Visit our Popular Forums

wahoonc · 11-11-2007, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juel

It's a little after 2:00AM and the new trailer is HOME. It's more than we ever expected. I took pictures of the trip, but they will have to wait till tomorrow (or is that today?) I found it hard to believe, but the first part of our trip I was certain I had bought a new F-150 with no turn signals. Did you know some men don't actually use turn signals. As it turned out they worked just fine when I was driving.

Glad to see you made it home in one piece. Be glad you aren't in SC...brake lights are optional and nobody has turn signals

Aaron

juel · 11-11-2007, 08:30 PM

I don't think my Dometic is working on electric, just gas. I've read almost all the info on here about troubleshooting these and repairing them and talk about confused. This trailer will be parked for long periods at the lake, so gas operation isn't very practical. We only go down there for a couple of days at a time and it would take that long to cool a 31 year old frig. I need one that can be left on when I'm not there. I really hate to say it, but it looks like I may replace this one with a household frig. Of course I'd keep the Dometic in storage in case I ever sold this trailer, but I just can't see spending $1000.00 to replace it.

87MH · 11-13-2007, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juel

I don't think my Dometic is working on electric, just gas. I've read almost all the info on here about troubleshooting these and repairing them and talk about confused. This trailer will be parked for long periods at the lake, so gas operation isn't very practical. We only go down there for a couple of days at a time and it would take that long to cool a 31 year old frig. I need one that can be left on when I'm not there. I really hate to say it, but it looks like I may replace this one with a household frig. Of course I'd keep the Dometic in storage in case I ever sold this trailer, but I just can't see spending $1000.00 to replace it.

I would bet the problem is in the switch - the electric heater element is so much more simple than the gas burner.

The heating element electricity can easily be traced with a simple VOM. The thermostat is not working on mine, but ,so far, that has not been much of an issue. I may replace my Dometic with an electric only dorm type....don't plan on boondocking much -

The electric element actually cools the unit down in only a couple of hours.

juel · 11-13-2007, 03:17 PM

RV doctor coming to get the Sovereign and work on the frig. If he can't fix it I can get a new one for $900.00 with shipping, then labor to install. RV guy says he'll take out the old one if it can't be fixed and I can decide what I want to put back in. $278.00 at Lowes sounds pretty good.

juel · 11-18-2007, 03:56 PM

Bought and installed three new vent covers, which of course made the yellow end caps look horrible. Decided I could hang vinyl wall covering because I've been doing it for years. What was I thinking! Hanging this stuff overhead on a curved surface was ........ well not pleasant. Got the trailer cleaned, replaced the pink pillows (not my color) and it's ready to go visit the RV doctor to see if he can repair the Dometic or I get a new one.

maxandgeorgia · 11-18-2007, 04:08 PM

Old end caps vs bright new white ones: night and day! Must have been labor-intensive, but what a cheerful transformation

~G

juel · 11-18-2007, 05:59 PM

Check out #20. Enlarge thos price lists for the 76 Airstreams. So interesting.

Happycampers · 11-18-2007, 06:20 PM

Nice looking Sovereign Juel, I am sure you will get a lot of enjoyment out of it. Hope to see it one day.

AL’ UM- MONEY · 08-21-2010, 10:05 PM

I have just entered the wolrd of 76 sovereign and not a clue.I inherted mine as a moble home of a uncle that lived in it for 25 years. Sorry I didn't take before pictures. Needed a hazmat suit to enter. Was green from the moss growing under the Georgia sun and oaks. Today I stripper the clear coat and starting to see what color it should be. I'm glad I recently retired as this may be a life project. Must be nice to find one that was taken care of.

Jim in Pima · 08-22-2010, 03:21 PM

Hi Good Luck, after 3 years I am still doing things to my 75 Sovereign, latest was axles, tires, brakes. Made a huge difference.
Future is strip the clear coat and see if I can polish it.

phoyt · 08-22-2010, 10:17 PM

Hi, how can you tell there is clear coat on your coach? I just spent a Saturday scrubbing my 'new' 76 Sovereig and the silver side shined up nicely. This coach has a white top, which now looks white instead of the gray when I started. I also encounterer some moss and a lot of pine needles that I had to use the power washer on.

Today I discovered that I'll be replacing floors because I found rotted subfloors along the back end of the coach. But... still happy with my new project!

Jim in Pima · 08-23-2010, 08:33 AM

HI
If you rub the outside surface and the rag turns black, no clearcoat.
Are you sure the white top is normal, mine was white, it was all oxidation..I used 3M heavy duty rubbing compound to get it off.
I would like to have the courage to take off the bottom pan someday, as we get odors from there and it was a home to rats when I bought it.

wasagachris · 08-23-2010, 08:54 AM

Hi everybody.
Gat First and foremost you need to watertight the unit. Seal up roof vents , stink pipes, windows and compartment doors. especially important to se rear bumper area where it meets shell. This area is very bad for leaks and will rot your floor big time.
Phyot the white on your roof may be the PO`s attempt to seal up the roof and reflect the sun to keep trailer cooler.
Jim: If you open up the belly it is exactly like iopening up the proverbial can of worms. Don`t ask me how I know. I opened mine to do a small repair to a couple of crossmembers and am now doing a full monte with shell off and new frame.
Good luck to you all in your 31`s.

AL’ UM- MONEY · 08-27-2010, 05:04 PM

I am in the process of referbing a 76 soverign. Most things were OK except the frig. Like you I was not willing to pay the price for a LP replacement. I cut the top of the cabinet, This gives me room for a 9.6 cu ft stainless steal looking frig from Lowes (24"x60"). Nice size and I don't think I would miss the LP side. Just for fun I adapted the LP line with 10 foot hose and purchased a table top stainless grill from Costco. Seems like a good use of my money to me.

Jim in Pima · 08-29-2010, 08:07 AM

Bad trouble with doing away with gas appliances..if you belong to a AIrstream club, most of the meetings are NO HOOKUPS. Also we just did a 2 week trip around 3 National Parks, Only one night had hookups. What we save a year in camping fees will pay for a new 2 way fridge. PS have golden age passport, helps a lot!!!