Is this a fridge vent?

[wagvan]

We bought a gutted 1963 Airstream Sovereign with a redone frame and floor. We have the interior skins and some random parts. (Vintage lights, aluminum trim, outlets, etc) We know that it is a rear bath, rear side double bed floor plan. We are missing some compartment doors and roof vent caps. We are trying to figure out what everything is and what is supposed to go where, so we can figure out our new layout.

One thing that has puzzled us is an oval opening on the roof to the right of the door from the inside or the left of the door from the outside. Currently, there is a cracked, caulked and painted over plastic dome covering it on the outside. At first, we were thinking that it was supposed to be a vista view window. But the size didn't seem right 4.5"x16" and I hadn't seen any 1963s with those.

So a photo online and the floorplan has me wondering if perhaps this is actually supposed to be a fridge vent? And there is supposed to be flange with a screen and a half moon shaped aluminum cover on it?

Also, there are 2 small square key locked compartment doors high and low in the same part of the wall behind the door. (The oval opening with the odd painted and caulked plastic dome is directly above those) What are those for? It seems odd to have small locking doors that would open up to the back of the fridge

[drbrick]

Short Answer is - YES

But looks like you're missing the top/cover

[InsideOut]

^2X I concur.

Shari

[ke6gkv]

welcome wagvan. drbrick is right-it's the vent for your refridgerator:two small doors are access doors for the back of your fridge.keep us posted on your progress. kurt

[OTRA15]

More precisely called a "flue cap" -- "vent cover" is too generic and mis-directs IMO. The flue cap weather-proofs the fridge flue which exhausts combustion air from the fridge's propane burner. Our 1985 25' Sovereign, like many others, had one.

https://www.google.com/search?q=frid...w=1283&bih=658
https://www.google.com/search?q=frid..._AUoAHoECAEQAA
https://www.google.com/search?q=flue...=airforums.com

Running out of edit time -- possible historical document leads here:
https://www.airstream.com/owners/doc.../tt/year/1963/
https://www.airstream.com/wp-content...rplans-170.pdf
https://www.airstream.com/wp-content...ticles-173.pdf
https://www.airstream.com/wp-content...gazine-175.pdf

Good luck.

[OTRA15]

PS -- From another thread . . . the illustration of Part #54 below does not picture the flue cap exactly, but at least gives a good idea of a similar fridge system IMO.

[click on orange arrow to go directly to the following post in that 2010 thread]

Originally Posted by flyflinger

. . .
I have a 'spare' part, labeled as the 'flue cap' in Dometic's parts list (#54 on the page 8, Control & Burner Components). The link to the parts diagrams/lists is at http://www.gas-refrigerators.com/pdf/RM2351-parts.pdf
. . .

FYI
FWIW

[wagvan]

So I finally took an exterior pic of it. What were those access doors for? Did you have to manually light the burner for the fridge?

[dbj216]

Yes, the old refrigerators needed their pilot light lit. But on my 66 Trade Wind and my 69 Globe Trotter, and my 75 Overlander the fridge pilot light access door was close to the floor level. See photos. All three trailers had the old fridge replaced with a modern self ignition unit.

I don't know what that little door is on your trailer. It looks too high to be the fridge pilot access door. Hopefully someone will post an answer.

David