Get Out the Map

Author: elly

  • Circling the Wagons

    Shoot, I forgot my camera! Mom and I went up to Taughannock SP for the vintage trailer get-together yesterday. Maybe Fletch (hint hint) will share some photos with me. There were 5 trailers there – 2 AS(Stan-26’Tradewind and Tom/Melissa-18’Caravel), 1 Scotty (Mark/Luce), 1 truck trailer (Fletch), and 1 from Switerland? (Mark). It was great to see the trailers and hear the stories about where and how folks acquired them.

    Picked up the new Group 27 Deka battery at Fletch’s this week. Then I spent a lot of time looking for AGU fuses (40A and 50A) and realized I never asked Fletch, he may have them sitting up in one of those fun bins at the shop. I replaced all the other fuses in and around the Univolt and in the Control Center. So my 110V system works, but not the 12V system yet. It worked for a bit then goes off after a short while. Might be a short or an open somewhere. With my limited electrical knowledge I used the voltmeter to test the (AGU) big fuses to the battery. They are not working even though they don’t look blown. I can accept that they might be dysfunctional. I’ll check it more thoroughly when I get the new fuses from Tioga Auto on W.State St tomorrow.

    I got a box of stuff from Inland RV today…. window gasket, window latches, ceiling lenses, and some Vulkem caulk.

    I found the last bottle of Future Acrylic floor wax at the Whitney Point Ace Hardware to put on the internal clean walls to keep them from getting sticky right away.

    Not sure what’s up next, lots of choices: Wash and seal the seams on top. Replace the gaskets on the windows and door. Clean-up, grease-up, and fix-up the window latches. Wipe down the walls again and apply the wax. Get the awning working (I was jealous at the wagon circle of all the awnings).

  • Appliance plans

    Craig and I are thinking about replacing the range with a 2-burner drop-in cooktop and a small microwave. I want to shorten up the lower kitchen cabinet to accomodate a full bed in the front. The plan buys us more space, less weight, and enough functionality. This stove is in such bad shape, I don’t want it. I offered it to Fletch for parts and he stopped by with Denise tonight and took it away.

    Stove all gone

    They invited us to attend a local unofficial vintage trailer group getting together up at Taughannock Falls this Sunday.

    Not sure about the furnace or hot water heater yet. Will see how they check out and fit with the revisions. There is a smaller furnace that would be cool to use.

    — Cleaned the frig, I hope it works.

    Clean frig Fridge model

    — Pulled out the crappy crap tubes in the rear bumper, was afraid I would find some poo in there, instead had a great find… the missing “M” in the bumber tray for the “Airstrea_”. Now I just have to figure out how to reattach it.

    Missing \

    — WD-40’d the jack on the curb-side rear and road-side front and cranked them to the ground. The trailer feels more stable with the “stabilizer” jacks down.

    Rear jack

    Happy Birthday Nathan!!

  • Two biggies this weekend!

    1. Marc came over with Carol to help us celebrate Nathan’s bday and the 4th (on the 3rd). He convinced me it was safe to try the electric with an adapter off the house with an extension cord AND IT WORKED!!

    Circuit breaker Uni-volt

    That is until I actually cleaned and filled the battery, which then started charging (according to the Airstream Central Panel monitor) and shorted out leaving the 12V service out of commission, but the “convenience” sockets still worked. According to the manual its probably a bad battery (do ya’think? It had no water, was probably frozen uncharged, and is dated 1984). I need to buy an RV/Boat battery and find the fuse that blew. I tried a battery in the Control panel for the clock and it worked until I got the panel screwed back in.

    Airstream Control Center

    2. Finished the first cleaning pass today. The “Greased Lightening” is a wonderful thing. You can watch the grease bubble up and just wipe it away. I went through two bottles of it between yesterday and today. I guess it was worth breaking my boycott of Walmart to get it. Thanks to the news lists and Cay/Cindy for encouraging its use. Now I have to find the Future Floor wax. I hope Ace Hardware is still in business. (found out the local Agway carries the “Greased Lightening”, yeah!)

    Cleaned ceiling

    Almost puked cleaning the bathroom. I am sure it was just road dirt, right? The bathroom ABS plastic has no luster left. It’s stained pretty badly, but mostly intact. I am going to look into taking it apart and spray painting it.

    Shower Toiletta

    I made a list of parts to order from
    Inland RV     and started a receipt envelop for my first purchases (a mat for the entrance step ($8) and a 30amp-15amp converter ($5), and of course the “Greased Lightening” ($2.50 ea.)).

  • My “holy” floor

    I took the credensa out to be able to watch the leak and to fix the floor and in the process went right through the floor.

    Credenza out Holy floor

    Bag-o-wasp nests… the top front vent was so full that when it was cleaned out I kept thinking there was a light on since I was used to no light or air coming through. Thank heavens the wasps were dead!

    Bag-o-wasps

    Inside view of the broken window. Its only cut me twice now.

    Broken window

  • Other people’s dirt

    Started cleaning. Cleaned the kitchenette – first layer. Cleaned the road side pressed aluminum to the window. Unscrewed the gaucho, ready for removal.

    Cleaning started

    Will get visiting Nathan to help move it out for cleaning it and the wall. Cleaned the door and the buckets under the gaucho. Used “Believe It”.

  • Stinky’s be gone

    Finished pulling the rug out and made a dump run with the couch cushion, rug remains, and twin bed cushions. It already smells much better in there.

    Finished rug removal

    Our family’s new addition came to visit. Carol’s new puppy “Baxter”.

    puppy Baxter

  • The first job

    Tim visited on his way home this AM since we had no Internet or phones at work d/t to the optic fiber catching on fire. He thought she was in good shape and not as big as he had imagined. Thinks she’d be easy to tow with a 4runner.

    Cay came by after work to give her a look-see in the rain. She was surprised how big she is. Offered to help sew some curtains.

    Carol and Marc called to say they’d be over this weekend. Carol offered to help measure and prepare for replacing the cushions.

    Corey’s due home this weekend and mom will probably come up with Wayne and the kids. Leslie wants to go camping in it asap.

    Ripped up the rug in the front half.

    Ripping the rug up.

    Found two major wet spots. The one under the curb side front window is very punk.

    Floor damage

    The leak from under the stove has not caused as much damage yet.

    Kitchen leak

    Craig helped take out the cushions and I took a pic of my first bag-o-rug trash.

    Bag-o-trash

    Gonna cut out the wood in the cushions and label/save it for a template or reuse.

    Next up: Rest of the rug, mattresses out, curtains out and a dump run.