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Old 09-09-2019, 02:09 PM   #1
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My Simple Tips & Tricks I've discovered on my own!!

I discovered something new the other day that I've never read about here. It is simple but had eluded me for several years. It makes the item function better, I just never knew it was there.

That is what this thread is about. Something you found on your own (many of us may have already discovered this, that doesn't matter) that is not in the manual and made you think, "How did I miss that?"

This can be a great source for the new owner and possible an eye opener for some of the seasoned Airstreamers also!

I'll start with my incredible discovery. It's not earth-shattering but is something I missed all this time:

While putting out my street-side awning I got the hook out and pulled down the awning as usual. I grabbed the loop and just as I went to put it on the "hook" I realized there is a loop on the underside. If you use this loop, the awning is supported better and much tighter and sheds water better. Who knew?
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Old 09-09-2019, 04:24 PM   #2
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I only have the one loop on my street side awning. Nice find!

My simple trick is for filling the FW tank.

I have a 27FB with an outdoor shower. One day at a campground, I was going to disconnect my hose from the city inlet to fill the FW tank when it dawned on me, I could just use the outdoor shower hose, without the shower head of course, and stick it in the FW tank to fill it and not have to disconnect the city water. I was so proud of myself when I figured that out [emoji3]
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Old 09-09-2019, 05:46 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveSueMac View Post
I only have the one loop on my street side awning. Nice find!

My simple trick is for filling the FW tank.

I have a 27FB with an outdoor shower. One day at a campground, I was going to disconnect my hose from the city inlet to fill the FW tank when it dawned on me, I could just use the outdoor shower hose, without the shower head of course, and stick it in the FW tank to fill it and not have to disconnect the city water. I was so proud of myself when I figured that out [emoji3]
Great Idea! Never thought of that one and it is easy to do.

I have another. Not so much a trick, but can become a problem without knowing the correct answer. I assumed I knew what it was with my first trailer and stripped all the threads.

The tip is the four fasteners (I hesitate to call them screws) that hold down the protective shaded plexiglass panels on the front of most of our trailers. The fasteners are not traditional screws, they are 1/4 turn fasteners. Turn more than 1/4 turn and you've stripped them and they require removal of the two rivets and replacement of the entire bracket. Don't turn more than 1/4 turn!!
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"At some point, throwing money at the problem *is* the right answer", Uncle Bob

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Old 09-09-2019, 07:00 PM   #4
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I think seasoned campers know this one.

If you are having trouble when unhitching because the ball seems to be stuck in the receiver let it back down and put the TV in neutral to release pressure on the ball.
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Old 09-09-2019, 07:43 PM   #5
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Quote:
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I think seasoned campers know this one.

If you are having trouble when unhitching because the ball seems to be stuck in the receiver let it back down and put the TV in neutral to release pressure on the ball.
I watched a guy using a hammer on the hitch lever in a campground once. That guy was me. Guess we've all been there.
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Old 09-09-2019, 07:50 PM   #6
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Caravan Awning Setting

Great thread!

I mentioned this in a thread a few days ago. It’s a little embarrassing how slow I can be sometimes, but I just discovered the Caravan setting for the awning. It’s a nice way to trim the sail in rain or light wind.

I’m sure that most are familiar with this but the setting consists of leaving the long arms unextended and winding as much of awning up as you want. You can then attach the braces. I used this setting during an impressive thunder storm in Eastern Oregon and it worked great, allowing us to sit under it and watch the fireworks.

I looked around for a picture but I couldn’t find one.
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Old 09-09-2019, 08:13 PM   #7
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This is from the Zip Dee manual. Are you doing it differently?

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Old 09-09-2019, 08:33 PM   #8
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Thanks Steve, that’s it. I received the AS manual when I bought the trailer but I’ve never seen a ZipDee manual.
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Old 09-10-2019, 06:20 AM   #9
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On a 30 foot streetside awning, if you pull downward on the strap the one side of the awning won't always roll out smoothly, it tends to bind up, tangle, whatever you want to call it. However, if you pull outward on the strap, the awning deploys just right.
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Old 09-10-2019, 08:49 AM   #10
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Not sure how many people use this trick but I'm surprised how many people I talk to who don't know it.

If any elements of your gas range don't light with the auto lighter, you can gently blow on towards the element when using the auto lighter and it should light right up. No need for a bbq lighter.
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Old 09-10-2019, 09:30 AM   #11
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I steal brilliant ideas about half the time, but storing the awning puller thingy in the same slot as the divider curtain has gotten me several "why didn't I think of that?" Comments.
One I saw and recently fulfilled was to get a 1 to 4 spigot manifold. Water supply, backflow protected tank rinser, and still two left over to wash hands or rinse bird poop off the windshield without having to disconnect a hose. Plus a bar of Lava in the toe of a knee high nylon hanging conveniently close.
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Old 09-10-2019, 10:10 AM   #12
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Filling FW tank

Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveSueMac View Post
I only have the one loop on my street side awning. Nice find!

My simple trick is for filling the FW tank.

I have a 27FB with an outdoor shower. One day at a campground, I was going to disconnect my hose from the city inlet to fill the FW tank when it dawned on me, I could just use the outdoor shower hose, without the shower head of course, and stick it in the FW tank to fill it and not have to disconnect the city water. I was so proud of myself when I figured that out [emoji3]
I installed a piping loop to bypass the water pump. One side connected to the city pressure side and the other end to the non-pressure side. Put a valve in the middle. While you are on city water, just open the valve to fill your tank. Be sure to open the fill cover outside and watch your level as it fills fast!
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Old 09-10-2019, 10:36 AM   #13
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Many use this trick but still I occasionally see someone ask about storing their hitch head or putting tennis balls on their hitch to protect from grease or even buying a fixture to hold their hitch head.


My Airstream cam with a built-in holder for the hitch head. It keeps the grease at bay and slows down thieves. (I don't care what hitch lock you buy, if a thief cares enough and has a little time, they can take you trailer.)
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Old 09-10-2019, 11:25 AM   #14
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This tip applies to the 25' manual awning (street side) as well.
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Old 09-10-2019, 11:57 AM   #15
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There are some great "discoveries" here! Thanks!
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Old 09-10-2019, 12:40 PM   #16
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Filling FW Tank

Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveSueMac View Post
I only have the one loop on my street side awning. Nice find!

My simple trick is for filling the FW tank.

I have a 27FB with an outdoor shower. One day at a campground, I was going to disconnect my hose from the city inlet to fill the FW tank when it dawned on me, I could just use the outdoor shower hose, without the shower head of course, and stick it in the FW tank to fill it and not have to disconnect the city water. I was so proud of myself when I figured that out [emoji3]
Great tip! Would have never thought of it myself.
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Old 09-10-2019, 08:08 PM   #17
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I got tired of trying to remember which way to turn the kitchen water pump switch for on and off. Airstream wires them with off towards the sink, but the opposite makes more sense, i.e., on towards the sink where you need the water. I pulled out the tank level panel and swapped position of the feed wires on each end of the pump switch (not the center if you have a 3-way switch setup).
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Old 09-10-2019, 09:44 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by guskmg View Post
I got tired of trying to remember which way to turn the kitchen water pump switch for on and off. Airstream wires them with off towards the sink, but the opposite makes more sense, i.e., on towards the sink where you need the water. I pulled out the tank level panel and swapped position of the feed wires on each end of the pump switch (not the center if you have a 3-way switch setup).
guskmg

Better yet, replace that switch with a lighted one. Easier to tell when it is on, especially when prepping for departure.
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Old 09-11-2019, 05:23 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveSueMac View Post
I only have the one loop on my street side awning. Nice find!

My simple trick is for filling the FW tank.

I have a 27FB with an outdoor shower. One day at a campground, I was going to disconnect my hose from the city inlet to fill the FW tank when it dawned on me, I could just use the outdoor shower hose, without the shower head of course, and stick it in the FW tank to fill it and not have to disconnect the city water. I was so proud of myself when I figured that out [emoji3]
Wow! This would be great for Boondocking. An endless water supply!

Thanksblush
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Old 09-11-2019, 05:50 AM   #20
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I have another one:

Toilet seat! Get rid of that horrible Dometic plastic skinny seat and replace it with a white wood seat (from a favorite box store) that is 1" higher because the seat is thicker. You will be surprised to see how comfortable the higher seat is.

Get the seat that has the soft close so you're no longer waking up the spouse with the lid slam.

$24 in most stores, but I sprang for the "deluxe" model that has the chrome hinges! About $34. Also, most of the dometic toilets are the "round" shape bowl, not the elongated type. Don't bring home the wrong size. Very easy to install on these toilets.
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