A New Challenge-1963 Overlander rehab project

[overlander63]

This is a new adventure for us, we recently acquired a 1963 Overlander, trading in our loyal (but small) Argosy 20 for it.
Our saga begins with a chat with a fellow forum member, richardt. I had been looking for a slightly larger trailer for a while now, and he thought he might have one (or two) that he would be willing to be talked out of. I made arrangements to go see the trailer, we loaded up the van, and the Argosy, and away we went.
The Argosy had new tires installed when we put a new axle in it, in October of 2003, the Overlander had last had tires when Jimmy Carter was President . I ordered two Goodyear Marathon tires to install on the Overlander after we arrived, along with the two Cooper Travel-Trac tires from the Argosy.
The fun started a few miles North of Tampa. when I had to stop for traffic congestion. I looked in the mirror, and saw the Argosy bobbling around, up and down, as well as side-to-side. Since the axle came from Henschen at the time of the recall for bearing failure, my first thought was we had lost a bearing. Not so. The belts had separated on both tires, at the same time! Fortunately, we had the two tires earmarked for the Overlander with us, and we were able to limp to a tire store, and get the Marathons installed.
After a two hour delay, we were back on the road, and headed for our overnight stop in Ocala, Florida.
The rest of the trip passed without incident, and we arrived Thursday afternoon.
Friday morning we removed the old tires and wheels to put new tires on the Overlander, and repack the wheel bearings, as well as check the brakes. This particular trailer has electric brakes on both axles, as opposed to one electric and one hydraulic, as found on other trailers of this vintage. I thought the trailer needed axles desperately because of how the wheelwell covered the entire top of the tires, and part of the wheels. It does need axles, but not as badly as I thought. The trailing arms are actually dead level, as opposed to an upturn in the arm that I expected. Something eles I noticed, this trailer has vertical shock absorbers, which was supposed to indicate the trailer came from California, but the straight wheel wells, as well as the VIN badge, say it came from Jackson Center. A mystery, right off the bat...
We got four more Marathons (Goodyear is having a good month becuase of us), and went in search of a shop to remove the 2 5/16" trailer ball the Argosy used, and install a 2" ball for the Overlander. The head we have came with the Argosy, and the ball was installed in 1972, at the time the Argosy was delivered. After trips to several different shops, one was able to finally burn off the bolt holding the ball on, and install the correct (8800#) 2" ball.
Everything was installed, and tested, and we were ready to leave the folowing morning.
The trip home was uneventful, although the first few miles were a bit nerve-wracking, since we are used to absolutely flat, straight road here in Florida, and we were hauling a 5000 pound trailer up winding, steep (5-7% grades), and the trailer was pushing us back down those same grades when we got to the top of the hills.
Now we are starting to tear out the asbestos-laced floor tiles, for replacing with vinyl flooring.
Ongoing projects are, in no particular order-
Patch two small areas of soft wood in the floor, and install vinyl flooring.
Install a dinette or gaucho in the front of the trailer.
Replace the replacement electric only refrigerator with a LP/electric unit.
Repair the old or replace with a new A/C unit.
Install a modern water heater.
Modernize the fresh water plumbing.
Install a grey water tank.
Replace the axles.
Replace the two window regulators on the upper left front window in the living area.
Replace the back bumper.
Remove the Mickey Mouse stabilizers that are on the trailer, and replace with something a little more mainstream.
Replace the skylight in the living area.
CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN!!!

[sd90mac]

Hi
Terry left out a lot of the story, and I'm thinking of writing a book about the full adventure.

We have a ton of work ahead of us, but we will get it done.
Marie

[robandzoe]

Terry,

Enjoyed the story...I have some from yesterday I will post later today, maybe during lunch from this weekend.

Rob

[driftwood]

Another Airstream adventure in the books! Sounds like you had, at least a little, excitement going North

Good luck with your new project. Call if I can help.

[mandolindave]

I only had a 5 mile trip to pick up my new to me Argosy 20', from the used car dealer. But I didn't get 5 feet before I had a blow out. It was kinda
a blessing that it blew in the parking lot instead of on the road. The used
car dealer told me that the tires were in great shape. ( I had already ordered new tires and had an appointment for brakes and bearings, thanks to the forum ).
Dare I ask......Are ya gonna miss the Argosy??????????????????
Mandolin Dave

[GT1963]

Hi Terry and Marie

CONGRATULATIONS going from a painted lady to a silver lady along with your adventures sounds pretty exciting.

I know that trailer it is the mobile prison unit (Peter and I nicked named it because of the aluminum screen guards on all the windows.)

We came real close to buying it from Richard (along with the one I think Princess 63 bought from Oklahoma -but I think it was in MO to begin with). Both units had their issues like they all do - but we just had our heart set on getting a 61 and could not get around it - something just said don't do it.

Good think we did not - as not 2 weeks later we got the call offering the 61 that we wanted 8 months earlier.

Well I must say the Overlanders are a very popular unit these last 5 months - lots of forum members have just bought them.....maybe we should set up a working ASOverAS Rally this winter in your neck of the woods - since us northern and eastern seaboard members will need a warm driveway to work on our new toys!

Terry Trust me your list of things to do - is too short it will be at least 4 times that size by the time you finish and where is Marie's list???. Our Globe Trotter was in unbelievably good shape when we got it and the list still keeps going could it be we have become AS perfectionists.

Have fun with your new toy - but remember to get some camping they make a great tin tent during renos - but get the axles done first!

We took your approach as well and it almost cost us our rig - we found out the torsion arms can petrify in a postive % so do not go by the position of the torsion arm - load her up with people and then get under your trailer to have a look at the arms - then call up to them to jump up and down over the axles. You will soon see if the axles are working. We lost a window, and sheared a ton of rivets and all the screws inside came loose - we are lucky the whole interior did not fall apart with the vibration - but being small we did not feel a thing when travelling the I95!

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by mandolindave

Dare I ask......Are ya gonna miss the Argosy??????????????????
Mandolin Dave

Only when we want to go somewhere that only allows trailers under 25' !

[RichardT]

It was a pleasure meeting the both of you and I am glad to hear your trip home was uneventfull. I am sure the things that went wrong on your adventure will soon be forgotten and be overpowered by new good times with the Overlander!
I am glad to have been able to help get you into what you desired and the little Argosy is starting to really grow on me.
I wish you both the best and hope that you get alot of enjoyment from your new to you 1963.
Richardt in Bat Cave NC

PS What are you gonna name it?

[sd90mac]

Richard

Thank you and Linda. My nephews loved the shirts I bought them in the store, and I enjoyed my time up there. (Well most of it).

As for my list, read Terry's again. he's outside washing it now, then I start scraping up floor tiles, (Norm i hope to save 4 or 5 for you).

Then I start with the purple stuff, Brillo and elbow grease.

I want all to know, Richard was very nice and true to his word with us.
(he has a couple more A/S's, and the store is a wonderful place to wander in)
We were talking about naming it the silver bat cave, but I kept calling it our silver wagon on the way home, and yes I miss the Argosy, but I think it's upward and onward from here.
Marie

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by richardt

PS What are you gonna name it?

I think since the Argosy 20 was named "Old Rivets", we will probably start calling the Overlander "Older Rivets".

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by richardt

PS What are you gonna name it?

After tentatively naming the trailer "Older Rivets", which didn't exactly roll off the tongue, and constantly noticing that it was substantially larger than our Argosy 20 (everything we had in the entire Argosy fit in the pantry of the Overlander, with room to spare) We have decided to name it Goliath. It seems to have more hulking mass than our little trailer, as well as a king-sized virtual personality all of its own.

[overlander63]

The water heater is now plumbed into the trailer's water system, and we have water coming from all spigots. Unfortunately, there are also a few unauthorized water outlets (read leaks) that I will have to fix. The first aditional leak I found when I plumbed in the water heater, and turned on the water. Another indoor sprinkler showed itself. I put a piece of ice maker hose in place of the ruptured copper pipe, and turned the water back on. It didn't leak there, but did leak somewhere else, it looks like inside the belly pan to the rear of the leak I just fixed. I am hoping it is not behind the black water tank, I was really hoping to no have to remove it and the cabinetry around it.

[overlander63]

I pulled off the belly pan to check the previously mentioned water leak, and found this thing, that looks like a muffler off a car. It seems to be factory, it sits in a spot cut out of the frame. Any ideas what this thing is, and what it is supposed to do?

[GT1963]

Originally Posted by overlander63

I pulled off the belly pan to check the previously mentioned water leak, and found this thing, that looks like a muffler off a car. It seems to be factory, it sits in a spot cut out of the frame. Any ideas what this thing is, and what it is supposed to do?

Tee hee I'm just taking a stab in the dark here - cause I like to have fun so here goes....

Did your 63 come with a factory A/C?? if so could that be an internal drip pan for the AC???

or it could be the smallest black tank ever made - or a compartment for contraband - maybe they were actually working on converting it to a motor home and it really is a muffler

Moving onto your leaks though - Peter had the same thing but he was using radiater hose - until finally there was more hose than water pipe -
Hence the job of replacing the whole water pipe system - just for what it is worth and since most plumbing is above the floor - why not redo the lot - if you use flexible pipe lik pex then the job is so much easier and in most places our GT the hose can be fed through to the actual hook ups. When the job is all done then there will be NO surprise water leaks - and we have had a fair share of them puppies!!!

PS Thanks for the shed info - that is the same style as we are looking at and for about the same price.