To rehab or renovate 66Tradewind

[X-tine]

Hi. I am a new to this site as well as a new mom to an airstream. I am in need of advice to redo or rehab our 66 TradeWind?? Would love pictures if anyone’s 66 and suggestions and tips to help with this decision.

[Krek]

Originally Posted by X-tine

I am in need of advice to redo or rehab our 66 TradeWind?

It’s your Airstream, make it yours... keep what you like and change what what you don’t.

This forum is a treasure trove of great ideas. Once our bunkhouse starts going back together I’m going to struggle to give credit for all of the improvements we’ve already gathered here.

[Belegedhel]

Welcome to the forums!


The real question is, "who are are you trying to make happy?" If the answer is "yourself," then do what you want to do. If you are worried about "the community" or the next buyer, well, you never know what someone is going to value, and tastes change.



There is a thread that is a compilation of all of the "full monty" (or complete) restorations. You might start by perusing through some of those to see the Before, the After, and what it took to get there.



Anyway, I don't think it matters. There is no right answer. My only word of advice is that whatever you do, do a good job of it so that you don't find yourself redoing it in a few years, or, if you need to sell it, you aren't discounting the price because of wonky design decisions (ie., removing the bathroom, or redoing it in "barnyard-chic" with all sinks and tubs replaced by rusty buckets and washtubs, and interior skins replaced with rotting barn wood).


Good luck!

[57Vintage]

I would suggest determining your needs in three areas.

How much of the mechanical systems need to be updated/upgraded?
for instance:
Do all the appliances work efficiently?
What are you needs regarding fresh water, grey water, black water tanks?

Is the shell weather tight?
for instance:
Do windows/doors need new weatherstripping or resealed?
Are floors needing repairs due to water damage?

Do you want to retain the original look of the interior?
for instance:
Does the layout work for your needs?
What features no longer function well(wear, warped, etc)?

Have a general plan before you start. Changing out or adding mechanical systems usually require a lot of research and usually money. Fixing leaks is easier at the beginning, than after you renovate. Interior makeovers usually take the longest to finish.

Hope this helps organize your approach.

[Little city]

There was no question in our case we had to replace floor. It was sold as soft around some edges BUT it was gone around the edges. So you will probably want to dig a little deeper than just what appears to be before you make the decision. And just have fun in whichever way you go. Enjoy the journey!

[dbj216]

Greetings and welcome to the vintage Airstream hobby. What made a nice trailer in 1966 isn't what makes a good trailer in 2020. As others have said, you bought the trailer with a purpose in mind. And maybe you have inspected it thoroughly now that you have access to it. Maybe the trailer has some special province like owned by a famous movie star, or Wally Byam's personal caravan trailer. Restorations are much more involved than renovations.

I bought a 66 Trade Wind. I loved the size and the vintage design and construction of the thing. But the thing really didn't function well. The waste water tanks were woefully inadequate. The axles were shot, subfloor was rotted in the rear, appliances didn't work, the plumbing didn't work, some of the woodwork was warped, the mattresses were shot, and on and on.

So off to work I went. I believe I renovated the thing into a comfortable modern travel trailer that looked like a 66 Trade Wind. I believe you can recover most of your costs if you do the work yourself. Vintage Airstreams are popular with folks who don't want to take the time renovate them.

Here are some photos of my finished renovations. And here is a link to a beautifully renovated 68 Trade Wind. The 67 and 68 had several model year changes over the 66. Take a look at this classified ad.

https://www.airstreamclassifieds.com...georgia-359659

Most important, is you enjoy your ownership experience.

David