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Tony S · 11-18-2015, 01:28 PM

Keeping a trailer serviceable is the way to go. It was really tough not meeting desired dated a couple time last summer. Still working on the thing shhhsssh

Also thanks for the complement.

Tony

Tony S · 11-18-2015, 08:23 PM

Duct work running to the back of the trailer from the new Suburban Furnace under the sink. Also a good shot of the electric in the nonmetalic flex.

All neat and tidy and out of the way. One thing I did do differently is on of the duct work terminates under the shower pan. The heated air permeates under it and then out heating the bathroom. Another run terminates toward the front of it. Just past the twin. You can see my use of mixed woods in the framework of the bed. I didn't think pine was the best choice for the horizontal members so I used the sapale for it.

Tony

Tony S · 11-18-2015, 08:54 PM

So for the plumbing I thought it would be fun to show the before and afters. I replaced all with PEX

What I did with the plumbing is isolate all the component parts so if anything goes wrong on the road I can turn off the valves and still use everything else until I can get home and fix it. This had its costs. The money to do it was one thing but it caused me to sit on that 5 gallon bucket a lot and scratch my head. The valves take up space and complicate matters. I don’t think I am far off when I say there is almost as much plumbing in the trailer as a small house.

I took the advice of the panel pro on the VAP ( for new people, that is the Vintage Airstream Podcast, The Vintage Airstream Podcast | Vintage Trailer Restoration ) and put hot and cold drain valves in the front and back of the trailer so at the end of the season when leave for home just open them both up and let all the water drain out as you rock and roll along, to self winterize.

It all adds work but I think it will be worth it. At least I get the satisfaction of knowing I did the best job I knew how to do at the time.

So when you look at the before remember this was a pretty nice trailer. I paid a good price for it after looking for 9 months and learning what to beware of.

Notice all the valves for the reasons I mentioned above to allow me to isolate a given area for repair or continued use while on the road

Tony

veratipton · 11-18-2015, 09:10 PM

absolutely amazing

Chuck · 11-19-2015, 04:34 AM

Is the height of the new street-side bunk higher than original? I seem to be remembering that the original is just barely above the wheel well...looking at that new heat duct has me thinking...
I've been going back and forth on the notion of keeping the furnace, at all, because we hardly ever used it, they're expensive, and take up a lot of space.
I don't have that closet between the bunk and the shower; that's where the space difference is between Safari and Tradewind (hence, the plumbing entrance quandary that I mentioned before). I was thinking of moving it to the spot where you put your electric entrance. There was no storage compartment in that spot on the original bunk, as it housed the heat duct/outlet.
What are the electric conduits for?

Tony S · 11-19-2015, 08:22 AM

Chuck

The flex conduit is for a new circuit servicing both sides of the new gaucho. One is dedicated circuit for the microwave. The other one is DC for the water heater. I also had another DC line run on the curb side for the new refrigerator. The 110 was already there.

The height of bed I believe is a little higher. I wanted to accommodate 2 banks of drawers.

My wife wanted the New Furnace. She wanted it to keep the Airstream complete and fully functioning like it was originally. To keep its value. I don't know maybe for resale. Guess what I don't foresee reselling the Tradewind. Not after the work and money I put into it. Also I must say I don't know if she is right or not about having it, she is often right. I am with you it takes a lot of room up. I am sure some cold morning in Yellowstone or somewhere have that new 30,000 btu furnace blasting and think we died and went to heaven. Speaking of dying and going to heaven I am not doing the propane myself. I am off today to talk with an RV outfit I heard was good.

Tony

Minno · 11-19-2015, 08:22 AM

Wow, I LOVE LOVE LOVE that woodwork! Beautiful grain! One of my favorite things is that first coat of finish on wood - just pops the grain out beautifully. You have done a wonderful job! We also spent a lot of time on our trailer, but count it now as very well worth it. We really enjoy the trailer, and our fellow MN WBCCI members always point new people to our trailer as "the one to see". That alone tells us it was worth it, along with our comfort.
Chuck: we use our furnace in spring and fall. Even if you winter in Texas, Arizona, Florida they get cold snaps. You can use a space heater, but what if you don't have electric? Just playing devils advocate ...

Kay

Chuck · 11-19-2015, 08:51 AM

Well, if you run that thing while you're boondocking in yellowstone, you may wake up and find that your battery has died and gone to heaven, instead.

They use so much electricity, unless you have a giant $olar array on the roof, you might as well consider it to require a 110v hookup....in which case, why not just use an electric heater? (my attitude, anyway).
But its IN, so its a moot point. It is nice to just turn the dial, and heat the trailer from 40 to 70F in about 5 minutes.

Minno · 11-19-2015, 12:54 PM

We have 2 golf cart AGM batteries. We have boondocked with the furnace on for 5 days without battery loss. If you're losing batteries after a night, maybe you need new batteries?

Kay

Chuck · 11-19-2015, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minno

We have 2 golf cart AGM batteries. We have boondocked with the furnace on for 5 days without battery loss. If you're losing batteries after a night, maybe you need new batteries?

Kay

well...MORE/bigger batteries. I think 2 6v agms are probably 4-5 times the capacity of a single group 27 wet cell, so....yeah, sounds about right.

Bigger trailers also have the room for both big furnaces, and big batteries. In these smaller units, you have to decide what is worth more--convenient heat, or storage space. no wrong answers!

Bullit · 11-19-2015, 04:03 PM

Incredible work! That wood and what you have done with it is amazing. The behind the scenes woodworking plumbing and duct work is very helpful and inspirational. Thank You!

Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

Tony S · 11-19-2015, 05:34 PM

Chuck, you are right about no hook ups at Yellowstone. I forgot we stayed just outside the park when we went with a tent trailer. Snowed day we arrived 7 degrees one night.

Thanks for the complements. I worry it looked like I was fishing for them. I am glad it has helped a few of you out. I have been helped so much from all the folks here. It is rewarding to know I can help others to some degree in return.

Tony

I have a few more things to post

Tony

Tony S · 11-20-2015, 11:21 PM

So back to some less sexy work. Had water accumulating between the double (pain) pane windows so I busted the inside one out by using some duct tape and then a punch. Its safety glass so pretty safe. You do have to worry about hitting the second one.

Other pictures: I removed the old obsolete antenna and patched it. Came out nicely, I think.

Added last picture to show results of window. Nice and clear. I actually, had bought a replacement from VTS, but didn't use it. Kept if for just incase. Also a picture of the finished patch.

Tony

Tony S · 11-29-2015, 06:45 PM

Hi Folks

Thought I would show some of the latest cabinetry. Figuring out how to effectively cover the electrical system was the most difficult. Easy to see it once done but getting there was getting back on the 5 gallon bucket and think a bit.

I am happy with the result. I kept it light with mostly cedar where strength was not needed. I wanted to keep it kind of 60's kind of industrial. I think, hope, I did that. I was aware of heat build up and tried to have plenty of air circulation

Also shown is the figured cedar face to the shower pan. It allows access to some of the plumbing. It was coated with epoxy and varnished with several coats. The upper top edge had a strip of stronger mahogany glued on it.

Also shown is a cedar storage box that also stands tall to help keep shoe placed behind it in place.

So I think things are in a good place with the trailer, most everything I do is not a precursor step to something else.

Sorry the pictures are out of order. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Tony

Mixter · 12-03-2015, 07:18 AM

Nice work! Love to watch what others are doing for ideas and inspiration. I hope to eventually post my journey.

This cracked me up. And no one understands why its taking so long

Quote by Tony S
A lot of the time on the this job is spent sitting on an upside down 5 gallon bucket, in the trailer, looking off into the near distance trying to figure out what needs to be done, what could be done, what I wanted to do and what could be done and what was I forgetting to do, and what was the implications of what I was forgetting to do. And oh, was there a better way to do it. This stuff as the over used phrase say "ain’t rocket science" but the difference of a good job or bad can be out of this world,

Tony S · 12-12-2015, 10:29 PM

Yup, Lots of sitting on a bucket thinking. Ain't it the truth

Now I need to get working on it. I find it hard to switch back and forth between projects

Tony

samb · 12-12-2015, 11:34 PM

I sat on a bucket for a short time staring toward the back of my gutted '61 Safari. Then I got smarter, drug in the most comfortable chair I could get through the door along with a small table to hold my coffee cup, then sat for a long time wondering what on earth I had gotten myself into. Many cups of coffee later (sitting in a comfortable chair) I figured out how to use a joggle stick to transfer those compound, decreasing radius curves from the trailer to a new piece of wood.

That chair was the best thing I did in the trailer.

Sam

Tony S · 08-13-2016, 09:08 AM

Hi Folks

I have been slowly wrapping up this phase of the project. I am very pleased with the upholstery work that I outsourced locally. The only thing is I bought a lot of different fabric until I settled on the ones I did. I have enough for a couple other trailers, along with Marmoleum for one and other materials. I have to find another trailer or eventually sell them off.

I also got the propane done by someone else. I am currently working on the slide out pantry with a shelf above it. I have done some more detail work in the head and will post some pictures soon.

Shake out run is soon

Tony

Glenritas · 08-13-2016, 10:28 AM

Great project , beautiful wood work !

I wonder if you could post a few pictures and description of the gaucho and how it works ?

I have to come up with a better way to deploy our side gaucho . The original takes a bunch of grunt to set up and take down.

Heck I've even considered an Ikea bed that would have to be raised up to clear the wheel well.

Thanks, Glen

Tony S · 08-13-2016, 01:11 PM

Thank you,

If you go to entry 38 page 3 of this post, it shows 2 pictures one of the gaucho open and one closed. I used big 500 lbs pound capacity drawer slides. 4 of them. If you look at the 4th picture you will see the gaucho interior structure. Very simple once I figured it out. It is a series of open web panels. I mortised and tenon mine. I was very cautious of the weight of what I was building through out the trailer, but the drawer slides at 33 lbs was a bit of a weight splurge but I didn’t want to fight the gaucho either. When it is open or closed I drop a “pin” threw a hole in the sliding part that has a block glued to it with the hole in it. Then the pin drops into a hole on the fixed base part of the gaucho and locks it in the desired position open or closed. The back is hinged with a piano hinge. I will see what pictures I have to help further.

Good luck

Tony