Need advice on new layouts, cancelling windows, etc.

[Minno]

We've been hashing (and hashing, and hashing, and hashing...) over our new layout for our '72 Soverign. I'm trying NOT to move windows, leave useable hatches, etc. but it's difficult at best. Chris is wanting to move windows, but I'm concerned about how patches would look on the outside. It's difficult to come up with a new layout within the footprint of the old trailer layout since we're changing the bedroom to the rear, putting the bathroom on streetside. It will make some of our hatches unuseable and we know we'll have to patch the area where the water heater was (in the rear bathroom) since that will now be the walkway to our bed. How have others dealt with these issues? Any ideas?
And how hard ARE those windows to move? If we moved 2 side ones back further into our new bedroom area, they don't look like they'll fit between the ribs we think are back there. Is there a way to deal with that or is it not doable to move 32inch windows in between 25 inch apart ribs? (Can you header then like a house?) Any answers, even negative ones are welcome at this point!

[truckasaurus]

I guess personal preference comes into the decision. I'd be OK with patches on utility hatches more so than window patches. Would replacing a whole sheet take the project too far?

I'm not sure about the rib question but nothing would convince me to butcher a bow (the ribs at the end caps). The ribs in between the bows might be doable considering they generally don't even make it all the way to the floor anyway but I'd avoid it.


With my redesign I can maintain all the window locations but I am going to swap out all the panels to clean up the old hatches, a scrape and a door flying open dent.

[Kevin245]

Anything is possible if you have the money, desire, and time to accomplish the desired task. But wouldn't it be more cost effective to by another trailer with a center bath configuration? Not to mention that I think you would significantly lower any re-sale value if there are numerous patches in places where windows use to be.

I'd leave the windows in place, and add ones where you want them. You can always Limo tint the ones you don't want to utilize.

[Minno]

Oh, if we did things based on resell value, we would never have approched most of the projects we've done over the last 25+ years. One of the best pieces of advice we received from our realtor when we bought our house 26 years ago was: "Don't worry about resell value. Do what you want to do with the house - make it yours. When it comes time to sell, someone out there will like what you've done." Now, this house is so much ours, the thought of selling it never comes to mind. And so it will be with Little Girl. Aftef looking quite a lot, and not finding a floor plan that we like and want to retire in, we found a shell we can make into what we want. Cost effective? Maybe not, but we're having fun and it will be exactly what we want. And we'll let the kids worry about selling it after we're gone (along with the house btw).

If we cancel a window, my thought was to replace a larger panel. Not the entire side, but from a rib to a rib. There would be new seams, but unless you knew that the seams weren't supposed to be there, you'd probably never notice them. More work than doing a patch on the window opening, but better looking in the long run I think. Kay's not totally convinced of that line of thought, so we're looking for opinions.

Kay had also suggested just leaving the cancelled windows in place, and sealing them shut. That would certainly solve the patching problem. I was thinking more on the re-using them lines, until I measured the spacing between the ribs.

So, one question I have - are there smaller windows available? Ones that would look similar to our '72, but would fit in between the 24" spacing of the rib towards the back of the trailer?

Chris

[Aerowood]

I personally, would have no problem with what you are proposing but I am not afraid of doing things like this. If you do remove a window or two and can live with the outside appearance then go for it. You will have to splice in a new section of rib or bow as they are sometimes called in the removed space but doable. How are your sheetmetal and riveting skills? Zep has removed windows on his trailer. See post 61 on the first thread.


http://www.airforums.com/forums/f46/...x-23481-5.html
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f454...s-32184-2.html

[Minno]

Well, after demo-ing the entire interior of the trailer his skills at DE-riveting are really good! Chris is a quick learner and not afraid to do things so we're not worried about sheet metal work. I guess I'm trying to keep the exterior as vintage as possible, and getting crazy doing it. I'm not concerned per say with the exterior hatches since they can be sealed if we can't use them, and just left in place. Can't quite get the room for the closets I want with window on the curb side in place, but I just hate to think of patches. Guess I'd better work at it! Thanks.

Kay

[Aerowood]

I have personally seen Zep's window plug and it really looks like a window is still there, It's just not there. He really did a good job, it doesn't look odd at all. I f you have patience you can find a narrow window that is from the 70's that went in front of the door. There is a lot of 70's trailers being junked out around the US. I us the search engine www.craiglook.com to find Airstreams being parted out

[Minno]

Thanks - the links were very helpful. Still not sure what we're going to do, but we certainly have a lot to think about. I think I'll wait until we take the interior skin off before we make any decisions on the windows. I want to take a good look at the insides of the walls, and how the ribs/bows are placed.

Craiglook sure seems to be slow - maybe it's just a bad day for them...

Chris