My first Airstream a 1963 Tradewind

[jbev59]

Hello every one , I'm new to the forum. Tomorrow I getting a 64 trade wind .
I have some pics and will try to get them posted . I was told this trailer has been sitting in a barn for about 20 years . From what I have gathered it looks all original . I am going to do some cleaning and see what works and what doesnt .

[jbev59]

[TouringDan]

Congrats on your new Tradewind and welcome to the forum. Your life will be forever changed.

Nice that it has been in a barn for 20 years and protected from the elements. The skin sure does look great!

Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions.

Dan

[CaddyGrn]

Welcome to the forums! What a great find! Keep posting pictures.... we love'em! Any questions, this is the place to ask, lots of great help here as well as fine folks!

[Cantrell]

Got yourself a gem right there!! Welcome to the forums.

[jbev59]

I got the title today It's a 63 trade wind . The furnace has been replaced . I pluged it in and nothing as far as power. The 110/12v switch is hanging from ceiling with some wires unhooked so I'm going to dig into electrical as soon as we get interior cleaned up .

[jbev59]

Here are some more pics , a lot of mouse poop and corn in it from siting in the barn.

[reinergirl]

Wow, what a great skin she has! Sweet! Welcome to the forum

[Travel Bird]

Congratulations!!! I love the bath tub!!

[Big C]

Congratulations on your vintage purchase! When was the last time you saw a '64 model car on the road? Vintage Airstreams were made to last. Flaws, yes. But restoring yours will make it your own.
Nice exterior!
Welcome to the forum!!!

[jbev59]

I have no keys to access panels, should I drill the locks out? I have to into rear panel to get to breaker box to see why I have no power . Where is best place to get replacement locks.

[jbev59]

Ok just an update on my progress, I did get the keys from po the key for comapartments works but door door key doesn't. I fixed electrical problem the plug was wired wrong. I rewired plug and bingo we have lights. I can find the univolt for it yet and nothing 12volt works.

[overlander64]

Greetings jbev59!

Originally Posted by jbev59

Ok just an update on my progress, I did get the keys from po the key for comapartments works but door door key doesn't. I fixed electrical problem the plug was wired wrong. I rewired plug and bingo we have lights. I can find the univolt for it yet and nothing 12volt works.

I don't believe that your Tradewind would have had a Univolt from the factory as my understanding is that 1964 was the first year for the Univolt. In Vintage Airstreams that didn't have the Univolts, you relied solely on the coach battery while parked for 12-volt . . . when underway, the 12-volt would be operational via the charge line from the tow vehicle.

Good luck with your Trade Wind!

Kevin

P.S.: You may find that the 12-volt fuses are round, glass-type buss fuses similar to those you would find in a home pre-dating circuit breakers. The 1960 coach with which I am familiar has the 12-volt breakers on the interior wall below the front window (they may be behind an access panel).

[jbev59]

Thanks so much for the info , I will get a battery in it and see what happens. I am really amazed how pretty much everything is in good shape . The water hook up ,there is a large cap with a shreader valve on it do it unscrew ? There is a copper line next to it ?

[overlander64]

Greetings jbev59!

Originally Posted by jbev59

Thanks so much for the info , I will get a battery in it and see what happens. I am really amazed how pretty much everything is in good shape . The water hook up ,there is a large cap with a shreader valve on it do it unscrew ? There is a copper line next to it ?

I hesitate to try to decipher your water connections as the only pressure system that I have had experience with was in a 1969 SunWay truck camper. In general, the pressure system can be pressurized three ways:

• When directly connected to "city water", the pressure is directly related to the pressure of the local public water supply. A caveat with this is that it is wise to connect a pressure regulator between your coach and the water suppy to avoid over pressurization . . . One of my most vivid memories of that SunWay truck camper was when we connected to city water in a campground and just turned on the park's water . . . it pressurized the system to the point of blowing lines . . . a river flowed out the back door of the camper before we knew what was going on . . . when asked about the park's water pressure, the desk clerk responded . . . generally 90 psi or more.
• Adding air via the external Schroeder Valve. With this method, air is pumped in until the pressure gauge gives you the desired reading (usually between 30 and 40 psi).
• Adding air via a 12-volt pump located in the coach. Airstream often utilized this method with the pump located in close proximity to the fresh water tank.

It sounds as if your water system's condition is an unknown at this point. Before connecting to city water or trying to pressurize the system, I would suggest that you have an observer in the coach looking for failures or broken lines. The tank itself is also suspect, particularly if it is galvanized steel as many were. Galvanized Steel pressure water tanks are known for looking good on the top side, but having a multitude of pin holes on the bottom where it sits on the floor (often, there will be at least some floor rot under one of these tanks)

My speculation regarding the fixture on your coach would be that the cap likely is removed to fill the tank with water (it should have a good gasket as it must seal well to maintain pressure). Using this method for fill, you would need to add pressure after closing the fill tube (something that I am not certain of with this system is how the "head room" is maintained (the cushion of air above the water that provides the pressure . . . air would be added via the schroeder valve or the air pump inside of the coach). If there is a connection for a water hose near or on this fixture then that is where the tank is filled, and the tank will take on the pressure of the supply if not closely monitored during the fill process (an external pressure regulator on the hose supply limits the pssibility of overpressurization).

My speculation regarding the copper tube near the fill device is that it is either an overlow tube, drain tube, or pressure relief tube.

I hope that someone with direct experience with the type of pressure system on your coach posts a reply as my responses are guesses based upon my experience with a similar system of different manufacture.

Good luck with your coach!

Kevin

[jbev59]

My dad and I are cleaning up the interior on tradewind, the interior is nice and we are going to leave it original. We scrubbed walls and ceiling it looks much better but my dad wants to paint ceiling and walls. Does anyone have any thoughts on this ? If we paint it any particular paint? Any help would be great.

[47WeeWind]

Originally Posted by jbev59

My dad and I are cleaning up the interior on tradewind, the interior is nice and we are going to leave it original. We scrubbed walls and ceiling it looks much better but my dad wants to paint ceiling and walls. Does anyone have any thoughts on this ? If we paint it any particular paint? Any help would be great.

Hi jbev59:

From you photos it looks like you still have the original zolotone speckled/splatter paint on the walls, and the original paint looks to be in very good shape. If that's the case, I strongly urge you NOT TO PAINT the interior as nothing ruins an interior more thoroughly than cheap latex paint smeared all over everything. Well, perhaps using a sponge to dab on latex paint is more damaging than using a brush. But if you want to keep the trailer original, as you state, just clean the zolotone paint and live with its few minor flaws, if any. It's very tough paint and is made to absorb some abuse. Thank your Dad from his concern, but quickly remove all paint brushes from his reach. Those are my strong thoughts on the matter. And congratulations on acquiring a very beautiful and wonderfully original 1963 Tradewind! They are few and far between.

[jbev59]

Ok that's kinda what I was thinking. I will post some more pics of it cleaned up.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

I too want to say congratulations...

Do not trust what your title says, your door with a door is inset and that was only done on the 1964 units. I also would not trust the 20 years in a barn story. You have SPECTACULAR patina. Living in a barn does not produce that kind of patina. I really mean it when I say the patina is spectacular. Many would be tempted to polish it up, but that kind of skin color is earned.

[jbev59]

The original story I got was that it was in a barn then the guy I purchased it from said it was used for deer hunting