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Old 07-30-2019, 08:19 AM   #601
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1971 31' Sovereign
1972 31' Sovereign
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My two 31' Sovereigns are for my children and my 10 grandchildren by orders from my wife. I got her a 1983 310 Airstream motorhome. I thought I retired four years ago but the work doubled. Thanks Jim
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Old 07-30-2019, 07:19 PM   #602
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Thanks for the interior pictures. It's fun to see it all come together. The new interior looks warm and cosy. I'm happy for you that the second trip was a success. It sure looks like a fun trip for the whole family.

You are right, we all learn from each other by sharing our project threads. I've stolen countless ideas from other Forum participants.

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Old 08-01-2019, 06:17 PM   #603
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeremy9107 View Post
got pump working. after many troubleshooting days, it ended up being a kinked hose right at the outlet of the fresh water tank. dang it. bought a new pump before figuring this out (David, couldn't wait until Christmas). so on the positive side we increased flow from 2.8 gpm to 3.3 gpm and i have a pump to build a pond and waterfall around!

Attachment 347880

Jeremy

I have an extra pump that I use for pumping fresh water from my 8 gallon container into the fresh water tank when we are camping without hookups (which is usually the case).

Dan
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Old 08-03-2019, 09:01 AM   #604
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Dan. I was testing our outdoor shower last trip and had an idea.. I had installed a 3 way valve at the pump to use when winterizing lines with antifreeze. Why not extend that hose to a 5 gallon bucket filled with creek water or whatever clean source and use that for shower water so as not to drain the freshwater tank.

Your idea is a good one. Pack back up tank and pump in if needed. Hmmmm
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Old 08-03-2019, 07:28 PM   #605
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You are right the antifreeze inlet in your 3 way valve is on the suction side of the pump. But a guy has to be careful what he pumps. It ain't a concrete pump if you know what I mean. I suspect contaminated water would be hard on the seals inside the pump.

You could do as Dan does and use your spare pump to power the outdoor shower with a 5 gallon bucket of clean water. At least you could get the sand off the kids and the doggie. Or have a gigantic squirt gun battle. At 3 gpm, you would likely win.

David
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Old 08-15-2019, 11:16 PM   #606
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Dirna Camper evaporative cooler

Thought an update on the cooling unit was in order.
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Turned it on for the first time during our last camping trip just to try it out. All the electrical worked great, pump worked great, fans worked great, but it was not blowing cold air. Was really bummed, and re-read the installation manual to see if had hooked something up wrong. The manual is a bit difficult to follow, but all looked well.

Decided to contact customer servce. A bit of a challenge, as they are in Spain. They were very quick to reply to emails, but the responses were muttled translations to English. I speak spanish and asked for a response in spanish, but the technical support person was German and did not speak spanish. We compromised and communicated via drawings instead. His diagram of how the water lines connect was a bit different than the installation manual. So reconnected lines in that manner, and the unit now cools as advertised.
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This unit is great. Operates on 12V, low draw. Has functions to allow for variable fan speeds, timers for when it will come on and how long it will run, and a setting to tell it how wet to get the cooling filter. Even has a remote control. Uses only 0.4 gallons/hour when running on its highest setting.

Going to perform some tests to see how quickly it cools and will post those numbers soon.
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Old 08-16-2019, 06:21 PM   #607
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Originally Posted by Jeremy9107 View Post
completed the insulator lights. the roof lights are controlled by a switch on the wall by the door and the under cabinet lights are controlled by individual switches. like the look so am going to do all the end cap lights the same, just with smaller insulators.
Attachment 344195
Attachment 344196


My dad worked as a telephone lineman back in the day and spent 6 months in Alaska putting in some of the 1st telephone lines there. I grew up with a garage full of these insulators everywhere that he saved, but never found a use for.

Glad to see you giving them a 2nd life!
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Old 08-16-2019, 06:25 PM   #608
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeremy9107 View Post
Thought an update on the cooling unit was in order.

Attachment 349547

Attachment 349545

Attachment 349546

Attachment 349548



This unit is great. Operates on 12V, low draw. Has functions to allow for variable fan speeds, timers for when it will come on and how long it will run, and a setting to tell it how wet to get the cooling filter. Even has a remote control. Uses only 0.4 gallons/hour when running on its highest setting.



I totally missed this in your thread earlier. Where did you find this product and is it a alternative to an AC? Curious how it’s cooling down the AS in this summer heat.
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Old 08-23-2019, 03:11 PM   #609
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1970 25' Tradewind
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Interesting find during 70 Tradewind renovation

Saw the linked hose comment above and made me want to share this interesting discovery.
Several months into the re-building process I’m sorting through original wiring. The trailer 7 wire /pin plug coming through front wall has just been removed. I notice the piece had never been moved/reworked. As I inspected I found the ground wires were flopping loosely at the back of the plug. Screw loose. Must have driven the PO insane as lights flickered and God knows what else. Seems like we would know to check the obvious - simple idea first.
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Old 08-23-2019, 11:45 PM   #610
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My3sonsdad. I’ve always liked the vintage look. Insulators are a perfect example of that. I have many just sitting in the yard in various places which always catch my eye.
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Old 08-23-2019, 11:53 PM   #611
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Regarding the evaporative cooler. Before this renovation we had the factory installed Armstrong AC unit. Built like a tank and just as heavy. Didn’t have a cover on it and it didn’t work so never used it for first 5 years and frankly didn’t have many outings that got hot enough to want to cool down trailer. If it was hot, we were usually outside cooling off in lakes and creeks. We mostly boondock so AC not a good option. Preferred to fill that hole in the roof with something more useful for our purposes. Swamp cooler was perfect option. Light. Runs on 12v. I was not pleased with the 1 or 2 options I saw for RVs in USA. Liked the units made in Canada and Spain much more. Cost is nearly same as AC unit. This one came from Spain and was not easy to find supplier and order. But worth the effort for sure. Can’t be in humid environment and expect cool air from this. But for me, the high desert I normally camp in is perfect.
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Old 08-25-2019, 06:39 PM   #612
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Great job on your Airstream. It looks nice!
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Old 11-02-2019, 02:22 PM   #613
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Cozy Cabin heater update

Have been MIA on the forum as have been camping after the long delayed renovation. Has been nice to be out of the driveway.

Thought would post performance update on the Cozy Cabin heater. Got the idea from another forum member and am thankful for that. These heaters are made for marine use, but seems like an Airstream is similar in layout so thought would perform as well. Plus, they look cool.

Camped last week in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Overnight low was 24 degrees. But that was outside....inside the trailer was a comfy 70 degrees with the Cozy Cabin on high. On the low setting, it was about 55 degrees. It took about 1 hour to increase the temperature by 10 degrees on the high setting. The heat from it rose and radiated into the aluminum roof. Could place a hand on the inner roof and feel that warmth nearly the entire length and width save the last 5 feet or so. So was like being inside an oven I suppose on its low setting. Was worried it would not heat inside the bedroom or bathroom area as walls are up, but it was just as warm in there.

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Down side is there are only 2 settings, low and high. Can't set that dial anywhere in between. Upside is everything else. Radiant heat. Quiet. Quick to heat. Plus, at night, the flame provided a bit of a night light for the young ones. Highly recommend.
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Old 11-02-2019, 07:22 PM   #614
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Very cool heater. Does that make sense? David
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Old 11-02-2019, 08:23 PM   #615
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Jeremy - thanks for the performance beta. Love these heaters. I have their P12000. Curious, about the thermometer? Brand, model? Looks like a nice complement to the heater.
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Old 11-15-2019, 05:03 PM   #616
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'70 Caravanner restoration

Thanks for the update! I was just looking at getting 2 of these - one for the 26’ and another for the 30’. I was considering whether I would need 2 for just the 30’ but sounds like one will work out.
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Old 11-16-2019, 05:19 AM   #617
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Working on these old girls is great, but camping might be even better.

This heater seems like a modern, more compact and cool looking version of the old Panel Ray heater that came with my Safari. If it didn't work as well as it does, I think I might be putting something like this in. Maybe on the next trailer - Mark
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Old 11-17-2019, 01:03 AM   #618
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Regarding the thermometer, it was an Amazon buy. Nothing special about it except it’s aluminium. Trying to keep other metals out of it.

Would be curious to know how the Cozy Cabin would do in the 30’. After reading many threads here of people plugging tiny space heaters in to heat their stripped out reno project and finding them to be very efficient, I’d be surprised to learn that any heat source was a failure. Heating inside a metal box seems like a hard thing to fail at.
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Old 11-17-2019, 09:23 PM   #619
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Quote:
Heating inside a metal box seems like a hard thing to fail at.
Come spend a rainy 35°f night in my half-finished promaster window van.
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Old 06-29-2020, 04:08 AM   #620
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How is everything holding up in your coosa structures/frames?
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