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10-30-2006, 04:48 PM
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#21
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Rivet Master
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1956 30' Sovereign of the Road
1963 16' Bambi
Southeastern Area
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,116
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OK, here's the scoop
After some creative knot tying, rigging, and duct tape (duct tape fixes all! ) I got the TW jack post secure enough to travel without bouncing on the pavement. Its down at Truck and Trailer USA, they've done well with my stuff before, cheaper labor than RV places and they "know" me now. I'm sure they are muttering under their breath, "Oh man, here comes that chick with the Airstream . . .", but they smile, give me credit for what I know, and always do anything I ask. They sell Atwood's, but a 3500 lb was $459. And it will only raise 7 inches per minute, go figure. I went to Camping World and picked up the Ultrafab 3500 tongue jack, raises 20 inches per minute, has a manual crank that inserts at the top instead of the bottom, and has a 6" extra drop on the foot. Plus, my research shows it to be relatively trouble-free compared to Barker's. Overkill with 3500 lb, but with the multi level terrain in my area I really need the adjustable foot. Jim, I would have loved to get one off eBay, but none of the refurbished have the adjustable foot. So I shelled out the extra bucks. I'm tired of dragging around the concrete block, so in the long run it will be worth it. Kevin, you're right. They will have to cut off the existing jack. Truck and Trailer will wire for power to the trailer 12V and the TV 7-pin. And they will save the old parts and try to determine why it failed. It should be ready later this week, so I'll let ya'll know how it turns out. Gee, I'll miss the vintage look of the manual jack but I'm looking forward to giving my aching shoulder a rest.
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11-01-2006, 06:22 AM
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#22
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Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
Vintage Kin Owner
Vintage Kin Owner
Currently Looking...
Greeeneville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,301
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UltraFab 3500
Sugarfoot,
Congratulations on your purchase. I am sure you will be pleased with the Ultrafab 3500. We sell the Ultra fabs where I work on SOB trailers and they have proved very reliable.
__________________
Kevin with Baity the Lab/Pointer //------AIR # 7303------\\ WBCCI 17109 visit my restoration blog at:
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11-01-2006, 08:05 AM
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#23
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Rivet Master
2012 28' International
Currently Looking...
New Orleans
, Louisiana
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,077
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New Jack City
Sugarfoot you should be very pleased. The one thing I did do was remove the cap which covers the access hole for the auxiliary jack handle and put a bead of silicon sealer around the edge and reinsert. I was worried about a leak or the cap blowing off going down the road. I keep a 4 X 4 block in the bed of my truck to make adjustments, useful for other things also.
Jim
__________________
Jim N5TJZ Air# 174
2012 International Serenity 28
2005 Safari 25 SS Traded
1968 Globetrotter Sold
2011 F150 Ecoboost
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11-01-2006, 08:13 AM
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#24
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Rivet Master
2012 28' International
Currently Looking...
New Orleans
, Louisiana
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,077
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Aux. Operator - Battery Operated Drill
[quote=ticki2]
Quote:
Originally Posted by overlander64
Greetings ticki2!
That manual crank handle gave me some peace of mind until I had to use it. At least the one included with the power jack installed on my Overlander (the same one that was used on new Airstreams at the time), it takes five or more turns on the emergency crank to equal one turn of the old manual cranked jack. I have had to use mine in emergency mode twice, and hope to never have to repeat the experience.
That is true , it does take more turns , but then it turns easier . I just mention it so others don't think they are dead in the water because of a low battery or bad jack motor .
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I am now thinking Battery Operated Drill. I have to look at the fitting on my aux. handle. I always take my drill when I am on the road.
Jim
__________________
Jim N5TJZ Air# 174
2012 International Serenity 28
2005 Safari 25 SS Traded
1968 Globetrotter Sold
2011 F150 Ecoboost
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11-01-2006, 08:50 AM
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#25
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Rivet Master
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1956 30' Sovereign of the Road
1963 16' Bambi
Southeastern Area
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,116
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Oh Jim, those are great ideas! I will certainly do that with the cap. Thanks! And the battery operated drill, that could just be the ticket.
Silverhobby, I'm glad to hear you haven't heard of issues with the Ultrafab either. That's the same thing the service tech at Camping World told me. Lots of others come back with problems, but only one Ultrafab in his experience. It was a wiring problem and was still under warranty.
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11-01-2006, 01:18 PM
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#26
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3 Rivet Member
1964 26' Overlander
Alameda
, California
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 161
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My trailer came with an electric jack, but the battery ceased to operate while I was towing it back to California, which meant that when I got back at about 11pm I had the trailer in the driveway, the truck attached & blocking most of the street... and no way to lift the trailer off the hitch. Eventually I was smart enough to plug the trailer into a 110V outlet and the converter was working, but for whatever reason (dubious wiring, probably the same reason the battery died) the jack still wouldn't work. In the end, while digging for a manual jack in the back of a friend's car I realized that one of the obstacles I had just removed from his trunk was one of those battery-starter kits containing a... 12V battery. (I was not at my sharpest at that moment.) Hooked that up to the jack directly and eventually got it off the truck, but right then I did wish for a manual jack. Still I think when the wiring is done correctly I'll be glad of it.
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11-01-2006, 06:28 PM
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#27
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Rivet Master
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1956 30' Sovereign of the Road
1963 16' Bambi
Southeastern Area
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,116
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jacobwellcom
. . . . Eventually I was smart enough to plug the trailer into a 110V outlet and the converter was working, but for whatever reason (dubious wiring, probably the same reason the battery died) the jack still wouldn't work. In the end, while digging for a manual jack in the back of a friend's car I realized that one of the obstacles I had just removed from his trunk was one of those battery-starter kits containing a... 12V battery. (I was not at my sharpest at that moment.) Hooked that up to the jack directly and eventually got it off the truck, but right then I did wish for a manual jack. Still I think when the wiring is done correctly I'll be glad of it.
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Jacobwellcom, that doesn't sound like a pleasant experience. I'm hoping to avoid a similar situation by having the jack wired to work with either the TV or the trailer battery. But I'm concerned about what you say regarding jack wiring actually draining the battery. Does an electric jack normally draw on the 12V even when not being deployed or is this a problem only if wired incorrectly?
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11-02-2006, 02:24 PM
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#28
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3 Rivet Member
1964 26' Overlander
Alameda
, California
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 161
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The jack wouldn't draw current when it's not being used. In my case something else must have caused the battery to go dead. The wiring in my trailer has some issues.
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11-02-2006, 06:08 PM
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#29
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Addicted to Aluminum
1959 18' "Footer"
1964 24' Tradewind
1954 29' Liner
Woodstock
, Georgia
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,015
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so, i still am uncertain... do i need to have a battery in my trailer to run teh jack, or will it draw enough current through the charge line?
jp
__________________
8576
there's always room for one more!
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11-02-2006, 06:17 PM
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#30
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Rivet Master
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1956 30' Sovereign of the Road
1963 16' Bambi
Southeastern Area
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,116
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My understanding is that it can be powered by either the TV or the trailer battery. Problem is, I have times when leveling where I may not have the TV in close proximity. I don't want to depend solely on the 7-pin for power. I'm not certain if the TV power to the jack comes from the charge line or a separate wire, but I believe it is incorporated into the 7-pin wiring. Now, if I'm wrong, someone feel free to correct me. I want to understand this too.
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11-02-2006, 06:39 PM
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#31
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Rivet Master
1976 25' Caravanner
Vintage Kin Owner
Campton
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,113
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Quote:
Originally Posted by A-Merry-Can
so, i still am uncertain... do i need to have a battery in my trailer to run teh jack, or will it draw enough current through the charge line?
jp
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If you are plugged into shore power the jack should work , with/without battery .
If your plugged into TV your jack should work , with/without battery.
If you are not plugged in to anything , and the trailer has no battery , nothing will work , including the jack .
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11-12-2006, 08:10 PM
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#32
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Rivet Master
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1956 30' Sovereign of the Road
1963 16' Bambi
Southeastern Area
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,116
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Age, wear, and tear = failure
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11-12-2006, 08:13 PM
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#33
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Rivet Master
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1956 30' Sovereign of the Road
1963 16' Bambi
Southeastern Area
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,116
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BTW, when the old jack was cut off the tongue some patent numbers were made visible. They must have been under the original jack mount. Anyone know if these are significant or of interest? I had not noticed these before.
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11-12-2006, 10:38 PM
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#34
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Rivet Master
1960 24' Tradewind
santa barbara
, California
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,352
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Sugarfoot ,it appears that you had an adapter to the old tailpiece (broken )
and it just curved to the side .mine is the same ,but has the rubber adapter
off the tailpiece straight and short with a common fitting thetford .your tailpiece is now junk ,the 2 small pipes going into it are your sinks and shower drains .Up inside that tailpiece in your photo is the slide valve for the dump
tank. a shaft runs thru the side of the trailer and you have a wheel shaped
faucet handle to open and close the brass gate valve .An example of what they originally looked like can be found at Home Depot or any plumbing shop
that sells big brass gate valves .your may have leaked which they do at this age and so the PO installed the setup that got broke off.If the Rv guys can remove the rest of the broken piece ,they may be able to build you a new setup ,appears your black tank is ok from the photo.if you go back to my tradwnd photo (new member 60 trdwnd) you can see mine and how short it is
no elbow invoved and no dump valve on the end .you can get a sawsall up
there and carefully cut outward enough to cut away the thread on tailpiece
thats left there ,you will have the old black gate valve still attached .I
actually made a new tailpiece from brass pipe and copper 1 " tubing for the drains ,mimicking the old design.I have safari tims old valve with the tailpiece that may be removable and refurbished maybe ,but I suspect that your Rv
guys can come up with somthing .remember that what you have is old non
standard stuff ,they may be able to come up with another adaptable setup
that can sit higher up in the belly pan there .Anyway ,good luck ,thanks for the photos .post the repaired version too when its done !
Scott
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11-28-2006, 08:34 PM
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#35
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Rivet Master
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1956 30' Sovereign of the Road
1963 16' Bambi
Southeastern Area
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,116
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11-29-2006, 07:41 AM
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#36
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Addicted to Aluminum
1959 18' "Footer"
1964 24' Tradewind
1954 29' Liner
Woodstock
, Georgia
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,015
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looks pretty solid to me! have you replaced your axle yet? i don't know if it's on your plans or not, but i have a new axle for my 59 (still yet to install it). i deleted the drop the original airstream axle had, so the trailer should ride a few inches higher. that might help? also, i know biased ply tires ride higher than radials. my tradewind has radials, and i actually lost a good inch of clearance when i switched to them.
jp
__________________
8576
there's always room for one more!
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11-29-2006, 05:04 PM
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#37
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Rivet Master
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1956 30' Sovereign of the Road
1963 16' Bambi
Southeastern Area
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,116
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OK . . . . solid is a good word. The term, 'junk in the trunk' comes to mind as well. And if you catch it at the right angle, it resembles a big black Anaconda poised and ready to strike.
I wasn't planning on replacing the axle, but was considering going to the local spring shop and having the leaves re-arched or replaced and maybe one added for more clearance. I have bias now, C class 6 ply rated to 1850 lbs, you know the wide whitewalls. I want to go to a D rated 8 ply since the whitewalls only allow for about 600 lbs over dry weight. I hate to lose the whitewalls, but I'm pushing the limits.
I've also heard that raising the trailer higher makes for lots of bounce on the road, but I've got to get more clearance. I'll think on the axle option.
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11-29-2006, 08:45 PM
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#38
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Rivet Master
1960 24' Tradewind
santa barbara
, California
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,352
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A straight non drop axle will raise up the trailer alot !! .most look funny that high up and have a higher center of gravity ,but that would get it up high .
youd need a step to the step for mom though .see if the measurements i provided can get you up enough .radials will lower you down and the ride
will not have the same stability as the bias ply will .that said ,others have
gone the radial way ,but you know Im a bias believer .there is a reason the design of these trailers is with the four inch drop ,lower center of gravity and better handling ,like anything on the road .Even torsions have the arm angle
conservative to keep the height lower as well ,unless of course owners want
a higher rating and more arm down angle .some need more clearance for
rough dirt roads ,although Im not too much in favor of 4 wheeling an airstream trailer .
Scott
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11-30-2006, 07:09 AM
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#39
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Addicted to Aluminum
1959 18' "Footer"
1964 24' Tradewind
1954 29' Liner
Woodstock
, Georgia
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,015
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what i did with the axle, was order a straight axle, with a larger tube. it comes to raising the trailer an inch, i think. i haven't installed it yet. probably in teh next few weeks, after the door and interior go in. i'll keep ya posted!
i'm definitely doing the whitewall tires, though. i love em!
jp
__________________
8576
there's always room for one more!
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