Happy Newbie!

[MKTB]

So glad to have found this resource! We have a 64 Globetrotter we use a few times each summer for semi local camping trips. It seems each trip provides an opportunity to tweak or fix something. I'm thrilled to have found a place to connect with others and hopefully get some newbie help. With that said, last weekend we hooked up the hose, turned on the water and nothing. At first it cam spewing out of the faucets and we never had water after that. We were sure it was a simple solution but never figured it out. Where should we have checked first?

[Aage]

Howdy and to Airforums.com, MKTB! We are eager to see lots of photos of your '64 GT, so please don't keep us waiting!

As for the water: did you have it coming out underneath the trailer, by any chance? If so, check the pipe low-point drain valve.

But maybe the water where you were was at too high a pressure. If so, your shut-off valve may have been protecting your system. Or the valve may have gone defective. In my trailer, in the rear "trunk" near the water intake, is a brass valve that stops water flow into the trailer if it senses pressure that's too high. Perhaps that's all it was.

I'm sure others will have even better advice though, so hang in there.

[MKTB]

Thank you! We'll check that. We had a hose splitter and shared with our friends but the pressure out of the hose was very very strong! We need to hook it up at home and try again! I'll get some pics and post soon!

[TG Twinkie]

You may have a city shut off valve inside the trailer. Follow the line on the inside and look for a valve in the line going to the city water inlet. If you find a valve, open it.

[MKTB]

We tried to follow the line and didn't see a valve at all. does anyone have a lead on manuals for our dear old airstreams?

[Travel Bird]

Welcome to the Forums! Everyone here is so helpful and nice! You are at the right place.

[Protagonist]

First rule of troubleshooting, check the easy things first.

Easiest thing to check that would cause the symptoms you describe— water gushing at first, then stopping— would be a clogged inlet screen. Right where the hose attaches to the trailer, there is probably a rubber grommet to make a watertight seal, with a wire mesh screen either attached to it or right behind it. Unscrew the hose, and see if there's a screen, and if there is, if it's clogged.

Many Airstreams have a built-in pressure regulator close by the inlet, to protect the interior plumbing from high water pressures. It's easy for that to clog, which is one reason why there should be an inlet screen to keep debris out of the pressure regulator. So, if there's no inlet screen or if it's damaged, the pressure regulator might be clogged.

While you've got the hose disconnected from the trailer to check the inlet screen, also make sure you're getting water through the hose. The problem might not have been in the trailer at all, it could be at the other end.

Once you've cleared those two hurdles, then it's time to start looking for valves. Bypass valves and shut-off valves should be open, low-point drain valves should be closed.

Does the problem happen equally with all faucets? Does the toilet flush? If one faucet works and another doesn't, then the problem can be found fastest by starting at the non-working faucet and working backwards. If the problem affects all faucets and the toilet equally, it can be found fastest by starting at the water inlet and working forward because the problem occurs somewhere before all of the branch lines split off to the various fixtures.

Does the problem happen with both hot and cold water? If hot water works and cold water doesn't, or vice versa, then you start at the faucet (again) and follow the line that doesn't work until you find the problem.

Once you've found the source of the problem, fixing the problem is another matter best left for another post.