VACList Digest Tuesday, January 7 2003 Volume 03 : Number 066
When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary Digest text To unsubscribe or change to an e-mail format, please go to http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html Topics in Today's Digest: [VACList] Our "new" 1955 Sovereign, help! Re: [VACList] Our "new" 1955 Sovereign, help! Re: [VACList] Indio - Palm Springs campground recommendation needed Re: [VACList] Our "new" 1955 Sovereign, help! [VACList] Boondocking Re: [VACList] Baseball cap was Blue Beret Re: [VACList] Our "new" 1955 Sovereign, help! [VACList] Rallie/Caravans Re: [VACList] Our "new" 1955 Sovereign, help! [VACList] "Mobile America" airing on KCET in LA this week [VACList] Clearance Lights [VACList] pressure water tank Re: [VACList] Clearance Lights Re: [VACList] Clearance Lights Re: [VACList] Clearance Lights ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 06 Jan 2003 10:52:56 -0500 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [VACList] Our "new" 1955 Sovereign, help! Hi we are very excited about purchasing our first trailer, a 1955 Sovereign. Very nice original condition including the original upholstery and curtains! It's 4 hours from home and needs the split rims and old tires replaced. I had no tools and the hubcaps weren't removable by hand. What lug pattern did that year use, what is the recommended wheel and offset? Any idea on grease seals? Am I to assume a 2" ball is in order? How do I power up the power jack? Tow vehicle or onboard battery (which I have no clue where it would be)? We bought it from an elderly lady who didn't know how any of it functioned. We've been shopping for a 60's era, so the 1950's models are very unfamiliar. Thank You in advance for any help!!! We can finally join the VAC! Thanks, Jason Jablonski and family ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 06 Jan 2003 11:00:05 -0600 From: "Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] Our "new" 1955 Sovereign, help! I'm not sure the 1955 vintage trailers were consistent in their use of axles, wheels, tires, hitch electrical connectors, and hitches. Later vintage trailers seemed to have been custom built with wheel wells fitted closely to the original tires. So close that its rare to take a wheel off and carry it to the tire store and to come home with a tire that fits into the wheel well. Modern replacement tires tend to be a bit fatter than the originals they supposed replace. Different tire makers make them different sizes. If the tires will hold air, I'd pull the trailer (slowly) to a tire and wheel store that is well supplied and have them fit tire and wheel to the wheel well. It will be quicker. Hitch ball size could be somewhere between 1-7/8 and 2-5/16". The wiring used in such vintage airstreams was different than the modern standard for connections. It could have been updated, or it might still be the older connector and connections. It most likely won't plug into a modern tow vehicle connector and work. That has to be fixed before towing. I have found it far easier to install a new Bargman plug than to clean the old one, even when the connection changes have been made. Wheel bearings and grease seals likely will need attention for any significant trip. The wheel bearings need repacking at regular intervals of every few years to be sure they don't rust. Seals will be a problem. A cattle/horse trailer dealer may have a better supply of those parts than a tire store or a RV store. I'd like to lift the axle off the ground and turn each tire listening for bearing grumbles and brake scrapes before moving the trailer at all. Gritty bearings will have to be cleaned and grease packed on the spot. And there may be a need to replace rusty bearings in that process. Hauling on gritty bearings will lead to further damage, possible loss of the wheel with wheel well damage. The tongue power jack probably isn't from 1955, and even if it was, how it is powered isn't likely to have been consistent. Hope there's a provision for a hand crank. In this situation, I think I'd hire a flat bed trailer and tow truck to haul the Sovereign home because there are enough problems that it could take days to resolve them made into months by the 8 hour round trip travel time for each expedition. Take a dolly wheel for the jack, and a tall hand or hydraulic jack to lift the tongue to allow setting the tongue jack on the dolly wheel. There have been several glowing reports on this list of how that vintage trailer frame was found to be rusted into sponge and that trying to tow would have pulled the front 6' of frame central pipe out of the trailer leaving the rest of the trailer behind to crash into trees and oncoming traffic on its own. Make no assumptions other than that all systems will need work and won't be the same as a modern trailer. Gerald J. - -- Entire content copyright Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer. Reproduction by permission only. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2003 09:15:48 -0800 From: "My Airstream" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] Indio - Palm Springs campground recommendation needed If your looking to boondock than you gotta go to "Slab City" near the southwest end of Salton Sea. It's less than an hour south of Indio and now is the good time of year. Get set for lots of unusual campers :) For those who don't know about Slab City, it's like woodstock for RV's. Camping is free, water is non existent. Environment depends on where you park. It is an old WWII army base without buildings . . . only slabs. Bob Kiger http://cruiserbob.com 66 Airstream Safari Mira Mar Mobile Park Oceanside, CA - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marvin Murray" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, January 05, 2003 8:45 AM Subject: [VACList] Indio - Palm Springs campground recommendation needed > I'm planning a trip to the Indio - Palm Springs, CA area and need a > recommendation for a place to stay in my '76 Tradewind 25', please. > > Thanks. > > Marv Murray > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary original text > > To unsubscribe or change to an digest format, please go to > http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2003 09:42:49 -0800 From: "Tuna" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] Our "new" 1955 Sovereign, help! Jason - where are you located, and where is the trailer? Perhaps there's someone on the list close enough to one or the other to help out with the pick up and preparation... Tuna Reno, NV '48 Trailwind - ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, January 06, 2003 7:52 AM Subject: [VACList] Our "new" 1955 Sovereign, help! > Hi we are very excited about purchasing our first trailer, a 1955 Sovereign. Very nice original condition including the original upholstery and curtains! It's 4 hours from home and needs the split rims and old tires replaced. I had no tools and the hubcaps weren't removable by hand. What lug pattern did that year use, what is the recommended wheel and offset? Any idea on grease seals? Am I to assume a 2" ball is in order? How do I power up the power jack? Tow vehicle or onboard battery (which I have no clue where it would be)? We bought it from an elderly lady who didn't know how any of it functioned. We've been shopping for a 60's era, so the 1950's models are very unfamiliar. > > Thank You in advance for any help!!! We can finally join the VAC! > > Thanks, > > Jason Jablonski and family > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary original text > > To unsubscribe or change to an digest format, please go to > http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 06 Jan 2003 13:03:59 -0500 From: Terry Tyler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [VACList] Boondocking on 01/04/03 11:18 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > |During years when it was really cold, we went further south to Alligator > |Alley where there are four primitive campgrounds along US 41. All are > |boondocking and adequate, but nothing to write home about. > | > | > |Terry > | > > Please excuse my ignorance, but what does the term "boondocking" mean in this > context? > > Thanks > > _DAVID - ------------ Hi David, Basically, it means a safe place to park, no more, no less - and we leave nothing but tracks when we continue our travels. Boondocking can occur in a wide variety of places, such as the Air Museum parking lot in Tucson, BLM land at dozens of sites in the southwest, certain Wildlife refuges throughout the USA, Flying J truck stops, County Parks and Fish Camps where no electricity is offered, gas company picnic areas where RV parking is allowed, along the shores of lakes and rivers in USA and Mexico where short term RV parking is allowed, Alligator Alley along US41 in Florida, restaurant parking lots in all three countries on the continent (after permission is asked), RV service centers when we arrive late Sunday afternoon and dozens of other locations I'm sure will be mentioned by anyone following this thread. For us, these places are used mainly when we're in the "traveling" mode. They are typically for short term although we've stayed longer when conditions are optimal. Those of us who use our Airstreams for traveling the continent (as opposed to those who prefer to stay in one place most of the time) are more likely to be boondockers. Generally, we add solar panels to the roof of our Airstreams. The panels recharge our batteries every day. I have 3 panels and 3 deep cycle marine batteries. We also have an INVERTER, (in addition to a converter). The inverter changes 12 volt power into 115 volts. This enables us to use our electronic toys when parked in the desert, i.e. Quartzite, the Slabs and other primitive places where there are no hookups. The inverter enables us to us our color TV set, our satellite TV, the DVD player, the VCR player, my Macintosh laptop, our color printer, our vacuum cleaner, the charger for the batteries to our electric drill and flashlight (Makita 14.4 volts), my two Handspring Visors (PDAs), our grinder for coffee beans and our CB radio. Each family differs in favorite appliances. We do not use the inverter for lights because our 12 volt fluorescents are bright, yet frugal in their use of power. We do not use the inverter for air conditioning or our microwave because both of those appliances would use up all our electrical capacity very quickly. If you are interested in more detail about boondocking or solar panels, go to Tom Patterson's archives and run his search engine. He has highly specific data in the archives. Several of us on this VAClist have contributed to it. Terry '78 Ford Van E-250 460CID V8 full towing package '77 31' Airstream Excella 500 restoration ongoing PS - Today (01/06/03 Monday), we're at Hill Kelly Dodge (ex-Airstream dealer) getting service work done. We arrived 4pm yesterday (Sunday) and parked alongside the service bay. Electrical outlets are available for those who need them. This is one of the RV service centers we've found that is well equipped to deal with our needs. The Manager (Pat Lassiter) is honest, extremely knowledgeable about Airstreams and has always treated us right. The waiting room is comfortable and has a phone (dial 9) which we can use for email. The entire staff are cordial and considerate. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 06 Jan 2003 10:56:43 -0800 From: Pearl Main <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] Baseball cap was Blue Beret Webmaster wrote :help I m too foggy to put messages on vacation going back in hospital this week Pearl > I think this is one of the prime items the "VAC Quartermaster" will be > looking at later next month. I understand the board is close to finalizing > approval of an individual to create, obtain & sell VAC stuff. > -- > RJ > > On 1/2/03 3:09 PM, "john or cindy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Hi fellow VACrs > > I just can't see myself wearing a Blue Beret. I'm not slamming them & I > > understand the original reason for their use but I'm just not the beret > > type. Is there a baseball cap available for the "VAC" interclub? If there > > is, where can I order a couple? If none exist, is there an interest in > > creating such a cap using the VAC logo? > > Thanks > > John Young > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary original text > > To unsubscribe or change to an digest format, please go to > http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2003 14:12:16 -0800 From: "chyde" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] Our "new" 1955 Sovereign, help! Jason, Congratulations on your purchase! I own a 57 Sovereign of the Road and a 59 Ambassador International. The 57 is in the process of a "frame off" restoration and the 59 is very original and was used several times last summer. As far as I know, the 57 never had an onboard battery although it does have a 12v and 120v electrical systems. There is a socket on the front curb side corner which originally was connected to the tow vehicle for 12v power. This is separate from the usual 12v external lighting/electric brakes plug. The 59 has an aluminum battery box mounted on the front of the trailer which is where the trailer gets its 12v when the tow vehicle is disconnected. It also powers the tongue jack. I have installed several Optima "Spiral Core" Yellow Top batteries under the bunks for additional amp hours. These batteries are expensive, however they do not require venting when charging. It also gives you a lot of flexibility for positioning. You can even lie them on there side. I am planning on doing the same thing in the 57 when the restoration gets to that stage. Both of my trailers use 2" balls so I would imagine yours would be the same. I towed the 57 home (9 hour trip) on the original split rims with marginal tires without any problems. Keep in mind that this model of trailer is much lighter than a comparable one from the 60's or 70's. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 3900 lbs dry. I don't think the rims are the issue if you are just bringing it home. Typically the tires and the bearings/brakes are the big problem. Split Rims work however trying to find a shop to install new tires on them will be tough. Try tire shops that deal primarily with trucks. If you look back in the List Archives you will find all sorts of chatter about where to get replacement rims at a good price. Load ratings are critical with rims so check very carefully before you plunk down your money. I think the 6 lug pattern was the same through the 50's, 60's and maybe on through until now. You just need a small prybar to remove the hubcaps. Good luck with it! Colin Hyde WBCCI, VAC, 10247 > Hi we are very excited about purchasing our first trailer, a 1955 Sovereign. Very nice original condition including the original upholstery and curtains! It's 4 hours from home and needs the split rims and old tires replaced. I had no tools and the hubcaps weren't removable by hand. What lug pattern did that year use, what is the recommended wheel and offset? Any idea on grease seals? Am I to assume a 2" ball is in order? How do I power up the power jack? Tow vehicle or onboard battery (which I have no clue where it would be)? We bought it from an elderly lady who didn't know how any of it functioned. We've been shopping for a 60's era, so the 1950's models are very unfamiliar. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2003 13:28:48 -0800 From: "Kathy Hunt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [VACList] Rallie/Caravans For you newbees. A rally has all parking at one location (unless there are more attendees than expected). All activities are nearby. A caravan moves from place to place at designated times and to prearranged parking and activities. Therefor there is no way there could ever be a Cape Town to Cairo Rally. Having been a member of WBCCI for over 25 years and have gone on many caravans and even led one myself, I speak with knowledge. No harm done but don't confuse apples and potatoes. Hope you are looking forward to many caravans. The organizers can get you in to places you never knew existed! What fun. By the way I have been to about 200 Rallies and at least 9 Caravans Kathy ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2003 16:58:36 -0500 From: "Jim Dunmyer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] Our "new" 1955 Sovereign, help! Jason, It would be a good idea to pull the wheels and clean & repack the bearings before setting off. The seals and bearings if you need any should be available from NAPA. <<Jim>> <<http://www.oldengine.org/members/jdunmyer>> <<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> <<lower SE Michigan, USA>> <<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> - -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Monday, January 06, 2003 11:36 AM Subject: [VACList] Our "new" 1955 Sovereign, help! >Hi we are very excited about purchasing our first trailer, a 1955 Sovereign. Very nice original condition including the original upholstery and curtains! It's 4 hours from home and needs the split rims and old tires replaced. I had no tools and the hubcaps weren't removable by hand. What lug pattern did that year use, what is the recommended wheel and offset? Any idea on grease seals? Am I to assume a 2" ball is in order? How do I power up the power jack? Tow vehicle or onboard battery (which I have no clue where it would be)? We bought it from an elderly lady who didn't know how any of it functioned. We've been shopping for a 60's era, so the 1950's models are very unfamiliar. > >Thank You in advance for any help!!! We can finally join the VAC! > >Thanks, > >Jason Jablonski and family > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary original text > >To unsubscribe or change to an digest format, please go to >http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2003 20:36:15 -0800 From: "Richard McFarland" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [VACList] "Mobile America" airing on KCET in LA this week I thought I would share some information from a message I received via the Tin Can Tourists Association - (that I am sure many of you also received). For those that did not - if you live in the Los Angeles area - or are able to receive KCET (LA PBS station) - the program that Phil Noyes has been putting together is scheduled to be shown this Wednesday - January 8th at 8pm. It is titled "Mobile America" - (or possibly "The History of the Travel Trailer" - that is what shows on the KCET website program listing). Phil Noyes co-authored - with Bryan Burkhart and Allison Arieff - the recently introduced book "Trailer Travel - A Visual History Of Mobile America". It was mentioned that the show will be offered to other PBS stations around the country. There is no guarantee they will pick it up - and if they did - when they might show it. It was suggested that March is a time when many PBS stations operate fund raisers and that might be a logical time for showing it. ( KCET in LA will be showing the program during a fund raiser) So...I contacted KCTS - my local PBS station here in Seattle (very easy to do - right from their own website - I clicked on "contact us" and then I opted for "regarding scheduling") to find out if they planned to show "Mobile America" / "The History of the Travel Trailer" later in the spring. "Viewer Services" got right back to me and advised me that the show was not scheduled to air anytime in the near future. I was then advised that my request would be forwarded to their "programming department" and it was pointed out to me that the "programming department" relies on "viewer input" to make future programming decisions. So...if you are interested in possibly having the show air on your local PBS station - input is obviously important! I know I look forward to seeing the show whenever it works out! Best Wishes. RL McFarland ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 00:01:50 -0500 From: "Jim Stewart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [VACList] Clearance Lights Only 2 of the clearance lights on my SOB are working. The lights are riveted on. Is there anyway to improve the ground to these lights without removing them from the trailer? Thankyou, Jim '61 Bambi '63 SOB (Avion T-20) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 00:15:04 -0500 From: "Scott Scheuermann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [VACList] pressure water tank Well, our annual Christmas break trip from Cleveland to Tampa and back went almost without a hitch. The weather cooperated for the entire trip. However while in Florida I took advantage of the warm weather to do some repairs and discovered that the old galvanized fresh water tank has sprung a slow leak. :-( I guess that 42 years was its limit! I seem to remember that this topic came up last year and that someone had found a source for these galvanized cylindrical tanks. I will look up the specifics later, but my question is has anyone actually purchased a tank from these people? If anyone has, please share your experiences. From what I remember they were quite pricey, but may be worth the cost for me since I would want to make major modifications to the plumbing if I were to replace the pressure tank and air pump with the modern standards. As much as I would like to make the modifications I just don't see having the time to do this before needing to be back on the road with her again. Another, less costly option I am considering is to remove the old tank and see if I could find someone to line it with the stuff they use for rusted out automotive gasoline tanks. Does anyone know if the stuff is safe to use for a drinking water tank? Scott 1960 Overlander ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 00:22:44 -0500 From: "Scott Scheuermann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] Clearance Lights Assuming that the ground is through the rivits to the skin, and that the aluminum runs under most of the light's backing plate, why not drill a small hole through a part of the backing plate (covered by the lense) into the skin and install a stainless screw to improve the ground? Scott 60 Overlander - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Stewart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 12:01 AM Subject: [VACList] Clearance Lights > Only 2 of the clearance lights on my SOB are working. The lights are riveted on. Is there anyway to improve the ground to these lights without removing them from the trailer? > Thankyou, > Jim > '61 Bambi > '63 SOB (Avion T-20) > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2003 01:04:33 -0500 From: "Jim Stewart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] Clearance Lights That sounds good to me. I'll try that tomorrow. Thakyou. Jim - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott Scheuermann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 12:22 AM Subject: Re: [VACList] Clearance Lights > Assuming that the ground is through the rivits to the skin, and that the > aluminum runs under most of the light's backing plate, why not drill a small > hole through a part of the backing plate (covered by the lense) into the > skin and install a stainless screw to improve the ground? > > Scott > 60 Overlander > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jim Stewart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 12:01 AM > Subject: [VACList] Clearance Lights > > > > Only 2 of the clearance lights on my SOB are working. The lights are > riveted on. Is there anyway to improve the ground to these lights without > removing them from the trailer? > > Thankyou, > > Jim > > '61 Bambi > > '63 SOB (Avion T-20) > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary original text > > To unsubscribe or change to an digest format, please go to > http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html > > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 07 Jan 2003 00:34:00 -0800 From: Rik & Susan Beeson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [VACList] Clearance Lights First, be sure you check to see that there is power getting to the light contact. Then, with the bulb in place, touch a piece of wire to the bulb holder or fixture and thence to ground. If there is power, and the ground check makes the light work, you can either proceed as Scott suggests or drill, clean, and re-rivet the clearance light. ~ Rik Jim Stewart wrote: >Only 2 of the clearance lights on my SOB are working. The lights are riveted on. Is >there anyway to improve the ground to these lights without removing them from the >trailer? >Thankyou, >Jim >'61 Bambi >'63 SOB (Avion T-20) > > > ------------------------------ End of VACList Digest V3 #66 **************************** When replying to a message, please delete all unnecessary Digest text To unsubscribe or change to an e-mail format, please go to http://airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html
