aluminum and/or copper in what years?

[rayandre]

I'm getting close to purchasing a tradewind or an overlander-I'm looking at 64-70 units. I've read some threads about the issues of aluminum being used, then they switched to copper romex, then they had a shortage during the Vietnam war. So I'm left wondering if a 64 Overlander would be mostly aluminum and the 70 Overlander all Romex-assuming that they haven't been gutted and rewired of course. If there's a cut-off period where Airstream stopped using aluminum that would be helpful to know when looking to buy. Thanks!

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by rayandre

I'm getting close to purchasing a tradewind or an overlander-I'm looking at 64-70 units. I've read some threads about the issues of aluminum being used, then they switched to copper romex, then they had a shortage during the Vietnam war. So I'm left wondering if a 64 Overlander would be mostly aluminum and the 70 Overlander all Romex-assuming that they haven't been gutted and rewired of course. If there's a cut-off period where Airstream stopped using aluminum that would be helpful to know when looking to buy. Thanks!

The 64's and 70's, only used copper wire.

The aluminum wire was used in 1967.

Andy

[rayandre]

Thanks a lot-now my wife and I duke it out between the 64 and 70 Overlanders!

[TouringDan]

Ray

We have a 66TW. The 12v wiring is aluminum. The 120v wiring is copper.

Dan

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by rayandre

Thanks a lot-now my wife and I duke it out between the 64 and 70 Overlanders!

Not much to compare between those 2.

The 70 has so many more nice things than the 64.

Better appliances, larger AC, far better windows (tempered instead of just glass), better overall design, bigger water and holding tank, larger coupler for safety, and perhaps axles that are not yet dead. The 70 also has wider axles for better towing stability, and a 12 volt DC system with a built in charger.

But, it also depends on how those 2 have been treated as well as maintained.

Andy

[rayandre]

Thanks for the additional info. Can someone tell me if there are points on the 64 where the 12v aluminum connects to the copper? I read that these points have an issue for corrossion. Just to clarify: the 64 TW does not recharge the 12v battery system or it does?

[SilverHoot]

Like Andy said above, 64 uses only copper wire.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by rayandre

Thanks for the additional info. Can someone tell me if there are points on the 64 where the 12v aluminum connects to the copper? I read that these points have an issue for corrossion. Just to clarify: the 64 TW does not recharge the 12v battery system or it does?

Unless someone has modified the electrical system, a 64 does not have the ability to charge a battery.

Andy