Install a '69 rear window on my '66 Tradewind

[steamgauge]

I am rebuilding the rear end cap on my '66 because the previous owner cut out the center to make a toy hauler. He did not keep the rear window frame or glass. I have bought a used frame with glass from a '69 trailer, but I have no idea how to install it as it does not appear to rivet to the shell like the front does. Staring at it has not made me any smarter

[dbj216]

Well, you are the ambitious sort. I renovated a 66 Trade Wind but the body was in good shape. The 66 to 68 Airstreams had those "streamlined" frameless Corning glass windows guaranteed to leak rain water. Parts for them are hard to come by. My son has a 1969 Globetrotter 21'. It is the first year of the new body style and guess what, Airstream dropped their idea of the Corning glass windows. Here is a photo of the back of my 66 Trade Wind so you will have something else to stare at. I covered the window inside with a piece of white FRP. And also a photo of the son's 69 rear window. This window has a frame around it.

Here is an idea. Why do you need a big window in the rear bath? Airstream insisted on it so you could look through the trailer front window through the back window while towing. I have blocked off the big rear window in the back of the Trade Wind and also my 1975 Overlander. You do need to install a powered roof vent in the bathroom. I don't miss the window at all. I didn't need a "picture window" in my bathroom and struggling with a blind all the time.

So just get a piece of Alclad 2024 T3 aluminum sheet and cover the area up. You could apply a piece of black vinyl the size of the rear window so the trailer would look like it had one.

I realize it is a silly idea, but I think no window might be better than a major modification to a 1969 window.

David

[mrdes8]

So, a thought from a completely different angle... when I was wrapping up my '68 Overlander project I wanted to get it insured, the company (a Farmers partner) wanted to see pics of the finished exterior, interior and "suitable operational windows" for emergency egress. Not necessarily the rear window but someplace if the door was unusable for some reason.
Good luck, Mark D

[mimiandrews]

FYI, the front and back windows of a '66 are not curved. Only the side windows have the curvature to match the trailer shell. And auto glass place should be able to get replacement glass for the front and back. Sorry, I have no idea how different the '69 window frame is.

[dbj216]

Good point on the emergency exit mrdes8. The 66, 69 and the 75 have screens, which are easy enough to push through maybe. Both have obstacles in the way of crawling out the rear window, like a cabinet or the bath vanity. And of course the 66 to 68 trailers have the Phillips cranks to open, and then the glass bar crank to fold out the window.

I might just hold my nose and run for the entry door.

David

[steamgauge]

Thanks, I had not thought about an auto glass shop for the flat piece. I like the small window idea but I already have the large window and I am going to redesign the interior so the bathroom will be alone the side leaving the rear for the bedroom.

[dbj216]

I converted the son's 69 Globetrotter 21' to a rear bed (36' wide twin is all the room I had) that is "east-west" and a small mid-bath. This layout closed up the interior quite a bit, but the old rear corner wet bath was not a favorite of mine. The trailer is more comfortable than it was in my view. Most modern Airstreams have a mid bath layout. I speculate Airstream liked the big rear bath that looked so luxurious even though you had to walk through the bedroom to get to it. I bet it sold a lot of trailers through the years.

Having an opening rear window with a rear bedroom makes perfect sense. Having a "east-west" bed saves a lot of floor space, but makes it less accessible. But hey, better than a tent.

David

[coloradoup]

If you look at Atomic 13's thread you will see he has a later year back window in his.
https://www.airforums.com/forums/f11...on-134984.html
Looks like they added a patch around the window and riveted the window to that patch.