Switching the dbl bed & gaucho in a 24?

[Hittenstiehl]

We have a 65 24" TW double bed street side. For those of you not familiar w/this floor plan it has a double closet w/dresser curbside that offers GREAT storage. There would had been a gaucho up front (ours was gone). We cant really leave the double bed deployed and open the closet or walk past to the rear bath.

So the question is:
Has anyone put their full-time bed by the door where the gaucho would have been, it would almost make a queen (crosswise). And put their dinette/seating on the curbside over the wheel well area?

We thought someday we would like a twin bed model (for the aisle)and maybe go to a 26 or 28" to make up for lost storage. But after all the time, money and effort going into this one I wonder if that idea would work?

We travel w/2 adults, would like to have a full time bed, would consider cutting a 2nd window on street side if we moved a small dinette there.

Opinions, feedback would be welcomed.

[Hittenstiehl]

I meant to say "put the small dinette streetside" not curb. Thanks

[Hittenstiehl]

Bump

[Minno]

I would think that, weight distribution-wise, it would work. Are you doing a major remodel? We put a double bed in curbside center, with closet and dresser across from it, and moved the bathroom door toward streetside to accommodate the bed. It makes for a shallower closet and dresser, but gives us about 26 inches of aisle to get to the bathroom and open the closet doors. We were starting from scratch, though, so could design what we wanted.
I think I saw you will be at the Vintage Trailer Accademy? We will too, so you could look at ours then.

Kay

[Hittenstiehl]

We were not planning a full remodel but you know one thing begets another....essentially this trailer meets all our needs except I can already tell I do not want to undo the bad every day (store the bedding). Converting to twins sounds good but then you loose the great amount of storage curbside. So since we are going to be removing a lot of the cabinetry and structure for repairs, rewiring and flooring I came up with the potential relocation of a dinette/ bed solution. That would give us a large bed up front that could stay made up. Give us a small dinette street side and keep all the great storage curbside. Then all our efforts and money go into one trailer instead of working on one and kinda looking for another and then start over.

And yes we are very familiar with yours from the forums and would love to see it at the academy.

[Hittenstiehl]

Minno and Kay thanks for the input. I looked at your thread again (from home computer) to refresh myself on which way your bed was. Because we have a 65 our trailer is narrower than yours so it makes for a tight squeeze. Toured a 70's TW at a recent gathering and was able to walk past their full bed deployed and learned that their trailer is wider than ours. I guess those 6 inches is just enough to make a difference when walking past the bed to get to the bath.

REALLY looking forward to seeing your trailer, even gonna make some notes to look at a few key points, backsplash, curved aluminum behind chairs and the bathroom pegboard area.

[Grand Master]

My Dad had several Airstreams beginning with a '54 through '87. his (and my) favorite floor plan was a 60's era Trade Wind or Overlander with the rear side gaucho. So, when I began looking for a vintage Airstream that was the floor plan I looked for.

The small section against the wall easily stores the bedding when folded up. I can untuck the sheets from the outside edges of the mattress, flip them back against the wall, and slide the bed back to the couch position quicker than you can make up a double bed. The bonus is you have opened up the trailer to make it feel much larger than if there was a fulltime double bed.

An added benefit is that you have two couches if you have company over for cocktails.

I would highly recommend that you keep your rear gaucho. I think it is the best floorplan Airstream has ever made.

Mike Brumback
#1200

[TWaugh]

These are pictures of a 71 TW that was redone by the factory a couple of years ago with I think the modifications you are talking about. It as a really neat job.

[Hittenstiehl]

Grand Master
Thanks for your input and very valid point of view. That is the best part of that front space and we don't have anything up there (gaucho or otherwise) so its really empty for now. Maybe the answer is a slightly larger 26/28 or a twin model somewhere down the road. I think we could shimmy past the deployed double bed in the hallway but we certainly cant open the closets on the curbside.
Thanks

[Hittenstiehl]

TWaugh

Thanks for your input. That is loosely the idea rattling around in my head. What a great example thanks for digging it up. Not a wide open space like Grand Master was advising but we would get to keep the great curbside side storage we already have, still be able to sit and eat (and convert that small dinette to extra sleeping if needed) and get to the bathroom in the rear without a shimmy past the deployed bed. Are those pics on the forum and are there more of them.

regards

[2Tex4Fun]

Hi-
BTW the pictures posted by TWaugh is our '70 Tradewind that was completely renovated by the Airstream Service Center/Rick March . We love this floor plan and is just right for two people. The storage is outstanding--we each have a closet, a big pull-out pantry, plus much more storage in the galley & 4 cubbies & 2 nightstands in the bedroom. The only drawback to the bedroom is one person must leap over the other to exit the bed. (but that can be fun! LOL) Bathroom is very big & a bonus is a storage area that will store wine, etc. It is true this floor plan isn't great for entertaining a crowd but we prefer to be outside under the awning. We also have a 2006 30' Classic and the galley is not nearly a workable for storage as the '70.
Victoria

[Hittenstiehl]

Victoria thanks so much for replying and identifying this as yours. Your trailer is beautiful and so close to what I am envisioning. I would even consider leaving the bedroom wall out and putting a nice curtain. That would eliminate some of the crawling over but not all of the fun. And with a throw or coverlet it could still double as a lazy lounge area on a rainy day. What length is this and what floor plan did this start out as. Are there more pictures to look at.
Thanks in advance.

[TWaugh]

Thanks Victoria. I have always admired that renovation and its the layout I would like to use in my 69 TW. These are the only other two photos I have of this, other than exterior shots. I would really enjoy seeing some detail photos of the front bedroom area. I am also curious what the distance is from the front of the door edge to the from window is along the centerline of the trailer.

[Hittenstiehl]

Thank you Tom, wow that is beautiful.

I just had a great idea.. we are headed to the Vintage Trailer Academy in May and I had volunteered out trailer for all demonstrations and repair as we need quite a bit. Maybe they can start this project on my trailer and we'll go back every year so they can complete another phase.

[Minno]

I didn't realize that '60's trailers are narrower than '70's! Guess I just never noticed, but 6 inches is indeed a lot of space!
Love the redo, Victoria!
I'm trying to get all the polishing done on ours at the Academy..... Think it'll work?

Kay

[Skatiero]

Victoria, we met you all at the Camopener Rally-- and you have one of the coolest Airstreams we have ever seen. We're making a front bed in our latest airstream, got some great ideas from yours! Katie