Hello from Northern Illinois - 1959 Tradewind

[Tradewind59]

Hello all.
We are the new owners of a 1959 Tradewind. We bought it a few months back as a basket case from Minnesota. Slowly we have been learning as much as possible, digging in and pealing back the layers of the onion so to speak. So many threads on here have been a great help already. We are going to do our best to breathe some life back into it and get it back to the level it deserves. The plans are in place so now it's just matter of making the magic happen. Let the adventure begin.

BruceAttachment 418785Attachment 418786Attachment 418788Attachment 418787

[57Vintage]

Looking forward to following your progress.

[moosetags]

Welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us. It's looking good!


Brian

[Bubba L]

Congratulations. When time allows, start a renovation thread so we can follow your progress. Good luck

[Tradewind59]

Originally Posted by 57Vintage

Looking forward to following your progress.

Thank you. Definitely going to try and enjoy the journey.

[Tradewind59]

Originally Posted by moosetags

Welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us. It's looking good!


Brian

Thank you. Happy to be a part of the community.

[Tradewind59]

Originally Posted by Bubba L

Congratulations. When time allows, start a renovation thread so we can follow your progress. Good luck

Thank you. Hoping to start a thread here in the next week or so. I think we have flushed out all the trailers secrets. We are going to make this as right as we can.
The gantry building starts today!

I might just need that luck....

[dbj216]

Hello and welcome from Colorado; formally from Iowa and Minnesota. I think you will enjoy the vintage Airstream hobby. I know I sure do, and I enjoy all the great folks I have met on these Forums. It takes a village as they say.

My first vintage Airstream was a 1966 Trade Wind 24'. There were certainly changes in it from the 59 Trade Wind. Maybe some of them not for the best. I spent a couple Minnesota winters renovating my Trade Wind and feel it ended up a comfortable and reliable travel trailer. I sold it to start another project trailer. Here are some photos I thought you may be interested in.

My rear bath subfloor was rotted badly, the toilet was broken, the black tank was worthless in my view, there was no grey water tank, and the previous owner didn't trust propane so they removed the fridge, stove, water heater and furnace. Wasn't a very useful travel trailer. I built a new bath, installed decent black and grey water tanks, new plumbing, new axles, and much more. Costa lotta.

So yes, start a "project thread" in the Knowledge Base. Many of us would enjoy watching you bring this lovely old Trade Wind back on the road again.

David

[GetawA-S]

Tradewind59,
It’s nice to see a trailer that’s (almost) as old as me fall into good hands. When my wife and I are playing “Spot the Airstream” driving down the interstate, it’s always a thrill to see one of the vintage ones.
Good luck with your rebuild and your travels!

[Tradewind59]

Originally Posted by dbj216

Hello and welcome from Colorado; formally from Iowa and Minnesota. I think you will enjoy the vintage Airstream hobby. I know I sure do, and I enjoy all the great folks I have met on these Forums. It takes a village as they say.



My first vintage Airstream was a 1966 Trade Wind 24'. There were certainly changes in it from the 59 Trade Wind. Maybe some of them not for the best. I spent a couple Minnesota winters renovating my Trade Wind and feel it ended up a comfortable and reliable travel trailer. I sold it to start another project trailer. Here are some photos I thought you may be interested in.



My rear bath subfloor was rotted badly, the toilet was broken, the black tank was worthless in my view, there was no grey water tank, and the previous owner didn't trust propane so they removed the fridge, stove, water heater and furnace. Wasn't a very useful travel trailer. I built a new bath, installed decent black and grey water tanks, new plumbing, new axles, and much more. Costa lotta.



So yes, start a "project thread" in the Knowledge Base. Many of us would enjoy watching you bring this lovely old Trade Wind back on the road again.



David

David
Very nice work on the 66. It's a good looking trailer. In side and out. Despite the seemingly endless layers of onion to be peeled... I am enjoying the process. In for a penny, in for a pound I suppose. We love the size and looks of the trailer. Ours was missing essentially the entire interior cabinetry, furniture, and bathroom. I attached some pictures of the interior as purchased. We did get working original appliances and a ton of other tools, addons, and parts with it. It went through a few rounds of well intentioned and unfinished rounds of work in the last 10 years or so. So at this point a true blank slate I suppose. Gantrys are done and ready for lift off in couple weeks. I appreciate the support

Bruce

[Tradewind59]

Originally Posted by GetawA-S

Tradewind59,
It’s nice to see a trailer that’s (almost) as old as me fall into good hands. When my wife and I are playing “Spot the Airstream” driving down the interstate, it’s always a thrill to see one of the vintage ones.
Good luck with your rebuild and your travels!

GetawA-S
Thanks for support. We enjoy that game while driving as well. We are exited to get it back on the road. Hopefully the work we are doing will allow her another 63 years on the road.

Bruce

[dbj216]

You are starting with a "blank slate" as they say. You can design and build the interior to your liking. I find Airstream interior designs are hard to beat. Our friends in Japan are masters at small space design and efficiency. Anyway, spend extra time on the interior design to make it good.

I spent time on my new bath design, and it is okay I suppose. But one thing I regret is the space I used up installing the shower. It is 24x24" and turned out too small to be comfortable. A guy can get wet in there, but not much more, and don't drop the soap. The plastic bathtub Airstream originally installed with a shower curtain around it maybe makes more sense.

The design phase is more fun for me than the building phase.

David

[Tradewind59]

Originally Posted by dbj216

You are starting with a "blank slate" as they say. You can design and build the interior to your liking. I find Airstream interior designs are hard to beat. Our friends in Japan are masters at small space design and efficiency. Anyway, spend extra time on the interior design to make it good.

I spent time on my new bath design, and it is okay I suppose. But one thing I regret is the space I used up installing the shower. It is 24x24" and turned out too small to be comfortable. A guy can get wet in there, but not much more, and don't drop the soap. The plastic bathtub Airstream originally installed with a shower curtain around it maybe makes more sense.

The design phase is more fun for me than the building phase.

David

David
Yep your are correct on a few counts. The design is more fun. Or at least much less work. And yes the original layouts make a ton of sense. Very well thought out.

We have two layouts currently that are in the mix. One very close to one of the factory configurations. But undoubtedly neither will be the winner...ha.

The bathroom looks good. Good tip about the the shower for sure. Thanks for that. Wish I had the tub. I don't see them pop up for sale often. It looks like ours originally had the curbside rear wet bath style toilet in the shower. Cabinets on the streetside rear.

Happy 4th

Bruce

[dbj216]

It's your Colorado pest again. You have likely studied the Airstream Document Archives concerning the 1959 Trade Wind. It gives the specifications and floor plans available as well as marketing hype. I refer to them now and then. I understand the California built trailers could be different than the Ohio built trailers. So forgive me if I am linking something you read months ago.

https://www.airstream.com/wp-content...e-wind-130.pdf

Speaking of 1959, the first vintage Airstream I considered buying was a 1959 Overlander 26'. It was in my native Minnesota and seeming in good condition considering its age (unlike me.) The Overlander was just a longer Trade Wind with a bit bigger galley and front room. I didn't buy this trailer as it did not have dual axles. It seemed like a trailer that wanted to sway just sitting there.

David

[Tradewind59]

Originally Posted by dbj216

It's your Colorado pest again. You have likely studied the Airstream Document Archives concerning the 1959 Trade Wind. It gives the specifications and floor plans available as well as marketing hype. I refer to them now and then. I understand the California built trailers could be different than the Ohio built trailers. So forgive me if I am linking something you read months ago.



https://www.airstream.com/wp-content...e-wind-130.pdf



Speaking of 1959, the first vintage Airstream I considered buying was a 1959 Overlander 26'. It was in my native Minnesota and seeming in good condition considering its age (unlike me.) The Overlander was just a longer Trade Wind with a bit bigger galley and front room. I didn't buy this trailer as it did not have dual axles. It seemed like a trailer that wanted to sway just sitting there.



David

David
Not a pest at all. I have read a good number of your posts in various threads and they have been very helpful.

I do have the brochure you linked. And as best I can tell that was the original layout of ours. I did find a couple pictures of our trailer here on the forum from just after it got pulled out of the forest a little over a decade ago. There was a couple of interior pictures of its pre gutted state before I acquired it. I will likely post those when I start the renovation thread.

That overlander does look nice. But yep that is a long single axle trailer for sure. That was a major knock on the Tradewind for me for sure as well. Still not necessarily fully comfortable with it. But hey life is about compromise I suppose. And less money in tires so I've got that going. I was impressed with the lack of sway with our trailer. It was a 6 hour drive, no swaybars(wouldn't fit), trailer brakes that weren't working and fairly empty, oh and 25 mph winds all day and it towed very well. So that was a good start.
Your Insights and comments are always welcome. I will be the pest soon enough I am sure

Bruce

[57Vintage]

If you decide staying with the single axle and leaf springs, I would suggest consider converting to a straight axle instead of the dropped axle. That alone will give you a 4" rise in ground clearance. Also, suggest looking at having new leaf springs made with a higher load rating to compensate for all the additional items that come with today's models. This applies to the axle rating also.

Originally, I just had the leaf springs rebuilt/re-arched. After we were close to finished, except for some interior trim I reweighed the trailer and found I was at the edge of being overloaded. That also gives you the opportunity to have them redesigned with more arch to add a little more ground clearance.

First day owned.



3 years ago with re-arched springs, straight axle (5.2K rating), oversized tires



Current with new springs, 2nd new axle (7K rating), oversized tires



Note: The oversized tires are more about load rating than wanting that large a diameter. At my last weigh in, WD on, the axle was carrying 5200 lbs.

Clearance to the belly pan ~ 18", clearance at the stairs (2 step) ~10".

Would also recommend you consider going to EOH disc brakes. With the weight and a single axle electric brakes did not give me any comfort level.

[Tradewind59]

Originally Posted by 57Vintage

If you decide staying with the single axle and leaf springs, I would suggest consider converting to a straight axle instead of the dropped axle. That alone will give you a 4" rise in ground clearance. Also, suggest looking at having new leaf springs made with a higher load rating to compensate for all the additional items that come with today's models. This applies to the axle rating also.

Originally, I just had the leaf springs rebuilt/re-arched. After we were close to finished, except for some interior trim I reweighed the trailer and found I was at the edge of being overloaded. That also gives you the opportunity to have them redesigned with more arch to add a little more ground clearance.

First day owned.

Attachment 419013

3 years ago with re-arched springs, straight axle (5.2K rating), oversized tires

Attachment 419014

Current with new springs, 2nd new axle (7K rating), oversized tires

Attachment 419015

Note: The oversized tires are more about load rating than wanting that large a diameter. At my last weigh in, WD on, the axle was carrying 5200 lbs.

Clearance to the belly pan ~ 18", clearance at the stairs (2 step) ~10".

Would also recommend you consider going to EOH disc brakes. With the weight and a single axle electric brakes did not give me any comfort level.

57Vintage

Beautiful trailer. Thank you for the tips and recommendations. The dropped axle is Insanely low to the ground. 18" would be a great improvement on the clearance for sure. The EOH disc was definitely on my radar. Still debating the leaf/torsion setup. Good and bad about both I suppose. Looks like I have about 1 more week to decide.

Thanks again for the suggestions and information. And nice job on the trailer. I do love the 50's trailers.

Bruce

[MrRivet]

Looks like a great project! We will be looking forward to watching your progress.

Safe Travels!!
Tim

[steinVT]

What a nice clean trailer, good find. Amazed how clean the inner walls are, no corrosion. And even the floor doesn't look terrible. I've seen much worse. Make sure to post here when you start your new thread, so we can all follow along. Have fun - Mark

[1959AS]

Did your 1959 Trade Wind have plasticoat? How did you shine her up?