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xploretx · 11-09-2005, 06:51 AM

Hey all,

I just bought my first TT, a 79 Ambassador (International) from my brother-in-law. After reading the awesome postings and knowledge here I believe it is in pretty good shape. I'm kinda annal, so it will be a great hobby. So far, its obvious problems are the front curb side lower pannel is bent and punctured (I guess from turning too sharp) and s/b replaced. One pocket door has a broken glide on top and the door dangles. Can use some polishing, don't know yet the condition of the coating if any left

. Great how easy it tows. I think its been stored less than a year.

I'm relocating (selling old house, looking for new one (w/ room for AS)) and have it parked at an RV park near Tylor, Tx. Looking forward to this weekend to see what works. Sorry for rambling on, but am exitied.
Many thanks
Pete

87MH · 11-09-2005, 07:05 AM

Xplortex:

The Tyler State Park has some GREAT campsites.

Try to make the Blanco Forum Rally on Dec. 9 - 11 if you can.

Congrats on your new project...

StingrayL82 · 11-09-2005, 07:18 AM

Pete,

Welcome to the family. I hope all your systems work, and that your needed repairs are minimal.

Frederic

Boondocker · 11-09-2005, 08:27 AM

Congrats and happy streaming

balrgn · 11-09-2005, 02:29 PM

Happy Camping and Welcome to the Forum. Looking forward to your tales!

rebel beck · 11-09-2005, 06:42 PM

We to are new. We picked our trailor up last weekend and are thrilled. For 2 months I combed this forum to get ideas and questions answered. We were lucky we found a 75 with the twins in the back, but the twins are to small for us so we are taking them out and replacing with a queen. That is the only change we are going to do. And a whole lot of cosmetic work. This forum is just great it has helped me in so many way's.

Becky

overlander63 · 11-09-2005, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebel beck

We were lucky we found a 75 with the twins in the back, but the twins are to small for us so we are taking them out and replacing with a queen. Becky

Becky, those twins aren't quite twins, you can extend the bedframe out about 3" or so on each one, you would be suprised how much more room a few inches is.

balrgn · 11-10-2005, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rebel beck

We to are new. We picked our trailor up last weekend and are thrilled. For 2 months I combed this forum to get ideas and questions answered. We were lucky we found a 75 with the twins in the back, but the twins are to small for us so we are taking them out and replacing with a queen. That is the only change we are going to do. And a whole lot of cosmetic work. This forum is just great it has helped me in so many way's.

Becky

We found the Twins in our '75 to be too much of a hassle, First I made a pieces of 3/4" plywood to bridge between the mattresses. At night we would place in the plywood, that fit under the mattresses and pulled the two together. That effectively gave us a Queen size, however it blocked the hall to the bath. After a while we decided to put a gaucho in place of one of the twins and a storage space where the other is.

http://www.balrgn.com/Airstream/Gaucho/Gaucho.htm

We absolutly love the bed and the additional storage!

juel · 11-10-2005, 04:47 AM

Pictures, remember pictures. We all want to see what you've gotten and what you do with it. Welcome to our family. You are in for a great time with your "new" Airstreams.

xploretx · 11-10-2005, 06:57 AM

Thanks all. I will take some pics when I can.

We have it parked at Whispering Pines North of Tyler for a month, that's near the state park (I think). I'm overloaded at my new new job till the end of the year, but I sure would like to make Blanco. I lived near Canyon Lake for a while so I'm familiar with Banco, great area.

Thanks again
Pete

dieterdog · 11-10-2005, 07:27 AM

HI all, am new to the vintage and am thinking about a 66 tradewind. major problem is no gray water tank. anyone in either the montana or washington oregon areas that could point me in the right direction for installing one? am not a plumber, so need to have this work contracted. thanks, dieterdog

overlander63 · 11-10-2005, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieterdog

HI all, am new to the vintage and am thinking about a 66 tradewind. major problem is no gray water tank. anyone in either the montana or washington oregon areas that could point me in the right direction for installing one? am not a plumber, so need to have this work contracted. thanks, dieterdog

Having a grey tank installed is not a major undertaking. Our Argosy 20 had a grey tank retrofitted under the bellypan (not the best choice, but it worked well). There is not reason the same thing couldn't be done with your Tradewind, although I would try to get it installed within the belly pan, just so you won't have problems with the water freezing in cold weather.

uwe · 11-10-2005, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander63

Having a grey tank installed is not a major undertaking.

I beg to differ.....adding a grey tank and doing it safely and properly is definitely a major job.
dieterdogs idea of getting this done prefessionally sounds like a good idea to me.
Perhaps visiting local Airstream dealers and RV shops might reveal a source for a realiable and honest installer.

xploretx · 12-19-2005, 07:23 AM

Finally have a picture to test uploading. I'm at work so this is the best view right now. Hope this works and the pic is not too big.

Thanks
Pete

Boondocker · 12-19-2005, 08:10 AM

nice looking coach you got there

**azflycaster** · 12-19-2005, 10:23 AM

Yes, nice looking trailer, it looks familiar, has that picture been posted before on this forum / ebay?

Swanny · 12-19-2005, 11:25 AM

And who said the 70's weren't fun?

We have a 75 Excella 500 and have finally finished with the interior rework. That includes a pergo floor up front and new carpet in the rear bedroom.

We (which means me) installed a 20" LCD television and replaced the drapes throughout the AS. The thing looks good as new

Now our next project is polishing the exterior which will begin once the weather permits.

For those of you who are in Texas, a few of my friends and I are heading to Padre Island Nat'l Seashore over the New Year's weekend. Yeah they own SOB's but I'm not picky.

Mitch

GetOutDoors · 12-19-2005, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieterdog

HI all, am new to the vintage and am thinking about a 66 tradewind. major problem is no gray water tank. anyone in either the montana or washington oregon areas that could point me in the right direction for installing one? am not a plumber, so need to have this work contracted. thanks, dieterdog

There are a few things you want to consider regarding the frames in the '66 before you decide to install a gray tank: they were made light (not engineered for the force of gray liquid splashing around)!!

I am in the process of completely rebuilding my 66 Safari: having had it stripped to the frame and making minor frame repairs. After talking with "experts" who have worked with Airstreams for 30 years or more, I was advised to keep the gray tank size to 8 gallons, if any at all!! Needless to say, 8 gallons wasn't worth the cost or effort to install (and I had a bare frame)!!

Also, if you do decide to add a gray tank, place it as close to the axle as possible.

Calvin

balrgn · 12-19-2005, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spiffy Gem

There are a few things you want to consider regarding the frames in the '66 before you decide to install a gray tank: they were made light (not engineered for the force of gray liquid splashing around)!!

I am in the process of completely rebuilding my 66 Safari: having had it stripped to the frame and making minor frame repairs. After talking with "experts" who have worked with Airstreams for 30 years or more, I was advised to keep the gray tank size to 8 gallons, if any at all!! Needless to say, 8 gallons wasn't worth the cost or effort to install (and I had a bare frame)!!

Also, if you do decide to add a gray tank, place it as close to the axle as possible.

Calvin

(FYI)
I think dieterdog just purchaed a '76 Argosy.......
The '76's have 2 tanks, altho not large ones.

dieterdog · 12-19-2005, 03:19 PM

hi all, did not purchase the 1966 trade wind,,,, did purchase the 1976 argosy as mentioned above. am excited and cannot wait to see it on january 10th. dieterdog