SilverGate's Safari is Home at Last!

[SilverGate]

Currently, our favorite camping stove is the Volcano II Collapsible Stove.

This stove collapses and travels in a case and can burn propane gas, charcoal and wood.

Read the full story:

"Earthquakes and Volcanos", History Safari Express, Airstream Life Online Community

[SilverGate]

We brought our Safari (and Tiki) to our favorite beachside non-hook-up campsite.

Even though we know our two Airstream factory installed solar panels easily recharge our two Lifeline AGM batteries to 100% by mid-to-late morning each day, we delight in finding energy saving items, such as this Vortex Hand Crank Blender, which we used to make fresh salsa.

See the full story, "Tiki, beach, and a volcano", History Safari Express, Airstream Life Online Community.

[SilverGate]

We follow the beach outing with the big wash and wax job annually.

Those who have been following my postings know that I am concerned with not only protecting the trailer from the natural elements, but also protecting my skin from the harmful effects of the sun by wearing protective clothing, sunglasses, and a good broad-spectrum sunscreen (see "Sun safety").

But finding a "good" sunscreen has gotten harder...

This season the Environmental Working Group released its fourth annual Sunscreen Guide, which recommends only 39 out of 500 beach and sport sunscreens.

Read the full story, "Sunscreen safety", History Safari Express, Airstream Life Online Community.

[SilverGate]

The polyurethane sealant Vulkem is now called TremPro and I used it to fill in some gaps in the caulking around my Fan-Tastic Fans and bathroom air vent.

See the full story, "Fall Safari prep", History Safari Express, Airstream Life Online Community.

[SilverGate]

We returned to our favorite fall mountain campsite in the Cuyamaca Mountains near Julian, California...

And found more open sky and less trees due to the voracious appetite of the gold-spotted oak borer, thought to have arrived here via firewood brought in from Mexico, Arizona, and other places.

See the full story, "Tricks, Treats, and Trees, Part 1", History Safari Express, Airstream Life Online Community.

[SilverGate]

The cool, drizzly, season of the witch weather flew over us in the mountains, but we took the chill out of the trailer by making homemade Chile en Salsa Verde con Arroz, lighting votive candles and listening to lively music.

See the full story and recipe in "Tricks, Treats, and Trees, Part 2"...

Followed by "Día de los Muertos".

History Safari Express, Airstream Life Online Community.

[mikenicholso]

Congrats, we own the same one, but without the additional awnings. We love love love it!

[SilverGate]

Originally Posted by mikenicholso

Congrats, we own the same one, but without the additional awnings. We love love love it!

Thanks mikenicholso!

[SilverGate]

Even in California, knowing the weather conditions and forecasts is important to us. So when our Eton FR300 Emergency Crank Radio failed, the search was on for the best weather radio to meet our needs.

We chose the Sangean DT-400 AM/FM Digital Weather Alert Pocket Radio.

See my full report: Weather radio, History Safari Express, Airstream Life Online Community.

[SilverGate]

We celebrated the Thanksgiving season by camping for the first time in Agua Caliente County Park, famous for its hot springs, in the Anza-Borrego Desert Region, 111 miles from San Diego. Although campsites are close to each other, this park offers spectacular vistas, pools, therapeutic spa, and interesting trails, but has no cell phone coverage.

We celebrated winter holidays at Borrego Palm Canyon Campground, 2.5 miles from Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs, California.

See more pictures and the rest of the stories:

Giving thanks at Agua Caliente, A day at Agua Caliente, Winter holidays at Borrego Palm Canyon

History Safari Express, Airstream Life Online Community

[sharbours]

What a fun thread! Thank you so much for sharing. It's wonderful to see how much enjoyment you're getting out of your Safari. I had no idea how much I would love camping with our Argosy; now I can't imagine life without it!

Happy camping!

Sharon

[Fenghuang]

We replaced with lock with a weather resistant cam key lock from a local RV store as the combination lock started to jam due to weathering.

3/15/11 Larry, SilverGate's partner

Originally Posted by SilverGate

(see previous page)

You can set your own 3-digit combination...

and it replaces any ¾ in. keyed cam lock.

I believe mine is Part #36655, which is 1&1/8th in. long for stock (in this case the battery box inner rim) which is 7/8" or less thick.

Our battery box inner top rim is 5/8 in. thick. (The lock lever fits under this).

SilverGate

[Fenghuang]

This gate was discontinued due to the dogs being smarter than we about getting out. We found that using a dog carrier/crate facing us during dinner stopped annoying barking episodes as people passed walking their dogs.

Originally Posted by SilverGate

Larry improved the adjustable-height dog gate by adding Velcro strips on each side to keep the dogs inside when needed while we enjoy the door being completely open.
3/15/11 Larry, SilverGate's partner

[OB Bambi]

Larry and Bill:
I locked the battery box with the key lock I got from Home Depot. I find that it gets hard to open unless I spray a little WD-40 in it every few months.

Randy Bowman

[Fenghuang]

Hi Randy,

Thanks so much for your helpful comment.

I looked at the cam locks at Home Depot, could not find any that stated "weather-resistant" on the package, and decided to get one that was labeled "weather resistant" at San Diego Trailer Supply (west of 70th St. and El Cajon Blvd.), hoping to avoid corrosion. I think that both locks were similarly priced.

Bill opened the battery box cam lock today, and it works fine. Lubing the lock is a good idea. We generally use a silicone spray.

Bill will be monitoring the AGM glass mat batteries soon to determine if they are holding a sufficient charge from the solar panels. If not, he is considering replacing them before we do some dry camping.

See you on the road,
Larry

Originally Posted by OB Bambi

Larry and Bill:
I locked the battery box with the key lock I got from Home Depot. I find that it gets hard to open unless I spray a little WD-40 in it every few months.

Randy Bowman

[SilverGate]

Thanks Sharon (sharbours), Larry (Fenghuang), and Randy (OB Bambi) for your comments above.

Yesterday, dbms posted in the thread "2008 Safari exterior trim", that they have a piece of exterior trim that is falling off. That happened to us back in December 2009. We fixed it and I took pictures, but the story has been on the back burner until now.

While camping at Borrego Palm Canyon Campground, I noticed that some of the street-side rear chrome/vinyl insert had fallen out of the rub rail trim molding bracket. I used silver duct tape to hold it in place until we got home and then researched the forums here for an acceptable remedy.

I took 2air's advice (seen here) that "you can remove, clean and reuse" this trim and that 3M adhesive works well here. I bought a 5 oz. tube of 3M Plastic and Emblem Adhesive, #08061, from a local body shop supplies store. It is clear and fast drying.

I used paint thinner to clean the metal rub rail molding trim bracket and to remove the sticky back side of the chrome/vinyl insert and then used a hair dryer to thoroughly dry the exposed surfaces.

The metal rub rail trim bracket is held in place by metal screws about every 6 inches and their heads push against the vinyl insert, making it difficult for the self-sticking insert to adhere in the area around the screws.
Larry used a wood chisel to ream out these areas on the vinyl insert to facilitate better contact.

The next stage is easier to do with a partner. Larry held the vinyl insert strip out and away from the trailer as I evenly applied the adhesive to the bracket and insert surfaces. The insert was then pressed into the rub rail molding bracket and then pulled apart for 10-15 seconds (per the instructions on the 3M tube), and then pressed back into place.

[SilverGate]

Any excess adhesive drippings were easily cleaned with paint thinner and a cloth.

The insert was held in place for 30 minutes by blue masking tape and then the tape was removed.

This procedure worked well for us and the vinyl insert continues to be held firmly in place to this day by 3M Plastic and Emblem Adhesive.

(Note: the resting chain saw seen in the photo below was being used by Larry to trim a nearby weeping juniper tree).

[SilverGate]

A heat wave was peaking in sunny San Diego earlier this month while we were camping for 5 nights at South Carlsbad State Beach Park.

Cool sights, surf, food and drinks made for a relaxing and pleasant time.

See more pictures and the rest of the story:

"Catfish by the sea", History Safari Express, Airstream Life Online Community

[Tin Trekkers]

We picked up our new-to-us 2007 23' Safari SE on Saturday and we're so happy to have our girl home.
Have been reading your thread with great interest since you have the exact year/model. Must compliment you on your ingenuity and entertaining presentation. Took note of all your good ideas and had many chuckles as we followed along with you on your travels.
Especially enjoyed all your pictures of both the decor and the inner working parts. The original owner apparently subscribed to this thread as well. We opened the door underneath the vanity sink and there was a net there...just like yours!
Kudos to you and thanks again.

[mutcth]

Bill, I love this thread - so much detail!

Since you've explored every nook and cranny, I have a question - are there any systems behind the set of drawers in the little credenza next to the table storage and L-lounge?

I like this floor plan a lot (been comparing it to a 23D), but I'd like another foot of lounge goodness. Wondering if I could rework the credenza to have only the table storage, get rid of the drawers, and thus gain some more lounge? Of course, if there are systems hidden behind the chest of drawers, that would make this difficult. Thanks!

Tom