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Old 04-17-2014, 05:57 PM   #1
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Navy family in Pensacola just bought our first Airstream!

Hello our family (wife and 2 boys) just purchased a 1977 Tradewind. This has been on our bucket list forever and we are very excited. The Tradewind needs plenty of work and this forum has already been a lifesaver. Anyone in the pensacola area?Click image for larger version

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Old 04-17-2014, 06:21 PM   #2
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MillertimeUS - Great to have another military family joining the Airstream Forums family. Many thanks for your service & family sacrifices. You'll love your Airstream, and as you've already found out, this forums will become your "go to" source for almost any sort of information you will need. Welcome.
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Old 04-17-2014, 06:50 PM   #3
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Congradulations. as you probably already know the military have some great camp sites.
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Old 04-17-2014, 07:50 PM   #4
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Millertime,

How about the Pensacola Florida Unit: http://www.wbcci.org/home/regions-an...sacola-florida

If you drop by there say hi to Herb and Sidra for me.

Bill

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Hello our family (wife and 2 boys) just purchased a 1977 Tradewind. This has been on our bucket list forever and we are very excited. The Tradewind needs plenty of work and this forum has already been a lifesaver. Anyone in the pensacola area?Attachment 209873
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Old 04-17-2014, 08:17 PM   #5
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Thanks all, I know there is an airstream park nearby that has meets every 3 weeks. Was planning on getting out to one soon with the family.

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Old 04-17-2014, 08:30 PM   #6
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EXCELLENT! We live in Birmingham and will be going down to camp at the gulf 1-2 x annually at least I suspect...my wife loves pensacola and many other beaches down there.

I hope as things go along you will give me some great camping info in your area

Good Luck!
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Old 04-17-2014, 08:41 PM   #7
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I can just picture the boys jumping up and down when you tell them were going camping. Heck I still jump at the thought of camping. You deserve this for keeping us free....thank you.
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Old 04-17-2014, 09:04 PM   #8
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Well, we both served in the Navy at separate times in Pensacola a loooong time ago. And we have been back to the Oak Grove campground right at the beach there, nice place. A great Naval Aviation museum next door for all history fans, and all are welcome.

Congratulations on your Airstream, you'll love it, might remind you of an old airplane inside. I'll bet there are some Aviation Structural Mechanics around there with some tips on fixing riveted aluminum.
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Old 04-17-2014, 09:23 PM   #9
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Ha! On our last deployment we brought cheap camping a chairs to sit out on the deck. Within a month I was buying the Mechs beer so they would rivet my chair back together after all the salt spray destroyed the cheap steel rivets!
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Old 04-21-2014, 07:59 AM   #10
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All, I have a heavy heart this morning. I found the back bathroom floor all rotted under the the sink area. Missed it during my now pathetic attempt at an inspection. Classic new airstreamer mistake.... Anyways I have already pulled out most of the bathroom to get started on the repair. Going to stop by a local specialist to have them check out the frame underneath. I need a ton of advice. Should I go ahead and drop the belly skin, really get a full look at what we are dealing with? The rest of the floor is good, some areas a little damp after a hard Florida rain, obviously some seams I need to seal up but no rot.

The guy I bought it from was a nice guy and I am still 50/50 if he ever knew. The black tank had been sawn through also looks like someone dropped something down the toilet and needed it back BAD. Pics to follow. I contacted him and told him what I found. He was sympathetic but unwilling to help, even though I paid a price deserving of a SOLID floor. I feel like such an idiot!Click image for larger version

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Old 04-21-2014, 08:13 AM   #11
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Welcome to the forums, Millertime! Wow, your black tank looks "interesting". Probably want to replace that baby - don't want it to fail when full!
Rear end rot is classic as you probably already know. We re-did our entire floor, and it's a job, no mistake. Hopefully you can get away with replacing just that section.
Hubby is former Navy, oldest son is currently in on 16th year. Thank you for your service.


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Old 04-21-2014, 06:51 PM   #12
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Yes pull the skins so you know what you are dealing with.

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Old 04-21-2014, 08:53 PM   #13
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Hi Millertime,
We are not too far from you, just an hour down the road in Mobile, AL.
We are very new to Airstream campers, so no advise on repairs, but sending a big welcome your way.
Hope that in no time you and your family will be camping in your Airstream.
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Old 04-21-2014, 09:14 PM   #14
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millertime do not beat yourself up but instead roll up the sleeves and get to work! First there should be an access to the back end under the bath and that is where you need to look first and you really do not need to drop any skins to do that. you will need to cut back to solid floor and pull the rotten stuff out then look from the top. your po probably clears himself with let the buyer beware so forget about him and concentrate on the task at hand. next go to the forum tab then select trailers then your make and year. you will find plenty of gouge there for doing your repair. sorry to hear about the sneek but we all run into a scumbag every once in a while. enjoy your trailer and make some good memories for it.
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Old 04-22-2014, 05:52 AM   #15
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Thanks all for the motivation and encouragement. Semper Fi Gunny! We were at stationed at mcbh Kaneohe bay before we came here to train new navy/marine aviators.

That rear pan on ours is rusted through pretty badly. I have all the bolts off but one that I might have to cut off with an angle grinder. Question, the streetside dump valve handle runs through the pan and is holding it up from dropping. How does that come out? I have twisted it counter clockwise quite a bit so it doesn't seem threaded.

I was going to have a sheet metal shop locally make me a new rear pan and also get the one under the middle fresh tank. I haven't seen those for sale online.
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Old 04-22-2014, 03:28 PM   #16
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Some have a pin or cotter key but the majority of them are threaded into a barrel nut and can take a few more turns to get them loose. Local hvac prefab shops will make anything that you may need and not charge a fortune but are limited as to the gauge of metal they can work with. At cherry point now but last duty station was Memphis which I was not so fond of. Lots of info here and all the help and opinions you could ask for including mine! Welcome
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Old 04-22-2014, 06:13 PM   #17
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Welcome to the Airforums. Each January there is a rally at Top Sail State Park which is very close to you. It is call "Canopener" You may want to put it on your calendar as an incentive.
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Old 04-22-2014, 06:35 PM   #18
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That is perfect since we PCS (permanent change of station) at the end of January and our plan is a cross country adventure. What a great start that would be.
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Old 04-23-2014, 10:39 AM   #19
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We will see you there
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Old 04-23-2014, 05:50 PM   #20
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That is perfect since we PCS (permanent change of station) at the end of January and our plan is a cross country adventure. What a great start that would be.
Don't waste time in making your reservation! You can see everone who is coming in the tread "canoper 2015" , under the "forum rallies" in the " rally and caravans" headings. If I knew how to post the link, I would have a job which would pay me daily what I make in a year now...
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