SOLD!

Overview:

- 1965 Airstream Caravel
- 17 feet long
- Single axel
- Just 2,200 Pounds (never used a weight distribution hitch, have never needed)
- Hitch weight about 220 pounds
- NO LEAKS & NO FLOOR ISSUES
- This trailer is in great shape. Has never been restored, as she was never ruined in the first place.
- Her name is Joy ☺

Video Tours:

Exterior: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHQVs2aei_k
Interior: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJJxAOIeyUE

Cool stuff:

- Everything is original but fridge (stove/oven, sink, cabinets, porcelain potty, etc).
- Sleeps up to 4 adults & one child. Both couches pull out, one is maybe a double & the other is almost a queen. Also has removable bunk bed (hangs from ceiling above couch from wires -- really cool for kids)

Upgrades:

- Professionally polished July 2014 -- very shiny. Cost $1,700.
- Solar added. Large solar panel, deep cycle marine battery, inverter, internal wiring, etc -- entire trailer runs on solar and propane if you want to be off the grid (can also be plugged into electricity). Cost about $1,500 to add this aspect. Brand new deep cycle marine battery.
- New axle - cost about $2,000. Note - ALL classics need this done or it's very dangerous not to replace them, more on that below. When pricing trailers, plan on spending 2k more if it hasn't been done already.
- New wood floors (the snap together plank kind, higher end version)- about $700 with labor.
- Huge fresh water tank added -- I'll have to look but it holds enough for me to live in it for 2 weeks, including daily showers. It's the size of the entire underneath of the couch, probably 50 gallons.
- Large Gray Water tank added (has separate Black water tank too).
- Electric breaks & wiring added + 7 pin connector to make them function. Cost a lot. Don't remember how much (1k?)
- Inside painted with Ralph Lauren light yellow metallic paint (bathroom and inside of front door are blue). Inside does not have that cheesy wall stuff, it looks like metal.
- 2 original/polished aluminum propane tanks. The regulator has been updated to current size/standards.
- New custom couch covers. Sparkly red pattened leather, 50's diner style, with piping. Cost about $1,500 in custom sewing and fabric.
- Custom curtain rods and custom curtains. Hand made by a welder, cost a few hundred bucks. Very functional and nice.
- A new slightly larger fridge w/freezer was added a few years back.

Appliances Needing to be Replaced:

- New water heater. Estimate: $300 http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com/6_Gallon_Atwood_Water_Heater_p/vts-302.htm
- New air heater if you travel in cold areas. Estimate: $450 http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com/Hydro_Flame_Furnace_p/vts-349.htm

Elbow Grease Needed:

- Stove works great but oven does not light. Oven is original so might want to restore. Could also replace, up to you. I didn't replace since many people want everything original.
- Fantastic fan not working as of a few days ago (gee, thanks). Might just need a cleaning or fuse. Replacements are about $100 if needed.
- Original porcelain potty! While it work fine, the flushing tank could use some tinkering. It makes a little noise when left on so I turn it off between flushes.

IF IT DOESN'T SAY IT NEEDS WORK ABOVE, IT WORKS PERFECTLY!
(ie: water pumps, lights, electrical, etc -- it all works great).

By the way, when I bought it I was told it was a 1967. But an expert told me that it is actually a 1965 based on some stylistic details. The DMV doesn't have records that far back so they just listed it as a 1965.

4 Owner History:

- 1st owner: The trailer was originally owned by a family in Dresser Wisconsin. It was stored in a barn.
- 2nd owner: At some point, their next door neighbor bought it from them, and I believe it continued to be stored indoors.
- 3rd owner: In August 1999, the trailer was purchased by Robert Dukes, a military man, who stored it near his family home in Monterey. He cared for it well and gave it many upgrades like the huge water tanks. When they had a baby and he was transferred to VA, they decided to get a bigger trailer. They were very attached to it. He was a great person to buy from, I've sent him pictures of it in all sorts of places over the years, and he gave me great advice anytime I needed it.
- 4th owner: Me! I bought the trailer from Robert in the spring of 2002 and it has lived with me in Mill Valley ever since. I added the solar and the deep cycle marine battery, and I also changed the items that were not important to it's "original/classic status". I believe I am the first owner to keep it outside VS in storage. It has never once leaked and is in great shape. A friend and I took it across the USA & back on a 2 month voyage (the time of our lives!) and it has also traveled to camping locations more locally over the years (Oregon, Washington, Nevada, etc). No one has ever lived in it, but it has been used every year I've owned it & it is very well loved.

THE BOTTOM LINE

This trailer is absolutely darling and is totally road ready. I considered replacing the oven before selling, but not everyone has the same taste. So my focus has been keeping everything original (a big bonus to many) while making it much prettier (floors, fabrics), and upgrading it with a full solar system for 100% off the grid functionality, giant water tanks, a new expensive axle which all classic's need. Hot damn, this is the cutest, strongest, shiniest, most jaw dropping trailer you have ever seen roll by. Both inside and out -- she is strong, darling and full of charm. I seriously can't drive it a mile without 3 people waving and honking, and a 4th person literally trying to get me to pull over. I've also gotten the finger a few times for how shiny she is - not a good thing when driving behind her on the freeway at sunset! ☺

I have had countless offers to buy her over the years but I have always turned them down. I finally bought a bigger Airstream so now is the time to sell my Caravel. If it doesn't sell quickly on the Internet, I'll just take it for a few hour drive and wait for the new buyer to pull me over. Or I'll add a new water heater and stove and sell her for even more. But I hate to ruin the classic appeal to someone committed to that.

Apparently there were only about 900 of these sold. I don't know how many are left today, but this is the most popular classic Airstream model because it is the smallest, lightest trailer available that ahas every item one could desire (full kitchen, shower, toilet, and room for many people to sleep including a removable bunk bed). Any smaller, and you don't get the full bath, extra beds, etc. Any bigger, and you need a big ol truck to haul it. You can tow it with an average passenger vehicle. But if you are going anywhere substantial like the rockies, you want at lease a small SUV or truck.

Price: $25,000 FIRM.

Please no tire kickers, lookie-loo's, etc. Everything has been disclosed above. The price is FIRM. Please don't come to see it if you don't have the money to buy it. You should be able to tell if it's right or wrong for you by carefully reading everything written above + watching the interior & exterior video tours provided. What you will see when you arrive is the same thing you will see here. I'm a good honest person and I aim to make this easy on both of us by laying it all out here for you now. Everything is as I have stated, to the best of my knowledge.

A note about classic axles:

Regarding classic's needing new axles - believe it!! I was told this and ignored it, thinking someone was trying to make a buck - then mine broke while driving -- cracked right down the middle. Thankfully I was pulling up to a stop sign on a freeway exit, because I had just been driving 55 MPH a moment before and could have been killed. Whatever trailer you buy, BE SURE it has a new axle and if it doesn't, budget about 2k to have it added (it needs to be special ordered, they don't make them anymore). Consider my trailer worth 2k more than a comparable model w/o a new axle.

Where to get & price parts:

www.airstreamdreams.com
http://www.airstreamparts.com

FROM THE WEB- ABOUT THE CLASSIC CARAVEL:

Slightly larger, if just barely, than her smaller sister the Bambi, is the "I've got one foot on you" Airstream Caravel. At 17 feet, you may not notice the extra space, and often confused with the Bambi, the plans are often quite similar. With a weight of 2250 lbs, the Caravel tows easily behind most passenger vehicles. The interior space of the Caravel is about 13.5'. Bathrooms are generally located at the rear of the trailer. The Caravel is the first travel trailer big enough for a family of six and yet light enough to be towed with a compact car. But don't let the small size fool you. The Caravel® is every inch an Airstream with the same quality features and the same go-anywhere construction found in larger Airstreams.

I do not want to list my phone number or email on the Internet but I will happily call or email you if you provide yours to me, by emailing through Craigslist.

Thanks!
~ Sarah