New project | 1964 Overlander

[ALANSD]

lookin great.. My patches on our 66 look just like yours. I also had a bunch of broken antennas and stuff that I removed. ALso have the same bunk bed. Useful for storage anyway.

[Janet H]

The storage has been great (mostly when parked). That bunk is a great place for instrument cases. Last weekend we had a hard shell cello case flung up there and out of the way.

[ALANSD]

funny- a cello. I parked my acoustic case on the bunk, much better than having it on the bed all the time.

[desertair27]

Originally Posted by Janet

On the exterior we made some changes as well. We added electrical power, a lockable bucket fill for water (came off a seventies Argosy) along with a regular city water fill faucet connection and did some patches.

There were 5 antennas on the outside and hole cut through the skins and so we had to patch these and along with the streetside window patch (we cut that lower window in half to accommodate interior seating) and patches for the large holes left by the old furnace and hot water heater, the trailer looked a whole lot like an aluminum patchwork quilt before it was polished.

One of the antenna holes was so large that we opted to put a second scare light in - it faces dead forward and illuminates the propane tanks (handy to change tanks in the dark)

Great ideas using the 70's water fills and electrical outlet, hope you don't mind if I steal your ideas for my trailer.
Great work!
Mike

[Janet H]

Originally Posted by desertair27

Great ideas using the 70's water fills and electrical outlet, hope you don't mind if I steal your ideas for my trailer.
Great work!
Mike

Steal away.... The waterfill door is really useful. There have been a number of times boondocking where we needed to refill the fresh water tank with a bucket - no way to get even close to a faucet.

The electrical outlet would be more useful way down low, but there was a hole in that location that needed a patch and easy access to power | two birds, one .....

[InsideOut]

WOW! Looks great Janet - your hard work & attention to detail is evident ~

Now it's time to get out & enjoy it - I know you will!

Shari

[47WeeWind]

Hi Janet:

As a former owner of a 1964 19' Globetrotter, I really like your well thought out modifications and updates to the '64 Overlander.

Extending the curbside kitchen counter into the old closet was a truly inspired idea. You gained far more useful countertop work area than you lost in useless vertical storage. I love your new electrical chargers and outlets, the narrow yet efficient back row pocket for a laptop and tablet, and the hint of leather lined storage wells for Willamette Valley merlots.

You did a great update of the Airliner bathroom. After seeing so many botched jobs in 1964 bathrooms, yours is truly impressive. The stand alone toilet belongs there; the new low wall under the sink nicely finishes the long run of bathtub wall; and the magazine rack has finally found gainful employment. Separating the electrical from the water makes practical sense and their new locations give you better access to and control over each service.

Great rescue! And that polish job repurposes the trailer from blinding ducks to blinding other motorists. . Congratulations to you an Gary for a trailer excellently reborn.

[janeinthemtns]

This is a really beautiful job. One of my favorites so far. I am interested in knowing more about that fabric ceiling. Did someone install it or did it come from the factory that way? Are there any condensation issues and have you removed any of it to check? Seems like it would be good insulation. I'm way up in the mountains and trying to figure something for insulation. I might line the whole inside of the trailer with foil bubble insulation, but I'm worried about condensation. Thanks for any info

[Janet H]

The padded ceiling was original and is some sort of vinyl; it's still in good so all we did was clean and treat it. I can't say if condensation is/was an issue or not since I live in an extremely dry area but based on the great condition we found it in, I'm betting not.

[overlander64]

Greetings Janet!

Originally Posted by Janet

The padded ceiling was original and is some sort of vinyl; it's still in good so all we did was clean and treat it. I can't say if condensation is/was an issue or not since I live in an extremely dry area but based on the great condition we found it in, I'm betting not.

The quilted vinyl ceiling in my '64 Overlander has withstood Midwestern Summers and their high humidity all of its life plus damp Southern Illinois Winters for about half of its life. My ceiling panel still looks very nice, but the comfort panels beside the center beds that matched the ceiling didn't fare as well . . . they had water/moisture damage issues that resulted in my decision to have them replaced when the Fowlers (Fowler RV Interiors, Symsonia, KY) restored the interior several years ago.

My understanding has been that our vinyl quilted ceilings were part of the International package, but may have also been purchased as options on the Land Yacht trim level. I have seen the quilted vinyl ceiling treatment on 1964 Overlanders, Ambassadors, and Sovereigns . . . I don't know whether the feature was available on Tradewind and shorter trailers . . . and what if any other model years offered the quilted vinyl ceiling panels. I would hate to need to take the quilted ceiling panel down on my Overlander as it is attached with pop rivets at nearly every point on the "diamonds" in the quilting pattern.

Kevin

[kevinb]

Hey Kev

my 64 tw had the same quilted vinyl ceiling

[overlander64]

Greetings Kevin B!

Originally Posted by kevinb

Hey Kev

my 64 tw had the same quilted vinyl ceiling

That would support my suspicion that the quilted headliner feature may have been available on any 1964 Airstream that had a "separate" bedroom area. It is good to know that the feature was found on the Tradewind as well as larger Airstreams in 1964.

Kevin

[safari57]

We had the opportunity to view Janet and Gary's trailer while at the gathering at Monitor, WA, and it is really nicely done. It feels warm and comfortable, the kind of trailer you could spend a lot of time living on the road in. The quilted ceiling and wall panels were a surprise, we thought they had added them given they are in such nice condition - they look virtually new. Impressed, we are considering adding at least the wall panels to ours by the beds.

Great job on the trailer you two.

Barry and Donna

[TouringDan]

All I can say is wow! I love what you both have done. Superb attention to detail.

Dan

[Janet H]

Originally Posted by TouringDan

All I can say is wow! I love what you both have done. Superb attention to detail.

Dan

Thanks for the comments; we really love this trailer. It's roomy, not too fussy and nicely low tech. These 64's were an interesting transition year for Airstream with features and designs that weren't seen before or since and so we're on the hunt for the next project now and looking for a 1964 Globetrotter to keep this one company. Please keep an eye out....

[desertair27]

So 64 is a great year I take it?

I thought I remembered reading somewhere about some oddball stuff done specifically to that year.
You guys do great work!
Mike

[Janet H]

Originally Posted by desertair27

So 64 is a great year I take it?

I thought I remembered reading somewhere about some oddball stuff done specifically to that year.
You guys do great work!
Mike

I guess "great" is in the eye of the beholder; I also gravitate towards stray dogs and am a Cubs fan

[desertair27]

64 being my birth year I always thought it would nice to have one but it just hasn't worked out.

Keep up the great work and wonderful posts.

Mike

[overlander64]

Greetings Mike!

Originally Posted by desertair27

So 64 is a great year I take it?

I thought I remembered reading somewhere about some oddball stuff done specifically to that year.
You guys do great work!
Mike

The 1964 models were the first year for a number of features and the last year for several others.

• 1964 was the last year for:
  • Door-within-a-Door -- this has always been one of my favorite features that dated to the early years of Airstream.
  • Jalousie windows beside entrance door -- while many dislike them, I have always enjoyed mine as they allow ventilation in nearly any weather condition.
  • Single Axle Tradewind.
  • Transformers mounted on ceiling vent fans, water pump, and furnace blower motor to provide the proper voltage for those devices.
  • One-Stop-Rear-Service-Compartment became a standard feature -- at least on Tradewind, Overlander, Ambassador, and Sovereign.
• 1964 was the first year for:
  • Univolt Power Converter installed as a standard feature from the factory.
  • Standard demand-type water system for the entire line. At least some of the 1963 models had "pressure-type" water systems.

I am sure that I am missing at least a few firsts and lasts for the 1964 model year.

Kevin

[overlander64]

Greetings Janet!

Originally Posted by Janet

I guess "great" is in the eye of the beholder; I also gravitate towards stray dogs and am a Cubs fan

I agree . . . it seems that 1964 owners often gravitate to the orphans/stray dogs, etc. I seem to prefer orphaned products . . . Studebaker, Packard, Oldsmobile, Pontiac . . . and even the Argosy. The less common the vehicle, the more interesting it becomes to me for some reason.

Kevin