vintage vs. new?

[akacheryl]

What is the opinion about a '78 tradewind for desirability as a vintage model. It has the vinyl patterned dividing walls at the bathroom. some wood want-to-be tambour in the lower kitchen cabinets, and the light colored plastic tambour overhead storage. Looks like a beauty from the outside, but the inside looks like a cross between the earlier 70's and a more modern model. No wood to speak of.

[azflycaster]

In the 70s wood was removed from the interiors to save weight and costs.
The Trade Wind is a nice size trailer that two people and a couple of pets can fit into nicely.

[05ModPod]

I think any trailer will be what you make it....

As far as Vintage is concerned with every year spent in ones life another year of Airstreams becomes eligible to be called vintage.

Heck in 2030 my 05 CCD will be a vintage and I'll be a young 69!! ha the same year as our very first airstream - and that model year was the first year I ever saw an airstream on our very first black and white television watching the moon landing and a week later them astronaughts land in the ocean and stay in the Airstream Quarantine mobile.

Me well I am already double vintage - so who the heck cares...Don't like the plastic replicate it all to wood. Don't like the wood replicate it all to aluminum laminate - or krylon to your hearts content to have an array of "rainbow" colours.

Point is it will be yours so you make it how it makes you happy - cause you are the one using it and sleeping in it and towing it. For the others with opinions - ha well they have their own units to gawk at tee hee.

[akacheryl]

So true. It is so hard to come by the tradewinds. Would love to find an 80 caravelle, but that is harder yet. Traveled to see some pretty bad wreaks last year this one looks promising

[webspinner]

We love our '71 25ft tradewind. The disadvantage of the fake wood interior is that it isn't the most attractive, IMO. This is also its main advantage for us since we feel no qualms about taking it out, bit by bit as we have time, and replacing it with real birch.

We love the size of the trailer. It fits the two of us perfectly and can hold our two adult kids when they join us (or it will when we build the bunk option for over the back dinette).

Here is what our '71 looks like as the birch is gradually spreading throughout. The frame around the kitchen window is formed from 1/8" birch nearly exactly to the dimensions of the original plastic. I'm happy to have it but I wouldn't do it again.

[Gene]

Sandra, are you out there somewhere? How's the restoration going?

Gene

[akacheryl]

Thanks for sharing. I love the birch!, beautiful. I currently have a 17' 64 Frolic full of birch but it is too small for us all to camp, plus tow comfortably being single axle. Thus the debate moving up to a vintage airstream with some character. Makes me think that taking out some faded plastic and putting in the charm is the way to go! Thanks again

[drsbeddor]

Hi Gene,

i am here! i still have my Traveler and she now has new insulation, wiring, inside skins, new hardwood floors, window sealer and screens....well, that's it for now. if i can only figure out how to post photos i would?...

Sandra

[ROBERT CROSS]

It's not vs
It's or

[drsbeddor]

oh, another development is that i am looking for a 25 to 26ft trailer to live in. I'm going Full-Timing for a while. Need to let go off too much overhead and create a little more freedom in my life. so, i'm hoping that i'll find something reasonable that might allow me to still keep the Traveler...otherwise...bye, bye "Buddha"!

Sandra

[Gene]

Sandra,

Have you been camping in the Traveler?

To post photos, click on "go advanced" and the on "manage attachments". You'll get a box with "choose file". Have the photo on your desktop and it'll have a name, so you can find it in the choose file list. Click on the photo you want, then repeat for each photo. This was I can do 4 at a time. You'll see them on the advanced page, and then you can submit. It is pretty easy once you do it a few times.

Gene

[drsbeddor]

thanks Gene, i'll try that. Yes, i have been out just locally with the trailer...like an aluminum tent. so much fun just to have her out and about. but, still dreaming of going on the road one day and putting some miles behind us.

sandra