Dale and Terry get a '66 Tradewind

[Slats]

Thanks for dropping the welt off last Saturday, Lee. Sorry I wasn't there to greet you.


On another topic - stoves - what do others think about Furrion stoves? I'm thinking of getting one of the stainless steel models to pair up with an Isotherm Cruise 200 refrigerator.

[Slats]

Here we can see our Tradewind was clearly underwater at one time. Given the delaminated condition of the veneer, I'm thinking of replacing the doors with 1/4" birch plywood, especially since I was just going to sand and paint the doors anyway. Any other thoughts?

[Bubba L]

In our 66 Safari the doors were in pretty rough shape. Mine were hollow core for weight and veneered on both sides over simple framing. I stripped the veneer off both sides, ran a sander over the framing and re-veneered both sides. I think the edges were painted.

[dbj216]

I just made a countertop out of birch veneer plywood 3/4". The birch was very thin, but well applied and pretty hard. It will provide a smooth, flat surfae for the laminate we are planning on using.

I think your plan makes sense.

David

[ttbikes]

A 1/4" inch sounds a little thin. You should be able to find Birch in 3/8" but the other veeners are very hard to find. If your drawer/door-facing is 3/8" like mine, I have a source for 3/8" with different wood veeners (oak etc) if you should decide to match the original wood.

[Slats]

I'm not at the trailer today, but as I recall the original doors are only 1/4". But then, my recall is not what it used to be.

[Slats]

After returning to the trailer to take another bite out of the elephant the other day, I measured the thickness of my closet doors. Turns out they are actually 1/2" thick, all except for a one inch perimeter that is only 1/4".



In any event, I decided to just score the veneer with a box knife along a straight edge just above the delaminated part and then remove the bad veneer with a putty knife. It left a very clean edge, which, when sanded, should be barely perceptible under the paint job I intend to apply. Not perfect, I know, but I'm fast approaching the point where I just want to get the thing done (the astute observer would have a good argument that I passed that point some time back). My rationale, perhaps my mantra, is that the perfect is the enemy of the good. But I just want to go camping, not make the pages of Architectural Digest.

[Jeremy9107]

Slats. well said. get that thing done and begin use. i am with you. tired of looking at mine sitting in a friends driveway. am sure it will turn out and not be noticeable anyway

[Atomic_13]

Dale - another perspective is that if you end up not liking the repair it’s a job you can easily access to redo later on down the road. Unlike the frame and subfloor it’s ok to do “good enough” on this type of work. Glad to see you chiseling away. I looking forward to doing the same.

[ttbikes]

Like atomic, I also think it is a good idea to get the trailer to a useable stage and start using it. My experience has been that many things I thought were good ideas were not. Even with using the trailer while working on it, I found I had to revisit early-on decisions with better options. And no one can really tell you what is right for your trailer but you. And you will only know your camping life style after you live it a little.

[TouringDan]

Originally Posted by ttbikes

And no one can really tell you what is right for your trailer but you. And you will only know your camping life style after you live it a little.

ttbikes

Truer words were never spoken. You can take this one to the bank!

Dan

[Slats]

The Tradewind has for sure taken me to bank, for sure. Just got my flooring and telescoping pedestal for the table, which will lie alongside the trailer for the time being, supplying mild inspiration for going forward.

[Slats]

Made a little progress today. Big thanks to Atomic_13 for advising me to install flooring side to side rather than lengthwise.

[ttbikes]

Looks Good!

[Hittenstiehl]

Wow, looks fantastic.

[dbj216]

It looks very nice indeed. You installed your floor covering like I installed my belly pan; curb to street, not hitch to bumper.

Does anyone use carpets anymore? I have an acquaintance with a 78 Sovereign that still has the original carpet in it, and it still looks pretty good to me.

Going to the bank frequently is part of the routine of the vintage Airstream hobby. My wife wishes I'd take up gardening instead. Cheaper.

David

[Jeremy9107]

Floor looks great. And the accent trim on the walls is a good compliment to it

I installed our floor in same manner, but with no specific intent. Curious to know benefit of that configuration as opposed to vertically.

[Dwwalker18]

Originally Posted by Jeremy9107

Floor looks great. And the accent trim on the walls is a good compliment to it



I installed our floor in same manner, but with no specific intent. Curious to know benefit of that configuration as opposed to vertically.

Same here. Looking forward to your thoughts, and thank you for all the inspiration I get from your thread!

Dan

[Slats]

If I recall it correctly, Brian's (Atomic_13's) suggestion was based upon his observation that installing the flooring lengthwise made it more prone to separations at the seams. If I have misspoken, he will gently correct me, in his characteristically courteous and articulate manner.


Thank you for your kind comment, Dan. My progress thus far is more attributable to a sort of naive dogged determination more than anything else, such as talent. I'm going to get this thing done if it kills me, which is may well do, give my proclivity for involuntarily donating blood to the project on a daily basis. Yesterday I sliced my finger with a tape measure, no less.

[Slats]

By the way, here is where I got my flooring:


https://www.weshipfloors.com/floorin...eid=9231fdc588