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nola · 07-05-2006, 08:20 PM

Have been dreaming & searching for a while now, & think I've finally found my airstream! A 74' tradewind, and if all goes well should be picking it up this weekend! I am Very excited and overwhelmed! where to start? ;

lots of projects to go, and am so glad to have this site as a resource, I have been reading through many of the restoration threads already, and appreciate the tons of great info & helpful members. I'm sure once I get into these projects, I'll need all the help I can get, and look forward to learning as I go.
all the best,
Nola

bill benton · 07-05-2006, 08:24 PM

Good luck on the restoration. This is the best place I know of to find out about Airstreams. Please keep us posted and post plenty of pictures.

**Janet H** · 07-05-2006, 08:25 PM

Hi and welcome to the forums. Congrats on your new purchase. consider coming to the trout lake mini rally not too far from your town. We have an active northwest forums group - and most of us are in various stages of repair. here's a link to the rally discussion

cameront120 · 07-05-2006, 10:32 PM

Welcome from a '72 Tradewind owner to the North of you!

nola · 07-07-2006, 01:32 PM

Thanks all for the welcome, we are leaving tomorrow morning to go pick it up! And then, the fun begins.. ;-) will take lots of pics to document the whole process, from it's current humble beginnings (needs some work.. ;-)) and I'm sure will be posting many requests for help

.
Janet- Thanks for the invite for the rally, since we will just be getting in tomorrow night, will have to miss this one, but will definetly be looking for upcoming NW rallies, would be great to meet up with some airstreamers in the area.
whohoo, here we go!

**azflycaster** · 07-07-2006, 01:40 PM

Nola -
Welcome to the forums. I almost bought a 74 Trade Wind when I was looking. I went for a newer one

.......

nola · 07-07-2006, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azflycaster

Nola -
Welcome to the forums. I almost bought a 74 Trade Wind when I was looking. I went for a newer one

.......

Too funny..

ok "youngster"

I'm sure I have a lot too learn from you, have read a lot of your previous posts and learned a lot already, and appreciate the humor too..

A quick one to start with, on your tradewind are you running 1 or 2 batteries (saw a lot of post's around running 2 12's & was wondering there room for 2?) One of the first things I need to do is replace the battery or with 2 batteries, and haven't got it here yet don't know what will fit & am searching prices.. was wondering what you did since I think ours are similar, appreciate any input.

By the way, we are one digit different on something else, my b-day is oct 25th

all the best,
Nola

**azflycaster** · 07-08-2006, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nola

Too funny..

ok "youngster"

I'm sure I have a lot too learn from you, have read a lot of your previous posts and learned a lot already, and appreciate the humor too..

A quick one to start with, on your tradewind are you running 1 or 2 batteries (saw a lot of post's around running 2 12's & was wondering there room for 2?) One of the first things I need to do is replace the battery or with 2 batteries, and haven't got it here yet don't know what will fit & am searching prices.. was wondering what you did since I think ours are similar, appreciate any input.

By the way, we are one digit different on something else, my b-day is oct 25th

all the best,
Nola

I have only one battery. The compartment for the battery is in the rear under the bathroom closet. You would have to redo the box to get 2 in that area and then, would you want that weight that far to the rear. We do not use alot of power when we camp. We can go 3 days with no problem. For extended boondocking I have a Honda eu1000i generator.
As fas as the birthday goes, Scorpios rule

ALANSD · 07-08-2006, 03:48 PM

no rush on the batteries unless you plan on boondocking soon. You can get started on other resto stuff in the meantime. Good luck and welcome.

nola · 07-09-2006, 03:41 PM

Thanks for the replies & info on the battery, I just bought one optima blue top for now, to get things going (old one was toast) figured I can look at whether I want\need more later & you're right, two won't fit without redo'ing the box.
but, the great new is, it's home! we picked it up yesterday afternoon, and got it home last night!! am so excited! It's pretty dirty, but was happy to find more of the interior items worked than I had expected. And the parts for items being worked all are pretty much all stowed away in the cupboards. Has a known issue with the gray water tank being cracked & needing to be replaced, as well as the gas tanks (older ones have gas in them but said they can't be refilled), but the stove, fans, lights, control panel, furnace all work, and seems to be in better general condition aside from some dirt than I remembered it being when we first looked at it. Washing it abit & checking out the rest of the appliances today. A bit overwhelmed but really exicted! Been thinking about this for a long time & here it is sitting in my driveway..wow! ;-) Some first pics.. the people in second is the previous owner Jerry on left and me on right.

juel · 07-09-2006, 03:51 PM

Nice looking trailer. Now you are hooked. It will consume you and you will never have more fun, unless it's when you actually go camping. Congratulations.

leefields · 07-09-2006, 05:05 PM

could we see some interior pics....
i have a 75 Tradewind and have spent all afternoon removing the bathroom to the first split wall....

rear 8 inches of floor rotted out....i have no idea what i am doing but have learned sooooooo much on the forums that i actually felt safe in giving it a go....i have some rot under the front goucho but not really bad just a few inches each corner....

good luck and keep us posted on things...

**azflycaster** · 07-09-2006, 05:07 PM

Nice looking trailer. When I bought mine last year I had the same condition with the propane tanks. I just used them untill one ran out. I then bought new aluminum tanks from VTS. You could get the tanks upgraded if you want to keep them. I think it costs around $30 each to get them upgraded. The aluminum ones cost me $300 which includes shipping. I also spent a few hours polishing them up. Best of luck with your "new" trailer and just ask if you have any questions.....

Airboss · 07-10-2006, 08:33 PM

Nice looking unit Nola,,I had a 1971 Trade Wind.. Have a 30 ft Limited now.. Love them..My daughter had a 23 ft safari 1972 that very nice...You will Love it!!! Ralph 4201KW8G

nola · 07-11-2006, 09:21 PM

Hi All, thanks for the replies, you're right I am hooked..

I've been trying to clean it the past few days, inside & out, as I think it was sitting for a while, and the bathroom....how to put it? well... it wasn't pretty - hadn't been cleaned in a while. Some funny things - when going through the drawers, found it came complete with socks & underwear..

( I was always wondering where the socks seem to disappear to.. now I know!)

tested out most of the other appliances & the only thing I can't get to work yet is the fridge... (not sure if it's just me cuz I don't know how the thing works or what yet) but will try to look at it some more over the next couple of weeks. First priority is the gray water tank & figuring out what I need to do there to get it replaced, it's cracked & broken in several places.. the fun is begining... ;-)
Some interior pics, as I first got it, cleaning underway now, you can see the grey water tank in one pic sitting in the front, they did have the foam beds redone a few years back, and last pic gives you an idea of the bathroom as I started cleaning...eww

**azflycaster** · 07-11-2006, 10:59 PM

The layout of your trailer is the same as my 75. It looks like it is cleaning up nicely! You have the same color countertops

and all. I think the refrigerator is the same too. The controls for mine are inside the unit on the bottom. The unit must be level for the refrigerator to work correctly. It will take several hours before the unit will start to cool down. You will notice the freezer walls getting cold first. Are you trying to run it on shore power or propane?

AZstreamin · 07-11-2006, 11:05 PM

This is your best photo posted.....the celebration

nola · 07-12-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azflycaster

The layout of your trailer is the same as my 75. It looks like it is cleaning up nicely! You have the same color countertops

and all. I think the refrigerator is the same too. The controls for mine are inside the unit on the bottom. The unit must be level for the refrigerator to work correctly. It will take several hours before the unit will start to cool down. You will notice the freezer walls getting cold first. Are you trying to run it on shore power or propane?

Thanks! I was trying to run it on power, but also think that the trailer is not quite level, plus I didn't wait very long (maybe 30 mins) so will try those two things & see how it goes. Thanks for the tips!

& Azstreaming ... yep - we had to have a nice cold beer & celebrate!

all the best!
Nola

TIMEMACHINE · 07-12-2006, 03:28 PM

Two beers will make the work go even faster.....I think?

harestream · 07-12-2006, 03:53 PM

Nice to meet you all. Sounds like good timing on my part to join in the Newbie section, as this is my first posting and introduction to the airstream world as an owner. Just a quick bio to introduce myself to you all.. Me (kelly) and my boyfriend Bill decided to leave our lives in NYC and buy a 1972 Tradewind 25' and live in it and travel around. We are in the process of finding a towing vehicle (ideally we get something which we can convert to bio-diesel) So any suggestions or feedback on towing vehicles is much appreciated. We are very excited about our purchase, and it appears to be in very good shape, although it has been sitting in outdoor storage in MASS for the last few years. We might have a hole underneath, and the interior layout seems to be bothering us more than we thought it would. Somebody with expertiese, please help!! It is a rear bath, twin model. We thought the fold out sofa would be big for us but it seems cramped. Since we need this for everyday we are willing to do a bit of handywork (tight budget) ourselves, to maybe tear out a twin, or somewhow work it in the back to give us a larger sleeping area. Is anybody familliar with websites that show restorations converting a twin model? I would hate to yank it out later realize it wasn't even necessary, or to do it blindly when I should of actualy taken it somewhere. Also, what is under that plastic wall? can I tear that out or will I be left shivering at night with no solid insulation. sometimes i wonder should I of held out, and got a 60's model? the 70's ones are cool, but oh! All the wood laminate. something really needs to be done. UPDATES galore!!!