1968 Trade Wind: rearranging the interior: rear bed / bath
I have a 1968 Trade Wind, twin model. The front has twin extending gauchos with a dinette table between. Another gaucho is in the center over the curb side wheel well, opposite all of the kitchen appliances.
Rear bath has been ripped out (see the blog linked below). The black tank is in the very back, below floor level, outlet is on the back, closer to the street side. Inside, the tank opening is pretty close to the center, and about 14 inches in from the back wall -- with all the plastic torn out -- the inside skin wall.
Drains for the shower and other gray water connect on the street side.
Water heater is on the curb side, needs to be replaced. I found that the water heater is not vented inside. Maybe that's another thread...
Question: Has anyone reformatted the interior design so that a full bed can be installed in the back, moving the toilet, sink, and shower into the corner, possibly taking up closet space on the street side?
Inspiration for this is that I am taking up the rear floor, repairing the separation, and finding the blank slate calling to me. Besides, it would be nice to have a bed that does not have to be folded up each day in order to cook and move around to the rear bath.
I've been looking at the fabulous restorations on the forums, but am not finding "exactly" what I am looking for. Of course, it could be that no one else thinks this is a good idea.
I have a 1968 Trade Wind, twin model. The front has twin extending gauchos with a dinette table between. Another gaucho is in the center over the curb side wheel well, opposite all of the kitchen appliances.
Rear bath has been ripped out (see the blog linked below). The black tank is in the very back, below floor level, outlet is on the back, closer to the street side. Inside, the tank opening is pretty close to the center, and about 14 inches in from the back wall -- with all the plastic torn out -- the inside skin wall.
Drains for the shower and other gray water connect on the street side.
Water heater is on the curb side, needs to be replaced. I found that the water heater is not vented inside. Maybe that's another thread...
Question: Has anyone reformatted the interior design so that a full bed can be installed in the back, moving the toilet, sink, and shower into the corner, possibly taking up closet space on the street side?
Inspiration for this is that I am taking up the rear floor, repairing the separation, and finding the blank slate calling to me. Besides, it would be nice to have a bed that does not have to be folded up each day in order to cook and move around to the rear bath.
I've been looking at the fabulous restorations on the forums, but am not finding "exactly" what I am looking for. Of course, it could be that no one else thinks this is a good idea.
Thanks, forum folks,
Anne
Anne.
Your game plan is ok, "IF."
You will need to watch the weight and balance, of the trailer.
You "MUST" increase the rear hold down configuration, so that the frame will not pull away from the shell, which is very easy to do, when the rear end is apart.
I have a 1968 Trade Wind, twin model. The front has twin extending gauchos with a dinette table between. Another gaucho is in the center over the curb side wheel well, opposite all of the kitchen appliances.
Does your Trade Wind have 3 gouchos??
I thought a "twin" model has 2 twin beds, on either side, over the wheel wells and one goucho in the front?
I thought a "twin" model has 2 twin beds, on either side, over the wheel wells and one goucho in the front?
Prior to 1969, it appears that if there was a dinette (two twin beds), there was a goucho across from the galley. If there was a front goucho, then there were twin beds at mid-ships as you describe.
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My 71 has 2 gauchos. A gaucho up front under the front window as usual. It also has a gaucho in place of one of the twins, curbside. Across from the rear gaucho where a 2nd twin is found in some layouts are closets and a vanity under the window. We very much like this layout, good design and more storage space.
Me: Right -- the "ifs" will make all the difference in safety and long-term enjoyment. Short-term enjoyment is having towing problems, risking too much with precious cargo (Sweetheart and little humans and little furry children).
Andy: You will need to watch the weight and balance, of the trailer.
Me: Yes, I am going to weigh the trailer now loaded, overall, tongue, and each side using the coefficients provided on the forums (buried in bookmarks at the moment). Then, as I work along, I would weigh components as I go and follow up with total and side-to-side weights.
Andy: You "MUST" increase the rear hold down configuration, so that the frame will not pull away from the shell, which is very easy to do, when the rear end is apart.
Check out the layout in my friends '61 Caravel. I think it is similar to what you are hoping to accomplish.
>> I love that layout! The front-facing kitchen is perfect. Thanks, byamcaravanner.
You know, I can already hear "Just get a 61 Caravelle." (Not from you, B.C. -- superego father figures.)
Here's my justification:
I like the size of the Trade Wind. I like to do this kind of remodeling. I'm not looking to recreate the perfect 1968 Trade Wind, I am working on something that our family will enjoy safely. Taking everything apart makes anything possible. Resale is not a priority at the moment -- traveling and enjoying Indiana state parks with our family is #1.
I will not be doing all of this all at once because we have too many trips planned with our Airstream to strip it all down and work from wheels up. From all of the posts I see on the frame-up restorations, the Airstream is in a garage for a year or more.
We don't mind going out for the weekend as-is. Everything works well enough to use it all the time, already. But, it's going to be nicer and nicer as time goes on.
On the Vintage Airstream Club site, I found the list of catalogs from Airstream. This link is to the page of PDF downloads. The 1968 catalog, page 31, middle image contains the twin design. The Vintage Airstream Club
Here are a couple of links on vintageairstream.com to some photos resembling our floor plan: 1968 Tradewind 3
Anne, you know, somebody did put a full bed in the back of an older trailer, next to the bath in the corner, and it was going to look like a new model, like the 19 Bambi. He put a wall between the bed and bath and was going to make it a wet bath by using a sliding shower pan that went under the bed when not in use and slid out into the bath to shower (lining up the two drains.) It looked great. I have searched for his pics but cannot find them. Maybe someone else knows where they are.
Wow! Yes, that looks like what I had in mind. That's very nice.
I like the size of the Trade Wind. I think it would be possible to work this out if I take some of the weight minimizing steps I have seen with others, Sergie, for instance, here: http://tinyurl.com/6k2r7z
Anne
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fiamma
Are you talking about a bed/bath configuration like some of the current 25' Internationals and Safaris?
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