, and pulled the deep cycle battery for replacement. It will take a bit more work before I am comfortable taking it out on the road- the belts, hoses (coolant and fuel), trans service, brake fluid flush, AC service, et cetera all need to be changed and/or serviced. I did notice the Bilsteins on all four corners, the sway-bar/control set-up on the front, the Gear Vendors overdrive, the Michelin X tires are fairly new (19.5" rims), and those lights on the bumper are vintage Cibie`- I took the covers off to clean & restore them, the exterior plastic was grungy & crunchy after 37 years.
