P. Vallerie's Posts - Good Old RVs2024-03-29T02:12:30ZP. Valleriehttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/PValleriehttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/356943378?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=0fe9kdr4wdjda&xn_auth=noContinued Part 2 "Ms Queen" The quest for the Ultimate Poo Poo Experiencetag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2015-11-29:2093474:BlogPost:2785572015-11-29T03:57:38.000ZP. Valleriehttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/PVallerie
<p>The Adventure of the Ultimate Poo Poo Experience – WHAAATTT - WOW!!! – I must be crazy to even consider writing about a subject like this. Having nightmarish visions of Robin Williams in the movie “RV’; opening the main dump handle for the first time, I proceeded with caution to subside my comic fears of a nasty experience. As the story unfolds; we pulled up to one of the more remote full hookup sites last summer (2014) to check out all the systems. We were close enough to town and…</p>
<p>The Adventure of the Ultimate Poo Poo Experience – WHAAATTT - WOW!!! – I must be crazy to even consider writing about a subject like this. Having nightmarish visions of Robin Williams in the movie “RV’; opening the main dump handle for the first time, I proceeded with caution to subside my comic fears of a nasty experience. As the story unfolds; we pulled up to one of the more remote full hookup sites last summer (2014) to check out all the systems. We were close enough to town and neighbors that if we ran into trouble it would not be too inconvenient to get help. Both of us were happy – hot during the day – cool at night. We cooked a wonderful dinner in the oven. I took note that the oven temperature was too hot making a boiling witches brew of our casserole. I would calibrate temperature later in the season. The hot water heater, the refrigerator and furnace worked wonderfully. All was peaceful…… We woke up the next morning and did a walk around to check that the appliances were still working and noticed a puddle under the bathroom area. CRAP!! Well, I thought to myself that’s why we are here. There was a nice level concrete pad, pressurized city water, sewer hook up and plugged into 20 Amp electrical service. It’s a much nicer setup than at home. So why not take a look at what the heck is going on. I opened the main dump from the black water tank, flushed it out and sprayed the concrete pad thoroughly. Waited – took a deep breath and crawled under the rig to take a peak. There were hairline cracks in the flange that exits the tank to main dump valve. Someone tried to fix this area in the past with JB Weld and it had failed. The main dump valve was leaky as well. Rats!!!</p>
<p>We finished out our three day stay with out incidence; keeping the valve open (it would not close) and flushed the tank with clean pressurized fresh water before we left.</p>
<p>Let the adventure begin - the quest for the Ultimate Poo Poo Experience.</p>
<p>We had one more trip on our wish list to end the season - to stay at one of our state parks with just an electric hookup.</p>
<p>BUT NOOOOOO….. I had to figure out how to fix this mess. Replacing the black water tank was out of the question. It would have been cost prohibited - a custom tank. Could have tried to locate another tank in a bone yard but the time involved searching and removing all the sprayed insulation around the tank for removal seemed like a daunting task.</p>
<p>Disconnected the main dump valve – soaked it in a mild Clorox/water solution in a bucket. Checked into replacing this “Thetford” valve; nothing - it is unique in its configuration because there is no gray water tank (the sink drain and shower drain tee into the sides of the dump valve fitting). I am going to have to rebuild this valve myself. While dismantling this thing I discovered that the brass pull rod had a broken its tip off; that’s why the valve would not shut. Oh my Goodness - what else?</p>
<p>I cinched up my boot straps - put on my super hero cap – with my decoder ring in hand we whooped this evil nasty beast.</p>
<p>First - I made a new pull rod out of stainless steel. Brass is nice, however it is soft it would fail again in time. Second - made a gasket using the mating surfaces as a pattern. Then - replaced all the rusty screws with stainless steel ones. Installed the valve back onto the tank flange with all new hose clamps and flexible rubber couplers - a little bit of clear caulk - and we are done.</p>
<p>Next - I tackled the tank flange. Sanded all the old repair material off and realized that it was much worse than expected. I discovered this plastic repair stuff three years ago while fixing a leak on a fitting on our hot tub. This stuff is awesome. “Plast-aid” a chemical heat activated adhesive/putty specially formulated for hard plastics. This stuff really works. This is not my idea of fun!!! Spending hours on my back on a gravel driveway with a respirator smashed on my face under “Ms Queen”. I slowly rebuilt the entire flange with a 3/8” thick wall of the new material. You have to work with small batches because of the cure time. Then test it. I filled the tank looking for leaks – drained it – fixed that area. Filled it again – drain it, again and again. It took numerous tries but finally I got it. It took quite a bit of time and old man winter took his grip on us. Thank god - another minute under the belly of the beast would have driven me to insanity. This was one of the most unpleasant yet satisfying tasks I have had in awhile.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Below is a shot of the final fix. The white stuff to the left is the plastic putty fix on the black water tank flange. To the right is the rebuilt main “Thetford” dump valve.</p>
<p>It is still holding strong a year later. Soooooo nice…. as I ring my hands in demented delight.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398594349?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398594349?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" height="340" width="750"></a>I spent the following winter thinking about what we needed to make a more pleasant waste (Poo Poo) experience. We like to escape to the more remote camping areas. “Ms Queen will have to be able to do it all - Full hookup, Electric only and the ultimate Dry Glamping. Being a rooky I had no clue what you really needed to do at each level. It is all an adventure. With no gray water tank and the old “leaky bucket” technique is out of the equation; we decided to “blue tank” it - a small 6.5 gallon tank would do. It was small and light enough for us to lift and dump into out houses/latrines (some of the places we go have no dumping stations). The tank is large enough to take one luxurious navy shower - positively delightful. We hook it up directly to main dump valve with a garden hose adapter. The smaller tanks have no wheels like the larger tanks. We had a collapsible dolly begging to be used. Strapped that bad boy onto the dolly and away ya go. Wait a minute….. I am not going to skip down the road a ¼ mile to dump that thing dragging it behind me.</p>
<p>NOT GOING TO HAPPEN – so one thing leads to another. I took note on our early outings that a lot of people in the parks have bicycles; what a great idea - we both love to bike. I just needed an excuse to buy a new bike. The next acquisition was under the guise of a better experience. We purchased one; not just a bike but an E-bike. “Ms Queen” needed a pair of chariots. Then you have to a special rack to carry it – but…but we have a hitch already. It just needed an accessory hanging on it. Cobbled a mounting plate together; a hook up strap and a little bit of hardware -</p>
<p>THIS IS WHAT WE ENDED UP WITH……</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398594975?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398594975?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" height="344" width="750"></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398597251?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398597251?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" height="340" width="750"></a>Couldn’t be more fun - we positively love it. Attach it and detach it - depends what needs to be done. We get a lot of looks and comments about this one - there is always a smile and a bit of laughter with every encounter. We have a side basket for the bike – take the trash out, put towels/cloths to use at the pool or shower, dump the porti toilet – to the store we go. Up, up and awaaaay….we are cruising now. This combination gives us a lot of flexibility; we are supposed to relax on the weekends. Right?</p>
<p>I was bound and determined to make this a More Pleasant Experience.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Below is the “Blue Tank”, our gray tank hooked up with a garden hose to “Ms Queen”</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398597521?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398597521?profile=original" height="297" width="465"></a>We checked off all the boxes on that list. WRONG….It was time to do the dirty - to the dumping station we shall go. Tally hoooooo. Oh noooo…. those evil demons were lurking on my shoulder. I had visions of Robin William’s character in my mind. We both watched other people with their newer rigs use the dump station earlier. Mmmm… we can do this. No problem we convinced ourselves. Really….we pulled two separate lengths of hose from the rear compartment, screwed them together, threw a mat under the rig to get on my hands and knees, put my head under the belly to hook the fitting to the dump valve. I get up and look towards the back and a line is stacking up with other rigs needing to take care of their business. I am really starting to get nervous now. We both have never done this before. I felt a little more assured that an older gentleman was giving a how to lesson to the group ladies across from us. If they can do this; we can do this. I closed my eyes and pulled the release lever. Down the shoot it went, flushed the tank and the hose. Once again I had to get on my hands and knees to take the hose off. I felt like I was in a slippery alligator pen; the hose had become a menace wrapping itself around me making it really difficult to get up. Still grinning; I was soaked with who knows what – more water than the other – most likely from the rinsing and wrestling with the hose. My dignity slightly bruised; I disconnected the two hoses and shoved them in two plastic bags. I did not want dripping poo’s on all the stuff in the rear storage compartment. Driving back home I’m thinking - there has to be a less awkward, more elegant way to do a doo doo dump. The evil “3D’s”. I am not going to do this dance again.</p>
<p>We had to reduce the time at the station and be sanitary about it. Once again - the quest for the more pleasant experience continued.</p>
<p>I purchased a 48” long hose carrier tube and installed it towards the rear under the belly of the beast. This enables us to store both hoses and its fittings together and out of the rear compartment.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Below is the long hose carrier by the rear bumper. The shorter one is repositioned under the belly for the “Blue Tote Tank“ hose.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398598242?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398598242?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" height="346" width="750"></a>Instead of crawling on my hands and knees to hook up the drain hose I installed some clear swivel fittings off of the main dump valve to the outside edge the siding. You might have to install a special “Thetford to Valterra” adapter to transition from the old to the new. We did. Oh what a relief it was; I just bend over and attach the hose with ease. Rotate it down, pull the handle and let it rip. The fittings sit about 10” from the tire and extends approx 1 ½” from the side. We attached it with a couple of metal straps. The extension sits no lower than the exhaust pipe. We’ll use it and see how road worthy it will be. In the mean time we are smiling. It has been a long journey to get to Ultimate & Pleasurable Poo Poo Experience. Ahhhhhh. No more fuss or mess. </p>
<p> Here’s a close up of the adapter and new swivel fittings. It is positioned in the up position for traveling and the swiveled downward for waste dumping. Materials used were a “Thetford to Valterra” adapter, a swivel 90 degree clear fitting, 5” long straight clear fitting, a swivel 45 degree clear fitting and a clear end cap held up with some metal plumbers strapping.</p>
<p> <a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398600713?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398600713?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" height="359" width="750"></a></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398601883?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398601883?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" height="358" width="750"></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398603853?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398603853?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" height="358" width="750"></a>The 2015 Dry Glamping experiences were relaxing, pleasurable and exciting. Always looking to improve our adventures; we finally (8 months later) were able to be un-tethered to go to places like this. It was quiet and shared the camp ground with a just a couple of neighbors for several days - without a care in the world. <a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398604755?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398604755?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" height="450" width="750"></a></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398607077?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398607077?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" height="448" width="750"></a>On a closing note; we have a standing joke between us that makes us both giggle. You know how all the cool guys have the vehicles that are “Chick Magnets” well we have the “Old Man – Grey Hair Magnet”. Everywhere we go - it does not matter if it is to the gas station, repair shop, truck stop or campground. Inevitably it attracts the good old boys. They walk up and press their noses to the side windows or slow their meandering stroll to a halt; wide eyed asking “What year 70….” Smiling all the awhile - their boyish grins – it satisfies the kid in all of us. We hold on to those memories when times were simpler, uncomplicated; filled with a nostalgic fondness for shinny big chrome, real wood and classic muscle engines. “Ms Queen” is becoming quite the Magnet; an ice breaker for meeting a lot of really neat people. We look forward to more in the future. Stay tuned for the continuing adventures. P</p>The ongoing adventures with "The Queen" - 72 Dodge Travel Queentag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2015-11-18:2093474:BlogPost:2772152015-11-18T01:22:09.000ZP. Valleriehttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/PVallerie
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Wow, the warm weather is gone with a winter blizzard bearing down on us, it's time once again to share some stories and how to's. I've decided to write several shorter blogs then one long annual one.</span><br></br> <span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">We finally got "The Queen" in better running condition and with all the added bells and whistles we had some amazing "glamping" adventures this season here in…</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Wow, the warm weather is gone with a winter blizzard bearing down on us, it's time once again to share some stories and how to's. I've decided to write several shorter blogs then one long annual one.</span><br> <span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">We finally got "The Queen" in better running condition and with all the added bells and whistles we had some amazing "glamping" adventures this season here in</span> Colorado<span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">.</span><br> <span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Being a perpetual putzer and tinker there is always room for improvement. The only way you'll find out what works for the both of you and what does not; is to use it!</span><br> <span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">I'll start with the "Oven Adventure". There will be a "Portable Solar Panel Adventure", "Awesome Refrigerator Fan Adventure" and last but not least "A Better Poo Poo Experience Adventure".</span><br> <span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">On one of our outings we wanted to use the oven to melt cheese in a noodle casserole recipe. Set the oven to 300 degrees, placed the dish in the oven and waited. Thank god we had it in a cast iron dish with a lid. It was bubbling boiling like a witches brew. The thermometer was reading 450 degrees! Holy crap, I turned it down to 200 degrees, there it stayed at 350 degrees. Well, dinner was delicious - lickidy split. However, that oven will not do for baking anything with out incinerating it. Being gluten free, we bake the majority of our stuff.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><b>What to do!</b></span><br> <span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">I went on line searching for some information on how to calibrate this oven. Not much of anything. Talked to technicians - nope - their reply was to replace it. Read and reread the original manual that came with. Nothing really matched. I concluded that the original thermostat had been replaced. Tenacity is your best friend in situations like this. There has to be a way to calibrate this little "Susie Home Maker Oven". Being 150 degrees off; is way too hot. This is not going to work for this old gal. We love our fresh baked chocolate donuts on Sunday morning with coffee...</span></p>
<p><br> <span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">I GOT IT FIGURED OUT!!! I adjusted it in within 3 to 5 degrees to the oven dial with out a lot of special tools. Here's what I did.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Here’s a shot of the stove/ oven. It is the original RV “Traveler” 3 burner oven combination.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">It is similar in most older RV kitchens.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398588190?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398588190?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="353"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Pull the knobs off the shafts. Remove the burner grates, lift & slide the top of the stove off - set it aside. Place the oven temperature knob back on. Light the pilot and turn the setting to 300 degrees. Close the door and let the oven come up to temperature (when the main burner turns itself off). Below is a shot of my little set up. I purchased a 12” X 12” by 1 inch thick pizza stone. You can use any <span style="text-decoration: underline;">non</span> glazed porous tile arrangement. Place it on the solid shelf. There has to be a gap around all the sides so the heat can rise to the upper compartment. The stone dissipates the heat evenly and prevents burning. There is 3/8” space between the grate and stone. I put a pan on the grate with an oven thermometer. Most of the baking we will do will have some sort of pan. If you go directly on the grate it does increase the temperature by 25 degrees.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398589091?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398589091?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="352"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Now comes the fun part. Open the door and peak in the oven. Read the oven thermometer. If it reading 375 – it is to hot. If it is 200 it is too low. The thermocoupler and oven thermostat senses when to release gas (propane) or shut it off depending what the dial is set at. Leave the dial set at 300 degrees. Pull it off the shaft. Place a flat screw driver in the slot of the shaft. Mine has the brown wooden handle. Be careful not to force the blade in – get the right size. The shaft is brass and will break easily. Sometimes there are two little screws towards the front of the unit. They are adjustment screws one is for the pilot and the other is for sensor bulb. I’m not going to address that configuration.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><b>Look closely at the photo below there is a little screw in the center of the shaft!</b> That is the adjustment screw to calibrate the temperature of the oven.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398591239?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398591239?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="467"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Here’s the tricky part. With a little bit of patience… Place a small flat screw driver in the slot of the center screw. Hold the brown screw driver firm and in place preventing the shaft from turning while you turn the little center screw either to right (clock wise) or to the left (counter clock wise). Well - which way does what?? Clockwise reduces the amount of gas therefore decreases the temperature. Counter clockwise increases the amount of gas therefore increases the temperature. Turn the screw in small increments. If the thermometer in the oven is reading high open the door and let the heat out until the main burner comes on. Close it until the burner goes off. Take a reading. Make another adjustment. Put the dial back on the shaft make sure it is set at 300. Repeat these steps until you’re within 25 degrees of one another. The final tweek is ever so slight. Listen for a faint hiss of gas being released in the oven after a gentle super small turn of the center screw. Let the main burner come on and cycle off and on. Checking the oven thermometer if it is maintaining a constant 300 degrees. If your happy with your adjustment lower the temperature on the dial to 200. Check if it maintaining a constant temperature. Do the same at 400 degrees. Voila!!! Put everything back together and turn it off.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">I had to do a full turn and a quarter to get the temperature where it needed to be.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">I hope this helps for some of our members to get those funky ovens to work just a little better.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398592364?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398592364?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="403"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">I was thrilled!! The next day we took the plunge. We baked a beautiful carrot cake @ 350 degrees in a 8 x 8 cake pan to perfection. It was so good. I look forward to those chocolate donuts on Sunday morning next “glamping” season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Here's a quick funny cooking story. Our last outing we wanted one of our favorite dinners. Shrimp, artichoke hearts and capers sauted in lemon garlic sauce. Put everything in the CAST IRON SKILLET. Lot's of lemon juice in the skillet. Slowly everthing turned gray. Oh no!!! It tasted fine just looked ugly. Rats. My better half look up at me and screamed in horror. Jump up from the table to the bathroom. She was totally insensed. She was brushing her lips and tonque with the toothbush. At this point I am laughing so hard. What are you doing? Trying to get the black off of my tonque and lips. Look at yourself. By then tears are rolling down my cheeks. We both had black teeth, tongues and lips. What a sight!!! We decided not to venture outside and watched a movie hoping that in the morning everthing would be back to normal. It was. Lesson learned. Do not put lemon juice in a cast iron skillet. It acts as a mild acid and leached iron into the food. By consuming it - we looked pretty silly. We got our vitimans for the day. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Stay tuned for the next adventure. P.</span></p>72 Dodge Travel Queen - Its coming alivetag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2015-02-26:2093474:BlogPost:1962932015-02-26T00:54:48.000ZP. Valleriehttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/PVallerie
<p>F<strong>OR 2014 BLOG SCROLL DOWN</strong><br></br> <span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Finally.... found enough time & nerve to start a blog about this old gal. Took on this project in November 2012 and have not looked back since. First year rebuilt driver side of the camper (see our video - Camper Restoration PUBLIC_0001) and during the summer months finished three of the exterior sides. With a little fiberglass repair, sanding and 6 coats of marine based paint the…</span></p>
<p>F<strong>OR 2014 BLOG SCROLL DOWN</strong><br> <span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Finally.... found enough time & nerve to start a blog about this old gal. Took on this project in November 2012 and have not looked back since. First year rebuilt driver side of the camper (see our video - Camper Restoration PUBLIC_0001) and during the summer months finished three of the exterior sides. With a little fiberglass repair, sanding and 6 coats of marine based paint the verticle sides came to life. The original colors were an ivory base coat with a brown faux wood grain stripes. The sandstone base with burgandy acccents <span>(stripes and bumper, window eyebrow & fender) </span>gives it a clean linear mimicking olde time flavor with an updated apperance. A little touch of jazz. After standing back to take a look at our work we realized that it darn near matches the house. We did not intentionally do this, it just happened - it works.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398581865?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398581865?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="440"></a></span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398582939?profile=original" target="_self" style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398582939?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="444"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Spent hours stripping the curved part of the roof. The previous owners brush painted right over the nasty mold with no prep. It looked like crap. We found some really cool vinyl looking <span>texture</span> under all those layers of paint. Did some putty repair in the areas that needed it. Wiped everything down and gave it an industrial primer seal & finish coat of color matched sandstone gloss. Maybe this fall I put a new coat of white liquid roof on the center roof panels. Now that I completed the roof repairs; the drainage flows correctlly.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Just a quick shot of the original exterior with repair complete. Getting ready to paint</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398585935?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398585935?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="562"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a close up of some of the cool </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">texture we found under all those layers of paint. Small section in the upper right hand corner by the green tape.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398588165?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398588165?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="446"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">We intalled a new escape hatch that is located towards the front cab. It was cracked, missing some of the seals & leaked. The original install was very creative yet flawed in design. All better now!!! The rear fiberglass storage compartment was all crazed and chalky from years of no maintenance. My better half did a great job of spraying a new layer of gelcoat (her first time). It was pretty tricky getting an exact color match to match the other two paint colors. Its not perfect but looks great. I think we'll leave it <span>textured</span> (no smooth gloss finish). It matches the upper section quite nicely. We are both pleased & the neighbors just get a kick out of it. No more white bread box.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Started working on the heavy mechanics during the winter of 2013 thru 2014. We are rebuilding the entire front end (almost done). Brakes, supension, steering, shocks, ball joints. All the rubber was dried out with a lot of free play in the steering. We found some rubbing on the chassis; come to find out that during its life time some mechanic installed the wrong tie rod on the passenger side. MMMMM.....</span><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Should float down the road with no more clunking and metal screaches. While we were waiting for parts to dry; we rebuilt the carburator. We gave the intake manifold and valve covers a new coat of high temp engine paint. Its not chrysler blue but I like the light blue color much better.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">This is the orginal shot of the engine when we pulled it into our driveway. Not too bad...</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398589079?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398589079?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="336"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">This view is with the valve covers off. After degreasing to find the surfaces....</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398591175?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398591175?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="338"></a>To this. Most everything removed, masked and painted. it shines</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398592434?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398592434?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="337"></a>Then to this</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398592645?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398592645?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="337"></a><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a quicky with the air filter on</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398592881?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398592881?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="337"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This is going to be choppy in the sequence of events since we've been working on this for almost a 1 1/2 yrs. During the spring of 2013 we completely rebuilt the water system in the coach. It was quite on undertaking. Replaced the water pump, had an one inch crack in the hot water tank rewelded, all hot and copper cold water lines we ripped out and replaced.They were split and spewing ancient gooey antifreeze everywhere. What a mess!! The biggest improvement was adding two port holes to clean and maintain the main cold water tank. I found the information on line and decided to try it. Wow! what a difference. We would have died if we tried to drink the water in the H2O tank before we restored it. Nasty. <span> Painted and insulated both sides of the dinette seat compartments as well as under the sink.We</span> ended up rebrazing and rebuilding the main valve to the bathroom since we most likely would never find a replacement part for the fold up toilet, sink & shower combination.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Down right nasty, scum inside. How to clean it out??</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398594712?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398594712?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="363"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398594931?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398594931?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="365"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I added two 6" clear marine ports to get access to the interior of the tank. I am going to put together another blog in the future on the sequence how to do this upgrade. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398597575?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398597575?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="367"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Tank is now cleaned, sanitized and installed in its newly painted insulated compartment</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398598510?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398598510?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="352"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I found this in my archive folder. The new pump & insulated compartment. It took some time to prime, paint, water seal then insulate but I think our effort will be well worth it since we like to camp in cooler temperatures.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398600423?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398600423?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="357"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I got to thinking what was I doing last winter (2013) during the sub zero snowy months.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Ahhhh... TROPICAL.... wishing we was someplace warm, beaches, palm trees...</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">To </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">satisfy my itch I sewed new roll up interior blinds out of exterior canvas for the windows. Something fun and bright that match the original color scheme. We upgraded all the interior lights in the coach with LED's and had new plastic lens covers made <span>at out local plastic shop. T</span>hey were all discolored & cracked from the heat of the old bulbs. LED's run much cooler and won't draw your battery down as quickly; some black pinstriping & voila!!!!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398600777?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398600777?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="350"></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Old cover below. New cover above over the sink with the new blinds.</span></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398601939?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398601939?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="350"></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Crawled out to breathe from another exiciting weekend of degreasing, acid etching and more painting. Note the tone of sarcasm. Yicks I don't think this will ever end. Seriously... we are coming along slowly between the bitter cold and snow; rebuilding the "Queen's" front end. Thank God for my mechanic friend Eric and his patience. With three pairs of eyes we have been succesful on locating all the parts, dismantling and reassembling so far. I am so glad that we decided to do a complete rebuild because we have discovered some disturbing things that past mechanics attemped to do. We would have had a hair raising experience trying to come down the mountains here in Colorado if we had not throughly gone through all the mechanical systems. Growing up in a family that owned a major transportaion company; my grandfathers and uncles distant advise rings in my mind still to this day. Make sure you can stop, steer and always have a good pair of sneakers (tires). We discovered that the passenger side had a wrong tie rod and two of the springs were broken, one spring was missing and the adjustment plate missing on the brakes. WOW!! That's a recipie for disaster. No wonder it was pulling to the right. My advise - take the time to check all brake and suspension components before any long trips. Be safe.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Rear plate, upper and lower arms not in too bad of shape. No major pitting or bending. Just yucky.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398603738?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398603738?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="328"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398604042?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398604042?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="327"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Starting to assemble painted components with new supension parts. It's just like christmas. A long awaited suprise.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398605041?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398605041?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="335"></a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398607149?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398607149?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="333"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">We are not finished yet. Hopefully in the month of March or April we can drive it back into town and have an alignment done and a new exhaust system installed. It's all about flow!!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>2015 - Almost to the date a year ago; I stopped chronicling.</strong> A lot has happened restoring the “Queen”. She has taken on her own persona; an entity in itself. Evil at times, beckons our time, demands our allegiance and graces us with her presence….. she grins as she glistens in the sunlight. There are stories within stories, slowly but surely the journey of rebuilding this olde gal twists and turns to her final glory……….</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Back to reality!! I think this project is one of those on going saga’s that requires perpetual putzing. It’s certainly not a one year project.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Let’s start where I left off. While rebuilding the front end I was hopeful that the Queen would be back home by the early spring. That didn’t happen. It wasn’t until early June that she landed in the driveway.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Between the lack of ability with the folks in the part store to order the correct parts (my “fix it” friend insisted on using) and his procrastination to finish the front end, brakes, carb and 2 seals that we agreed on. It took longer than expected.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">In the interim I was able to paint all the wheel rims, drain all the gas out of 3 tanks and pull both the auxiliary gas tanks for rehabilitation. The gas itself was the worst smelling crap I have ever encountered. I had them both boiled cleaned at a local radiator shop. One tank I have been able to restore with a new liner and a fresh coat of paint on the outside. No leaks. Hooked it up with new stainless steel distribution lines, rubber and shut off valve. Not too shabby.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Both fenders repaired and painted. Wheel rims nice and snazzy</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398607935?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398607935?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="323"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">The other tank is like swiss cheese. Worked on it for a bit then I set it aside to work on later. I am not sure if I will be to save it. The gas sat in the bottom of that one for too many years.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">One more strap to attach and away we go</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398609693?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398609693?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="330"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">During this time the dinette cushions where being remade at the upholsterers. It took a month before they could begin our project but well worth the wait and money. We chose the densest and thickest foam that worked beautifully in that space. I wanted them to be covered in an auto vinyl to mimic cushions in a boat with the different colored beading, easy cleaning, and be super comfortable for seating/sleeping. We kept with light neutral colors to be similar to the original cushions.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Bring on the beach – here we come.</span></p>
<p>Cozy & Comfy</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398611250?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398611250?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="326"></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398613378?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398613378?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="322"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">What broke the camels back? It was almost June and our friend can not get the brakes to work right. He says "I've done hundreds of brake jobs - it doesn't make sense. I just don't get what's wrong." Well.... enough is enough. Both sides were done with the arrangement. My better half says is it drivable to get it down the road. Yup. He drove it and parked it in our driveway. We squared up on the agreed price and parted our ways. All of us learned alot and really concentrated on some of the mechanicals and more cosmetics. It was a 75% a good experience but that 25% was really madenning, beyond frustrating. If I had to do it again. Yes, with some different approaches.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Why did the brakes not work right??? Mmm. I really did not want to learn about the brakes on this beast but we had to. We were not going anywhere even to drive it into town (12 miles down the road) to have a real mechanic repair these. So I crawled underneath and that is when I turned into raving maniac!!! My head started spinning around. I have not been that angry in years!!! What I found was unbelievable. There was a whole host of issues that we worked through in the months of June and July with 100 degree heat it just fried our brains. He bleed the brakes fluid all over my nicely painted wheel rims!! You got be kidding me. I found a pin hole in one of the rear brake lines that we did not replace at first. No wonder the brakes wouln't come to pressure unless they were pressed to the floor. Installed a new one. Replaced the brake master cylinder again with the RIGHT one. Now we have even pressure to each side of the brakes. What I couldn't grasp was the fact we left the original repair manual to fix these things. The repair manual itself is excellent with notes from previous mechanics. Anyways, the beat goes on. The springs on the shoes where put on the wrong side even though clearly stamped "L & R". Wow! Everything said and done and several scary test drives we took it as a good learning opportunity. We now know how to change our tires - had to purchase a good tire iron & made a cheater bar which we keep on board. Learned how to bench bleed a master cylinder correctly and bleed brake lines correctly without getting fluid all over freshly painted parts. And of coarse had to acquire a few more tools to add to our collection. We drove it into town - had 2 new matching front tires installed, a good spare tire, and had the alignment checked. Voila six months later and half the summer gone we have a clean bill of health.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">This strange little box off to the right hand side of the steering column is a cruise control. We both looked at each other and decided this thing has to go. Neither one of us would have been willing to drive long distances with that thing. It was half disconnected and didn't work anyways. Out the window it goes. I did use the knob on it for the Frankenstien electrical panel. In its place we put a tach meter on the column to help us tune the carburetor. Thank god we did this. It wasn't running quite right when we got her home. We threw on a timing light - adjusted that. Tweaked the carb by ear and with the visual RPM meter we got her purring like a kitten.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398614007?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398614007?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="320"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">My goal was to do a couple of dry camping runs in the fall. That never happened. The first item that needed attention was the old single stage converter/single stage battery charger got replaced with a smarter multi stage charger. I really did not want to cook my new house battery.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398615281?profile=original" target="_self" style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398615281?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="319"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><span>Saved a few bucks b</span>y reusing the distibution board that was a part of the old converter. I installed it on the side wall by the converter and made a safety cover to protect the board (not shown). It works great!!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398616151?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398616151?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="318"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Bought a single simple 12 volt deep cycle battery. Might rebuild compartment in the future a little larger with a slide tray for easy access for maintenace.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398618508?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398618508?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="319"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Here is some really scary fiberglass roof repair to fix a leak and to take out a buckle in the roof that was causing puddling. I felt like a surgeon cutting open a chest cavity.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398619807?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398619807?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="322"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">While I was playing surgeon I had to install a new emergency exit vent. The original was all cracked and leaking. By increasing the height with a slight modification to the original fiberglass flange it is now water tight.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398622346?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398622346?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="322"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Lower panel primed and painted with base color. Masking layout its ready for the burgandy stripes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398624243?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398624243?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="318"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">We decided to be safe on our first maiden voyage.; kept close to home to try out all the hook ups, appliances and widget gagets. We went to our local KOA that is about 12 miles away. Not far. My 80 year old mother was visiting from</span> <span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Connecticut</span> <span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">and was game for taking her out with us on our first adventure. Truly a maiden voyage. We strapped her in the front passenger seat, closed the door. She says "Aren't you coming". My reply "No I am going to follow with the car; just in case" She panicked and wants to drive with me. I was insistent that she be the co pilot: I followed right behind. We had a great time. Three adults in that little rig really worked great. She was amazed how cozy yet roomy, she could stand up in the cabin and how everything worked. She said “This is certainly not like our boats we grew up in. I hated cooking in that galley when you were kids. This kitchen is really nice. You got everything" I remember those moments as a kid. What fun we had. It was all the food preparation she did working out of ice coolers. The cramped quarters she had to maneuver in just to heat water for a cup of coffee. Doing dishes in a bucket of water. This was like a castle. We did find a couple of things that still needed attention. Over all we were happy.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398625384?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398625384?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="316"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">The kitchen needed to be outfitted more to our liking and suggestions from Mom. I made a small magnetic knife holder (left side wall above the back of stove), added two small spice racks (back wall of stove) and a custom undercabinet wine glass holder (upper right).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398627235?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398627235?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="313"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Painted the polar white entrance and battery door. Tones them down so they don't stand out as much. I pushed myself to installed the last eyebow over the entrance door and painted the roof vent covers before the first snow.<span>The furnace burners were thoughly cleaned and work beautifully. </span>Quickly added a insect screen over the furnace opening to keep the little critters out. Now I am ready for the snow.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398628289?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398628289?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="314"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">One of the major projects I wanted to get done was the coach electrical gadgetry. We wanted a small entertainment center towards the back dinette. This was a little pricey between the cost of the TV, articulating arm and antenna. We occasionally like to watch a video, catch the weather station, listen to a lot of music and to be able to sync up our other electronic gadgets. We chose a Majestic 12 volt 21" TV. Great choice. It has everything we were looking for; other than Bluetooth. It has such a low amp draw (1.6 amps) we run it all day long without having to charge the battery. Well built. The Australians have it together when it comes to 12 volt technology.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Here's a photo of it almost completely installed.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398630237?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398630237?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="320"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Measured, drilled some holes and cut an opening in the refigerator ventalation area. Ran the cables and wires through this open access area. </span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398631295?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398631295?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="316"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Made a custom cover plate. It took three different plates but I finally got the layout I was looking for. A 12 volt outlet, antenna connection and a power switch to turn the ciruit on or off. The switch eliminates the phantom load when we are not using it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398634249?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398634249?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="325"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Next I wanted to monitor our house battery from inside the cabin vs running around with hand held meters. It was a little tricky, it drove me crazy that I started out with a defective Amp meter. There is an Amp meter, Volt meter, Power switch for the Volt meter, Fuse holder for the meter lights, switch for the meter lights and an additional switch for the refrigerator exhaust fans (fans and thermo switch are not installed yet). It all got done and are working fantastic.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398635340?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398635340?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="324"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">The little meter panel reminds me of the huge laboratory panels in a 1930 Frankenstein monster movie. Or is it a lopsided raggie anne doll? One square button and one round button for the eyes. </span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398638213?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398638213?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="326"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">While doing some of this electrical work I came across a really scary upgrade that one of the past owners did. </span><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">They used lamp wire, no in line fuse, non insulated terminals that are all frayed and were touching the side of the chewed out access hole. Please take the time and inspect your wiring. Fix it right. Be safe.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398639228?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398639228?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="328"></a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">I am pleased with our cluster of widget gadets.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Here are a few things that I learned; being a rookie to all this. The following are things that I did that made me laugh at myself that I am willing to share.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">1. Remove the new drain hose from the dump valve before moving the vehicle. Even if it only 6 inches. I smooched the hose flat.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">2. Always have a water regulator on the garden hose that is attached to the city water fitting while testing the water system. The pressure blew the fitting off an interior hose and filled the inside with water. Did not know what was happening until the water came gushing out the bottom of the rig.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">3. Do not put your face in front of the little access hole on the furnace while blowing the burners with compressed air. I went into the house and my entire face was cover with crap. Thank god I were glasses. When I took those off to see. I realized I looked like little black sambo.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">4. Always wear a belt while standing on a ladder and your hands are full of paint. My pants had fallen down to the point my crack was showing itself with paint all over my ass. The neighbor lady is knocking on her window pointing and laughing to pull my pants up.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">My point is always "crack a smile" when things are not going your way.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">I'm gonna finish this blog and start an new one next year.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-4"><strong><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">To continue with the adventures "The Queen"</span></strong></span></p>Installing Inspection Ports in Water Tanktag:goodoldrvs.ning.com,2014-03-01:2093474:BlogPost:2006752014-03-01T23:30:00.000ZP. Valleriehttps://goodoldrvs.ning.com/profile/PVallerie
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">I decided <span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">to write a short how to blog instead of a film strip. People can take their time to read and look at the photo's at their own speed. In the spring of 2013 I started working on the water system in "The Queen". The fresh water tank was just gross. The price for a new one was a little steep. So I figured if I screw it up I'll buy a new one. If I can make it work I'll save…</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">I decided <span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">to write a short how to blog instead of a film strip. People can take their time to read and look at the photo's at their own speed. In the spring of 2013 I started working on the water system in "The Queen". The fresh water tank was just gross. The price for a new one was a little steep. So I figured if I screw it up I'll buy a new one. If I can make it work I'll save myself a couple hundred $$. So why not give it a whirl. My question to myself was how can I clean the scum out of the tank. I started exploring the internet and came across an interesting article that this one fellow did. Ingenious I thought. How can I improve this idea to fit my application. Here is a link to his how to article.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/14222886/print/true.cfm">http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/14222886/print/true.cfm</a></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">I detached all the fittings and hookups and removed the tank out of the dinette compartment</span></span><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">. Rinsed it, sloshed it around with some bleach and let it drain. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">This is the tank with the scum in it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398615083?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398615083?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="349"></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Items that you will need to purchase:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">1 or 2 - Beckson Screw Type smooth 6 inch clear center - white deck inspection ports</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">I purchased mine from Defender (P/N DP60-W-C) @ $17.00 each.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">6 - stainless steel pan head sheet metal screws for each port from your local hardware store</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><span>(I think they were #12 x 1/2" that came with each port) Check the size before purchase</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">1 or 2 - small poly cutting boards. They are 1/4" thick. I bought mine at Wally World for $1.50 ea.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">1 - tube of marine grade or 100% white or clear silicone caulk $6.00 from hardware store</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Required tools:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Jig saw, scribe, drill with 3 different size drill bits, black marker, file, heat source, utility knife & alot of guts</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398615333?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398615333?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="376"></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Unscrew the clear center plate and place it on the tank where you would like it. Be sure to give yourself plenty of clearance from any fittings and as far away from the edges as possible. Think about how <strong>not</strong> to compromise the structural integrity of the tank. You want as much meat (structure) from the edges of the tank as possible. Mark the inside diameter of the inpection port. Find the center of the diameter and scribe a 4 1/2" diameter circle. Check again.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>Take a deep breath.</strong> Use a jig saw with a fine tooth blade and slowly cut the hole or holes out. Leave the line. Marker will come off later. Check your fit. Use a file clean up the roundness of the hole then a utility knife to get the majority of the fuzzies off. I used a cigarette lighter and <span style="color: #000000;"><strong>quickly</strong> melt the fuzzies from the edge then burnish the edges smooth with a spoon or something metal. Check your fit of the hole to your top port ring.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><span style="color: #000000;">These aren't the clearest shots. That is all that I have. It gives ya a good idea. That thick black line on the inside of the tank is the nasty scum. Now I was able to scrap and scrubthe crap out of it. Whoohoo!!</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398616282?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398616282?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="339"></a></span></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398618478?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398618478?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="339"></a></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">The next step is to fabricate the lower inside mounting ring. This ring really stiffened everything up and is used as a backplate that the screws go into. Take the inpection port and place it on one of the cutting boards. Mark the interior diameter ( 4 1/2") and outside diameter ( 6 1/8") of the ring. Add 1/8" to the outside diameter and inside diameter with a scribe. This will componsate for the blade thickness when cutting the ring in half it will fit inside of the tank hole. Mark a the center line to cut in half. Check your measurements. <strong>Take a deep breath</strong>. Cut the piece out using a jig saw. Leave the lines. Clean up the edges with a file and heat source. I used the flame from a gas stove. Worked great! <strong>Not to much heat.</strong></span><strong><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><br></span></strong></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Cut the outside diameter first.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398619527?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398619527?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="339"></a></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Then the inside Diameter</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398621368?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398621368?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="340"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Yes I use the kitchen table for my winter projects. Thank God my better half is use to this.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398621796?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398621796?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="341"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Shot of the finished inside mounting ring. Checking the fit up on both pieces inside the tank. With the top ring in the hole. Make sure the the center seam is nice and snug to eachother.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398621940?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398621940?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="340"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Now we are ready to start adding the additional holes in both the top port ring and bottom ring. First clamp everything together. The ports come with 6 holes that are predrilled. I marked from center to center the of the original holes and added 6 more in the outer plate. I wanted more stiffness and no leaks. First counter bore with a brad tip drill or fostener bit for the head of the screw then a smaller hole <strong>almost</strong> through the inside mounting plate. Use the original hole to gauge what size holes are needed to be drilled.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398624285?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398624285?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="338"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398625250?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398625250?profile=original" target="_self"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398625250?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398625250?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="338"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Mark the pieces so they can be put back <strong>exactly</strong> how they were when you where drilling the holes. <span>Wipe all the surfaces clean that will have caulk on them with rubbing alcohol. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Let them dry. Put a nice bead of caulk along the inside ring of the top port plate.</span><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"> Be sure to get some in the mating surface of the screw holes. Place the port ring back in the tank hole. </span><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Now it is time to get messy! Put a generous amount of caulk on the mating surfaces of the lower interior ring. Do one side at a time. Line up the holes and clamp together. This is a little tricky. I used toothpicks to align the holes to one another. Attach the plate together with stainless steel screws. Do one screw first check to see if it protruding through the interior ring. If it is grind the screw down or use a shorter screw. All the screws will have to be modified alittle if that is the case. I had to grind mine about two threads.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398625501?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398625501?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="340"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Voila!!! One done one more to go.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398627287?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398627287?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="339"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Screw in the clear center plates and tighten. There is a gasket that seals it water tight.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">The gasket can be replaced when it gets old and tired.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398628287?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/398628287?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full" height="333"></a></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">After I installed the tank back in the compartment; I found that when filling it up with water it became easier. We could see what was going on. We can get a quick visual of how much water we have left before we need to fill it up. Winterizing has become easier. I can use a little hand pump to get that last inch of water out with no problems. Wipe it dry with a towel. Clean out any nastys that want to hitch hike with us. If I every have to buy a new tank in the future I will install these ports in it. I hope this is helpful. Proceed at your own risk and with caution. </span></p>