'67 fresh h2o tank

[Dingo Girl]

my 67 Caravel had the original fresh water tank. Grey plastic. Repaired many times.
My question is what is the copper tube that runs from the top of the tank to the bottom of the tank on the end on the street side?
I will be ordering the new tank and wonder if I need to have them put the fittings in for it.
Thanks!

[ALUMINUMINUM]

Hi There Ms Dingo,


Pardon my “I Don't Know, but...” response, perhaps a “thread bump” will help.


What I understand from owner's manual illustrations, your tank, I'm guessing is about 16”square and say 50” long. It fills from streetside front. There isn't any indication of copper pipes going into it, other than where it exits to the waterpump at the floor.


My GT has a flat tank, about 6” x 20”' X 50”and there are only two “ports”, the fill hole is 1 ½ inch, and the “delivery” port at the floor is maybe ½ inch. There are no other orifices. Your fill cap is your vent assuming it is same as 1968. I can't imagine any reason for extra holes in the tank.


My tank is a milky-clear polyethylene. I loose-laid a PVC shower pan liner under my tank and pump, to contain any catastrophic leak. I used the entire area ahead of the door for a permanent bed, with storage underneath, wide enough for bamboo awning poles. The bed is our lounge area. I replaced the streetside gaucho with a dinette for two.

[Dingo Girl]

The copper tube does not exit the tank. It goes into the tank at the top side then runs vertically to the bottom of the tank and enters the tank again. It is on the outside of the tank.
I saved the old tank and will try to get a picture of it when I get home today.

[Dingo Girl]

This is the copper tube i spoke of that goes from the top of the old tank to the bottom of the tank.
Is this necessary? What does it do?
Thanks.

[Dingo Girl]

Originally Posted by ALUMINUMINUM

Hi There Ms Dingo,


Pardon my “I Don't Know, but...” response, perhaps a “thread bump” will help.


What I understand from owner's manual illustrations, your tank, I'm guessing is about 16”square and say 50” long. It fills from streetside front. There isn't any indication of copper pipes going into it, other than where it exits to the waterpump at the floor.


My GT has a flat tank, about 6” x 20”' X 50”and there are only two “ports”, the fill hole is 1 ½ inch, and the “delivery” port at the floor is maybe ½ inch. There are no other orifices. Your fill cap is your vent assuming it is same as 1968. I can't imagine any reason for extra holes in the tank.


My tank is a milky-clear polyethylene. I loose-laid a PVC shower pan liner under my tank and pump, to contain any catastrophic leak. I used the entire area ahead of the door for a permanent bed, with storage underneath, wide enough for bamboo awning poles. The bed is our lounge area. I replaced the streetside gaucho with a dinette for two.

I like your flooring, what is it??

[ALUMINUMINUM]

Hi There,

I cannot think of a reason for the added tubing. It looks like Airstream's 1967 era flare work, but the polyethylene tank would have been specified to have 1/2" nipples and hose attachment, not what looks like threaded and glued attachments. If the tank doesn't have a flange or nipple molded into it to accept the copper, it's got to be an Airstream afterthought or the work of a Previous Owner. If it were clear tubing, and not copper, I'd guess it could have been a sight to indicate water level. It's not illustrated in the factory plumbing diagram.

My guess is that someone thought that it could somehow act as a vent, but your fill cap is your vent, so the tubing seems like a misunderstanding.

Maybe someone knows why it's there, I'd say it's unnecessary.


Funny you ask about the floor… I'm almost finished with a two page-long rant about floating loose-lay floors VS engineered glue-downs.

Engineered T&G maple 3/8” x3”, Pre-finished with titanium oxide poly, lightly eased edge, glued and nailed is my choice as “The Best”.

If you're interested in further support for that statement, it's thorough and convincing.

[Puggzilla]

Fresh water connection inside the trailer - How do you do it?

I am working on refurbishing a '67 Caravel. When I look at the area for connecting to fresh water inside the side door it seems very close to the electric and to the space for a battery.

Have either of you changed the water connection to an angle or placed it outside the trailer?