Visit our Popular Forums

dadstoy · 04-07-2012, 06:35 PM

Sounds like a big job. Are you sure this is something you want to get into?

ScrapIrony-2 · 04-07-2012, 09:10 PM

WHY wait 9 years...???Retire soon, do with less, and enjoy life...gas is the big expense in our life, and, yeah, the rig is cosmetically challenged, but so am I...neither of those things bother me...getting old and saying I wish I had does...take a 'next time' trip...ya know, you pass a place and say to yourself, I'm gonna stop there next time...? 2 miles, 2,000 miles...TAKE THE TIME TO ENJOY YOUR AIRSTREAM!!! It will probably be around long after you are able to use it. Well, I might be a little biased, but LIVING in our moho has been the best thing we ever did with our life. Gravity, balance, and forward motion will get you there. m

Mike Leary · 04-08-2012, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScrapIrony-2

WHY wait 9 years...???Retire soon, do with less, and enjoy life...gas is the big expense in our life, and, yeah, the rig is cosmetically challenged, but so am I...neither of those things bother me...getting old and saying I wish I had does...take a 'next time' trip...ya know, you pass a place and say to yourself, I'm gonna stop there next time...? 2 miles, 2,000 miles...TAKE THE TIME TO ENJOY YOUR AIRSTREAM!!! It will probably be around long after you are able to use it. Well, I might be a little biased, but LIVING in our moho has been the best thing we ever did with our life. Gravity, balance, and forward motion will get you there. m

Words of wisdom from one of the best. Our first AS mo/ho was owned by a guy that was planning the big retirement trip; he'd replaced everything, the coach was in pristine shape: he had a heart attack six months before "retirement" and never got a chance to enjoy his dream. True story, let that be a lesson to all of us.

crazeevw · 04-08-2012, 06:43 PM

Wish I could afford to retire. Too young (51) so no forseeable retirement income. WAY upside down on home, owe more than I could sell it for. As for heart attack, with my Dad having bypass 15 years ago, my Dr (his Dr too) keeps up with all of that. Plus, my job does require that I walk on foot 7 1/2 miles a day. There's no guarantee's in life, but I gotta pay for Airstream first, before even beginning to think about early retirement. Just sayin.....

As for interior gut, I'm guilty of reading DarkSpeed's posting where he pulled interior skin and was greeted by fiberglass insulation settled in each pocket, meaning no insulation for the most part. More I look at my 345, I realize maybe dual pane windows might be a better investment, especially with all of the windows are in that rig!
Thanks, Derek

ScrapIrony-2 · 04-08-2012, 09:47 PM

Derek,
I did not choose to retire, but my wife's neurological injury/illness kinda put me in place; take care of her, or pay someone more than I was making to care for her...the choice was not mine to make. I was 50 at the time. Having said so, I still say that giving up one home for the other has been the blessing in disguise...the enrichment you will experience far outweighs the time you continue to scrabble for...NO, I don't suggest you sell your life...just consider the alternatives to selling your happiness. Money's nice, but not the nut. STUFF IS...well... STUFF...ya can't eat it. it occupies space unnecessarily, and it costs money to keep it...I have more stuff than folks ought to own, and I will be glad to sell it to you...I simply suggest re-evaluation of priorities...I did not have that choice, but you do. Your friend on the forums, m

crazeevw · 04-09-2012, 05:45 PM

Thanks Michael. I was put in a position 1 1/2 years ago to 're-evaluate' my place in life when I was diagnosed with the 'big C'. That's when I started looking for that Airstream I've always wanted. Took that BIG STEP on the one year anniversary of cancer surgery, by purchasing my Airstream. Figure as long as I'm looking down at the ground, instead of up at it.....baby steps.....
Thanks, Derek

crazeevw · 04-11-2012, 05:57 PM

Here's a new one for anyone that can help me. Does anyone have the battery shut-off panel just inside of entry door, to the right of entry door. This panel controls solenoids on back of battery tray that will disconnect batteries while vehicle is being stored. If you do have these solenoids, do you possibly have photos of the wiring for the solenoids? Had a friend 'help' me with this, but had everything disconnected before I could get some reference photos. I'm guessing that positive cables would go on the top, and negative cables on the bottom, but that's just a guess. Or would it really matter, just as long as I have positive and negative separated from each other.
Thanks, Derek

crazeevw · 04-11-2012, 06:34 PM

Oh, this is what I'm going to go looking for when gas hits $5.00 or higher, lol

http://www.instantlobster.com/UltraV...n_Brochure.pdf

Thanks, Derek

ScrapIrony-2 · 04-11-2012, 10:08 PM

Derek,
Since we're 1100+ miles from the moho, I can't shoot you a picture or a diagram from the owner's manual, but I'm fairly certain that reverse polarity would cause BIG problems.
It may be that it just won't work, but Electrical systems are set up in a specific way. Our switch that you refer to burned up in one of my early attempts to rectify a situation with overkill, and I did...overkill...a mobile mechanic 'fixed' the problem to get me down the road to a RV mechanic by somehow placing a paper clip in the switch 'board' behind the manual switches for the battery interrupt. I would think that there might be generic 'boards' to replace yours...another good source of P-30 chassis and 454 needs is the Barthmobile.forums...I doubt that school buses(busses?) had those switches, at least in kid reach...please remember to not say "part" and "Airstream" in the same conversation with a potential supplier...P 30 and 454 should eliminate 2-5 days in a denial of existence...m

Mike Leary · 04-12-2012, 03:46 PM

Saying you've got a van with a P-30 chassis that says "Wonder Bread" on the side works well.

crazeevw · 04-12-2012, 07:30 PM

Ok, picked up a 'Continuous Use Solenoid' today. Too much to get done this evening to get under moho and do the replacement. Maybe tomorrow......
Thanks, Derek

ScrapIrony-2 · 04-12-2012, 08:40 PM

Derek,
There are two solenoids under there...another alternative is to install generic battery disconnects at the poles...a hassle, granted, but quicker and easier than the harder to find board(the one in the wall behind the interior switch disconnects)...I have jumped the chassis battery from my toad to get the gen running to charge the house batteries... and I have direct jumped the house batteries from the battery charger fired by the chassis battery...if there's a circuit, there's a way, but ya gotta be careful...I am, more so now, but I have a feeling the learning curve is steep, and I'm just starting to climb...
Parts places exist for folks like me, but are generally universally ignorant unless I've done the(or some) homework...so, where ya gonna go this weekend...??? Hell, drive it down the block and park in the back of the local gas pump...go as far as the nearest Wallyworld or truck oasis...try out a rest stop or county/state/national park...you and I have limited time on this earth, and the endstage may not be a pleasant one, but getting there can be a lot of living fun. m

crazeevw · 04-13-2012, 09:27 PM

Michael,
No idea when I'll get this running. Work tomorrow, theatre in the Park tomorrow evening (WOO-HOO, Rocky Horror LIVE, lol) then off to see my folks and help my Dad with some around the house stuff on Sunday, and back to work on Monday. I'll get to it at some point, but this weekend isn't looking promising.....
Thanks, Derek

crazeevw · 04-21-2012, 05:00 PM

Ok,
Between work and weather, no work done on the 'beast' for quite a few weeks. Finally, my luck is getting better. Finally able to find a 'Continuous Use Solenoid' at Advanced.
Part to the left in the photo is what I removed. Kinda looks like a great big fuse to me. No wonder my wall switches to the right of entry door don't work, chassis battery wasn't hooked to anything.
Thanks to Raveson for posting great photos of what I need in order to wire this up correctly.
Thanks, Derek

ScrapIrony-2 · 04-21-2012, 06:56 PM

Derek,
That looks like the thing I replaced under the doghouse...front, top, and I think just about center,,,the solenoids behind my steps are(I think) white in color...I REALLY miss Scrap...she's 1,100 miles+ away from us, and I can't pet her every day like I usually do.
PET your child often...it reminds you of what you have succeeded in doing...sometimes it's good to be the odd one out...we are unique, and I will carry that to my Pablum! m

crazeevw · 04-25-2012, 09:45 AM

Ok
You have to know, I've had a nickname for my Airstream well before it's purchase. Can you figure out what my custom made license plate says?
Thanks, Derek