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08-26-2020, 03:43 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
1966 17' Caravel
1972 21' Globetrotter
SW
, Missouri
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 697
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1966 Caravel Stewardship Questions
I recently took ownership of my Grandparent's Caravel. It has been in the family for about 15 years. In its current iteration it has been used for a few thousand to ten thousand miles by my guesstimates. It was polished about 10 years ago. All appliances are around a decade old. Most of the interior was rebuilt by my grandfather. There are several items that need to be addressed. With that said I will be sticking to the "make only improvements" plan.
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08-26-2020, 05:09 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1966 17' Caravel
1972 21' Globetrotter
SW
, Missouri
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 697
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Should this C channel be sealed? If so what is the best sealant to use here?
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08-27-2020, 02:40 PM
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#3
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3 Rivet Member
1967 17' Caravel
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 221
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No, the trim at the bottom of the trailer does not need to be sealed. Looks like your Grandfather took great care of the trailer. I have my late Uncles '67, so hopefully I can be of help if you have other questions.
Check the plumbing and wiring first and foremost. Oh, and the axle (read up on the axles, very important).
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08-27-2020, 03:35 PM
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#4
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Always learning
1972 29' Ambassador
1962 19' Globetrotter
1951 21' Flying Cloud
Central
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,881
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter417
Should this C channel be sealed? If so what is the best sealant to use here?
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The trim in the picture is commonly called the "rub rail" and I would seal the top of it with a high quality polyurethane sealant like Trempro 635 or 3M 540.
Nice little trailer you have there.
__________________
Lance
Work is never done, so take time to play!
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08-31-2020, 09:22 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1966 17' Caravel
1972 21' Globetrotter
SW
, Missouri
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 697
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You guys are giving me a bit of conflicting advice on sealing the rub rail.
I also have some larger seems that need to be sealed around the wheels. Will 635 or 540 be appropriate for those areas as well?
We just got back from the first shakedown run. Everything went pretty well. We had some rain on the way out, while we were there and on the way back.
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08-31-2020, 09:29 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1966 17' Caravel
1972 21' Globetrotter
SW
, Missouri
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 697
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https://www.airforums.com/forums/f43...up-213299.html
I had a conversation with Colin and I have an axle in process. It should be here sometime around mid October.
Is anyone familiar with the process of fitting a new axle in a 66? I know I will have to weld on a new shock stud.
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08-31-2020, 09:57 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1966 17' Caravel
1972 21' Globetrotter
SW
, Missouri
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 697
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Better Self Containment - Tanks
https://www.airforums.com/forums/f44...on-213089.html
The sinks have about a 12 gallon grey tank. I need to get this monstrosity of a pan pulled off the back but I believe the grey tank heads over to the shower and then over to the black tanks thetford(?) valve. I have to use an adapter to to use a standard valtera fitting. That is an issue I would like to address. I assume most of you are running the modern sewer fitting with no adapter?
My most immediate concern is the black tank. It was replaced and I do believe it to be sound. The size, by my 5 gallon bucket math, puts it at about 7 gallons on a good day.
I guess now would be a good time to go over some of our goals with this travel trailer. We do not often stay in RV resorts with full hookups. We usually have power and we have water sometimes. We almost always have a dump station close, so we don't haul waste water far.
That means gray and black tanks are going to be the limiting factor in how long we can stay put.
If the black really is only about 7 gallons It is going on the top of the list. Is vintage trailer supply the best option for this tank? Has anyone come up with anything the extends further under the goucho?
The shower needs a grey tank or two. I am not sure how easy a retrofit would work on this camper. I Will know more when I get into the bottom.
Another thought I had was to locate a grey tank above the fresh water tank. Then use a pump in the shower to move the water to the tank.
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08-31-2020, 10:51 AM
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#8
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Always learning
1972 29' Ambassador
1962 19' Globetrotter
1951 21' Flying Cloud
Central
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,881
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Peter417,
There's always the blue boy if you have a dump site near. Not always ideal, but can work well in certain conditions.
__________________
Lance
Work is never done, so take time to play!
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09-01-2020, 05:53 AM
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#9
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4 Rivet Member
2005 25' Safari
1968 17' Caravel
1967 22' Safari
Leawood
, Kansas
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 456
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Peter- The trailer if it's like mine, before the frame off, doesn't have a grey water holding capacity. Mine had a garden hose adapter coming out the belly pan. I had my trailer frame constructed to allow a fresh water tank forward of the axle and a grey water tank aft. I'm just up I-49 from you, and I need to put my sensors on my tanks, after the fact, so if you want to take a peek send me a PM.
Your grandfather looks like he was a good craftsman, and I'd guess he was a woodworker. One thing that gets overlooked is the wiring in these trailers. I took a volt ohms meter and tracked out all my circuits. It might be worth mapping that out. I ultimately took all the old wiring out and replaced it with marine grade wiring, but that requires removal of the interior and interior skins, which doesn't sound like it's in your scope of work.
I found a burnt piece of insulation in the AC circuit going to the fridge. It comes though the interior skin covered up with the vinyl "chimney" in your galley. I'd check this circuit out pretty well for current going to ground. The other circuits in the Caravel are routed in a way that chafing anywhere other than where they enter your streetside interior skin is unlikely, but they are aluminum wire, which is prone to cracking.
Nice little trailer enjoy. I'm trying to keep my modernizations hidden on mine. Jerry
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09-01-2020, 08:13 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1966 17' Caravel
1972 21' Globetrotter
SW
, Missouri
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 697
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Quote:
Originally Posted by docflyboy
Your grandfather looks like he was a good craftsman, and I'd guess he was a woodworker. One thing that gets overlooked is the wiring in these trailers. I took a volt ohms meter and tracked out all my circuits. It might be worth mapping that out. I ultimately took all the old wiring out and replaced it with marine grade wiring, but that requires removal of the interior and interior skins, which doesn't sound like it's in your scope of work.
Nice little trailer enjoy. I'm trying to keep my modernizations hidden on mine. Jerry
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He is indeed a woodworker. A complete, skin off, insulation out rewire job was performed by my grandfather 10-15 years ago. I may have given you the wrong impression. Removing interior skins is completely within my wheelhouse. I live in a house I built with my own hands. I will be starting on my own shell off project in the not to distant future. This Caravel has had all the wires replaced, AC and DC. It has had all plumbing replaced before the tanks. It has had the whole gas system replaced. There is a 12 gallon grey tank for the sink. I look forward to many decades of learning from you guys about the ins and outs of these trailers.
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09-01-2020, 12:03 PM
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#11
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4 Rivet Member
2005 25' Safari
1968 17' Caravel
1967 22' Safari
Leawood
, Kansas
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 456
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Well I'd say just check out everything and see how you like it. If you pull the belly pan aft of the axle, you'll get a quick assessment of your drain situation. All your plumbing crosses from left to right just under the forward edge of your shower pan. All the drains, except your shower run into the vent stack on the street-side (right) and the stack on the left is for your black water tank. If you're interested the vintage hands on guys have a gathering on Sept 26th in Kansas City. Slats is in charge of that, so if you're interested, PM him to make sure there's room for you. Depending on if my Marmoleum gets delivered in time, I may still have my side walls unbuttoned, which will help you a little knowing where the wiring runs and the structural supports. Jerry
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09-01-2020, 02:02 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1966 17' Caravel
1972 21' Globetrotter
SW
, Missouri
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 697
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Tiny Black Tank
Excellent. I will check with my wife to see if there is anything happening that weekend. That would be very helpful to see.
Over lunch I went out to measure the black tank capacity, I came up with 7 gallons again. That is going to have to be addressed. I am looking into the 12 gallon tank from vintage trailer supply. Has anyone used it?
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09-03-2020, 09:16 AM
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#13
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3 Rivet Member
1967 17' Caravel
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 221
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Sorry, I did not read all the response/comments, so hope I am not repeating what others have said.
Grey water: On my '67, I looped as much 4" PVC pipe under the bathroom area as I could fit. The sinks and shower dump into the pipe. I used a sanitary waste valve in lieu of P-trap for the shower...keeps the grey water from backing up into the shower if I go too long before emptying. When there is sewer hookups, I use a garden hose fitting adapter on the dump valve, an orange hose to a 4" sewer rubber pressure fitting. I then leave the dump valve open. If no sewer hookups, I carry a blue boy for the grey water if not allowed to dump on the ground.
Black tank: I removed the ridiculously small black tank and vent line through the roof. I installed a waterless toilet and am happy with that decision. No black water to deal with ever. No cleanup, no mess, no stink, nada. If you keep the black tank, consider having one made (or buy if one already exists) that extends into the floor of the closet (might have to reroute plumbing line that crosses the trailer in the closet).
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09-03-2020, 10:26 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1966 17' Caravel
1972 21' Globetrotter
SW
, Missouri
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 697
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Quote:
Originally Posted by David F
Sorry, I did not read all the response/comments, so hope I am not repeating what others have said.
Grey water: On my '67, I looped as much 4" PVC pipe under the bathroom area as I could fit. The sinks and shower dump into the pipe. I used a sanitary waste valve in lieu of P-trap for the shower...keeps the grey water from backing up into the shower if I go too long before emptying. When there is sewer hookups, I use a garden hose fitting adapter on the dump valve, an orange hose to a 4" sewer rubber pressure fitting. I then leave the dump valve open. If no sewer hookups, I carry a blue boy for the grey water if not allowed to dump on the ground.
Black tank: I removed the ridiculously small black tank and vent line through the roof. I installed a waterless toilet and am happy with that decision. No black water to deal with ever. No cleanup, no mess, no stink, nada. If you keep the black tank, consider having one made (or buy if one already exists) that extends into the floor of the closet (might have to reroute plumbing line that crosses the trailer in the closet).
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David,
My goal right now is to get the trailer completely self contained for our current most common use case. For the grey that means we need another 30 gallons of capacity. Rolling out a blueboy in a walmart parking lot is very unappealing to me.
I am still looking for an example of someone who has retrofit 1-2 grey tanks in this frame. Every example I have seen so far has been on full shell off jobs. I am looking into using a pump. That would open up some neat options. As long as I could fall back on gravity for the system if the pump dies I am open to this.
The black tank is a pretty major issue. I would like to know all the options I have so I can make an informed decision here. I plan to tackle this over the winter. I am totally open to making modifications to the closet and goucho frame to gain capacity here. What manufactures should I be looking at for this tank? I am not yet sold on the waterless toilets. Even if I do go this route I would continue to use the black tank. Emptying a urine bucket every couple days ruins the self contained nature of the trailer for me. That system would make week long trips pretty simple. So the largest black tank I a can get in there with out insane modifications is what I am after.
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09-04-2020, 07:25 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1966 17' Caravel
1972 21' Globetrotter
SW
, Missouri
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 697
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I got the saggy diaper pan pulled off.
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09-05-2020, 06:56 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1966 17' Caravel
1972 21' Globetrotter
SW
, Missouri
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 697
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I have identified a few things I want to address.
The lowest point is the shower trap. Is a shower trap necessary here? What other options are there?
Next up is the grey valve. I've just started feeling around but I think it can move up an inch and then it will work be inside the frame completely. Its close now.
Finally the black valve. What parts will I need to convert this to the Valterra connection?
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09-05-2020, 11:25 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
1966 22' Safari
1955 22' Flying Cloud
Fredericksburg
, Texas
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,931
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter417
I have identified a few things I want to address.
The lowest point is the shower trap. Is a shower trap necessary here? What other options are there?
Next up is the grey valve. I've just started feeling around but I think it can move up an inch and then it will work be inside the frame completely. Its close now.
Finally the black valve. What parts will I need to convert this to the Valterra connection?
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On our 66 Safari the shower trap was probably like yours sticking pretty far below the floor in a round plastic cover. We eliminated that and installed a Hepvo in-line trap. But you do need a trap to prevent odors from the grey tank. Good luck
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09-05-2020, 12:09 PM
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#18
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Always learning
1972 29' Ambassador
1962 19' Globetrotter
1951 21' Flying Cloud
Central
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,881
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter417
Is a shower trap necessary here? What other options are there?
Yes. Hepvo in a horizontal installation would work well.
Finally the black valve. What parts will I need to convert this to the Valterra connection?
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If you want to convert the Thetford valve to Valterra, you need an adapter flange like sold by VTS. If you are going to change the tank, it will be ready for Valterra fittings and valves.
__________________
Lance
Work is never done, so take time to play!
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09-05-2020, 09:00 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
1966 17' Caravel
1972 21' Globetrotter
SW
, Missouri
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 697
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I have not read all the responses yet I just want to see if you guys can help with this as well. The grey tank sets under the bathroom sink. This 90 fitting drops things down about 2 inches. Because of this the valve is just a little to low to be contained in the frame. Is there some other 90 fitting that can tuck things up a little tighter to the floor? I am willing to reduce flow.
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09-05-2020, 09:22 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1966 17' Caravel
1972 21' Globetrotter
SW
, Missouri
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 697
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Another angle to tackle this from would be to raise the tank up an inch or so. I'm not sure how involved that would get yet.
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