Hello & a question from new member.

[fewpop]

Hello to all. I am new to this forum and to Airstream research as well. I hope I am posting this question in the right place.

I am strongly considering purchasing a vintage Airstream 25 foot Land Yacht Tradewind. I am trying to determine the actual year it was made. The title says 1980, but the owners manual says 1970. The current owner is not sure as he has only had it for a year or so.

Can someone here tell me how to date the trailer using the VIN number please?

Thanks in advance. It looks like this forum is rich with good people and information.

Best regards.

[mwells4654]

You might try this web site -

Vintage Airstream Photo Archives

It looks like it is probably a 70 as the 80 tradewind is not underlined for a link. But you can use the vin on the 70 to make sure it is a 70.

[Aviator]

Fewpop,

Maybe this will help.

Pre 1980 Serial Number Identification
1966, 1967, & 1968 Examples
1966
J0266124
JI286824
S0226534
SI246158
1ST Position S (California) J (Jackson Center, OH.)
2nd Position I (International Model) O (Overlander Model)
3rd & 4th Position Length
5th Position Model Year
6, 7, 8th Position Sequential Production Model. (Over 500 Double
Bed, Under 500 Twin bed.
1967 1968
I267S158 I288S133
I287J555 I308J554
O267S141 O268S560
O247J157 O178J151
1ST Position I (International Model) O (Overlander Model)
2nd & 3rd Position Length
4th Position Model Year
5th Position S (California) J (Jackson Center, OH.)
6, 7, 8th Position Sequential Production Model. (Over 500 Double
Bed, Under 500 Twin bed.

www.airstream.com/docs/vin.pdf

[fewpop]

Wow! You folks are fast! Thanks so much for the information. When I get off work today, I will use this info and post back here as to what I found out. I'm thinking it is probably the 70 model.

It is mostly original, as far as I as a newb can tell, and has the original gas light and Airstream control center with barometer, etc.

Bath is in rear, and single bed in midsection, and looks like it had a foldout double bed in front. Bath fixtures are original and appear to be in decent shape for the age and the asking price.

Thanks very much again for the quick replies. I'll look forward to learning more here.

[Kevin245]

Glad you were able to get some help. Welcome and feel free to post questions as you pursue a rig.

Good Luck,

Kevin

[mwells4654]

Good luck and Happy Trails.

[fewpop]

Hello again. The VIN tag on the side of the trailer by the entry door is kind of corroded but I think it says 02580-S121 (not entirely positive about the last 3 numbers, as they have the most corrosion. Does that mean it is a Overlander, 25', 80 model, California made, 121 ?

I actually don't see any identifying information on the trailer that says "Tradewind" anywhere, so I am not sure about that designation.

Above this number info on the same tag is "LAND YACHT"
A Travel Trailer

Thanks again for any help in identifying the status of this one.

[Nuvite-F]

Hi, Fewpop,

I'm betting it's a 70 as the form of the serial number is different for 1980 models; also I don't think they were offering gas lights by 1980.

There were a number of improvements incorporated in the 70s--for example if you have two separate holding tank dump valves, for blackwater and greywater, that would be later than 1970--greywater tanks didn't come in till the early to mid 70's.

The other thing you might do is measure the length--the "official" length is overall length "from bumper to ball" and one sometimes comes across a trailer titled as the wrong length. If it's 25 ft it's a Tradewind.

Good luck--I like the Tradewind layout. We were looking for one till our 1980 International Caravelle 22 ft showed up for sale and we snapped it up. Incidentally, it doesn't say "Caravelle" on it either, just "International"!

Best regards,
Nuvi

[fewpop]

Nuvi, and others, I really appreciate the help you all are offering. I would like to nail down the vintage prior to purchase if I can.

I snapped a few photos of it today and will post some of them below in hopes that it will help some of you to help me further in my identity mystery.

Hope this helps, and all responses are appreciated.

Here she is:








Now I see the "Tradewind" tag I was thinking I had seen earlier. Sorry for the confusion in my posts previously. It has been a busy day, and I am new at breathing "this Air."

[moparjohn]

Hi, Well it's def a Tradewind model. It's a 70's model, you can tell by the taillights. I'm guessing earlier than 73, but not an expert (yet) The trailer was/is option will full awnings at one point, the water heater seems to be in the rear, my 73 is in the center (under kitchen cabinet) Have you looked by the front rubstrip, to the side of the propane tanks, there is a build tag there with date of manufature. Good luck, looks pretty good fom the outside. MPJ

[azflycaster]

The tail lights, door hinge and exhaust cover all point to early 70s.

I believe your VIN is O25D0-S121

That would make it a 1970 Trade Wind with double bed and made in California. The strange thing is the last three numbers (121) should be 4 digits long, but there are only 3. 3 digits were used in the 60s, but this may have been an early unit made in 1969 and they may not have made the conversion yet.

[Aviator]

A second place to look for the VIN is on the top of the "A" frame near the body of the trailer. On our 'stream it is on the roadside between the trailer and the propane tanks. Just in case you want to make sure it matches the VIN on the side of the trailer. I don't know when Airstream started doing it, but our '97 has a tag near the front of the trailer on the curbside which lists build date, axle type, etc.

[fewpop]

You guys are all most helpful. I called the owner and asked him to read me the VIN number from the title he has in his possession. It is as flycaster has suggested, which is O25D0S121; however, the title, I believe, must have inherited a historical typo because it is registered as a 1980 model. All of the other evidence thus far points to a 1970 Tradewind, and I will see if the current owner can get the title corrected before transfer to me if that is necessary....maybe not...I'm not an expert on these matters.

I will follow up on the other suggestions to look for other VIN numbers on the trailer itself and post my discoveries here when achieved.

Thanks so much for all the great help, information, and suggestions thus far. This forum obviously has a lot of internal integrity, and I am most grateful for the sharing.

Best,
-Ford

[Yhottys]

Hi there Ford -

Welcome to the Forums. Your trailer looks similar to our 1974 Tradewind. We have the same tail lights but don't have " Land Yacht" emblazoned on the back of the trailer.

Congratulations on your new trailer. The exterior looks great.

We'll look forward to your additional posts.

All the best,

[TouringDan]

Hi Ford

Welcome to the forum and it looks like you have found yourself a nice TW. We have a 66 and they are great trailers- not to big, but with plenty of room and lots of storage. I would not worry about the title typo. I would call the DMV and tell them of the expected error and ask them their advice on how to correct it. I would take care of it. I would not worry about asking the seller to do this. He does not care. He just wants to sell it!

Looking forward to some more pictures.

Dan

[RichHog]

Looks close to what my 72 Tradewind was like. You'll find lots of help here bringing her to life.

[jdalrymple]

Hi Ford, and welcome to the forums. Nice find in on the TW. Good luck. I think you can fix the title when you transfer it to Arkansas easily enough.

Best Regards,

[mwells4654]

O125DOS121

It seems to be:

0 - 1970
25 - Feet - Trade Wind is on Emblem
D - Double
O - Land Yacht
S - Manfactured in California
121 - normally 4 numbers

[fewpop]

I just wanted to drop in for a moment during my lunchbreak and express my thanks to all of you for helping me identify my next project. At this point I am going to assume that it is the 1970 25' Tradewind-Double.

I am looking forward to taking possession probably sometime in the next couple of weeks, and then I will likely take it down to Searcy Arkansas to the Airstream folks there so they can check out the bearings, brakes, and other priority essentials (advice welcome).

I'll need to begin a search for a truck probably to replace my existing 1994 Toyota Landcruiser Wagon which has a lot of torque, but is probably not the best tow vehicle for a 2 ton trailer.

I'd be interested to get some of the shared opinions here on what would be a good balance of tow power, economy, practicality, and reliability for around $10k. Hoping that is possible.

Many thanks again to all who have offered information and opinions here on my thread.

Getting some nice, albeit late, Fall colors here in NW Arkansas this week.

[mwells4654]

hey - fewpop - I was just looking - we are kind of neighbors - only 3 hours driving. I was up in your area about 2 weeks ago - My Neice got married at Rogers. Was a pretty drive through there.