Getting started with our 66 Tradewind

[coloradoup]

After a bit of a stall since we purchased this thing, about three years, we are finally getting things moving. We will be doing a shell off with a new frame, tanks, well pretty much everything but the shell skins and windows.

[Bubba L]

Good deal. Glad to hear it. Eager to follow your progress. Post pictures as you go along and keep us up to date. Good luck and have fun.

[coloradoup]

A few interior pics, one with my wife who is a big help.

[57Vintage]

Look forward to following your progress. Lived in Olathe in the 70's. Not a quiet little town any more.

[coloradoup]

No it isn't all though, coming from Southern Ca. it's still pretty quiet for me. As luck would have it, I live next door to Attomic 13 and his 68 tradewind so I have a great example to learn from.

[coloradoup]

Nice work on both your trailers. Followed along on your 55. Just wondering if you ever figured out your tail wag? Love your mini split install and am hoping to do something like that on mine.

[coloradoup]

Glad I went back and looked at your build. You had a lot of good ideas going there. Funny how you read so many that you forget half the things you looked at. I was just talking to Atomic 13 about that rotisserie you built yesterday. I was remembering it as a converted engine lift but now I can see what you actually did. Starting to think about the gantries at this point.

[Bubba L]

Originally Posted by coloradoup

Nice work on both your trailers. Followed along on your 55. Just wondering if you ever figured out your tail wag? Love your mini split install and am hoping to do something like that on mine.

Thanks. If you live next door to Brian, he can help. Take care and glad you’re making progress.

[TouringDan]

66 Tradewinds are the best. Looks like a great shell on yours. I am looking forward to following your work. Brian is a good guy to have as a neighbor.

Dan

[MrRivet]

What a great project! It will be a huge advantage having someone close by to call on if for knowledge and support. We look forward to following your progress.

Safe Travels!!
Tim

[coloradoup]

Thanks Dan and Tim,
looking forward to getting this thing moving along. I need to grade out a spot on my Son's lawn to put down some gravel so I can have a little better place to work. Then I can get that shell off and get started. He has a big back yard just waiting for a metal building. For now, gravel.
What this thing does have is all the windows.

[coloradoup]

One of the things I need to repair on this trailer is the street side rear curved end panel. I was able to get the major dent out with an English wheel but the roofing tar they used was showing through as I ran it through the wheel.

After reading on one of the forums how to remove the tar I was able clean things up and possibly have another go at it. My cheap harbor freight wheel only came with one lower anvil wheel that has too large a radius to actually do much of a repair job so I ordered the wheel set from Northern tool to hopefully achieve a bit better result. Long term I plan on making a new panel but not sure I can actually get that done on the cheap harbor freight wheel that I currently have.

[coloradoup]

It's been a while since I posted but I haven't been totally idle. Part of what has been holding me up is trying to improve my storage situation. My son has a large back yard and that's where I keep my trailers. I have had to remove some rather large trees and do some grading to get the area ready for parking. My intent was to build a metal building to keep these things in as well as have a good place to work. Sadly the price of these building has gone a bit crazy so for now it's looking like a gravel parking lot will have to do.

[coloradoup]

I made a little progress over the weekend on the rear corner panel of my 66 TW. I rolled out the damaged corner on the English wheel as best I could with the Harbor Freight wheel. (A quality English Wheel would make the job a bit easier.) I had to sand out all the marks the wheels leave on the material so a bit of polishing will be in order. I was hoping for a better outcome but oh well. Hopefully down the line I can find a new corner that I can replace it with.

I also replaced the lower corner to get rid of the hole the water heater left. Not planning on having anything vent out in that area and didn't want a large patch.

[coloradoup]

So the photo didn't post but hopefully this time.

[coloradoup]

Next up will be a window swap. I'm going to swap the middle window and the rear window on the street side. The larger window is in the way of where my bathroom wall will be so I need to change them around. I would prefer that the larger window be over the kitchen sink so it works out good. I am also planning on replacing that long lower panel to get rid of the hole in the side where the furnace had vented out. There are a few creases I would like to get rid of as well.

[coloradoup]

Got the new side panel installed. I pulled the windows out to swap them around to accommodate the mid bath I plan to install. I did actually get the windows in but ran out of light before I could snap a photo.

[coloradoup]

Got my new trailer hitch coupler. From here back everything will be new. Well, actually I plan on using the rear bumper but everything else under the shell.

[Bubba L]

That looks really good. It’s a lot of work to replace exterior panels with having to deal with the window frames. But it’s better to do it now than not and later you wished you had. I’m working on a 63 Bambi and there are three exterior panels that have to be replaced. Since you’ve done it and it looks great, you’re welcome to do the Bambi. When time allows, post a picture of the windows installed. Keep us posted.

[57Vintage]

Your coupler is similar to the one I used on mine. Deciding factor was the extra length over the OEM to allow more manuverability, plus the extra weight capacity. I assume like me you won't be very close to the original weight once all the "improvements" are done.