2005 Airstream Skydeck

[bobmiller1]

Who knows....you might find a million dollars under the stairs or...see how much useable space you have for extra storage that they blocked off....or all the factory records that we have all been seeking that they threw out ! Good luck, Bob.

[PSchw]

I removed my ice make I don't need ice maker I can make the ice in the freezer the little I use. Lots of room back there I consider reconfiguring the space similar what Nomad did.
I installed new TV's and a amplifier/tuner. Still working on a satellite setup regular TV and Roku working fine.
Cleaned the roof today what a mess find still rivets screw washers and nuts. Lots of crap under the from hood.
Peter

[israndy]

Did you toss the Ice Maker? They are $1000 new. I could use those parts if you didn't. I cannot wait to take it out this weekend, see if I can fix it. See what's under the steps!

Did you replace the front TV, you had the original 26"? I see that I can get a 37" Vizio in there, wondering about trying a 40", they have such sexy slim bezels these days. You replaced the dash radio too? Didn't like the Sony? What did you get? Does it have features the original didn't? Or did you buy an actual stereo receiver? I haven't even begun to think about the bedroom TV. I haven't even gotten the old one out. Gonna havta see what others are doing for back there. Did you just stand an LCD up in that space? Mount one on an arm? What's behind it?

I have been thinking about satellite. I really would like to get a dish that works in the RV AND in our cabin. I could get a tripod mount that would work and are cheap, but painful to set up and the wife would NEVER do it, so she would complain that it didn't work. One of those portable dishes works great, move it from RV to RV to cabin. Works with the wires that are already there. Only have to pay for service on one device. But they cannot drive the Hopper, so cannot do that thing where the dish grabs all of prime time and lets you watch it when you want. I could get one of those big dishes that folds flat for travel, but where to mount? And no use on the other RV or the cabin. The business version of the Sky Deck had a dish where the second bed in the Sun Lounger was removed and the dish mounted behind the seat back. I also saw one where it was mounted above the fiberglass front fairing and probably supported from below.

One of the first things I noticed about the skydeck is everything that blows onto the roof rolls down the side and gets caught where the roof meets the skydeck siding. Same thing happens to leaves and such between the boards on my house's back deck. Gonna have to put gutter screens up there when I get it all vacuumed out. And around the front A/C to keep the front under-fairing area clean.

-Randy

[PSchw]

I still have the ice maker.
Installed a 39" in front and a 27" in the rear. I just like large screens.
The receiver amplifier is big and just got in the small space it runs the speakers ok. So fare I did not find a subwoofer maybe there is noon.
The receiver as Bluetooth which works good with the IPhone.
Peter

[israndy]

Nice. So that's what it looks like when the curtains are deployed. I just keep showering behind the door, I like the light.

Looks like you are NOT using the original hardware for mounting the TV. Also looks kind of like it doesn't really fit in the space and you have it turned slightly to go in-front of the CD changer. I wonder if you could get a 42" in there doing that...

I too have not found the subwoofer, I hear it and feel it in the kitchen, next to the couch, but WHERE IS IT COMING FROM?

What did you do to mount the 27"? Is it just on it's base in the opening or did you put it on an arm?

Oh, and have you tried to crank up the heat? Does the unit under the stairs run? I am sure mine is just maladjusted. Don't trash that ice maker if you are not going to use it.

-Randy

[PSchw]

The original brackets are made for the old heavy flat screen. I purchased wall brackets and installed them on the rear.
No none of the new TV's will fit exactly either it is smaller side ways or bigger in height. I picked the bigger height liking the bigger screen. You can hang a 42" but you will have problems with walking in hitting your head on the lower TV edge.
The rear I installed also a wall bracket on the inside wall to move it around.
I will post pictures of both.
Peter

[PSchw]

The green bungee is to secure it during travel. Works ok for the front 39"TV.
Peter

[PSchw]

This is a 27"TV and lots of room behind it. I gone turn this in the electronic cabinet to house wifiranger cell booster and charging station for lab top phone and so on.
Peter

[israndy]

Wow that is the perfect bedroom mount. Who makes that?

Looks like your frame was screwed in, not nailed. I'll have to do that when I am finished too.

Did you see my earlier question about your front furnace? Still to hot to try it?

-Randy

ps. Airstream Skydeck Rally!

[PSchw]

No I did not see the question about the front furnace mine work ok. I believe the front did not first but I went outside and opened it up and there was a on of switch switch it on and it worked.
Peter

[PSchw]

Here the picture of the switch on the furnace

Peter

[israndy]

That is awesome, how useful this forum is. Your contributions are so welcome. I will try that this weekend.

What about the bedroom mount, I have not found that one. Mine will not go around the corner like that, which seems very useful for watching news while getting ready to face the day.

-Randy

[PSchw]

It is a cheap mount I think I paid $20 or $30 cut the larger corners of to make it lighter.


I am at Hollywood Casino in Joliet IL and a guy came up who also owns a Skydeck a 2005 blue and silver residential now he told me he purchased from a dealer in Colerado who sold the most he told him About 50 are made but only 12 residential.
Peter

[israndy]

Should have collected his contact info so that we can all get together for that rally!

-Randy

[israndy]

Well another expense getting the rv back. I got the patio stereo working but was missing just one speaker.


Why are my photos all rotated now?

I searched everywhere and discovered that the speaker is made by Jensen. They still make a 6 1/2 inch version. Unfortunately to my eyes this is a 5 1/4 inch speaker. I should have used a tape measure, but I didn't.

Looking for a used speaker I found one on eBay. The owner confirmed it was the smaller size but I was bidding against another. Wasn't sure if it was somebody here or not and the auction ended this morning at 7 AM. I feared I might not wake up in time for the auction and so I bid high, and just barely won.



But at least I now have a full set.

I also found the antenna for the stereo up there. Mine was removed for some reason and the reception SUCKS without an antenna.



I think the guys who put the bus wrap on removed the antenna to make it all flat. Perhaps they put it back and loose or they just kept it off.

-Randy

[PSchw]

Making progress good. You still interested in the ice maker?
Peter

[P21932]

Originally Posted by PSchw

It is a cheap mount I think I paid $20 or $30 cut the larger corners of to make it lighter.
Attachment 248161Attachment 248163Attachment 248164

I am at Hollywood Casino in Joliet IL and a guy came up who also owns a Skydeck a 2005 blue and silver residential now he told me he purchased from a dealer in Colerado who sold the most he told him About 50 are made but only 12 residential.
Peter

10-12 was the number I heard...what is a nonresidential Skydeck? I have never heard of the difference. I have also been trying to get a production number for 396XLs but Airstream won't tell me. I suspect it is a fairly low number though I do see others from time to time at Rallies.

[PSchw]

Non residential are the business once with 2 entrance doors and no bed room more a party bus.
Peter

[israndy]

Originally Posted by PSchw

Making progress good. You still interested in the ice maker?
Peter

Sort of good. I have not gotten the old ice maker out. I think I need a hack saw to cut the water line, but then I will have an open line and will not be able to troubleshoot the fridge which also has a waterline from the same valve. I will have to get a fridge mechanic in to see if I am just doing something wrong. The fridge was running flawlessly while I was in Reno, yet no ice ever came out and the water was provided to the fridge the whole time. If you are getting rid of the ice maker be sure to sell it on craigslist or drop it with a repair guy, don't just trash it. If you have it out and wanna send it my way it is probably cheapest to drop it at a greyhound station heading my way. Those are heavy.

I did finally figure out the No Water issue in the bath sink. Took the whole fixture apart, out of the RV and took it apart and soaked it in vinegar. Turns out there was a plug of lime formed in the tightest valve, but it looks like a brand new fixture now. Hopefully it won't leak when I re-install it tomorrow.

Still have not started on the removing the wall fabric, wanted to fix all I could while trying to air the RV out, so I have been working on my long list, doing all repairs before I start with upgrades and the mustiness.

Having trouble keeping the battery charged. Keep coming back after going home for a week and discovering that something was on the whole week. I first had the thermostat on the fantastic fan set really high, but then it was 100° everyday for the whole week. Stupid fan ate my battery. Then this week, fan off, solar panel on, but somehow my inverter was on, and despite not having anything on it ate my battery again. I either need a protector circuit to cut it off if it gets too low or just give up on solar and disconnect the batts when I am away. I only have a 50 watt panel hooked up but should be getting me to full during the week. The only draw is the propane sensor and the iPhone charger. Using my old iPhone as a security camera.

Today I took a gasoline generator and hooked it to the power cord and ran it to charge the battery up. Still won't get to full, but should get me far away from the bottom where the battery has been. It will have run dry while we were at Octoberfest. Probably charged for 3 hours or more, it had a full tank when I started. If I had started the onboard generator it would have run for 150 hours or required me to go back to turn it off. Thought myself clever. Put it on the roof and ran the cord up, didn't want someone stealing it.

-Randy

[israndy]

New article on the Skydeck:

Nothing Tops The Features Of This Airstream Skydeck

-Randy