Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-28-2016, 11:30 AM   #1
2 Rivet Member
 
Airboutique's Avatar
 
1972 25' Tradewind
2006 25' Safari FB SE
Montrose , Colorado
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 52
Images: 1
Upgrade or buy newer?

I have a "72 Tradewind Land Yacht that I live in. I am trying to decide whether to invest more money into it or buy a newer version. I don't travel with it but would like to eventually. The AC has been freezing up in the 90+ degree weather we have been having here in Colorado and the one Winter I spent in it I almost froze to death. The other deciding factor is there doesn't seem to be anyone in my area to work on it. Any insight you may have would be helpful.
Airboutique is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2016, 11:57 AM   #2
Overland Adventurer
 
AtomicNo13's Avatar
 
1991 34' Excella
2009 34' Panamerica
Telluride , Colorado
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 2,476
Newer units are just as cold and justt as hot!
The only difference is that youll find more modern ac and heat in the new ones..... youll spend $100000 to get the same effect as upgrading your current hvac appliances yourself for $2000
AtomicNo13 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2016, 08:28 AM   #3
2 Rivet Member
 
Airboutique's Avatar
 
1972 25' Tradewind
2006 25' Safari FB SE
Montrose , Colorado
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 52
Images: 1
Hi Atomic,

Are you back in the area?
Airboutique is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2016, 09:54 AM   #4
Overland Adventurer
 
AtomicNo13's Avatar
 
1991 34' Excella
2009 34' Panamerica
Telluride , Colorado
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 2,476
PM sent to you!
AtomicNo13 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2016, 10:16 AM   #5
Rivet Master
 
cameront120's Avatar
 
1972 25' Tradewind
North Vancouver , British Columbia
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,421
Images: 23
The 72 Trade Wind is a great trailer for living in. I'd upgrade to new air conditioning and start researching winter living in what is, essentially, a 3 season trailer. I spent a winter in mine and would rather not do that again.
__________________
Cameron & the Labradors, Kai & Samm
North Vancouver, BC
Live! Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death! - Mame Dennis
cameront120 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2016, 10:48 AM   #6
2 Rivet Member
 
Airboutique's Avatar
 
1972 25' Tradewind
2006 25' Safari FB SE
Montrose , Colorado
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 52
Images: 1
I've lived in mine for the past 7 years. Only one Winter in Colorado burrrrr. I am trying to find a place nearby that can work on my Airstream. I have no idea what I should replace the ac with. I want to have it polished, add awnings and have my bath redone. I found a newer Airstream for $27,000 that is why I was considering upgrading as I did not know how much I would spend to update mine.
Airboutique is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2016, 11:16 AM   #7
Rivet Master
 
Hittenstiehl's Avatar
 
1962 28' Ambassador
1961 19' Globetrotter
1962 26' Overlander
Mesa , Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,996
Images: 9
You have lots of vintage Airstream owners in Colorado. Try to reach out to Luke Bernander in Ft Collins he might be able to point you to a closer resource.

You may also want to see when the DenCo unit of WBCCI is having their next get together to network with them about services closer to Montrose.
__________________

Hittenstiehl
Hittenstiehl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2016, 04:22 PM   #8
Stay CazuaL
 
cazual6's Avatar
 
2018 25' Flying Cloud
2014 19' Flying Cloud
Reseda , California
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 958
Images: 1
If the money is not an issue, and you have no sentimental attachment to it, buy a new one.

You'll appreciate the modern amenities and technology.
__________________
"No job is so simple that it cannot be done wrong."
"Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege."
WBCCI 9164
*Virtual campfire at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Airs...dictsforAdults
cazual6 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2016, 08:01 PM   #9
2 Rivet Member
 
Free bird's Avatar
 
2016 22' Sport
Grayslake , Illinois
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 43
Wink

Just bought a new unit. I have had it at the dealer for multiple repairs. Still under warranty, but now I know, it is not worth the money. I had such plans for travel when I bought, but now I worry what else might go wrong. I am told the factory is rushing them out too fast and people are not trained very well. I bought an airstream because of the reputation of quality. No longer true from what I hear and have experienced.
My recommendation is not to buy brand new, but maybe something before the 90's.
Good Luck to you. Come to a warmer climate for the winter..
Free bird is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2016, 08:09 PM   #10
Living Riveted since 2013
 
Rocinante's Avatar

 
2016 Interstate Lounge Ext
Green Cove Springs , Florida
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 8,201
Blog Entries: 1
We had a similar experience with our 2014 unit when we bought it new. Lots of things had to be fixed over the two years of warranty work. Good news is that none of the things that were wrong were serious enough to stop us camping. The only thing doing that was the time Rocinante spent at the dealer over those two years, getting fixed. So we were able to batch up the work. We just kept a running list of busted stuff and when it got long enough to be annoying, we took the trailer in for warranty service. Fortunately for us, our dealer was only about 30-40 minutes from our house!

We love our trailer though. Based on our experience, new is nice, but gently used might be even nicer because hopefully the previous owner took care of the warranty stuff. Our 2-year-old trailer was better than a new one, because everything was perfect.
__________________
Rocinante Piccolo is our new-to-us 2016 Interstate Lounge 3500 EXT
(Named for John Steinbeck's camper from "Travels With Charley")


Rocinante is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-29-2016, 08:10 PM   #11
Rivet Master
 
TG Twinkie's Avatar
 
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill , Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
Images: 2
Blog Entries: 5
If you are determined to live in a travel trailer in Montrose, CO.
Get rid of the A$ and look for a 4 season trailer. Like an Arctic Fox and others.
It won't matter if you have a '72, '82, '92, '02, or even a 2017 A$. They are not made to live in where the weather is +100 or below freezing.
The way fishermen catch fish is with a shiny lure.
TG Twinkie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2016, 07:58 AM   #12
2 Rivet Member
 
Floatingair's Avatar
 
1994 30' Excella
Kiefer , Oklahoma
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 89
Blog Entries: 2
Upgrade or buy newer?

I personally would do a remodel with modern upgrades. For me, the only reason, I would want to buy a new Airstream Classic is because it's a wide body. Other than the wide body, my '94 Classic has the same floor plan.
If you do desire to do a restoration; you might want to upgrade from a 30 amp to 50 amp
house power, add two heat pump A/C, electric radiant floor heating, heated water tanks,
on-demand electric hot water heater.
Floatingair is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-02-2016, 05:42 PM   #13
Rivet Master
 
Currently Looking...
Sioux Falls , South Dakota
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,164
Remember that an RV is a depreciating asset, so you won't get your money back on the upgrades that you do, even if you list the trailer immediately after doing the work.

You say that you don't travel now, but you want to in the future. Be sure to check the various threads about bringing a "fixture" back to road-worthy. Read those and then decide what you want to do.
__________________
David Lininger, kb0zke
AIR 54240
Heartland mpg 181 (sold)
1993 Foretravel U300 (sold)
2022 Grand Design Reflection 315RLTS
kb0zke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-02-2016, 07:31 PM   #14
Rivet Master
 
FCStreamer's Avatar
 
2014 30' Flying Cloud
Tampa , Florida
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,364
Blog Entries: 1
Technology has improved a lot since 1972. If I were going to live and travel in it, I'd prefer newer technology.
__________________
2014 Airstream Flying Cloud 30 Recliner - WBCCI #4850 - AIR #110821
2018 Nissan Armada SL Tow Vehicle, Equal-i-zer Hitch
Visit Our Flying Cloud blog for my latest adventure!
FCStreamer is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Newer is Not Necessarily an Upgrade John&Vicki Airstream Lifestyle 354 08-12-2014 09:50 PM
Anyone have success Painting banana black/ gray as upgrade to look newer? Mixter Belly Pans & Banana Wraps 7 02-01-2013 01:00 PM
E-Bay Fraud Alert - Listing Newer Model Airstreams for unofficial low Buy-It-Nows TobyJH Our Community 2 05-04-2006 05:23 PM
to buy or not to buy? alt Our Community 56 03-29-2003 03:15 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:02 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.