One time I saw some condensation inside after a huge snow storm. So I bought a bucket-o-dessicant that is used as a dehumidifer and it kept everything nice and dry inside after that.
Anyway, Cecil is back in my driveway to continue some of the renovations on my to-do list. The list is getting very short though. The main thing left is to replace the old Thetford dump valve so I can use the black water tank again.
Airstream used a brass Thetford valve from 1959 through 1964 that is no longer serviceable and the modern hoses and fitting don't accommodate the old fittings. The only option is replacement and in order to do that, I have to get the current one out.
Now that I have a new axle, the trailer rides about 4" higher than it did when I first got it. I also lowered the tongue a few inches and that gave me even more clearance at the rear.
Someone long ago had cut a hole in the belly pan and covered it with galvanized steel sheet metal. That will have to go but my first step will be to take it down.
I'm glad I opened this up... the drain line from the sinks has been patched and it has cracked. There was a TON of very fine silt inside the belly pan. That confirms my theory that at one point this trailer was submerged in a flood of some sort. I don't see any obvious water damage - just about 100lbs of unnecessary dirt on top of the belly pan.
At least now I can see the dump valve and what it will take to remove it. There are four slotted bolts that hold it to the brass fitting imbedded in the fiberglass tank, on the right side of the photo below.
Looking upward, the shower drain comes from the forward side - the right side of this photo. The two sinks drain into the street-side. They don't have dump valves. I could install a small gray water tank on the street side of the trailer, I suppose. But I already have a "blue boy" portable gray water tank to use if needed.
Here's a shot of the street-side and the silt inside the belly pan. Yuck.
I had to use a lot of penetrating oil and my impact driver to get the four 1/4-20 bolts holding the valve out. I got three to come out clean but the fourth broke off. So I had to drill it out and re-tap it.
Here's a tank-side view of the valve. The gate no longer moves and this valve has been stuck open - which is fine. I'd rather have that than a full tank of "stuff" to deal with. The tank is bone-dry thankfully.
Here's a shot of the tank without a valve installed. Now I have to figure out how to put a modern dump valve in place, how to make it accessible for use, and how to reconnect the shower and sink drains.
Here's the view looking up into the tank. If it wasn't so dark you'd be able to see the business end of the toilet. It's position directly above the drain hole.
I'll show you the finished project when I figure out what to do next.
