'71 25' Trade Wind - jumping in with both feet

[webspinner]

Hello, Forum, this is my first post.

We just pulled our Tin Pickle home for the first time. She needs work, we knew that when we bought her, but now she needs more. On the way home, the streetside curved front window got broken. :-( One more thing to add to our punch list.

The shell seems sound, the air conditioning works, but that's all we know for sure. The price was low enough and the trailer nearby enough that it's worth the work we'll need to put into it. In a way, I'd rather do or oversee the work ourselves so that we know it's been done right. As it is, it's been neglected but not overly abused. Interior is original and things have just been left as is after they stopped working. Lots of potential but hopefully we can get her functional fairly soon. We have plans for her this summer.

Pics when I get home from work this afternoon.

[Mel]

Welcome to the forums, and congrats on adopting a Trade Wind! You'll find lots of help here as you go through your repairs, and there is a great satisfaction that comes from completing the work yourself (and knowing exactly how the trailer goes together). Good luck and we're looking forward to seeing those pictures!

[SilverHoot]

Welcome and looking forward to your pics!

[mello mike]

Welcome to the world of Airstreaming and welcome to the Forums.

[kevin242]

Good model choice! Good luck!

[airstreamjudy]

Welcome, I'm a '68 24' Tradewind that was really nasty on the inside. It's been about a year that I have been working on her. For about 6 months full time work and then slacked off to when I have time. You will enjoy your Tradewind. Great choice.

[tomhack1]

Good Luck,
I'm new to Airstreaming also. Bought a 68 Soveriegn last fall. It's in a friends pasture for the winter as our snowmobiles are in the backyard for the winter. We'll swap them out in the spring then the little by little fix up begins. It towed well on the trip home, but I want to get the trailer brakes hooked up and working before we go very far.
Tom

[bullydogsmom]

Welcome. They all need a little fixing when we get them home. We all love pictures here.

Annette

[webspinner]

Back again - here are our "before" pictures, not including the newly broken window. I'll be asking questions later on about the various issues they all raise.

Here's the outside - clear coat is nearly gone, windows (then) and skin all intact, a few small dents. Not bad for a lady pushing forty.


Here's the interior. The only work that has been done is new vinyl upholstery and awning repair. All other parts were left "as is" after they stopped working, or still work.


The trailer has suffered from neglect but not abuse. Some of it just wants a good scrubbing.


There are a couple of other dents about this size, all low on the body. There's some surface rust on the frame below the soft spot in the floor outside the bathroom door.


We have just adopted a project. It promises plenty of reward for our labors, though.

[bullydogsmom]

Are you going to add a grey water tank? We did to ours. This is the best place anywhere to get any questions asked about you AS. Most all have "been there and done that" when it comes to an older or vintage airstream. No questions are considered dumb. Heck, i didn't even know what a greywater tank was or that we didn't have one when we started.

Now, I can on occasion, answer some questions with a little intelligences.

Annette

[68 TWind]

Welcome to the forums. Great choice, love those Trade Winds. Lots of great info already on the forums and lots of great help when you have questions on your project.

[webspinner]

Are you going to add a grey water tank?

We will probably not add one yet, maybe not ever. We bought the trailer to use on private land where we can just drain gray water into the ground. If we do a bit of camping, we'll start with a portable tank that we can wheel to the dump station rather that retrofitting a whole new tank.

This trailer needs a fair amount of work and we're starting with the most essential first.

[arodriguez60]

Congradulations on the Tradewind. They are just about the perfect size. Once you get started you'll love working on your baby. When we finished or almost finished we went and acquired another project. You cannot have too much aluminum

[seeflash]

Originally Posted by webspinner

Hello, Forum, this is my first post.

We just pulled our Tin Pickle home for the first time. She needs work, we knew that when we bought her, but now she needs more. On the way home, the streetside curved front window got broken. :-( One more thing to add to our punch list.

The shell seems sound, the air conditioning works, but that's all we know for sure. The price was low enough and the trailer nearby enough that it's worth the work we'll need to put into it. In a way, I'd rather do or oversee the work ourselves so that we know it's been done right. As it is, it's been neglected but not overly abused. Interior is original and things have just been left as is after they stopped working. Lots of potential but hopefully we can get her functional fairly soon. We have plans for her this summer.

Pics when I get home from work this afternoon.

I may have the streetside curved window you broke. Not sure what shape it's in but I know I have one (stree or curb side)extra for a 74' Tradewind which should fit. Let me know if you want me to check.

[fotochop]

Lovely trailer, you done good! Many of us have started (are still starting? ;-) on much skankier vessels!

[Lumatic]

I've got a 71 Tradewind. Contact me whenever.

[webspinner]

Ooh, seeflash, that could be a lifesaver. It's the streetside one we need. I'm not sure about transporting it, but then, I'm not sure how to bend lexan either, which appears to be our other option.

[webspinner]

Thanks so much, Lumatic. I'm sure we'll have lots of questions. We have no idea yet just how much we don't know about Airstreams in general and Trade Winds in particular.

[mitsy]

I am also new to airstream, I have a 1964 tradewind, Don't know much, but glad to help in anyway! Hope you love yours as much as I do!

[seeflash]

Sorry. It's the street side window that I have. Good luck with your search.