Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-15-2019, 10:34 AM   #1
1 Rivet Member
 
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Midlothian , VA
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
New owner - plumbing burst - 72 Safari

Yesterday was the first overnight in our 72 Safari at Powhatan State Park in VA. I hooked up my water and opened the tap wide open. All seemed to be going well but I did notice a slow leak come from the belly behind the rear wheels and just in front of where you hook up the water. After a couple hours a huge flood of water erupted from behind the rear closet (where the breaker panel is) and shot across to the other rear closet. I immediately turned off the site water hookup. In my mind, I have to have burst a pipe from behind the wall of the closet. That said, I can't see where the leak is coming from. After disconnecting the water hose i noticed the pressure of the water coming from the camp spigot was incredibly powerful. I was operating without a pressure gauge so my thought is the force of the water was too strong for my old pipes. Ugh.


Can anyone tell me where to begin as to how to address this? I have to find the source. Is it possible to remove the rear of the closet or is easier to go up through the belly pan? Also what is a reliable water pressure gauge and what should I set it at. Any help is appreciated. Going to start searching for pics on the forum now. Thanks all.
RVAStream is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2019, 11:50 AM   #2
Rivet Master
 
Foiled Again's Avatar
 
2012 25' FB Eddie Bauer
Vintage Kin Owner
Virginia Beach , Virginia
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,801
With a trailer that old, you may find quite a few repairs have been done (often badly) and.the original specs arent that helpful. Definitely look at accessing from the belly pan. If it has broken before a.prior owner may have made an access door in the belly pan. Also the water inlet itself may have problems. Locate that outside and hope to find the pipe inside a.closet on the inside.

Airstream has most.of the old model system diagrams and schematics online at airstream.com.
__________________
Today is a gift, that's why they call it the present.
Foiled Again is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2019, 11:58 AM   #3
Moderator
 
DKB_SATX's Avatar

 
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Alamo Heights , Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,500
Images: 1
Blog Entries: 7
Even 70s trailers came with a pressure regulator just inside the trailer from the city-water inlet. However, it's been nearly 50 years since your trailer was built, so there's a whole list of possibilities about what went wrong, from the OEM regulator failing to a fitting failing to some previous owner having patched a bit of copper with garden hose. (Really, I've seen that.)

I like having a regulator out on the campground water source, because it reduces the likelihood that the hose will burst and flood the campsite in addition to being a belt-and-suspenders backup for the internal regulator.
__________________
— David

Zero Gravitas — 2017 Flying Cloud 26U | WBCCI# 15566

He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire. — Sir Winston Churchill
DKB_SATX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-15-2019, 02:39 PM   #4
1 Rivet Member
 
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Midlothian , VA
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by DKB_SATX View Post
to a fitting failing to some previous owner having patched a bit of copper with garden hose. (Really, I've seen that.)

And this is the culprit. Looks like a PO replaced some copper pipe with some heavy duty flexible tubing and using ratchet screw clamps to secure the new hose to the old copper pipe. The pressure was high enough to blow the tube right off the pipe. Luckily it was easily accessible and I was able to refasten and secure. A temp fix until I get to a better solution. Now i have a lot of moisture to dry up. Towels, fans and Damp-Rid should take care of the majority. Thanks again for the prompt responses.
RVAStream is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-16-2019, 09:18 AM   #5
Half a Rivet Short
 
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle , Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,684
Hi

The key to all this is the park where you stopped for the night .....

Unless they have changed things since we were there last, they have the highest pressure water system of any campground on earth. Go into their bathrooms and turn on the faucet in the sink full on. Water will bounce off the bottom of the bowl and hit the ceiling across the room. Yes that sounds like an exaggeration .... it's not.

We have an overpressure setup on our trailer as well as the regulator. When the overpressure triggered I decided not to stay hooked up to their setup. Indeed regulators have a finite life. One that is many decades old may not still be doing very well ..... They also have a max input pressure they will handle. I have no idea what the pressure is at Powhatan, but it is very much over the top.

(Yes, we pointed out the fact that it was a bit high to the management. They didn't seem very concerned.)

Bob
uncle_bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-16-2019, 07:32 PM   #6
1 Rivet Member
 
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Midlothian , VA
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by uncle_bob View Post
Hi

The key to all this is the park where you stopped for the night .....

Man I'm glad you validated this. The water literally knocked a pan right out of my hand. For my first camper experience I'm glad I didnt do more damage then what I did. Folks be warned, Powhatan State Park in Powhatan VA has 'take the paint off a house' kind of water pressure at their sites. For older campers like my 72 it could be problematic without an external water pressure gauge. Other than that the park is beautiful with huge private spaces and hookups.
RVAStream is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-17-2019, 09:16 AM   #7
Half a Rivet Short
 
2017 30' Classic
2022 Interstate 24X
Carlisle , Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 15,684
Hi

It'a an absolutely Wonderful little park. It's all very new and well done. Our answer to the water issue was to fill the fresh water tank and use that. In fact, that's pretty much become the normal way we run all the time.

======

One other minor note - if you happen to have a Garmin GPS, it's routing to the park will take you past a prison and then down a long dirt road. At the end of the road is a locked gate. If you are lucky (we where) the gate to the field next to the gate will be unlocked and the crop will have been harvested. Otherwise, you get to back down the road .....

So much fun !!!!!!

Bob
uncle_bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Heavy Freeze / burst Pipes / New WH and Pump? robwok Water Heaters, Filters & Pumps 11 10-15-2022 06:03 AM
Need advice on '75 Overlander w/ frozen/burst water lines Denbear Fresh Water Systems 3 03-01-2011 08:47 PM
Big burst of new ebaY ads today Aage Airstreams on eBay 3 01-27-2010 11:20 AM
burst pipe? mrmossyone Plumbing - Systems & Fixtures 9 02-21-2008 05:47 PM
Great News! The Water Main Burst! Jim & Susan Electrical - Systems, Generators, Batteries & Solar 36 12-13-2007 06:10 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:59 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.