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10brink · 08-21-2007, 07:05 AM

My wife and I are the new owners of a 1967 Safari. We live in Amarillo, Tx. and have never RV'd in our lives. I've never even been in a travel trailer. We'll both retire by next summer and will hopefully be able to try it out. (RVing and the trailer) We'd like to spend more time in the Texas Hill Country, the Costal areas, and Southern Colorado. I've spent a good deal of time reading the many posts about every aspect of A/S's and don't mind telling anyone that I wished I had happened on this site before I made a purchase. Good info for any new people! So many styles of the same model and year. Seems very confusing. So far, I'm way into gutting the unit for at least a complete interior redux. I haven't come across any of the horror stories I've read about yet, so maybe I've plain ol' lucked out. That'll be a novel thing. I do want to replace the water heater with a new unit just because it looks easier to do while I'm down to the floor. Would anyone give me a comment on that? Old one looks very nice and clean, but I haven't tested it. Just don't want to replace it later. Also, anyone with knowledge of how the entry steps are supposed to work I would greatly appreciate that. I don't know if this is Kosher or not, but a big Thank You to Inland RV for the positive attitude and help so far. I hope I can be of some help to someone in the future.

**moosetags** · 08-21-2007, 07:12 AM

Welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us.

10brink · 08-21-2007, 08:04 AM

Thank you. Can you tell me what WBCCI is. I see that a lot and can't seem to figure it out.

Mel · 08-21-2007, 08:30 AM

Welcome! As a fellow '67 Safari owner, I must congratulate you on your excellent taste in Airstreams.

Initially, our hot water heater worked, then decided to die on us while we were out on a week-long trip. We ended up replacing it by pulling it out through the exterior rather than ripping out our closet. If we had known it would die when it did, we would have replaced it before we built the closet back in over it.

Good luck with your renovations. Remember, you're not doing this alone - you have a big community here to help you out.

Mel · 08-21-2007, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10brink

Thank you. Can you tell me what WBCCI is. I see that a lot and can't seem to figure it out.

That stands for Wally Byam Caravan Club International. Wally was the founder of Airstream. You can find more info here.

10brink · 08-21-2007, 09:42 AM

Thanks Mel! Photos are great. That's why we wanted an A/S. Your water heater problem just solved mine. Any short answer on how the steps work?

Mel · 08-21-2007, 10:05 AM

With our step, there is a little lip underneath the door where you pull straight out and the step pops down. When we first bought our Safari, though, the seller told us the step was missing. Turns out, it was frozen in place. I believe some PB Blaster and some gentle persuasion with a hammer knocked it loose. It has since been cleaned up and painted with Por15 (rust inhibitor).

10brink · 08-21-2007, 10:18 AM

I think I have the same set up. No movable levers, springs, etc? Just that solid metal lip that takes a pry bar to move it?

Mel · 08-21-2007, 10:27 AM

Yep - when it's working correctly, you just pull the lip gently with your hand and the step flips out from underneath. Let me know if you want some pics.

10brink · 08-21-2007, 10:45 AM

Pictures would be most appreciated when you have time. I was sure that someone "fixed" it at some earlier time, but your description sounds like what I have. The exterior metal bar with the lip is solid as a rock, though. It will move with a large screwdriver or pry bar. It has a piece of thin flat metal welded on to it on the inside that slides into the step that releases the step when pulled. Am I close? Seems like an odd little deal to me.

Minnie's Mate · 08-21-2007, 11:58 AM

Welcome to the forums 10brink. You might try spraying a little silicone onto it and let it soak for about 10 minutes or so and try pulling on it then. My steps on our new unit were so hard to operate my wife couldn't open or close them. A fellow forum member recommended the silicone for use on my stabilizers since it wouldn't attract dirt and I also used it on my step hinges and they work almost effortless now. The silicone does seem to evaporate though so I have to re-lube before each trip, but it isn't hard to do since it is in a spray form. Hope this helps.

Tom

10brink · 08-21-2007, 01:06 PM

I'll hit it with the spray tonight. Thanks to everyone for the help and welcome!

Mel · 08-21-2007, 06:01 PM

Your description matches what's happening on my step. If everything's operating correctly, the step slides down in one smooth motion after you pull the handle and the clip releases the step.

10brink · 08-22-2007, 06:18 AM

Thanks very mucho for the excellent pics. I have been under the impression since I bought the safari that the split in the metal bar was a tear in the metal from being pulled on for so many years. I haven't been using the step because I didn't want to flex it any more than I had to. ( so I could have it welded up later) I thought that nobody would design something like that on purpose, because everything else I've run across seems so state of the art for the 1960's. No doubt about it, I have a lot to learn.

Minnie's Mate · 08-22-2007, 06:49 AM

This is a very different design from our step, I think. Ours seems to swing down and then the bottom step flips down. To store, you flip the bottom step up and over the top step and then it swings up under the floor at the door. The two steps remain parallel to the ground in this last procedure. (couldn't have a pun here with the last "step" of the process now could I?

)

dudebb · 08-22-2007, 07:16 AM

Hi 10Brink,
Welcome to the forums! Good luck with the resto. Glad you found this site -it is truly wonderful. Don't be afraid to also use the "search" feature on this site located on the top blue line on the right side. Type in a few key words on a subject and you will get previous threads dealing with that subject. Lots of topics have been discussed in detail on previous threads and can be a very informative resource. Have fun!

10brink · 08-22-2007, 08:07 AM

Hi George, Reading the searches was the primary reason I signed up! There was so much info being discussed that I was on A/S overload. I'll learn how to navigate around on the forum and get my posts in the right spot. I've received a ton of help already. Thanks to everyone!

10brink · 08-22-2007, 08:10 AM

one more question please? What does the "Warn 0%" line mean in my brand new Profile box?

Mel · 08-22-2007, 08:25 AM

See this thread for some good info on the warn system. Don't worry - you haven't done anything wrong!

TinCanCoop · 07-11-2010, 08:15 AM

My hub and I are new to camping. We hadn't been out camping for 31 years when we purchased our 22 ft. Airstream last month. So far so good. We live in Michigan and July is the perfect month to camp locally - quick short runs- to see what we forgot and need to get. Loving it!!