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Old 05-24-2015, 07:48 PM   #1
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1966 24' Tradewind
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Dale and Terry get a '66 Tradewind

Here is the beginning or our long-awaited project/adventure.
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Old 06-09-2015, 08:32 PM   #2
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Here's a pic
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Old 06-09-2015, 08:39 PM   #3
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Here where?
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Old 06-09-2015, 08:57 PM   #4
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Old 06-09-2015, 09:29 PM   #5
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Darn and I wanted to see it
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Old 06-14-2015, 07:15 PM   #6
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OK. Try these, in order: 1 - rescued from field; 2 - interior then; 3 - new home; 4 - interior now;
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Old 06-14-2015, 07:19 PM   #7
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Possible TV?
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Old 06-14-2015, 09:00 PM   #8
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Possible TV?
In a word...... no.

Nice trailer, and nice car, but I wouldn't put them together. Find a nice, used F150..... you won't regret it. If money is no object, also consider a diesel F250. No regrets there, either. (or any properly-equipped SUV). Once you load up all of your "stuff" to take with you, I think you'd like a better-suited tow vehicle.
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Old 06-15-2015, 08:19 AM   #9
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Don't do it

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Possible TV?
Don't do it , don't even think about it , that car was not made to be a TV
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Old 06-15-2015, 08:34 PM   #10
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that car was not made to be a TV
I should have added a tongue-in-cheek emoticon at the end of my facetious question. I'm planning on getting a suitable TV. My stepson is lobbying for a silver X5 diesel. But given the scarcity of BMW dealers out in the hinterlands, I dunno.
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Old 06-19-2015, 11:54 PM   #11
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Talking Funny coincidence...

My son and I have a long standing Airstream project that is nearing completion...a 68 tradewind we started 10 years ago. He also has grown up a bit in the process and is also an avid BMW enthusiast as am I. He's transplanting an M (high performance) drive train into into a 3 series wagon along side me while I finish up the trailer. We pitch in with each others projects as needed. 10 years is a long time but it sat idle for about 7 years in the middle while our lives changed in various ways that disallowed any work on it. It was an aluminum shed most of that period. Our current tow vehicle is a GMC Yukon with 199k on the odo. My 335d just turned 105k and when it is actually time to retire it I plan to get a x5D to use for dual purpose. I'm in the home stretch with respect to the Tradewind... installing a 400w solar system, 4 agm batteries and a 2kw charger inverter. Installing the SeaLevel II tank monitoring system. Finishing up the DC electrical system, AC electrical system, final hookup and testing of plumbing, the propane system, spray foaming the underside after all of the systems are tested, and finally installing the belly pans. Then a maiden voyage to a rally which is about 2 weeks away... I don't think it is all going to happen before then and I don't want to rush the last part of this project and mess it up to meet a deadline.
Oh and did I say I'm also working 50hr weeks at work to get a project there out the door as well... (Glutton for punishment seems to fit the bill!)
If I find some time I may post a few pics . Current status is in the vicinity of 2000 hrs and 25K for this restoration/update... and does not include the outside refinishing which has yet to be started.

My son and I did a frame off restoration back to a pristine shell in the first year including frame work and upgrades, a full repaint of the inside, refinish of all fiberglass elements (endcaps and tub/shower) new marmolium floor. It looked great, but most of all smelled great. It was as updated with twin 35 gal black/gray tanks and was ready to move forward to the next phase when life put on the brakes.
The last 2 years I have been the one mostly spending time with the re-fitment of everything. All of the cabinetry had to be re-made, the only thing salvageable was the frames and these had to be re-glued, all new panels made and then refinished. My wife helped with the last part by applying the several coats of urethane and a lot of love... At least all of the old panels could be used as templates for the new which did simplify things some. There is not much original in the trailer though it is hardly different than when it left the factory. I did not change the floor plan or layout. There have been modernization and quality improvements but only if they made sense and did not largely alter the overall "feel" of the Airstream. I improved on hardware for the cabinetry with heavy duty drawer slides that won't have all of the common problems of the stuff the factory used. Corian vs laminates. We updated the electrical services to include all of the modern necessities... TV, stereo and charging outlets for battery powered electronics. The Solar update was of the highest quality and should perform extremely well. It was not cheap... 4 panels $1100, 2 high efficiency controllers $280, 4 agm batteries $1050, and charger/inverter $1200... but should make the trailer very usable even off of the grid for substantial periods of time. I should even be able to use the 600W AC unit I custom installed under the sink and on top of the heater to knock the top of the heat off on sunny days while boondocking. The panels I chose will even supply significant power on overcast days or in light shade.
The high efficiency controllers put more of the energy in the panels into the batteries. The batteries will store 4.5kw of usable energy and should last for many years through many charge/discharge cycles without failure. By the time it is time to replace them the currently expensive technology will be commonplace and a whole lot less expensive.
The trailer should serve us well in the years ahead... I just have to finish it to be able to fully enjoy it... at least for a moment before I pull the 67 Caravel out from where it is waiting to begin a new extensive/expensive shell off project with.

Chuck
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Old 06-21-2015, 04:18 PM   #12
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Funny coincidence, indeed ......

My stepson, who thinks the X5D should be the TV of choice, is who got me into Bimmers. He has a 2011 M3. He also writes for BMW Blog on the side. Oh, and his name is Chuck. I have a 2011 1M, plus '97 M3 in the previous pic. The engine in the '97 was rebuilt at 180,000 miles and I went a bit overboard on it - blueprinted with custom ground cams, forged racing pistons, oversize valves and injectors, ported and polished head, headers, heavy duty clutch, etc. It has horsepower and torque out the wazoo. I have no doubt that it could pull the Tradewind with ease, but, weighing only 3,200 lbs, stopping it would be another matter (although it has some pretty healthy brake discs). Plus, it does sit a little low to the ground. But it would be fun to show up on track day pulling an Airstream.

But, on to more serious stuff. Yesterday was a milestone of sorts. As I announced in texts to my wife and several friends, "Houston, we have lift off!!" I was pleasantly surprised by the minimal damage from the water leaks, the curbside one at the door (the worst) and the other streetside one beneath the front side window. The outriggers look to be in good shape, with just some surface rust. I'm thinking this bodes well for what the frame will look like, but won't know until the next Saturday I get the time to start pulling the belly pan and the floor.

I'm still working myself and plan, God willing, to keep on until I turn 70, when, if the '66 Tradewind is not yet done, I can devote full time to it.

The guy that had it before us bought it about 5 years ago to do what we am now doing with it, but, as life would have it, came down with terminal cancer before he could get around to it. His name was Hal. To honor him, we have named the Airstream after him.
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Old 06-26-2015, 06:32 PM   #13
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Hi slats, I have a 66 Trade Wind also. I'll bet your frame is in good shape. I did pull the belly pan and replaced the rotted floor in the bathroom. I found my frame in good shape, no repairs needed. I've cleaned the frame, applied POR, insulated the subfloor, new belly pan, new axles, new plumbing, new bathroom, new electrical converter and fuse panel, new furnace, new water heater, new fridge, new stove, and polished the exterior. We'll take it for the maiden voyage this August. We'll tow it with a Grand Cherokee V8.

I've enjoyed working on the thing, and have a lot more to do. Someday I may have a project trailer where I do the "full monty" as you are doing. For now, I'll tag along and watch your progress.

David

PS Nice looking garage you are working in!
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Old 06-30-2015, 08:32 PM   #14
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Sounds like many of the same things I plan to replace. How about posting some pics or pasting in a link to some? I may be leaning on you for tips on what appliances you picked and why.

As for the garage, I am fortunate to have a nephew who lives about 30 miles away with that building on his land. It is the perfect setup for doing the full monty.
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Old 07-01-2015, 06:46 PM   #15
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I always like giving free advice! But keep in mind there are many others who have more knowledge, experience, and ability than I have. I'm just a guy who has done some of the things you are about to do.

Disassembling is about 5 to 10 times faster than re-assembly. I read that a lot and find it true in my case.

I don't have a project thread to link for you. But I can follow along and post pictures of what I did and the problems I had.

You need to develop a plan for your trailer. Shell off is about as major as it gets. That means you can rebuild to suit your tastes. Airstream designers are masters of small space efficiency. The sink over the tub is a good example. The toilet under the window seat is another. You have to make a layout of what you want and how it will all integrate with the rest of it. Here is my crude sketch of my bathroom. But it helped me get organized. I wanted new black and gray water tanks closer to the axles and between the frame rails. I wanted a conventional RV tank dumping manifold below the frame rails. And I decided I wanted a shower stall. I wish I had not installed that space hog in my little bathroom.

I installed a new Atwood 6 gal water heater, but under the street side bed where I could utilize some unused storage space.

With your trailer layout, you can then place the plumbing. Every drain, vent, and pressure line needs thought out. I replaced all the plumbing in my trailer from fresh water pump to dump valves.

Here is a partial photo of my finished bath. It is functional, but not elaborate.

You need a solid "blueprint" of what your trailer will be like when done.

David
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Old 07-01-2015, 11:26 PM   #16
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1968 24' Tradewind
1967 17' Caravel
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Keep it as original as possible...

I strongly recommend keeping the floor plan as original as possible, especially if you have all of the original bits and pieces to work from. There are a lot of gotcha's waiting for you if you don't and the task will become significantly larger. I made changes to incorporate twin 35 gal tanks. The one in front of the axle is lengthwise and the other is crosswise.I was able to use the original drain plumbing inside with minimal modification. The outlet from the tanks is all new. It worked out well but was a lot of work to think it through. I strengthened the back portion behind the axles by welding 5/32" plate with a bend in it that is about 4" lower than the frame. This gave me the enclosed area I wanted to secure the tanks but I also needed to alter the cross rails above to be able to get these tanks up there into the space correctly.
My floor plan is identical and this is pretty critical since the vents for the drains, stove hood, and refrigerator are where they need to be. Changing these items is a pretty big deal. I do have to post some pictures but it's a big mess at the moment as I'm finishing up a lot of the systems simultaneously.
And I'm still finding minor things that I didn't account for earlier.
Like the water pump wiring... where I want 2 switches and an indicator for when it is on in the main panel. And the dual switch panel from Atwood since my replacement water heater is both gas and electric and this has a panel to use it in either or both modes. I had to add these wires at the last minute and pull them through closets and overheads. Then there is the gas... I was planning to route it inside the belly pan but that won't fly since it would be an explosion hazard. It needs to be outside the belly pan, tight and well secured. Cosmetically it is quite different, but physically it is quite similar.

I commonly see trailers that have been gutted and are for sale. Those offering think that they have added value by doing so but similar to shining up an old coin, they have actually thrown away much of the value. Complete is worth more regardless of how bad the physical shape is. I have yet to see a gutted trailer that has been restored that even comes close to the functionality of the original trailer it was created from. They can look damn good, but how well do they function as a travel trailer?

Wally had quite a few years to perfect his trailers and as far as I'm concerned the 64-68 are some of the best.

Chuck
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Old 07-09-2015, 08:15 PM   #17
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A few pic's

Here are a few pics of interest...
Various angles of the nearly finished trailer, inside and out. Plus a couple of my son's BMW project car which he expects to have back together and drive-able by next week.

Chuck

Pic 1, General shot of trailer.
Pic 2, The mod to the frame to enclose the twin 35 gal tanks.
Pic 3, The underside looking back at the new axles and tanks, etc.
Pic 4, the driveway projects in all their glory: AS, M3 Donor, 328 Wagon receptor.
Pic 5 & 6, Inside looking forward and backwards.
Pic 7, Galley.
Pic 8, Solar and roof.
Pic 9, The wagon in detail.
Pic 10, The M engine in the garage being gone over extensively.

My son plans to have this car reassembled and operational in a couple of weeks, it will be a lot of late nites to accomplish that.

Chuck
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Old 07-10-2015, 08:03 PM   #18
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Wow. Multi-tasking must be an inherited trait. That 325 wagon ought to be a kick to drive when its done.

As for the AS, enlighten me on the reasons for the two tanks. I just got the subfloor off my frame and have only one tank that everything apparently drains into. This learning as you go is interesting.
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Old 07-10-2015, 08:18 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dbj216 View Post
Hi slats, I have a 66 Trade Wind also. I'll bet your frame is in good shape. I did pull the belly pan and replaced the rotted floor in the bathroom. I found my frame in good shape, no repairs needed. I've cleaned the frame, applied POR, insulated the subfloor, new belly pan, new axles, new plumbing, new bathroom, new electrical converter and fuse panel, new furnace, new water heater, new fridge, new stove, and polished the exterior. We'll take it for the maiden voyage this August. We'll tow it with a Grand Cherokee V8.

I've enjoyed working on the thing, and have a lot more to do. Someday I may have a project trailer where I do the "full monty" as you are doing. For now, I'll tag along and watch your progress.

David

PS Nice looking garage you are working in!
David, the trailer in your attached pic looks incredible. No dings anywhere !? Does it go outside ? j/k
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Old 07-11-2015, 12:09 AM   #20
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1968 24' Tradewind
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Originally Posted by Slats View Post
Wow. Multi-tasking must be an inherited trait. That 325 wagon ought to be a kick to drive when its done.

As for the AS, enlighten me on the reasons for the two tanks. I just got the subfloor off my frame and have only one tank that everything apparently drains into. This learning as you go is interesting.
One tank for black, the other for grey. Grey is the sink and shower drains, while black is the toilet (just in case you are unaware).The original single tank was about 12 gal... with grey accumulating in the tub separately if you couldn't just let it run out on the ground. These trailers come from the "gopher hole" era where grey water was allowed to leak and a gopher hole was dug and the black was left behind in that. (Non campground camping). Gopher holes haven't been allowed for quite a while though grey water draining was pretty much allowed when I got into WBCCI 20 years ago. Pretty much stopped about 10 years ago.
A couple of 20 gal tanks would work well for weekend boondocking. Mine is meant to go for about a week without needing a trip to a dump station. (With careful water usage).

He's going to modify the 325 emblem by painting each number with the M colors for a subtle hint of its prowess. I should have taken a picture of the wagon's dash with the M cluster in it. There are a lot of electronics that need to be swapped as part of the transplant. He's already done the rear suspension swap and will transfer the front as part of putting the engine back in.(probably tomorrow) There are still a few interesting tweaks to do to make it all nice and happy but he has it under control. He's using the Go-Pro I bought him for Christmas to catch all of the interesting action and will put it up on the web when he is finished. I suspect he will show a run on the auto-cross course near the end of it. He took 1st place in his division last year. Won't have the vehicle done early enough to truly compete this year. His prior car was "totaled" at the end of winter. Someone in front of him jacked the brakes to not hit a rabbit...It had front end damage that was severe enough for the insurance company to declare it a total loss... but he bought it back and because it remained registered and insured by him through the whole process it was not issued a salvage title so he was able to sell it to someone willing to repair it for a price that was good for both of them. The proceeds from the insurance and the sale have totally financed this conversion and then some.
I just came in from helping him... I had to hold the engine still while he went through the torquing procedure for replacing the connecting rod bearings.
He also went through the VANOS with a fine tooth comb. The engine has 100k on it since it was overhauled at 30K by a recall. He should be able to easily get another 100k out of the rebuild with minimal problems. His patience and attention to detail amazes me...the apple did not get far from the tree.

Chuck
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