SilverGate's Safari is Home at Last!

[sharbours]

What a fun thread! Thank you so much for sharing. It's wonderful to see how much enjoyment you're getting out of your Safari. I had no idea how much I would love camping with our Argosy; now I can't imagine life without it!

Happy camping!

Sharon

[Fenghuang]

We replaced with lock with a weather resistant cam key lock from a local RV store as the combination lock started to jam due to weathering.

3/15/11 Larry, SilverGate's partner

Originally Posted by SilverGate

(see previous page)

You can set your own 3-digit combination...

and it replaces any ¾ in. keyed cam lock.

I believe mine is Part #36655, which is 1&1/8th in. long for stock (in this case the battery box inner rim) which is 7/8" or less thick.

Our battery box inner top rim is 5/8 in. thick. (The lock lever fits under this).

SilverGate

[Fenghuang]

This gate was discontinued due to the dogs being smarter than we about getting out. We found that using a dog carrier/crate facing us during dinner stopped annoying barking episodes as people passed walking their dogs.

Originally Posted by SilverGate

Larry improved the adjustable-height dog gate by adding Velcro strips on each side to keep the dogs inside when needed while we enjoy the door being completely open.
3/15/11 Larry, SilverGate's partner

[OB Bambi]

Larry and Bill:
I locked the battery box with the key lock I got from Home Depot. I find that it gets hard to open unless I spray a little WD-40 in it every few months.

Randy Bowman

[Fenghuang]

Hi Randy,

Thanks so much for your helpful comment.

I looked at the cam locks at Home Depot, could not find any that stated "weather-resistant" on the package, and decided to get one that was labeled "weather resistant" at San Diego Trailer Supply (west of 70th St. and El Cajon Blvd.), hoping to avoid corrosion. I think that both locks were similarly priced.

Bill opened the battery box cam lock today, and it works fine. Lubing the lock is a good idea. We generally use a silicone spray.

Bill will be monitoring the AGM glass mat batteries soon to determine if they are holding a sufficient charge from the solar panels. If not, he is considering replacing them before we do some dry camping.

See you on the road,
Larry

Originally Posted by OB Bambi

Larry and Bill:
I locked the battery box with the key lock I got from Home Depot. I find that it gets hard to open unless I spray a little WD-40 in it every few months.

Randy Bowman

[SilverGate]

Thanks Sharon (sharbours), Larry (Fenghuang), and Randy (OB Bambi) for your comments above.

Yesterday, dbms posted in the thread "2008 Safari exterior trim", that they have a piece of exterior trim that is falling off. That happened to us back in December 2009. We fixed it and I took pictures, but the story has been on the back burner until now.

While camping at Borrego Palm Canyon Campground, I noticed that some of the street-side rear chrome/vinyl insert had fallen out of the rub rail trim molding bracket. I used silver duct tape to hold it in place until we got home and then researched the forums here for an acceptable remedy.

I took 2air's advice (seen here) that "you can remove, clean and reuse" this trim and that 3M adhesive works well here. I bought a 5 oz. tube of 3M Plastic and Emblem Adhesive, #08061, from a local body shop supplies store. It is clear and fast drying.

I used paint thinner to clean the metal rub rail molding trim bracket and to remove the sticky back side of the chrome/vinyl insert and then used a hair dryer to thoroughly dry the exposed surfaces.

The metal rub rail trim bracket is held in place by metal screws about every 6 inches and their heads push against the vinyl insert, making it difficult for the self-sticking insert to adhere in the area around the screws.
Larry used a wood chisel to ream out these areas on the vinyl insert to facilitate better contact.

The next stage is easier to do with a partner. Larry held the vinyl insert strip out and away from the trailer as I evenly applied the adhesive to the bracket and insert surfaces. The insert was then pressed into the rub rail molding bracket and then pulled apart for 10-15 seconds (per the instructions on the 3M tube), and then pressed back into place.

[SilverGate]

Any excess adhesive drippings were easily cleaned with paint thinner and a cloth.

The insert was held in place for 30 minutes by blue masking tape and then the tape was removed.

This procedure worked well for us and the vinyl insert continues to be held firmly in place to this day by 3M Plastic and Emblem Adhesive.

(Note: the resting chain saw seen in the photo below was being used by Larry to trim a nearby weeping juniper tree).

[SilverGate]

A heat wave was peaking in sunny San Diego earlier this month while we were camping for 5 nights at South Carlsbad State Beach Park.

Cool sights, surf, food and drinks made for a relaxing and pleasant time.

See more pictures and the rest of the story:

"Catfish by the sea", History Safari Express, Airstream Life Online Community

[Tin Trekkers]

We picked up our new-to-us 2007 23' Safari SE on Saturday and we're so happy to have our girl home.
Have been reading your thread with great interest since you have the exact year/model. Must compliment you on your ingenuity and entertaining presentation. Took note of all your good ideas and had many chuckles as we followed along with you on your travels.
Especially enjoyed all your pictures of both the decor and the inner working parts. The original owner apparently subscribed to this thread as well. We opened the door underneath the vanity sink and there was a net there...just like yours!
Kudos to you and thanks again.

[mutcth]

Bill, I love this thread - so much detail!

Since you've explored every nook and cranny, I have a question - are there any systems behind the set of drawers in the little credenza next to the table storage and L-lounge?

I like this floor plan a lot (been comparing it to a 23D), but I'd like another foot of lounge goodness. Wondering if I could rework the credenza to have only the table storage, get rid of the drawers, and thus gain some more lounge? Of course, if there are systems hidden behind the chest of drawers, that would make this difficult. Thanks!

Tom

[SilverGate]

Originally Posted by Tin Trekkers

We picked up our new-to-us 2007 23' Safari SE on Saturday and we're so happy to have our girl home.
Have been reading your thread with great interest since you have the exact year/model. Must compliment you on your ingenuity and entertaining presentation. Took note of all your good ideas and had many chuckles as we followed along with you on your travels.
Especially enjoyed all your pictures of both the decor and the inner working parts. The original owner apparently subscribed to this thread as well. We opened the door underneath the vanity sink and there was a net there...just like yours!
Kudos to you and thanks again.

Thanks Claude and Marianne for your comments.

I'm glad you're happy with your "one shiny aluminum pod of happiness"!

-- Bill

[SilverGate]

Originally Posted by mutcth

Bill, I love this thread - so much detail!

Since you've explored every nook and cranny, I have a question - are there any systems behind the set of drawers in the little credenza next to the table storage and L-lounge?

I like this floor plan a lot (been comparing it to a 23D), but I'd like another foot of lounge goodness. Wondering if I could rework the credenza to have only the table storage, get rid of the drawers, and thus gain some more lounge? Of course, if there are systems hidden behind the chest of drawers, that would make this difficult. Thanks!

Tom

Thanks Tom for your comments.

You asked for it, so I removed the credenza drawers and folding, rolling dinette table and took pictures seen below.

There appears to be a "system" of electrical wires that run along the back bottom of this space that are protected by a metal plate approximately 2" high, which continues forward under the lounge as seen in my post here.

If you reworked the credenza by removing the drawer space, you would only gain about 8". If you removed the dinette table storage space, you would gain approximately 13.75".

Additional thoughts: Every bit of storage space in this 23' Safari is precious to us. We rarely use the dinette table and are considering removing it and using this space for stowage of other items. We have the lounge fully extended (with the additional support of retractable legs) full-time. We and the dogs thoroughly enjoy this space!

Thanks for asking... and Happy New Year!

-- Bill

[mutcth]

Fabulous Bill - thanks so much! Greatly appreciate the measurements.

I see your point about leaving the lounge down and not bothering with the dinette - we often do the same with our Argosy by leaving its dinette down. (Plus we're too lazy to un-make the bed.)

I'm also thinking that this floorplan really benefits from the credenza's added countertop space.

Happy New Year to you too!

Tom

[SilverGate]

As we prepare for a trip to the California desert to look for wildflowers (which might be diminished this spring due to less than usual rainfall since January 1st) we have added two new items to our Safari's magazine rack, Glacier Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Crown of the Continent, by Bert Gildart, and the "new and improved" Spring 2012 issue of Airstream Life magazine.

This first edition of Glacier Icons, published February 21, 2012, by Globe Pequot Press, features 50 large, stunning photographs of Glacier National Park‘s iconic places, animals, plants, and people, along with short and succinct essays packed with information.

According to Airstream Life Editor and Publisher Rich Luhr, starting with the Winter 2011 issue, Airstream Life has improved its readability by its choice of fonts, a “cleaner” article template, and more dramatic layouts with larger pictures. Airstream Life has a new feature, the “Buyer’s Guide”, which reviews specific Airstream models, and continues to feature quality articles such as those by Bert Gildart, with rich, poetic and majestic images.

For the full story see "Spring 'stream reading: Bert Gildart", History Safari Express, Airstream Life Online Community.