Need Help with these pics of vintage stuff

[robwok]

I have a number of pictures here that I'm confused about.

1. Is this the furnace that will blow up if I try to use it?

2. The whole shell at the front of my AS is fiberglass, with this insert of plastic. I have to repair the wood, but there was this gray tape like duct tape holding the 2 pieces together. Is that supposed to be there, or is that a PO job?

3. Is this the lightswitch to the outside porch light? Any reason it doesn't work? Fuses look good. The power for the tv antenna / CB doesn't seem to work either. IS there a reason they used such big guage wire for DC?

4. My fridge setup seems odd. Looks like it vents from under the vehicle. From a recent VAP podcast, that seems like a good thing.

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by robwok

I have a number of pictures here that I'm confused about.

1. Is this the furnace that will blow up if I try to use it?

Don't know...we have a heater, not a furnace in our '64 so it's totally different.

Originally Posted by robwok

2. The whole shell at the front of my AS is fiberglass, with this insert of plastic. I have to repair the wood, but there was this gray tape like duct tape holding the 2 pieces together. Is that supposed to be there, or is that a PO job?

Not sure, but I suspect the PO cut & removed it at some point then put it back w/duct tape. We don't have duct tape on ours...it's all one piece.

Originally Posted by robwok

3. Is this the lightswitch to the outside porch light? Any reason it doesn't work? Fuses look good.

Yes, that is the porch light switch. If the bulb is new, you must be a short, bad connection or frayed wires somewhere.

Originally Posted by robwok

4. My fridge setup seems odd. Looks like it vents from under the vehicle. From a recent VAP podcast, that seems like a good thing.

Yep, that's the fresh air vent underneath...it is a good thing. Gets a chimney effect going for good air flow and exhausts at the top.

Shari

[Aage]

Originally Posted by InsideOut

Yep, that's the fresh air vent underneath...it is a good thing. Gets a chimney effect going for good air flow and exhausts at the top.

Shari

It's also because LP gas is heavier than air, so should there be a leak from your fridge, it can flow out through the floor, rather than pool and cause problems for you.

[bwaysteve]

That is an International Oil Burner that I removed from my AS on Inland's advice.
They evidently had several recalls and supposedly is dangerous.
I am going to catalytic heat anyway and not using it saved some weight.

[robwok]

Originally Posted by bwaysteve

That is an International Oil Burner that I removed from my AS on Inland's advice.
They evidently had several recalls and supposedly is dangerous.
I am going to catalytic heat anyway and not using it saved some weight.

I keep thinking about the catalytic, but I have 2 little boys... and the furnace duct work is already there to run the heat to the back.

If I convert my lights to LED's, I'll get more out of that fan motor. I also don't plan on boondocking that much and not that much in the winter either.

Would be nice if I could get a little money out of International to go towards the replacement, but I guess it would be a little silly to go after a 45 year old recal.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by robwok

I keep thinking about the catalytic, but I have 2 little boys... and the furnace duct work is already there to run the heat to the back.

If I convert my lights to LED's, I'll get more out of that fan motor. I also don't plan on boondocking that much and not that much in the winter either.

Would be nice if I could get a little money out of International to go towards the replacement, but I guess it would be a little silly to go after a 45 year old recal.

International Oil Burner furnaces were used in for a short period of time way back then.

Save your efforts, as Airstream didn't get anyplace with them, 45 years again.

Remove the furnace, practice on it with a "SLEDGE" HAMMER" then replace it with something that's safe.

Andy

[Overlander & Sea]

We replaced our International Oil Burner on our '61 Overlander with a Suburban NT30SP furnace. Also, the fridge on our '63 Globetrotter vented from the floor the same way as yours.

[graniteshore]

I have a 64 Tradewind and when I refinished the woodwork on the front cabinet, i found the same duct tape behind the wood.

As far as the switch is concerned, I have the same one in my trailer and it may have been disconnected. There is a conventional switch to the inside left of the jalousie window which controls the outside scare light. See if you have one there.

[47WeeWind]

Originally Posted by robwok

I have a number of pictures here that I'm confused about. 2. The whole shell at the front of my AS is fiberglass, with this insert of plastic. I have to repair the wood, but there was this gray tape like duct tape holding the 2 pieces together. Is that supposed to be there, or is that a PO job?

Hi Robwok:

Yes, that tape is supposed to be there to hold the two edges together while you put the wood frame back on. It may not have appeared on California-built trailers like Shari's, but it certainly was on my Ohio-built '64 Globe Trotter.

My front overhead cabinet frame was loose many years ago. I gently knocked it apart, drilled out of the old wood dowels and put in new wood dowels (with carpenters glue) and clamped it for a few days. Much nicer now!

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by 47WeeWind

Yes, that tape is supposed to be there to hold the two edges together while you put the wood frame back on. It may not have appeared on California-built trailers like Shari's, but it certainly was on my Ohio-built '64 Globe Trotter.

Hmmm...interesting! Learn something new every day...

Shari

[robwok]

Originally Posted by 47WeeWind

Hi Robwok:

Yes, that tape is supposed to be there to hold the two edges together while you put the wood frame back on. It may not have appeared on California-built trailers like Shari's, but it certainly was on my Ohio-built '64 Globe Trotter.

My front overhead cabinet frame was loose many years ago. I gently knocked it apart, drilled out of the old wood dowels and put in new wood dowels (with carpenters glue) and clamped it for a few days. Much nicer now!

Exactly what I just finished doing! Had to pick up the 1/4" dowels as I usually don't do anything with ones that small.

[robwok]

Originally Posted by graniteshore

I have a 64 Tradewind and when I refinished the woodwork on the front cabinet, i found the same duct tape behind the wood.

As far as the switch is concerned, I have the same one in my trailer and it may have been disconnected. There is a conventional switch to the inside left of the jalousie window which controls the outside scare light. See if you have one there.

I'm afraid I am not so lucky. I'm wonding if the switch is bad, but unforunately, the only way to get to it is to take the skin off. It's a very annoying size. I would prefer to cut a larger hole and put in a different appropriately dated switch.

Anyone recommend a switch, and whether or not I'm going to have problems with that idea?

[Aage]

Originally Posted by robwok

3. Is this the lightswitch to the outside porch light? Any reason it doesn't work? Fuses look good. The power for the tv antenna / CB doesn't seem to work either. IS there a reason they used such big guage wire for DC?

Originally Posted by robwok

I'm afraid I am not so lucky. I'm wonding if the switch is bad, but unforunately, the only way to get to it is to take the skin off. It's a very annoying size. I would prefer to cut a larger hole and put in a different appropriately dated switch.

Anyone recommend a switch, and whether or not I'm going to have problems with that idea?

Two things to look at, which you may already have done:

1. is the lightbulb OK? Sometimes they look OK, but are gone.

2. Does the lightbulb's socket look like it can make a good connection? It may be corroded: sandpaper time, or replace. Or, it's ground connection (or the + wire connection for that matter) may be bad.

It's rarely "rocket surgery" with these trailers, you just gotta be stubborn

Good luck!

[robwok]

Thanks. I actually have a brand new light (and I tested that one, and it works). I already drilled out the rivets on the old one and removed it. I used a meter to test the wire that goes up to the light, and it's dead no matter what. There's not a lot I can do about the +wire if that's bad. I wanted to work in another direction. One odd thing though is that the + wire doesn't seem to lead back to the switch. Any reason it may go off in the opposite direction?

[BIGED52]

The switch you have may be to turn off the water pump. My '67 has one... it was to allow you to sleep without the intermittent pressurizing of the water system waking you. This may be what you have there. Ed

[robwok]

Originally Posted by BIGED52

The switch you have may be to turn off the water pump. My '67 has one... it was to allow you to sleep without the intermittent pressurizing of the water system waking you. This may be what you have there. Ed

Interesting. My water pump is in the back in the full service area. I remember reading some were in the front.