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09-09-2019, 02:09 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2019 30' Classic
Canfield
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,559
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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?
__________________
"At some point, throwing money at the problem *is* the right answer", Uncle Bob
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Tom & Doty
2019 Airstream Classic 30 Twin
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09-09-2019, 04:24 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W
, New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
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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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09-09-2019, 05:46 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2019 30' Classic
Canfield
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,559
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveSueMac
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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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!!
__________________
"At some point, throwing money at the problem *is* the right answer", Uncle Bob
x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\101970\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\/x\x/x\x/x
Tom & Doty
2019 Airstream Classic 30 Twin
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09-09-2019, 07:00 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1969 31' Sovereign
Broken Arrow
, Oklahoma
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,455
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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.
__________________
Garry
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09-09-2019, 07:43 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2019 30' Classic
Canfield
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,559
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Quote:
Originally Posted by garry
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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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.
__________________
"At some point, throwing money at the problem *is* the right answer", Uncle Bob
x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\101970\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\/x\x/x\x/x
Tom & Doty
2019 Airstream Classic 30 Twin
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09-09-2019, 07:50 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1990 25' Excella
Sisters
, Oregon
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,195
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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.
__________________
John Audette
Air Cooled Porsche Specialist -
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled. ~ Robert Frost
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09-09-2019, 08:13 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2012 27' Flying Cloud
W
, New England
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 7,402
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This is from the Zip Dee manual. Are you doing it differently?
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09-09-2019, 08:33 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1990 25' Excella
Sisters
, Oregon
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,195
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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.
__________________
John Audette
Air Cooled Porsche Specialist -
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled. ~ Robert Frost
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09-10-2019, 06:20 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2019 30' International
Pennsylvania
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,234
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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.
__________________
If you ain't havin' fun you ain't doin' it right
2017 Ford CCSB F250 XLT 6.2L Gas 4x4 Ruby
2019 International Serenity 30 Rear Twin
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09-10-2019, 08:49 AM
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#10
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3 Rivet Member
2019 33' Classic
Oakville
, Ontario
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 109
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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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09-10-2019, 09:30 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2012 25' FB Eddie Bauer
Vintage Kin Owner
Virginia Beach
, Virginia
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 7,801
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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.
__________________
Today is a gift, that's why they call it the present.
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09-10-2019, 10:10 AM
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#12
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3 Rivet Member
2007 25' Classic
San Luis Obispo
, California
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 201
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Filling FW tank
Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveSueMac
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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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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09-10-2019, 10:36 AM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
2007 25' Classic
Hutto
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 86
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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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09-10-2019, 11:25 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2019 25' International
Washington
, Washington, D.C.
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,260
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This tip applies to the 25' manual awning (street side) as well.
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09-10-2019, 11:57 AM
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#15
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3 Rivet Member
2019 25' Flying Cloud
North-Central
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 115
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There are some great "discoveries" here! Thanks!
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09-10-2019, 12:40 PM
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#16
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2 Rivet Member
2018 33' Classic
Pittsboro
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 37
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Filling FW Tank
Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveSueMac
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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Great tip! Would have never thought of it myself.
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09-10-2019, 08:08 PM
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#17
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:SPACE A" S/O 11 Air19745
2006 34' Classic S/O
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,766
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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).
guskmg
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09-10-2019, 09:44 PM
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#18
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Lost in America
2015 27' FB International
2006 25' Safari FB SE
2004 19' International CCD
Santa Fe
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,151
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Quote:
Originally Posted by guskmg
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
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Better yet, replace that switch with a lighted one. Easier to tell when it is on, especially when prepping for departure.
__________________
This is the strangest life I've ever known - J. Morrison
2015 Airstream International Serenity 27FB
2017 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax Diesel
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09-11-2019, 05:23 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2016 16' Sport
Miami
, Florida
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,593
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveSueMac
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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Wow! This would be great for Boondocking. An endless water supply!
Thanks blush
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09-11-2019, 05:50 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2019 30' Classic
Canfield
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,559
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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.
__________________
"At some point, throwing money at the problem *is* the right answer", Uncle Bob
x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\101970\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\x/x\/x\x/x\x/x
Tom & Doty
2019 Airstream Classic 30 Twin
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