'63 Tradewind for $600 and not arrested!

3Ms75Argosy · 09-03-2008, 04:48 PM

Ok, Greatpumpkin was asking... yes... I TOTALLY (as in saw the ad and called within 5 minutes) impulse buyed yesterday on Craigslist. Simple ad.. "'64 AS, $600.00". No pics. All I asked when we connected was "how long", and "where are you."

Oh, the warning signs went off on my head "cheaper than it's worth in scrap." "do you want it or don't you." "total restoration job." "no major dents." "Have title(!!)" "cash only.. or trade for guns (??!!!)" ... not the most talkative guy....

Did I mention this was out in NOWHERE (as in meth labs or people who really don't want to be found) Washington?

My heart was pumping (mapquest mentioned "unpaved roads") as I went deeper into this county.. more travel trailers being lived in.. hmmmm.. getting darker than I want it to be. I hid the money in the van as I drove...

Surprise Surprise... it wasn't all overgrown with weeds or vines... just dirty. The shell seems smooth, missing some fridge panels (easy to repair on this model), and did have the H20 vents. Totally gutted (but that helps me), missing some jalousie window panes (easy find), god aweful AC on the front window (but frame appears to be there), belly pan wasn't dragging, I'm sure the floor is gone....

Well... the guy looks like straight off of a Harley.. did I mention he built his own ... uh.. house? Strange, he had a viewing platform built that I could see the roof of the trailer... just missing the big "sunroof" panel..

Door frame straight, even a deadbolt installed! Tires held air....

I hooked it up and RAN... had brakelights.. but little else.

The guy mentioned that he bought it for $100.00 a while ago, and was fixing to fix it himself, but didn't have the time. For a rough as he looked, he did spend the time to show me the trailer well.

Turns out it's a '63 Tradewind.

Well... I can't touch it for a couple of days (off to work tonight).. and I promise pics in a week or so. Iit's being kept off the street until I can make it presentable to the wife, so up at our storage lot about 1 hr away

My wife is just shaking her head at me.. it can't be THAT bad, can it?
I'll be asking more soon. First order of business... weatherproof the ol girl first, take off the AC, new bearings (until I replace the axle), getting the lights figured out... then the floor.
Whew!
Marc

1953 Flying · 09-03-2008, 05:05 PM

wow... sound like a good find. Before and after pics would be fun to see.

Kintscher · 09-03-2008, 05:35 PM

Mark,

Can't wait to see the pics! Since it's a '63 does it have the classic door in a door?

Brad

GreatPumpkin · 09-03-2008, 05:36 PM

Congrats on a great find! looking forward to watching your progress.

Ya know on second thought - that's just not quite big enough for the 4M's - I'll take it off your hands

3Ms75Argosy · 09-03-2008, 06:58 PM

Yes, it does have the classic door within a door... it works pretty well too. GP, the PLAN is to fix er up, then work on the Argosy (so we have a backup trailer).. then sell the TW.... at least that's what I told my wife. : )

I kind of like the idea of a "smaller" trailer for quick get aways too....
Marc

goransons · 09-03-2008, 07:35 PM

Marc, where in Washington state are you located? Congrats on the find, we have an inpulse buy 66 overlander in the driveway we purchased for $500 from NWoverlander about a month ago, but we have a LOT more work to do to finish what Dave started (at least he did the nasty jobs like new plywood and removing old insulation).

Van · 09-04-2008, 12:29 AM

Grats on the great find. Your going to have your hands full shortly. Have fun.

zigzagguzzi · 09-04-2008, 04:59 AM

Straight off a Harley can be a good thing. Do know how much those things cost these days? Need money or at least good credit to own a new one, zz

**Mel** · 09-04-2008, 09:29 AM

Congrats Marc! Can't wait to see pictures of your find.

3Ms75Argosy · 09-08-2008, 04:03 PM

Ok, let's see if I can remember how to post pics. Here's a pic of my find. It took over two hours just to clean the outside... which left me plenty of time to contemplate 1) Really, what have I done!! and 2) Where do I start?!?

The first is as is.... pretty dirty, with lots of good NW moss attached! Organic, no? Then there's the pic of the old waterheater (I'll save the cover and get new). I can't believe I made it home on these tires... they look over 20 yrs old! Speaking of which, the title is in "research" in Olympia as it hadn't been titled "for some time." Hope it all works out!

The last is a pic of the girls.... I couldn't believe that my old Argosy could look so clean and special .... next to the Tradewind, she's a million dollar trailer!!

So, next steps are weather proofing, then off with the floor (shell on, as I don't have room to do the shell off routine).

Questions - I need to get rid of that front AC unit (the frame of the window is fine). Does 41" x 20" sound right for tempered glass? Anyone know how to take the lexan out and re-install the glass? Is it just the gasket that holds the glass in? Sources? VTS? Or would the local glass company be a source.

So many things to do... but one step at a time.

Marc

3Ms75Argosy · 09-08-2008, 04:11 PM

I forgot to show it cleaned up. For those who can look, the last WBCCI number on it looks like 12495. To many numbers to be vintage I think.
Marc

Zeppelinium · 09-08-2008, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3Ms75Argosy

I forgot to show it cleaned up. For those who can look, the last WBCCI number on it looks like 12495. To many numbers to be vintage I think.
Marc

That looks like ...492 to me. Nice find!

Zep

richinny · 09-08-2008, 04:19 PM

so, tell us who makes tires that last 20 years!

overlander63 · 09-08-2008, 04:42 PM

Marc, that front window was made out of straight glass. You can replace it in-kind pretty cheap. Maybe even a piece of smoke-colored Lexan in place of the glass, it can be its own rock guard!