My '61 Overlander Project

[silver-man]

Finally got enough of the other stuff on my plate taken care of and now ready to start my 61 Overlander project. Here are my (current) goals and strategy. Please feel free to advise, comment, edit and otherwise help out with my approach.

Definitely want to go camping this season -- doing this in phases. Also needs to be in phases for financial reasons. Overall she's in pretty decent shape so that's good.

First priorities are safety (need to replace running gear) and making sure that all the leaks are fixed. So new axles and brakes (they are original). Replace all gaskets on doors and windows. Not sure about condition of vent gaskets or how best to test them. They look decent but ??? Replace glass on 1 broken window pane. Access doors are pretty banged up. Will need either major re-work or replace? There is a beast of an non-working A/C on the roof that the PO has fastened down with wood that is rotting -- so that's got to go.

Floor needs to be thoroughly checked out but seems fairly decent.

(I'll add photos and do this in a series of posts by system.)

[silver-man]

The Fresh water tank is original and I imagine pretty spooky looking on the inside. There is a pump you can see in the pix -- I'm guessing it's a compressor. In any event these need to be replaced. I haven't been able to get the fill cap off -- continuing to soak the threads with Blaster. The PO really liked using this brown gooey stuff to plug any and every hole as you can see in the corner of the access door. The door itself is pretty beat up. Also there are 2 drains -- not sure why two? They have a stopcock -- is this what belongs?

[silver-man]

Here's the city water side. Not sure what all the fittings are specifically what the PO has done on top of the galvanized tee.

[silver-man]

Under the sink and the shower supply complete with kinked copper and electrical tape. The shower drain trap is below the belly pan. Is this the way it's supposed to be? Can it be better?

[Colin H]

Originally Posted by silver-man

The Fresh water tank is original and I imagine pretty spooky looking on the inside. There is a pump you can see in the pix -- I'm guessing it's a compressor. In any event these need to be replaced. I haven't been able to get the fill cap off -- continuing to soak the threads with Blaster. The PO really liked using this brown gooey stuff to plug any and every hole as you can see in the corner of the access door. The door itself is pretty beat up. Also there are 2 drains -- not sure why two? They have a stopcock -- is this what belongs?

Your trailer originally had a compressor but this is a demand pump. Your water tank is original & likely rusted out. Generic plastic water tanks are available at Vintage Trailer Supply.com & many other RV shops. The two drain lines you see are for the hot & cold water system.
Yes your trailer will need axles along with some degree of floor/chassis repair however this is common to all Vintage Airstreams.
Colin