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jwaldin · 09-18-2003, 06:01 AM

My 1972 31' has had a few dead shorts by the look of some areas where the plastic has melted. Some things work some don't. I'd like to rewire it over time but how do I access the wiring. Does it run in tubes? Can I simply splice on a new wire then pull it through the trailer? What is the secret? Thanks it advance for any help.

thenewkid64 · 09-18-2003, 06:34 AM

You will not find an exact wiring plan in any of the manuals. But there are some standards. all of the 12 volt wiring runs down the center of the coach and then branches off to the sides to the individual fixtures. This wire is in a bundle that normally is under the center roof sheet and attached to the roadside rib. The wire is held to the rib with clips and is quite often bundled with grey cloth duct tape.

That answers the pull it thru question.

If you wist to access the main bundle and replce wires to fixtures you can use the wire that drops down from the bundle to pull a new wire up to the bundle. This does require acces to the wire bundle by pulling the center sheet out of the trailer.

Now, how bad are the shorts, are they where they can be repaired without major surgery?

jwaldin · 09-18-2003, 03:10 PM

Thanks for the info.
How do I remove the center panel without screwing it up?

thenewkid64 · 09-18-2003, 04:04 PM

I have done this to access the antenna down lead, but it was a bear.

you first have to remove all lights, vent screens, TV antenna crank,and the inner shroud from the AC and the air deflector and controls if you have an Armstrong.

Then you drill out the rivets in the ends where the inner skin meets the front rib, and rear rib if removing the whole thing and where the vents are riveted. Then, this is where it gets scary, you grasp the center of the un-riveted end and pull down. It will flex, you need to make it bow out for a fair length, and allow you to unseat it from the side channels. I would reccomend help on this or you may end up damaging part of the interior or this sheet if it falls out. I would also reccomend help to reinstall it. Same thing to reinstall, bow down insert edge and push back up to snap in place.