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Old 11-07-2010, 05:29 AM   #1
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Tennille , Georgia
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Hello- Utter newbie here

Hi! As the title says, I'm the new owner of a used Airstream. I'm also pretty clueless when it comes to said Airstream.

We (My family and I) bought 25 acres in the sticks of Georgia to Homestead, planning to build a small farm. I invited my folks to come down and stay, they brought their Airstream. After about 7 months, they decided this life was a little too hard on them (Generator power only, no utilities), and went back to the city. They left us their 70something Airstream Landyacht, to helps us get by while building a proper cabin. And this is where the fun begins!

The trailer was top of the line at one time, and had all the upgrades. Vista windows built in radio and 8 track, etc. But, being 30 some years old, it has been hacked and patched, so I can't be sure of how much still matches the manual. This really isn't too important, as I plan on gutting it, and turning it into a 50's style diner once the cabin is done. Until then, I'm just trying to keep the yacht from sinking

Where do I start? Winter is setting in, and the breeze blows through various openings. The heater is stubborn to start, and when it does, flares out like a flame thrower- I still smell burnt hair from starting it the night before last! The toilet pedal broke, so the flap only opens part way under best efforts... it's a good thing we have the outhouse! The awning is ripping free, and the support arms are broken. Other than that, it's not too shabby

So, I'll be here on a pretty regular basis, trying to figure out how to patch things up. Please understand, I have no idea of what is what, or even the proper names of various parts. Please, bear with me?
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Old 11-07-2010, 06:01 AM   #2
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Welcome to the forum, Capt. I'm confident you'll find answers to your many questions here. Photos are often a huge help, but most problems have been tackled before by someone willing to share their lessons learned.

With winter coming (depending on whether you get freezing conditions) you'll want to prevent freeze damage to the plumbing. I'm not sure if you have a catalytic heater or a furnace, but cleaning and repair is the first step. Given your comment about using a generator, an option that may keep the price reasonable would be a Big Buddy heater. We use one rigged with a quick disconnect, so it runs on the main propane tanks.

You can check with Andy at Inland RV or Vintage Trailer Supply for toilet parts or replacement units that will fit your model.

Good luck, and welcome.

Roy
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Old 11-07-2010, 06:19 AM   #3
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Welcome!

Capt Quirk, Welcome to the forums! Glad you have joined the ranks! I guess the first thing you'll need to know about your new acquisition is exactly what you have for a model and serial number. So let's get started! Locate the mfg plate to the right of the entrance door just below the window. It will tell you the model name and have the serial number stamped into it. The length of the trailer and how it was originally built are in those numbers also, so it is important to know what they say. Get some pictures of the exterior and measuring it from bumper to tow ball receiver will also give a clue as to the model. The registration paperwork for the license plates will also contain some needed info if you have it? If not perhaps the folks can get it to you so you can transfer it to your name. This is important for future insurance and title requirements. So get your thinking cap on and get busy ID-ing your new baby. Keep us posted and do get pictures loaded here. Good Luck! Happy Trails, Ed
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Old 11-07-2010, 06:28 AM   #4
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First, as in all Airstream resurrections....seal the seams. Keep the water outside and prevent further problems.
Next, take inventory of what works and how it works. Souns like the heater needs immediate help. Could be just cleaning. If you have a gen. already ...I'd get an electric or catalytic. Cheap and better in the long run....besides, you need heat now.
Keep the awning tightened up so as to prevent further damage...until you have things under control and can properly fix it.
If your under "boondock" conditions you need good batteries. (battery)
If you have an 8 track I'd imagine that the year is in the 70's? Check your heat and tank heat ducting or double check the plumbing winter protection...
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Old 11-07-2010, 07:14 AM   #5
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Tennille , Georgia
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Wow! Fast replies

Thanks for the welcome. As for the actual specifics, it is a 31' Sovereign made in '77. The heater is a propane, push button igniter next to the door, mounted on the counter beside the sink. Sort of reminds me of a gas grill stuffed with fiberglass.

As far as pics, our camera died, so no pics will be coming for a while. Money is tight, so no extravagances... which is why we will have to suffer with what we have right now.

As for the awning, it was nice in the summer, it helped keep the sun off the side, helping cool it down. Now that winter is coming on, it is just an annoyance. When I get the motivation, I'll break out the tools and pull it off all together. Trying to repair it will just be too expensive, and I can sell the thing for scrap. Eventually, when I go to remodel, I think I'll put the guts and parts up for sale here. Let somebody who wants to restore their's have the stuff.

As far as batteries go, the trailer has a good deep cycle, and we have a bank of 8 more deep cycles. I need to upgrade those though, they just don't have the juice to do much.

I'm not going to bother registering the trailer, I won't/ can't pull it... not that we ever go anywhere. I'll just keep it as a place to hang out and eat, when we no longer need it for shelter. The thing is really too small for us, since there are 4 of us, a dog, and a bird. To me, it feels like I'm a child in an adult casket. Yeah, maybe I have a touch of claustrophobia?
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Old 11-07-2010, 08:39 AM   #6
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Howdy and welcome to airforums.com, Cat'n Quirk!

I have a question for you:

Why waste your time on the Airstream?

No matter what you do to it you will be durn cold unless you spend some interesting money on winterizing it, and anyways it sounds like you have no regard for keeping it what it is, a good travel trailer. You mention a tight budget, but you're going to spend some on the Airstream? Ut-uh...

Why not throw all your energy into getting roof and walls up on your cabin, so you can have the warmth of (at least) a fireplace? The batteries and generator you have will work just as well in a small lean-to outside your work-in-progress cabin, and if you put all your energy into the cabin rather than the AS, you will be a lot further to your goal, right?

All the water supply in the trailer is about to freeze if you don't do something about it. When it does get warm in the trailer, you'll find that the crust of ice created by the natural humidity two humans, a dog and a bird give off will make you miserable.

You're losing focus, IMHO. Get back to homesteading!
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Old 11-07-2010, 09:06 AM   #7
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Welcome to the Airstream community. Have to respond to the Buddy Heater suggestion. This is to be used outside and is not intended for indoor use. It gives off alot of heat and you can light a cigarette four inches above the heater's cage. Needless to say it also gives off alot of carbon monoxide! Danger! Warning Will Robinson!
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Old 11-07-2010, 11:17 AM   #8
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Aage, I am not wasting time on the Airstream. I am simple using it to the best of it's ability to shelter us. I am not looking to invest money into fixing all the problems, just keep it livable. Issues like the toilet for example, so that we don't have to go out in the cold, dark, night, just to pee. As far as a lean to, we spent part of last winter in tents, until it started dropping below 40 at night. We won't go back to renting another place, when we were given this one.

So, we are not losing focus at all. Our goals are just the same as before. Only now, my family can live out here with me, while I work on the cabin.
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Old 11-07-2010, 05:40 PM   #9
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Keeping it real!

Capt Quirk, You will be hard pressed to keep the water system from freezing if it gets too cold. However, You can get it to work and stay working if the cold temps cooperate a little. Get some solid foam insulation and make some aluminum or plywood skirting with the foam glued to it that will just fit around the bottom of your trailer. That will help keep the under side of the trailer warmer and also keep the critters out from under there! First though you need to see if your trailer has a real furnace with a thermostat! If that is the case have it serviced by a propane dealers service technician to make sure it is clean and working properly. If your trailer has a furnace and not just an area heater it should have ducts under the subfloor that can keep your water system from freezing under moderately cold conditions. The heat ducts under the floor will also allow your waste (black water tank) to stay warm enough to function as a duct sends heat into the box around the black water tank by original design. Get the waste valve operating correctly so you can keep it flushed out and don't allow large amounts of material or water waste to stay in it too long in cold weather. The pedal will be an issue as that valve in the toilet keeps sewer smells from lingering in the trailer. Some DW40 applied several times may free it up if it is just sticking. You want to make sure it works and seals right. Hope this helps! Happy Trails, Ed
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Old 11-07-2010, 06:06 PM   #10
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BigEd, the heater is just a propane heater, no thermostat. It says Thermx, and has 634 on the front. I see one vent, and it is on the side of the counter, directly under said heater. As far as the water goes, we truck in the water in 55 gallon drums, hooked up to an external water pump. It serves as our irrigation, camp water, as well as water for the Airstream. It should be ok.

As for the toilet, it is a Thetford. There are two pedals, one operates the flap, the other is the water jet. The water jet pedal broke loose, and is just laying limp on the floor. With the right pressure, the flap pedal will work, but only open half way. Is this fixable, or does the whole unit need to be replaced?
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Old 11-08-2010, 11:03 PM   #11
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I would replace it if it only opens half way. But first remove the pedestal from under the toilet and see if there is any way to get it working. New is always better on these old Thetfords but in some cases parts are still available. Ed
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Old 11-08-2010, 11:08 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Capt Quirk View Post
BigEd, the heater is just a propane heater, no thermostat. It says Thermx, and has 634 on the front. I see one vent, and it is on the side of the counter, directly under said heater. As far as the water goes, we truck in the water in 55 gallon drums, hooked up to an external water pump. It serves as our irrigation, camp water, as well as water for the Airstream. It should be ok.

As for the toilet, it is a Thetford. There are two pedals, one operates the flap, the other is the water jet. The water jet pedal broke loose, and is just laying limp on the floor. With the right pressure, the flap pedal will work, but only open half way. Is this fixable, or does the whole unit need to be replaced?
There should still be a furnace in the trailer from the factory. Look on the walls to see if you can locate a thermostat. The furnace should have an external vent out the side of the trailer. Check this out... it will be a double opening affair that is stacked one above the other. One opening for combustion chamber fresh air inlet and the other for exhaust gases. Ed
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Old 11-09-2010, 07:07 AM   #13
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Talked to the folks yesterday, and the thermostat is dead.

As far as the toilet pedal, is this going to involve pulling the toilet? I really hate trying to fix little problems, as they tend to cascade into much bigger problems... no joke. We had a 89 Blazer, and I needed to replace the bearings in the front wheels- about $14 a side. A wheel lug broke taking the tire off. Then our two wheel drive SUV had four wheel drive hubs. That doubled the cost. But then, it turns out that 2 years had special hubs made in Canada, special order from the factory only at $300 a side.
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Old 11-09-2010, 07:25 AM   #14
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Word of WARNING WILL ROBINSON. That cat heater is burning propane ,anything that burns gives off CO. This is a VENTLESS heater so make sure the roof vents or a window is open. It also burns off all the oxygen and it hazardous to people and pets when sleeping.
Without pictures and having not seeing this trylor ,my personal opinion is that you may be sarficing a perfectly good trailer to make a 50's dinner that aint gonna work and once its done its done.
Being that it didnt cost ya nuffin I think you would be better off to rehab it and bring it back to original condition and then sell it. BUT thats me. You are gonna do what you will no matter what advise you get here. Most of us dont like to see these things destroyed. I think it would be worth more as a viable travel trailer.
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Old 11-09-2010, 07:09 PM   #15
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Mike, there are enough air leaks, I don't think I need to worry too much about all the oxygen being used. But, I do leave the roof vent open, just to keep it from getting too hot. As far as ruining a perfectly good trailer, I'm thinking it would be an endless list to try and restore to original. The floor needs to be replaced, the wiring has issues, most of the windows are messed up... it would really need to be completely stripped down anyways. I may not have any experience with Airstreams, but I do know a bit about auto restoration. My experience there is, that finding original parts in good shape is either next to impossible, or very pricey. Usually a bit of both. Normally though, I would be right there with you. I enjoy seeing classics restored to original. But honestly, how much would I look at making, versus how much I'd spend to restore it?
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