Putting in New Windows.. lots of Questions

Basically what happens is the interior paneling is what adds strength to the framing. A trailer wall is a type of sandwich construction, it uses very weak/lite boards fastened together with mere staples then the paneling is secured to one side which helps to hold the boards together adding strength. Then you will discover that the cabinets, closets, and other interior pieces are fastened to the walls from the outside in these all serve as bracing to help support the walls from falling over. The entire trailer is a system that gives it strength to be towed along the highway. When you short circuit any of it you are weakening all of it. Then lastly you add the exterior siding which adds more strength.

Yours was made like that originally, no matter what the PO did to it. It all depends on whether you are willing to put it back together correctly. And the only way to insure the structural integrity of your trailer and to retain its vintage value, or remodeled value, is to rebuild it correctly. These trailers were engineered in a way that every piece serves a structural purpose. The Shastas are relatively light trailers, and some even say poorly built, yet they have survived 50+ years.

And it's a time consuming task, but not difficult. After all, I'm a girl.

If you put a thicker paneling in correctly, you will have problems getting the skins to fit back on properly. In all honesty, the biggest lesson I learned was that it is easier to put it back together the way it was originally made. Sometimes simple improvements turn out to be difficult tasks.

Yes the original paneling went down between the framing and the floor joist, you are not planing on installing it that way you are thinking of starting on top of the floor.
My trailer is a 1500 slightly longer and the kitchen is centered on the left side.

Here is RJ's thread of his 72 Compact rebuild. Scroll through. He has some good pics.
vintagetrailertalk.freeforums.net/thread/3388/1972-shasta-compact-journey-begins?page=4

My best piece of advice, move slowly, do one small area at a time and stop if you run into problems to ask questions.

And yes, the panels should run down the side and be sandwiched between the camper wood frame and the wall framing. That means the bench needs to come out too. 

In the photo above I removed the dinette seats (one hour) and opened the "sandwich" up to slide the new panels down where it needed to be. Hopefully that makes sense.

You may find that you enjoy the challenge more than the camping.

I meant the photo I posted earlier in the thread. I should have been clearer.