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 09-02-2003, 03:57 PM   #1
Rivet Master
 
yukionna's Avatar
 
Massachusetts
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: 1964 17' Bambi II
Posts: 4,282
Images: 18
Send a message via Yahoo to yukionna
Holding tank plumbing question

I recently had Airstream upgrade my black tank from an eight gallon tank to an 18 gallon tank in my 2002 19' Bambi. The holding tank plumbing is now situated much lower than the original factory plumbing -- the plumbing is now only 6" from the ground (see photo below)! That seems a bit low so I would like to poll 2002 19' Bambi owners who own a unit with the 18-gallon black tank as standard equipment. How far off the ground is your plumbing? Can you post a picture of your plumbing?
yukionna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2003, 04:02 PM   #2
Rivet Master
 
yukionna's Avatar
 
Massachusetts
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: 1964 17' Bambi II
Posts: 4,282
Images: 18
Send a message via Yahoo to yukionna
Oops! I forgot the photo!

I couldn't figure out how to add a photo after I posted the thread so must resort to responding to my own post!
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	black tank plumbing.jpg
Views:	560
Size:	50.5 KB
ID:	2920  
yukionna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2003, 04:09 PM   #3
3 Rivet Member
 
Rickk48's Avatar
 
Bigfork , Montana
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 204
Images: 5
I will be interested in the replies, as I have been thinking of doing the same mod to my '01 Bambi.
__________________
Rick Klein
Seeking another Bambi
'08 Honda Ridgeline
Rickk48 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2003, 04:30 PM   #4
2 Rivet Member
 
1994 30' Excella
New Smyrna Beach , Florida
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 73
yukionna,

If I may ask, about how much does it run to have this upgrade. We have a 2001 Bambi and I was also thinking it would be nice to have a larger black tank.

Thanks,

Bob Caldwell
rcaldwel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2003, 04:33 PM   #5
Rivet Master
 
yukionna's Avatar
 
Massachusetts
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: 1964 17' Bambi II
Posts: 4,282
Images: 18
Send a message via Yahoo to yukionna
It cost about $1,000 for everything -- labor and materials -- and is a 3-4 day job.
yukionna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2003, 05:20 PM   #6
Rivet Master
 
yukionna's Avatar
 
Massachusetts
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: 1964 17' Bambi II
Posts: 4,282
Images: 18
Send a message via Yahoo to yukionna
One other thing I want to mention about my black tank upgrade -- the new toilet orientation!

I read somewhere (probably on this forum) that you can gain more leg room in the bathroom of the 19' Bambi's by re-orienting the commode. This is done by loosening the bolts and turning the commode slightly toward the shower. Well, when Airstream installed my new black tank, they re-oriented my commode. What a difference it makes -- no more complaints about knees banging against the closed bathroom door!
yukionna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2003, 08:04 PM   #7
4 Rivet Member
 
WayWard Wind's Avatar
 
2004 25' Safari
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 424
Yukinnoa, we have an 02 Bambi & as luck would have it ours was made SHORTLY after a line change, where A/S went with the bigger tank in the 19'. I'll take a pic of ours tomorrow & try to post it, so you can see the plumbing difference. I had contacted A/S, after purchasing ours, regarding the turning of the toliet & that's what I was also told to do. If you look at some of thier floor prints it appears they are now turning them slightly towards the shower. I'm also interested in a previous problem you mentioned regarding the side panel peeling. After reading your thread, I looked up an article I had clipped from the Blue Beret & David Schumman ( works for A/S ) wrote in there (see issuse June 2002 page # 50 ) that from 1999 on A/S has started using painted panels that come from Alcoa, instead of Clearcoat, to avoid the peeling problem. So what's peeling?
Best,
__________________
Home of the Wayward Wind

Bogfrog & Mr. Turbo

If in life you stumble, make it part of the dance
WayWard Wind is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2003, 03:50 AM   #8
Rivet Master
 
yukionna's Avatar
 
Massachusetts
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: 1964 17' Bambi II
Posts: 4,282
Images: 18
Send a message via Yahoo to yukionna
On the street side of the A/S, there are three spots where the coating is coming off in strips. The damage occurred about seven feet up the side so I didn't notice the problem until the pieces of clear coat had broken free and were hanging down. Airstream attempted to strip the finish to recoat that side while my unit was at the factory, but the exposed area of the panel had changed color. Aistream tried to buff that side out, to blend the colors, to no avail so they are planning on replacing the panel this winter.
yukionna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2003, 06:42 AM   #9
4 Rivet Member
 
dtbw's Avatar
 
1999 34' Limited
2002 19' Bambi
Allen , Texas
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 292
Images: 15
Nancy,
here is a pic of our factory setup. Ours was the first Bambi with the 18 gallon. Looks pretty much the same as yours except ours has a bracket to support the outlet (it also prevents me from rotating the drain downward, so I had to buy a ell so that my Sewer Solution would clear the gate valve handles). Sorry that I don't have a better pic, but our rig is in storage. I will be getting it midweek for a unit rally, so I will take a better pic and do some measurements.

david
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	dcp_0505-cropped.jpg
Views:	455
Size:	65.7 KB
ID:	2962  
__________________
david & bret
'02 Bambi LS
'99 34' Limited
Air Forums # 2159
Past President Heart of Texas Camping Unit
WBCCI # 7548
dtbw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2003, 08:23 AM   #10
3 Rivet Member
 
B25guy's Avatar
 
2003 25' Safari
Yakima , Washington
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 153
Images: 20
I have a 25C but it looks the same as DTBW's. I strongly recommend the bracket that holds the whole assembly to the underside of the trailer. I wasn't impressed by the way the factory just screwed it into the aluminum panel so I added a piece of 1" aluminum angle behind it to the outrigger about 6" forward of the existing mounting point. That's a lot of weight to be supported by friction of the joints and thim aluminum sheet metal.
B25guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2003, 09:20 PM   #11
Rivet Master
 
yukionna's Avatar
 
Massachusetts
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: 1964 17' Bambi II
Posts: 4,282
Images: 18
Send a message via Yahoo to yukionna
B25guy, I'm not sure I understand what your bracket does. Do you have a photo you could post?
yukionna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2003, 07:50 AM   #12
4 Rivet Member
 
dtbw's Avatar
 
1999 34' Limited
2002 19' Bambi
Allen , Texas
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 292
Images: 15
See my photo

Nancy,
Look at the photo I attached to my earlier posting. See the area above the outlet? Note that there is a metal bracket that surrounds the outlet area (between the two gate valves)providing added support and generally providing a more pleasing appearance.
__________________
david & bret
'02 Bambi LS
'99 34' Limited
Air Forums # 2159
Past President Heart of Texas Camping Unit
WBCCI # 7548
dtbw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2003, 10:27 PM   #13
4 Rivet Member
 
rfield54's Avatar
 
2002 19' Bambi
1989 29' Excella
1980 28' International
Avon , Colorado
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: 1989 29' Excella
Posts: 282
Images: 106
Blog Entries: 2
Send a message via AIM to rfield54
Wink

Yukionna,

The plumbing clearance on my '02 Safari/Bambi is 9" at the exit bracket and about 9 3/4" at the dropped floor that accomodates the (standard equipment) 18 gal tank. It sounds like you lose 3" of clearance with the upgrade when compared to a newer Bambi . . . it's still worth it though. It could be more disadvantageous. I'm told the '92 thru '97 (21') Sovereign's have only 5" of clearance at the same location . . . Roy
rfield54 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2003, 03:53 AM   #14
Rivet Master
 
yukionna's Avatar
 
Massachusetts
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: 1964 17' Bambi II
Posts: 4,282
Images: 18
Send a message via Yahoo to yukionna
I'm wondering now if I should install a bracket to help support the plumbing.

It would be great if someone could post a close-up photo of their bracket.
yukionna is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2003, 06:04 AM   #15
4 Rivet Member
 
dtbw's Avatar
 
1999 34' Limited
2002 19' Bambi
Allen , Texas
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 292
Images: 15
Make A/S send you one

Nancy,
That should have been installed by A/S, but if the retrofit hangs lower than original factory, then A/Ss standard bracket would not extend low enough. Still they should have had a custom bracket made. Regardless, I would have A/S send me one of the brackets as it would be a good pattern for a sheet metal shop to use in fabricating a bracket that would extend down properly. While the weight of the plumbing is small, it is the leverage situation that concerns me. Without the support at the center, there is a good potential for motion and over time that could lead to fatigue at gray or black tank exits (or both). I will be getting our Bambi out of storage later next week and I will do some measuring so that we can compare clearances.
__________________
david & bret
'02 Bambi LS
'99 34' Limited
Air Forums # 2159
Past President Heart of Texas Camping Unit
WBCCI # 7548
dtbw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-10-2003, 08:00 PM   #16
3 Rivet Member
 
B25guy's Avatar
 
2003 25' Safari
Yakima , Washington
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 153
Images: 20
sewer valve bracket

Here's a picture of my alum angle bracket...nothing fancy, just functional. I attached the forward end of the angle with a #12 sheet metal screw (hex head) to the nearest outrigger just forward of the valve. I then lifted the valve assy slightly to remove the slack then drilled and riveted the two together. Now there's no wiggle in the valve and should hold up nicely as the valve handles are tugged on through the years.

BTW, the alum angle was a scrap leftover when I put mud/rocks guards behind the rear axle. I noticed lots of mud and dirt around the valves and rock chips in the underside paint.

Hope this helps!
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	bracket.jpg
Views:	288
Size:	67.2 KB
ID:	3039  
B25guy 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
That pesky grey water that bypases the holding tank Van All Argosy Trailers 15 08-13-2004 07:52 AM
Pulled the plug out of the Holding Tank? ssolid Fresh Water Systems 0 03-24-2004 11:13 AM
holding tank question.. Morning Dew Waste Systems, Tanks & Totes 1 03-19-2004 03:44 PM
Holding tank Question GOTPIKE All Argosy Trailers 4 08-20-2003 09:35 AM
General plumbing question eracism Fresh Water Systems 2 01-14-2003 06:41 AM


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 01:43 AM.


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