Re: [VAL] Mark's Mystery Tradewind in Modesto

["Mark" <mark@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mr. McFarland,

Thank you for your interest.  I'll 'answer on' to make it more clear.

>Is the double brake system a common set-up?

I honestly don't know.  Until you brought it up, I'd assumed they ALL had dual
brakes.  It's the first and only travel trailer I've owned.  One of the life
altering decisions I made as a little kid was that one day I'd own one of
those Airstreams.  It's even remotely possible it was THIS one which inspired
my conviction...the timing would be about right.

>Is one system the primary one and the other a back up?

The trailer came with a stout cast fitting on a hose, which was to be plumbed
into the tow vehicles system, which mates with a master cylinder on the
trailer.  The two vehicles never share fluids, just an inch or so of thrust,
via a rod in the 'slave/master' to the 'master/slave.  You could say the tow
car has a slave, which connects to the trailers master, which activates the
slaves at the drums.  Whew!  I hope that made sense.

It also came with the big 7 connector plug, which includes electric brakes and
a charging circuit.

>Is the duplicate system on both axles?

Though I can't swear to it, I'm pretty sure one axle is electric, the other
hydraulic.

>does the system appear to be factory installed?

Yes...it was all in the original gold paint, same as the skirt around the
bottom of the rig, the wheels, frame, LPG tanks, regulator, etc.  All were
gold, rather than silver.

  >Or - are you talking about an electrically "boosted" hydraulic system?

Gee...I've never even had the hubcaps off and just don't know what's in there,
but I'm pretty sure it's electic on one axle, conventional hydraulic on the
other.  When I find that doggone Airstream folder, full of receipts and papers
from way back, I'll also find a few spec sheets about the various systems on
the thing.  Thanks for the reminder...I'll go look harder.  I owe Fred an
answer or two as well.

>it looks like you have a 5-panel roof

It is the five panel roof.  That glare IS a drag.

>I would wonder if yours ..."might" have been ordered/set-up to go on (and
possibly lead?) another Byam Caravan.

Me too.  That has been suggested (got me all fired up!), but apparently  no
records exist to document such.  Sigh...

I'll take a thorough look at RJ Dial's site...thanks for that!

>Are there any duplications or differences to allow for traveling overseas
etc.

Good question!  All of the light fixtures are dual voltage:  110ac & 12vdc.
No provision for 220v, though if the candlebases on 220v bulbs are the same, I
don't think the trailer would care either way.  All recepticles were standard
household type.  The fridge was NOT the original...a former owner installed a
Dometic three-way.  Also, the original heating system (ducted, according to
some of the paperwork?) was long gone, replaced with a (more than adequate)
catalytic on the half wall at the entrance.  The water heater is gas, the
stool is vitreous china, as is the bath sink, with Moen faucet.  The galley
has nice, deep stainless sinks with a one handle faucet with spray.

>Are there any marks on the shell that might suggest it had been in "slings"
for loading on a freighter etc.?

Nothing I've ever noticed would imply that it was setup for slings.

Again, thanks for your interest.  If there's anything else...


Regards,

Mark Spencer