1964 Overlander toilet repairing or replacing

[Rock Crazy]

Needing to fix or replace a 1964 Overlander International Land
Yacht toilet. Wanting to keep it as much original as possible. Pretty certain the toilet isn't original. But defiantly want to keep the cover over the top so would need to stay within the same size. Thanks Has anyone replaced to repaired one. It is leaking in the back.

[Janet H]

There are lots of discussions about this topic, none of them very heartening. That said, you have a very cool trailer and so it's worth carefully exploring how to proceed. This year we faced the same situation and after spending a lot of time searching, concluded there were only a few choices. There is no currently available new toilet that fits in the old space.

Option 1. Rebuild the original toilet using parts from a sealand traveler toilet (but retaining the bowl of the old toilet). This can be done is you are handy and motivated.

Option 2. Cut into the front face of the cabinet that surrounds the toilet and put a new toilet in to the space using the existing plumbing.

Option 3. Remove the toilet surround and start fresh, with a floor rebuild in the back, new plumbing and undertaking the cosmetic repairs needed to make the bathroom whole again.


We sadly, did all 3. (sequentially).

The rebuild option seemed best and we were able to accomplish this but frankly, the design is flawed and there is no way to adequately clean this setup. The open back with the battery and water and electricals side by side by side is also problematic. Once we did the work on the toilet it became clear that we would not be happy with the end result. We moved on to option 2.

Cutting into the front edge of the surround for the toilet made me sick - I admit it, I felt like I was committing a horrible crime. But we did it anyway. we made the semicircular excision, dressed the edges and installed a new toilet on the old, existing base. It looked ok, functioned ok but there were still cleaning issues where the toilet met up with the surround and there was still all that battery and electrical mess in the back. On to option 3.

We removed the surround, rebuilt the floor, moved the electric panel inside the closet, moved the batteries over to the curbside just behind the axles (under bed). This involved building an enclosed, exterior accessible box and moving some wiring. Then we repaired and reshaped the tub edge so that it was sealed and looked intentional. Plumbing was rerouted, dump valve moved from the rear to the side and the space under the old toilet now became part of the interior bathroom. Big job but fabulous result. The bathroom is now extremely functional, space around the toilet is ample, it's easy to clean and we have a magazine rack. We retained the tub and original sink and all the cabinets.

If you can hold on for two weeks I can post some pics. Our trailer is out being polished.

[InsideOut]

We were fortunate in being able to retain & repair the toilet in our previous 1964 GlobeTrotter which has the same bathroom as your Overlander. It was not easy and ours was not too far gone. So it is possible, unfortunately it isn't always fixable and many go through the gradual realization of that fact that Janet explained.

For pics & what we did, check out my "Maxwell gets some TLC" thread.

Shari

[Janet H]

Here was the inspiration for our final solution:

https://plus.google.com/photos/11276...817?banner=pwa

Discussion here: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f446...ted-51700.html

[jimj]

Newbe owner '64 26' Overlander. Would really appreciate seeing pics of your toilet project.
jimj

[Rock Crazy]

If we get to work on it this week I'll post some pictures.

[Rock Crazy]

That looks good, I'm so hoping we can keep as much orignal as possible. I really like the color and the little cover / lid I'll post pictures before, during & after Thanks !

[Rock Crazy]

I just posted a few photos of the interior of our airstream in the 1960's album . Still so new not really sure how I might post to this thread. I'm so glad I'm able to join this group and get some answers to our guestions

[Rock Crazy]

Originally Posted by jimj

Newbe owner '64 26' Overlander. Would really appreciate seeing pics of your toilet project.
jimj

Posted some pictures of the inside of 1964 Airstream in the public album 1960's Airstream . Will take more of the project, but not sure how to post them to this thread .

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by Rock Crazy

Posted some pictures ... not sure how to post them to this thread .

Check this out - it should help~

Shari

[Rock Crazy]

We took out the toilet and got lucky that the only things that needed replaced were the gaskets, to prevent any further leaking. The toilet we don't think was original to the 1964 airstream, but is a good fit, allowing us to still keep the inside cover and surround. We are very lucky in that when we received our airstream it was in such good shape. We are missing some inside lights on either side of the sofa running along the front and a reading light along the sofa in the middle. I would like to know if our Frig is original, it's green with a embossed tree design the size of the door.

[ALANSD]

Originally Posted by Janet

Here was the inspiration for our final solution:

https://plus.google.com/photos/11276...817?banner=pwa

Discussion here: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f446...ted-51700.html

I was able to keep the toilet in my 66, it had only a minor leak and need the pedal reattached. We made a new cover of course as the old one was shot.
I like the Safari tub surround Janet linked to, I used flashing and a vinyl molding after I puzzled over how to fix what was there. The old fiberglass is underneath.

[batman]

Here is the one I did in my 64 Safari.

[Rock Crazy]

This is a picture of the inside where the toilet is .

[Rock Crazy]

Originally Posted by InsideOut

Check this out - it should help~

Shari

Thanks ~ got it figured out

[Rock Crazy]

Looks good, thanks for sharing

[byjaffe]

We where lucky our toilet is in great shape. But since you are all 1964 owners, here is my question, what are you using for a shower curtain rod?

Any help would be great, I have a lot of ideas and have tried a few so far without success.

Thanks
Beverly

[Rock Crazy]

We too are lucky that everything in our Airstream is original and in good shape so we still have the original accordion style shower door in ours ( we were able to repair the toilet , although my husbands thinks that it has been replaced at one time, before we bought it, but it still fits like the original would in the rear. But if I thought I would replace the door with a curtain I think a spring loaded curved rod, or have a custom rod made, by someone that can work with metal. Do you have pictures of your airstream on here ? I will try to upload a picture of our shower. Cheers !

[byjaffe]

Thanks that would be nice. I don't have any pictures but will try to take care of that month. However since my post I have seen where someone used a wire curtain hanger from Ikea. Its been ordered and I'll let you know how it works out.

thanks