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Blockhead · 07-17-2018, 12:53 PM

Hello! I'm a first timer and BOY do I wish I had read through these forums before making my decision! We really got ourselves a doozy.

My first question is about repairing the floor under the bathtub. It definitely has no supports and the floor seems like it has rot. Is there any way to remove the corner tub (it's separate from the vanity) and do this in stages? Or is it just an all-or-nothing situation where I need to tear out the entire bathroom and replace all the floor at once?
We're on a bit of a time budget so I'm hoping not to do that just yet.

I keep reading about having to remove the banana and belly wrap as well as walls, but I think those are for the 70's full wrap baths...

Any advice is appreciated!

AldeanFan · 07-17-2018, 02:26 PM

Welcome!

You can remove your tub but you’ll have to disconnect the drain first, probably under the trailer. Airstreams are built from the back to the front to the bathroom goes on first followed by everything else. It’s difficult to take things apart in a different order than they went together.

You can piece together a new floor by making g cleats to connect the pieces but you also have to attach the floor to the walls and frame. On my ‘77, bolts go through the channel at the base of the wall, through the floor and through the frame so you have to take the inside walls and banana wraps off to properly connect everything. I’m sure someone will respond with how the earlier trailers are built.

You may also find soft or rotten frame when you take the floor off, I had to do some welding on my frame before putting my bathroom back together.

Good luck, we’re all here to help.
Please post pics!

dbj216 · 07-17-2018, 06:40 PM

Hello from Colorado: Welcome to these Airstream Forums. The Trade Wind is one of my favorites. I had a 66 Trade Wind for several years. It too had a bad case of rear subfloor rot.

So, you have purchased a great project trailer. Just relax and start figuring out how you will approach this thing. Of course, you can read a lot of information about renovating these early sixties Trade Winds here on Airstream Forums. I find it enjoyable and a fun way to spend lots and lots of time.

Maybe you don't want a big vintage Airstream project. You can always move this trailer to someone who does and find one that has already been renovated and is ready to go. Renovated trailers usually include recovery of all the new stuff that is on or in the trailer. They cost a lot more than project trailers.

Anyway, welcome to the Airstream community.

David

Blockhead · 07-18-2018, 05:33 PM

Thanks so much for the feedback and encouragement.
Here are a few photos of the tub (and coach). My hope was to take out the tub and repair underneath it (supports and plywood) until I can afford to remove the entire bathroom and do it right.
If I can't remove the tub, maybe go in from underneath and rig it for now. Is that nuts?

dbj216 · 07-18-2018, 08:26 PM

Hello again: You might take a real close look at the subfloor through the rear cargo hatch where the battery might be. Poke around with your flashlight and see what part of the subfloor might be good and take it from there.

Here is a photo of the subfloor in my former 66 Trade Wind. I believe the toilet was leaking water and rotted the floor out. The toilet was ready to fall out onto the roadway. How embarrassing. Many vintage Airstreams have rotted rear end subfloors due to rain water leaks. It doesn't cost much to repair it. It just cost a lot of hours.

And here is a photo of my former 66 Trade Wind after I completed the work I wanted to do on it. Note the windows and door are completely different. 66 was the first year of the Corning curved glass, frameless windows. An Airstream experiment that didn't last but 3 years. Thought you might be interested. I love Trade Winds.

David