Recovering '74 Tradewind

[Roadrunner]

Well after a long search for a vintage midsize Airstream, I'll be bringing home a "74" Tradewind. We will be the third owner. It has not been used for the last 15 years but is in remarkably good condition. The pictures do show that it will need a very good cleaning. Another project awaits us...

Bob
TAC PA-5
WBCCI 4871

[Roadrunner]

Can't wait to get started...

[TouringDan]

Tradewinds rock. I am glad that you found a good one.

Dan

[Roadrunner]

[Chatthayer]

Are these pix of the 25' tradewind bath?

[Roadrunner]

Yes these pictures are of the bathroom in the "74" Tradewind. Small and intimate!

Bob

[Tom Nugler]

Congratulations on your new rig.
Is the dinette original? I believe the dinette was an extra cost option. If so, you've got one of the rare ones.

Enjoy,
Tom

[Roadrunner]

Tom I don't think the dinette is original. The wood doesn't match anything else in the trailer. I don't think Airstream would have used different woods. The other thing that leads me to believe that this is not original is a housing on the top of the curbside seat back that houses a car stereo.

What should I do with this dinette? I'd like to keep it but change the looks for sure.

Bob Leopold
Indiana, PA

TAC PA-5
WBCCI 4871

[Tom Nugler]

Oh…. I would defiantly keep the dinette.
I removed the stock front couch and built one similar to yours.
The benches and cushions look well made. Kind of looks like grooved paneling on the benches. I haven’t found anything that matches the laminate used on the cabinets. Ours is “Walnut”.
Maybe you can find some hardwood veneer plywood, mix stain to match and replace the paneling.
Since I’ve redone the whole front end I used matching laminate on the counters and tabletop to blend everything together.
All and all it looks like you’ve found a very nice Vintage Tradewind.

Tom.

[kevin242]

Have a look at some of the pics of our 1977 Tradewind. It has a factory dinette. Nice rig to work with!

[bhutch74ly]

This trailer looks like the twin to my 74, 25 footer. We do have the original gaucho in the front but had new cushions made for it. We like it pretty well and use a small folding table for eating. Ours also has the full bed in the middle of the trailer rather than the opposing twin setup. We like the full bed setup although the space between the bed and cabinets is pretty close for walking through. It slides back to a gaucho when/if needed but we leave it out and made up all the time now.

We purchased our trailer about a year ago and it is now in great working condition. I replaced all of the supply lines with PEX, Replaced the old Univolt with a new converter, Installed new holding tanks and drain pipes, Installed a new gas-elec. water heater, Replaced all the old light covers, rebuilt the kitchen and bath cabinets and deleted the old tambour doors with sliders, removed the old furnace and added a small catalitic heater, replaced the old carpet and curtains, replaced the toilet, etc., etc., etc. I expect it will continue to be a work-in-progress for several years with the exterior skin being the next priority for cleaning. I hope you enjoy your "new" airstream as much as we are presently enjoying ours. In the last six months it's been to Arizona twice and New Mexico and Colorado once. Home base is northeast Louisiana.

Bob

[Roadrunner]

It is amazing what you find when you start to clean up and examine these old vintage trailers. Yes it is true that they all leak...and mostly in the same places. Today the tired and filthy carpet was removed...and as expected there will be some floor repair. Six buckets of filthy water and a quart of Krud Kutter later she is starting to look respectable. But much work to do.

Bob Leopold
Indiana, PA

TAC PA-5
WBCCI 4871

[OilnH2o]

Congrats! We did a "deep clean" on a new-to-us, 98% stock, '76 Overlander just this spring. One thing to check is all the ducts and the furnace. Take off the front face and check everything for mouse evidence -- especially for what we found: a nest of fiberglas batting, kleenex's and tissues, and who-knows-what else. We got it all cleaned out, then tried to start it as the manual says, by merely moving the (factory) thermostat in the center twin bed area - and bingo - it all started up just fine. BUT, I shudder to think if I'd done that without checking all those ducts and opening up the furnace first. (But that was just one thing we learned in our cleaning experience!)

Have fun -- we're super pleased (and, we bought the bulk refills for Krud Kutter - works great on the interior vinyl walls).

[bhutch74ly]

Originally Posted by OilnH2o

Congrats! We did a "deep clean" on a new-to-us, 98% stock, '76 Overlander just this spring. One thing to check is all the ducts and the furnace. Take off the front face and check everything for mouse evidence -- especially for what we found: a nest of fiberglas batting, kleenex's and tissues, and who-knows-what else. We got it all cleaned out, then tried to start it as the manual says, by merely moving the (factory) thermostat in the center twin bed area - and bingo - it all started up just fine. BUT, I shudder to think if I'd done that without checking all those ducts and opening up the furnace first. (But that was just one thing we learned in our cleaning experience!)

Have fun -- we're super pleased (and, we bought the bulk refills for Krud Kutter - works great on the interior vinyl walls).

Good advice regarding the rodent inspection. I was extremely lucky and found no evidence of pests even though my trailer had been sitting up for over 15 years. I was nervous about using the old gas furnace and removed it as well as the duct work. It has been replaced with a new catalytic heater that does a great job of heating the entire trailer. I believe the original furnace was one that was recalled years ago by the manufacturer because of a safety issue. I would certainly check the serial number on any of these old furnaces before using them to insure that this was not a potential problem.

[Roadrunner]

Well after making the preliminary assessments, we will need to address the plumbing and some structural problems. The original stove exhaust vent was leaking badly and had completely rotted the overhead cabinet bottom...so much that the vent and light were hanging by a thread. There could also be irrepairable damage to the stove as a result of the water intrusion. The cabinet bottom was replaced and the exhaust vent sealed. Next water was put to the system...the black tank leaked...badly. While the tank is being replaced I'll convert to PEX. More to come...

Bob
TAC PA-5
WBCCI 4871

[Roadrunner]

Well PEX is going in and new wheels are on. Next will be addressing the flooring issues. Still looking at alternatives for flooring. Tongue has been POR 15'ed and repainted. Work continues...

Bob
TAC PA-5
WBCCI 4871