Oh cool! Do you have any pictures of the tango flooring?
I will this week. I'm going to put the flooring down prior to dropping the shell in place. I'll get some pics once that is done. The tango material looks great. The little flecks of turquoise will set off some of the colors we're using. Somewhere in the archives of this forum, someone used a red marmoleum and I think it might have been tango. They did have a picture and it looked great. You might do a search on marmoleum. It was at least a year and 1/2 back.
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Paul & Annie
"No matter where you go, there you are..."
WBCCI #7162
Charter Member - Heart of Texas Camping Unit
AIR #1565
One more consideration for your gray and black tanks is that they need a vent that goes out thru the roof of the trailer somewhere. I couldn't tell from your sketch if you had included provisions for them or not.
One more consideration for your gray and black tanks is that they need a vent that goes out thru the roof of the trailer somewhere. I couldn't tell from your sketch if you had included provisions for them or not.
For the gray tank, there's an existing vent that I'll be using. It runs up through the "utility wall" that also holds the plumbing for the shower. The black tank I think I'll vent up through one of the closets.
Ankonuta, I've been reading your thread for over a week and finally finished it. A couple of things.
I recently sand-blasted and painted my frame, as well. I used the POR-15 (Black) product on portions of the frame that would not be exposed to sunlight. I used the Eastwoods (silver) on the parts that would be exposed. Both were easy to work with, but the black a bit easier than the silver. The Silver seemed "thicker", a little harder to brush. The POR was purchased locally from an automotive paint store. I ordered the Eastwoods on line and got it in about 3 days.
Concerning your fresh water tank, where did you buy it? Mine is mounted b/w the rails just forward of the axles, kinda like you described above. I've wanted to replace it, but I'm having a heck-of-a-time finding anything affordable (around $500). Part of the problem is that it can be no more than 5" tall and those are hard to find.
The way they were mounted in the 1973 Overlander is a bit different than described above. There is a frame made of angle steel that is welded to the bottom of the rails. The water tank is pushed up into place and then a 1" piece of plywood slides in underneath and rests on that steel frame. Surrounding the water tank are several pieces of 1" ply standing upright to keep the tank from moving around too much.
Good luck with it.
Jim
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To lodge all power in one party and to leave it there is to insure bad government. -- Mark Twain
I've heard of that approach for mounting the water tanks... but I'm confused as to why the tank would have to be only 5" tall... it doesn't need to fit between the frame rails. I figure I can extend the tanks down several inches below the frame rails, depending on their relation to the axles.
In regards to the water tanks, I'm ordering from a local RV Supply shop, here in Phoenix.
I've heard of that approach for mounting the water tanks... but I'm confused as to why the tank would have to be only 5" tall... it doesn't need to fit between the frame rails. I figure I can extend the tanks down several inches below the frame rails, depending on their relation to the axles.
In regards to the water tanks, I'm ordering from a local RV Supply shop, here in Phoenix.
Shallow tanks do not impede aerodynamics of the trailer. A solid installation of shallow tanks that do not stick down too much also preserves the look and overall vibe of a vintage Airstream.
There's plenty of room for really big tanks that are completely invisible. I was able to do 50gal+ of both fresh and grey with all the necessary welding and reinforcements, and all you can see is a frame that looks just like the frame on a 70's trailer, as Jim had pointed out.
I personally do not like the tank installs on newer airstreams, as they protrude way too much for a clean look. Too much like an SOB, in my opinion.
Argh! You make good points Uwe. However, I can't seem to find tanks that will fit between the frame rails. I called All-rite about making some custom tanks and they quoted me about $720 each! I think I'd rather have tanks portrude than spend $1400 on custom tanks. Plus, the floor heater that my trailer came from the factory with in 1958 stuck down 10" below the frame rails...
Argh! You make good points Uwe. However, I can't seem to find tanks that will fit between the frame rails. I called All-rite about making some custom tanks and they quoted me about $720 each! I think I'd rather have tanks portrude than spend $1400 on custom tanks. Plus, the floor heater that my trailer came from the factory with in 1958 stuck down 10" below the frame rails...
Alright then, try El Monte Tanks. They can make a Roto Molded tank that can be held up with 4 straps, for you. Less money, easy to mount. The added grey tank in my 71 TradeWind had one of those - no problems.
I went with All Rite because they could make me "exactly" what I wanted. Curved black tank and all. It wasn't cheap, I know.
...friends don't let friends ruin their Airstreams.....
Alright then, try El Monte Tanks. They can make a Roto Molded tank that can be held up with 4 straps, for you. Less money, easy to mount. The added grey tank in my 71 TradeWind had one of those - no problems.
I went with All Rite because they could make me "exactly" what I wanted. Curved black tank and all. It wasn't cheap, I know.
...friends don't let friends ruin their Airstreams.....
Thanks again for your support Uwe! I have no intentions of ruining this beautiful trailer, I guess I got a little caught up in the "saving money" mode. I called El Monte and they had some tanks in dimensions that would work for me, but they're a little smaller in terms of volume than I wanted to go. But then again, why do I need 50 gallons of fresh water? I have to admit, I picked that number somewhat arbitrarily.
So maybe I need to go back to the drawing board a bit. What am I going to use this water for?
- Hand washing: Variable = 2 gal/day
- Cooking: Variable = = 2 gal/day
- Drinking: May bring bottled water too... = 2 gal/day
- Showers: 2.5gpm. Avg 5 minutes, daily = 12 gal/day
- Shaving: About .5 gal of water a day = .5 gal/day
- Toilet Flushing: About .25 gal per flush = 1 gal/day
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19.5 gal/day
And if I shower less while camping... that water could go a lot further! I imagine that if I'm far away from a water hookup, that means I'm probably far away from other people and I could skip the showering. So maybe a 40 gallon tank would suit my needs.
This weekend I'm going to the RV salvage yard to see if there are any tanks there that might work for what I'm trying to do, too.
I still think I may go with the steel-box approach to holding the tanks in place. It just seems a little more sturdy to me than using the plywood.
Oh, and one question though; how shallow is shallow enough? I don't think an 8" deep tank would really show at all (the frame rails are approx 5" tall) unless you got down next to the trailer and looked under it. But standing up, I don't think it would be noticeable... do you?
- Hand washing: Variable = 2 gal/day
- Cooking: Variable = = 2 gal/day
- Drinking: May bring bottled water too... = 2 gal/day
- Showers: 2.5gpm. Avg 5 minutes, daily = 12 gal/day
- Shaving: About .5 gal of water a day = .5 gal/day
- Toilet Flushing: About .25 gal per flush = 1 gal/day
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19.5 gal/day
I think you went high on your water estimates. We have a 45 gallon tank in our TT and can go 2 days with 2 people and 3 dogs (they drink a bunch of water) and still have alot left over. OK, we shower every other day and I stopped shaving 2 months ago. We don't use alot of water for cooking, mostly grilled food. I can shower with about 5 gallons of water (the on / off valve on the spray head saves you alot). We bring bottled water and most flushes (#1) use very water. Unless you are Howard Hughes, 2 gallons for washing hands is very high.
I think you went high on your water estimates. We have a 45 gallon tank in our TT and can go 2 days with 2 people and 3 dogs (they drink a bunch of water) and still have alot left over. OK, we shower every other day and I stopped shaving 2 months ago. We don't use alot of water for cooking, mostly grilled food. I can shower with about 5 gallons of water (the on / off valve on the spray head saves you alot). We bring bottled water and most flushes (#1) use very water. Unless you are Howard Hughes, 2 gallons for washing hands is very high.
LOL... well, I am a little compulsive about hand-washing. And I sure do love those kleenex boxes on my feet
Thanks for the input... I have very little experience with RV camping. I sort of just "dove right in" with the purchase of this '58, so it's info like this that is very helpful in making practical decisions.
But you did mention that you have a 45 gallon fresh water tank and that it basically lasts you two days (maybe three). I suppose I could always get a big water tank for the truck if I wanted to carry more fresh water.
......Oh, and one question though; how shallow is shallow enough? I don't think an 8" deep tank would really show at all (the frame rails are approx 5" tall) unless you got down next to the trailer and looked under it. But standing up, I don't think it would be noticeable... do you?
As you suggest, because of where and how it's going to be mounted, I don't think anybody will even notice. The way they were mounted on the '73 Overlander, it extends below the rest of the belly pan a couple of inches because of the mounting rails and so on. Unless you're looking for it, you don't see it. FWIW, my original tanks is 33 gallons.
Jim
__________________
To lodge all power in one party and to leave it there is to insure bad government. -- Mark Twain
As you suggest, because of where and how it's going to be mounted, I don't think anybody will even notice. The way they were mounted on the '73 Overlander, it extends below the rest of the belly pan a couple of inches because of the mounting rails and so on. Unless you're looking for it, you don't see it. FWIW, my original tanks is 33 gallons.
Jim
So... the million dollar question; how deep is TOO deep? 9", 10"?
I also have a 33 gallon tank, not original. It lasts several days for 2 people using it sparingly. I also carry a 5 gallon jug in the truck if I'm going to be boondocking for awhile. Sort of like the reserve fuel tank on a motorcycle. When I dump it in the fresh water tank, its time to go home soon or find more water. I'll usually run across a fresh water fill somewhere if I'm out running around away from basecamp where I can refill the 5 gallon jug. I also like to use those clear 2.5 gallon prefilled water jugs from the grocery store for drinking water. You know the ones where you need to stab an airhole for the valve to work properly.
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I imagine that if I'm far away from a water hookup, that means I'm probably far away from other people and I could skip the showering. So maybe a 40 gallon tank would suit my needs. 
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