Greetings Susanne!
Welcome to the world of Vintage Airstreams!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcgintyrch
Hi all. I’m looking at a 1965 Caravel 17’ tomorrow. From the photos, it appears to be in fairly good condition. The air conditioner and fridge have been replaced. Plumbing and electrical are in working condition.
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One question that you will want to ask about the refrigerator is what is its energy source. So many owners replace the RV refrigerators with 120-Volt AC home type refrigerators which is an inexpensive alternative, but is quite restrictive should your plans include any boondocking or long travel days. An RV/Marine refrigerator that is either absorption (operates on LP Gas or Electricity) or a modern RV/Marine 12-Volt DC Compressor type refrigerator is desirable for the greatest flexibility in use of the trailer.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcgintyrch
I know I should look underneath at the belly pan and I have a moisture meter to check the floors. What other sorts of things should I look for?
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My suggestion would be to take a copy of the
inspection checklist found here in the Forums. It is very helpful in organizing your inspection and focusing on the important systems. The AstroVent utilized in some
1964 and
1965 Airstreams (large rectangular vent) in the front living area has a cover that is slightly smaller than the typical replacements available today so it is wise to check the condition of the cover on the trailer as it can take some time to locate the correct size replacement -- they are available, but aren't always in stock.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcgintyrch
Apparently this model has a small fresh water tank and only a black water tank - so I’d have to carry a gray water tank.
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You are correct, the fresh water tank may be on the small side if you are accustomed to the late model trailers. I believe that the fresh water tank was 20 gallons on the
Caravel while the black water tank was approximately 13 gallons. I am not certain whether the black water tank is mounted below the floor (as in my
1964 Overlander) or above the floor immediately below the toilet (like many other Airstreams and Argosy trailers). If the tank is mounted below the floor, it is possible to redirect gray water to the black water tank, but it does create a mess as it is done by capping the sewer outlet, opening the dump valve and allowing the gray water to back up into the black water tank (the process is described in the owner's manual is it is possible in a particular model as it is in my
1964 Overlander). You can view the 1965 Caravel Owner's Manual on the Airstream website
at this link.
[QUOTE=mcgintyrch;2680676]I’d like to upgrade the battery with lithium and add a microwave instead of the oven plus cosmetic upgrades. [\QUOTE]
Before upgrading batteries in any way, ascertain what kind of power converter is installed in the trailer. Should an original UniVolt or one of its close relatives still be present, installing any modern battery would not be recommended as these old Converters are noted for boiling the electrolyte and ruining batteries. Unless the trailer has received very significant updates and modifications very recently, it is unlikely that it will have a converter that is compatible with lithium batteries.
Adding a microwave shouldn't pose a particular problem, other than its location. Again, if boondocking is in your future plans, the OEM oven is quite useful to have. I use my microwave at home nearly daily, but never miss it when traveling in either my Overlander or Minuet as I just use their ovens instead.
Good luck with your investigation!