reserved my space before i said i was coming. wanted to make sure there was still room. i'm gonna be in slot 140. (it looked pretty close to the restrooms... just in case the plumbing still isn't working by then )
and as for "living far away" i have no idea where in FL you are, but i was planning on traveling with my parents down to the keys area sometime in the beginning of the year.
We are off I-75, near Fort Myers. We have 30 amp electric, and a driveway large enough to accomodate two Overlanders parked side-by-side. Not only would that be good for y'all to see where the wires go, and what is supposed to go where, but it would launch our neighbors into fits of apoplexy, which I perversely enjoy.
probly stop massive amounts of traffic in front of your house, too, ta see two nearly identical (size and shape-wise, at least ) Airstreams side by side like that!
probly stop massive amounts of traffic in front of your house, too, ta see two nearly identical (size and shape-wise, at least ) Airstreams side by side like that!
They would swear we were trying to mate them. Too bad I don't know anyone with a 1960's Bambi to park out front...
While there are many who would disagree, I believe the ultimate goal of the Airstream restoration should be functionality in a 21st century setting. The classic lines of the aluminimum exterior will always be there, but the inside should reflect the needs and tastes of the user.
Much has changed in 40 years.
I think that with an older trailer (unless kept in its pristine, original condition by previous owners), complete makeover is generally preferred.
The most frustrating aspect of my experience is how much "stuff" must be removed just to get to the part you want to repair/replace. It is sometimes easier to start with an empty shell. (It will also help you to identify trouble spots.)
Good luck!
I have some pics of a dinette in my photos section, including dimensions, although it was done in a '72 Overlander (slightly different measurements)
...
The most frustrating aspect of my experience is how much "stuff" must be removed just to get to the part you want to repair/replace. It is sometimes easier to start with an empty shell. ...
Having done pretty much 100% of a 60s Bambi, 80% of an Overlander, 100% of a 70s Caravel, and now in the middle of 30% re-do of a Sovereign (which will eventually be 100%), I couldn't agree more.
Actually, after the Overlander, I swore up and down that the first item on my re-do list [from then on] would be "gut." So far I have failed 100% in keeping that promise and have 100% regretted not keeping it. It appears that man's optimisum and stupidity know no bounds. (previous remarks are copyrighted and not permitted to be used in the already full female arsenal on this subject)
Is Palmer Lake just above Monument? For some reason, the name seems really familiar. I used to live just off Northgate in the 80s and hope to be back in the area within the next year or two (to visit, of course).
well... so far my laundry list of things to replace/fix is remarkably similar to what Overlander63's was! it has a regular mini-fridge which, of course, needs to go. needs replacing with a 3 way. the water heater is electric, so i now, in addition to needing to plug in to have hot water, also have a big ugly hole in the side filled in with a square of galvanized metal. (anyone know where i can get a replacment hatch, by the way?) the furnace looks horrible... i doubt it's salvageable. while my stove-top works, the pilot light won't light, so i must light the burners with a lighter (or if i'm feeling brave, a match) and the stove doesn't work at all. the water pump isn't plugged into ANYTHING. O.o altho on the bright side (pun intended) i did discover today that when attached to a battery, i do have internal lights. i also managed to find the "porch light" it was hidden in a "drawer" in the kitchen area. that answered what one of my "mystery switches" was... (the one over the top jalousie window) i still don't know what the little metal toggle does... i may never know... oooooooo. the jalousie window that was broken earlier then got stuck open after i installed all the glass panes, which stripped the gears of the crank. i managed to get that window closed today... still sans crank, but at least its closed. several windows have had fresh screens installed, and i'm ready (i think) for an extremely brief trip tomorrow with my parents to celebrate new years! we're headed up to Emerald Beach RV park... park it right on the beach... and use their bathrooms!
hubby has intended, since the moment he saw the state the floor was in, to totally strip the interior, even removing the interior shell, so he can more easily repair/replace the entire floor, and get to every last bit of wiring... see what goes where and does what. Thank God i have a handy husband... and not one who just THINKS he is
the water heater is electric, so i now, in addition to needing to plug in to have hot water, also have a big ugly hole in the side filled in with a square of galvanized metal. (anyone know where i can get a replacment hatch, by the way?)
Camping Worl sells replacment hatches for the water heaters they have, although they are painted white. Airstream sells them (I got mine from the company store) in silver, for about $14.
Quote:
Originally Posted by katzklaw
while my stove-top works, the pilot light won't light, so i must light the burners with a lighter (or if i'm feeling brave, a match) and the stove doesn't work at all.
I found with our stove, I had to unscrew the valve for the pilot light, as it had been turned off to save gas. There is a valve inside the top of the stove to turn the gas on and off for the stove and oven. There is also a valve inside the oven that can get stuck. It would need to be carefully removed, the cover removed, and the valve unstuck for the oven to work.
Quote:
Originally Posted by katzklaw
the water pump isn't plugged into ANYTHING. O.o altho on the bright side (pun intended) i did discover today that when attached to a battery, i do have internal lights. i also managed to find the "porch light" it was hidden in a "drawer" in the kitchen area. that answered what one of my "mystery switches" was... (the one over the top jalousie window) i still don't know what the little metal toggle does... i may never know...
The way the water pump SHOULD be plumbed in, it should be hooked in to the water line from the bottom of the water tank, and then from there to the cold water side of the fresh water system. If it is an air pump, instead of a water pump, it is very much different.
Quote:
Originally Posted by katzklaw
oooooooo. the jalousie window that was broken earlier then got stuck open after i installed all the glass panes, which stripped the gears of the crank. i managed to get that window closed today... still sans crank, but at least its closed.
You should be able to get the mechanism from a mobile home supply store, take your old one with you to match up. I have learned that as soon as you say it goes in an Airstream, virtually everyone puts their hands ovr their ears, and does the "Go to the dealer" chant...
Quote:
Originally Posted by katzklaw
several windows have had fresh screens installed, and i'm ready (i think) for an extremely brief trip tomorrow with my parents to celebrate new years! we're headed up to Emerald Beach RV park... park it right on the beach... and use their bathrooms!
Does your black tank valve still consist of a big, honking brass valve assembly, with a metal blade as a shut off? If so, these are rebuildable, pretty easily, although if you don't have the fitting that goes from it to the slinky, you might as well replace the valve. They are rare as chicken teeth.
Quote:
Originally Posted by katzklaw
hubby has intended, since the moment he saw the state the floor was in, to totally strip the interior, even removing the interior shell, so he can more easily repair/replace the entire floor, and get to every last bit of wiring... see what goes where and does what. Thank God i have a handy husband... and not one who just THINKS he is
anyways... see some of you next weekend!
Just be aware the shell more or less directly rests on the floor, and if your hubby doesn't want to remove the shell, he will need to search the forums here for tips on removing the floor without removing the body from the trailer (also called a full monty) You may want to consider getting a small port-a-potti for use until you get your black water and plumbing issues resolved. They are not very expensive, and will be invaluable if something unforseen happens in the middle of the night (like a dose of Montezuma's revenge at 3 am in the rain). The voice of experience talking here...
d'oh... what i meant was the water pump isn't WIRED into anything... there's wires laying all over the place in that hatch... and the battery was LONG gone... Dad lent me one of his to see if the lights would come on. but THANK you for the rest of that invaluable info!
d'oh... what i meant was the water pump isn't WIRED into anything... there's wires laying all over the place in that hatch... and the battery was LONG gone... Dad lent me one of his to see if the lights would come on. but THANK you for the rest of that invaluable info!
Also, your little metal toggle switch is for the "scare light", which is a round clear fixture mounted outside the trailer, just ahead of the jalousie windows. Looks kind of like a back-up light for a bus (probably because it is).
well... we arrived at the park i'd picked out, and came smack into a problem i hadn't thought of... i didn't even know it was a possibility of a problem! my dad is converting an old bus into an RV... and it had been our plan to go somewhere together to celebrate newyears... well, we pull in, and the manager said "nope. park rules, no converted buses" so we pulled out and are now further down the road at "Camping on the Gulf" in Destin. screw 'em! they didn't need our money anyway!
as for the "scare light"... it doesn't seem to work. i have a round amber light in front of my jalousie windows... but nothing happens when i flip the switch.
other than a lack of plumbing, we're set up quite nicely here.. including WiFi (yay!) but after all the stress of trying to get TWO coaches ready for the road, hubby was, understandably, pooped (i'll include a picture when my comp isn't acting flaky)
the trailer towed really well with the WD on it this time.. but i couldn't figure out where to hook up the sway control arm. maybe next time.
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