Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 07-07-2014, 11:48 AM   #1
2 Rivet Member
 
Charlotte , North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35
move bathroom?

I would like to have a center bath. I would like to have the old skin that really can shine. It doesn't seem that the center bath was until 1973, and that has a different skin. If I intended to get one that needed a total reno anyway and was completely gutted, would it make a difference where the bathroom is? (I'm thinking ambassador or sovereign.)
Thanks!
Lisa
lisaslists20 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2014, 12:30 PM   #2
Rivet Master
 
InsideOut's Avatar

 
1956 22' Safari
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Vintage Kin Owner
Conifer/Evergreen , Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,707
Images: 108
The 70's trailers can take a polish just fine...it would be a major remodel to move a bathroom and associated tanks.

It would be best to find the layout you want already in the trailer - and just focus on the polishing project IMO.

Shari
__________________
Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008
WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005)
AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002

RMVAC | ACI - CO Unit (Formerly WBCCI) | BIRDY - our 1956 Safari | 1964 Serro Scotty
InsideOut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2014, 12:42 PM   #3
Rivet Master
 
Belegedhel's Avatar
 
1973 21' Globetrotter
Houston , Texas
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,322
Take a serious look at the differences between 60's and 70's trailers, and you might find enough to recommend the 70's trailers that not having an Alclad mirror polished skin is worth the trade. You might also look through some of the threads in the "polishing" section of the site, and you might see some examples of just how shiny a 70's era trailer can get. A good compromise might be a 1969--they had the body style of the 70's trailers, but were still made of 2024 T3 Alclad (but they didn't have center baths). Because they were a transition year, though, be wary that some of the parts on those trailers are unique to that year, and hard/expensive to find.

I chose a 70's era trailer because I thought I could get a factory installed grey tank (ended up buying too early in the 70's, though), plus the body is a little wider, and there are more windows, which gives the trailer more light and a more "airy" feel. I felt closterphobic in most of the 60's era trailers I walked into.

In terms of changing the layout, anything is possible with enough time and money. Just be aware up front that making massive changes to the layout will mean developing skills you didn't know you need. There is an access door for the back of the fridge, a chimney for the same, a fan vent over the stove, inlet/outlets for the furnace, a large hole where the hot water heater is installed, black and grey water vet stacks, and an inlet for filling the fresh water tank. The water lines are up inside the trailer, but the drainage plumbing is mostly under the floor. Anything that you move requires patching holes and cutting new ones.

I considered moving the bath around in my little trailer. I had already done a shell-off to replace the rotten subfloor, repair the frame, install grey tanks under the floor, and put on a new bellypan. As I considered moving my bathroom around, I ran into lots of appliances that would make the move difficult, for example, I would have had to move my water heater (which sits in a roughly 15x15 square hole in the shell) to another location, meaning I would have to patch up one big hole, and create another. My then proposed shower stall would have occupied almost half of a long window, which would just end up looking jury-rigged (not to mention making it hard to open the window). The wheel wells get in the way of side oriented bathrooms, but can be worked around. Of course, the longer the trailer, the more flexibility you will have in making moves.

When I was hunting for a trailer, I saw many that had already been gutted, and I thought that might be the way to go, since I intended to to a full refurb of the interior anyhow. In retrospect, though, I am glad that I bought a trailer that was pretty much complete, just so I could really see how all the puzzle pieces fit together in the original build. I am now in the process of reassembling my trailer, and it will end up laid out pretty much the way it originally was. I find myself taking the old pieces out and trying to recreate the way things were layered in so that I don't end up making a mistake, and having to disassemble stuff to redo it.

Not trying to discourage your interest in a completely new layout, just hoping to help you manage your expectations (ie., this is a massive overhaul).

Good luck!
Belegedhel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2014, 01:33 PM   #4
2 Rivet Member
 
Charlotte , North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35
Belegedhel, that wasn't discouraging, it was excellent information. I will look for a side bath 70's trailer with parts in it. Thank you very much. When did they put in the grey tank? And while I'm asking, do you have any black water if you have a composting toilet?
Lisa
lisaslists20 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2014, 01:47 PM   #5
Site Team
 
Aage's Avatar
 
1974 31' Sovereign
Ottawa , ON
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,219
Images: 25
Remember though, the grey tank didn't show up until 1974 (although, in Excella models it come out in most 1973s).

It's a small tank (10 US gallons), but can be useful for short stops.
__________________
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
...John Wayne...........................
Aage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2014, 02:16 PM   #6
Rivet Master
 
Belegedhel's Avatar
 
1973 21' Globetrotter
Houston , Texas
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,322
My understanding is that a composting toilet doesn't discharge any black water, so if you ended up with a trailer that had both black and grey water tanks, you might be able to plumb them so that they both hold grey water--increasing your grey water capacity. This would only really work if the black tank is below the floor, though, and that will vary from year to year, model to model.
Belegedhel is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How to move in campgrounds brunoffrance On The Road... 9 09-04-2004 03:38 AM
Move Over! overlander63 On The Road... 5 07-23-2004 09:58 AM
preparing old Globe Trotter to move it mallet Axles 2 01-24-2004 12:34 PM
tires? trailer will sit after move goodgrey Tires 4 12-06-2002 02:10 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:50 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.