My '64 Overlander Adventure - Page 11

GreatPumpkin · 09-11-2007, 10:58 PM

I thought I would gain a few inches in height with the new axles, but I didn't. I had to double check the weight rating stamped into the axles to make sure. 2800#'s as ordered, and as the originals were. I've slightly reduced my weight load, shouldn't I see more tire than this?

3Ms75Argosy · 09-11-2007, 11:23 PM

I think you're fine with the height - it's the actual down angle that is what you need to look at. From your "before" pic, the old axles looked like they were frozen in a down position... You should now have travel that you didn't have before. : >
Nice job! Them's some fancy NASCAR rims you have there! I like!
Marc

GreatPumpkin · 09-11-2007, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3Ms75Argosy

I think you're fine with the height - it's the actual down angle that is what you need to look at. From your "before" pic, the old axles looked like they were frozen in a down position... You should now have travel that you didn't have before. : >
Nice job! Them's some fancy NASCAR rims you have there! I like!
Marc

NASCAR / LES SCHWAB - same thing right?

Just don't look to closely at the lug nuts or you'll see 10 new ones and 2 old ones.

How's the argosy coming along - got a blinding polish yet?

3Ms75Argosy · 09-11-2007, 11:55 PM

heh heh... well, PART of it is shiny... does that count? Just don't look at the front or rear roof of it.........

I just have to stop using it to actually DO something to it - I also wish it was in my backyard, but alas, tis not. I'm loving the Overlander - looking and riding well!
Take care, see you all soon!
Marc

Mikethefixit · 11-25-2007, 10:59 AM

Great Pic's Great Punkin
What did we ever do wif out WD 40 and air powered cut-off wheels. I do however have YE OLE FIRE WRENCH if needed I will be doing alxes in the spring. Your info gives me encourgement I do think I will have a problem
Roger

GreatPumpkin · 06-29-2008, 02:00 PM

Wow - I have definitely been remiss in updating my thread

.

Well here's some pictures of my newsed fridge. If you are counting, this is the 4th fridge in my saga - I think Terry (Overlander63) and I were trying to see who could replace theirs the most times

I am happy to report this one actually works - and quite well at that.

I picked up a used Dometic RM 2801 gas and electric. I found it semi local on Craig's list and picked it up this winter. It was a price I couldn't pass up.
When we got the AS out of storage, I had to work feverishly to get it in place before our first outing of the year. The fridge turned out to be a little wider (and obviously taller) than the original or the previous replacement attempts, so I ended up having to scrap the existing cabinets.
In order to center it fairly well around the original chimney I had to lose 3 inches from the kitchen drawer areas. (Those drawers and others are available). I'm pretty happy with the results. I was able to re-use the existing doors from the original cabinets, just had to trim 3 inches and then match the stain.
My wife was happy with the drawers, and thought they were too nice to cover up, but the door is what keeps them in place while in transit.
I used 5/4 stock for the face frames and drawer fronts. The hidden framework is out of lightweight white wood.
The fridge's raised oak panels were cracked, and didn't match the rest of the cabinet style, so I replaced them using the same formica as the countertops.

GreatPumpkin · 06-29-2008, 02:08 PM

Heavy duty drawer glides on the sides.

For the drawer fronts I cut them taller than needed, then drilled a 1" hole with a Forstner bit through the front. I then cut the boards to actual height which cut directly though the middle of the drilled hole. Then because of the thickness of the drawer front, I routed out the back side of the hole and additional 1/2" width and about 1/2" depth. The result is a nice finger pull open drawer front.

utee94 · 07-01-2008, 02:18 PM

Nice work and some clever solutions. It fits in beautifully with the existing cabinetry.

-Marcus

GreatPumpkin · 05-19-2009, 07:27 PM

The best laid plans...

Well I kept the Airstream home this winter instead of putting it in storage. The plan was to replace the hot water tank with the bargain unit I picked up at an estate auction this past summer.

As usual, I decided it was just to

cold to be out there working this winter. Unusually though, was the high number of days in the negative

temps this year.

Needless to say, the water heater hasn't been installed. But... due to the Airstream sitting out in the weather under a couple feet of snow I lost the refrigerator vent, the Astrodome, and the Solardome.

They were on their last legs anyway, so no big loss, just forced me to have to replace them on a timetable not of my choosing.

Ordered a "Camco" (Part # 40159) 14" x14" from Amazon for $10.59? Installed it yesterday and it fits/works perfectly! Saved close to $60 there!

Ordered the Refrigerator vent and Astrodome from Inland Rv. Their perpetual "sale" prices beat VTS.

I was hoping to install the Astrodome without drilling through the outside shell (IIRC Markdoane or UWE did that on their install). Unfortunately the thermal barrier is too close to the outer shell to give the rivet enough room to grip. I very briefly toyed with the idea of installing it exactly like the original, with 1/4" screws, but picturing my high priced piece of plastic blow off running down the highway quickly vetoed that idea.

In the end I followed the directions and drilled all the way through. Utilized the provided rivets and backers to install it. Instead of using Vulkem to seal the rivets/holes, I used a clear epoxy. I put some in the hole before inserting the rivets, underneath the backers, and finally completely covered the backers and rivet ends with the epoxy.

Overall I don't think the quality of the Astrodome matches the price paid. The thermal barrier is just a flat piece "glued" into the top of the outer shell. The "glue" (looks like some kind of hot melt process?, lots of air bubbles) doesn't completely seal all the way around. On my original, the outer shell had broken and water had gotten into it, but it did not leak through the inner thermal barrier. This one would leak if the outer shell were to develop a crack or break.

The aluminum refrigerator vent replaced the tattered remains of the original thin green plastic one. The new one is slightly longer so I plugged the original holes with Olympic rivets liberally covered with Vulkem. Centered the new vent cover over the vent, drilled new holes and also liberally applied Vulkem before riveting in place with Olympic rivets.

Here's some pics of the new vents installed. Sorry for the quality, my wife had the camera so these were taken with my cell phone.

GreatPumpkin · 08-11-2009, 10:03 PM

Well, 3+ years and over 1,000 posts and it's time to bring to an end My '64 Overlander Adventure. It has been a journey. We've had some good times, and met many new friends here online and at rallies. I'll continue to lurk here and probably even post once in awhile, but will have to change my status to currently looking...

Tonight we sold the Overlander to forums member Kidless.

We are looking for an Avion truck camper (at least it's still aluminum!) to allow us still to camp while pulling either the boat or the motorcycle trailer.

~ A life without adventure is likely to be unsatisfying, but a life in which adventure is allowed to take whatever form it will is sure to be short. ~

NorCal Bambi · 08-11-2009, 11:03 PM

Toys, Toys, Toys it all makes choices so complex. We ended up buying a small 14' sailboat and trying to figure how I can get it on top of the 68 Ford.
Good luck in your surch Don

DavidsonOverlander · 08-12-2009, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatPumpkin

We are looking for an Avion truck camper (at least it's still aluminum!) to allow us still to camp while pulling either the boat or the motorcycle trailer.

There was a nice one on Ebay a couple of weeks ago. It was in Indiana and sold for around $2700. I was looking at it because it was a C-11, and ours is a C-10. The C-11 has a larger bed and there doesn't seem to be as many around. Back in January there was a C-11 near Cleveland, OH for around $3000 on Craigslist. These campers seem to be all over the place on price. I've seen them advertised for less than $1000 (but never near me) and for more than $6000.

Ours was damaged by a tree last December before we even had a chance to use it. It was pretty much perfect on the exterior until then.

Right now I've got it covered up to protect it from the weather - another job for after I've finished the Sovereign.

47WeeWind · 08-12-2009, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatPumpkin

Well . . . Tonight we sold the Overlander. . . We are looking for an Avion truck camper (at least it's still aluminum!) to allow us still to camp while pulling either the boat or the motorcycle trailer.

Dear Great Orange Orb:

I'll miss your adventures and helpful posts as a fellow '64 owner on the Forum.

Here's a thought. Will you have enough vertical clearance underneath the rear overhang drop-down section of an Avion truck camper to install a 2' or 3' receiver extension to tow a trailer? I've never really looked into it, but it often seemed to me the receiver hitch on a pickup truck is typically mounted higher off the ground than the bottom of the Avion camper's rear overhang, leading to incompatible interference (it looks like any receiver extension would have to go through the drop-down overhang part of the Avion camper).

I towed for years with a 1968 Dodge W300 that had a 9' utility body and a 10' Alaskan camper in it. But the floor of the Alaskan was level with the floor of the utility box; there was no drop-down rear end of the camper to interfere with my 14" receiver extension, so I could easily tow a trailer. But the Avion campers I've (only) seen photos of have a rear section that overhangs the truck bed by 2' or 3' and drops down quite a bit, perhaps lower than the receiver hitch on a typical truck?

Anyway, its just a thought about something to check out before a purchase. Have fun with your "new" camper.

Best regards,

utee94 · 08-12-2009, 07:57 AM

Well, I'm honestly sorry to lose you as an Overlander brother, but I wish you well in your new endeavors.

I'd like to extend a sincere thank you to you for all of your help with advice, free parts, and inexpensive parts. You've been a tremendous help and I appreciate it. I just finished plumbing my trailer last week, and the fittings you sent me worked great, no problems at all (at least, none that were not associated with operator error!

).

Please don't be a stranger around here, I'd love to see you start a restoration thread for your Avion truck camper once you get it. As you noted, it's still aluminum, and thus worthy of respect and admiration.

Best,
-Marcus