Random Thoughts in My Head

Short story, bought an RV sort of “on a whim” late last summer, had the brakes fixed then parked it for the winter. Just getting around to finally trying to figure out how everything works since I’ve never even been a passenger in a RV, much less the person responsible for getting everything working.

I got the other major systems running, now I am just trying to get water flowing, then I’ll look at the water heater…..

I’ve put water in the water tank (photo below, I’ve only got one and I’m not clear how much it holds) until water drained out the bottom, so I think that means it’s full. It didn’t take very long though (as compared to filling the 5 gallon Aqua-tainers I usually take camping, this process seemed really fast) so I’m wondering if it had water in it that sat all winter and might still be frozen?

I’ve turned on the compressor and waited at least 10 minutes for it to build pressure. Nothing is coming out of the sinks, although I can see that there is some water in the tubes that come from the water tank. I also see SOMETHING (hopefully not ice, but the idea of anything else seems even worse) in the tube right under the oven (the line between the kitchen sink and the back of the coach) which makes me think it is plugged and I’ll need to pull it apart to get that stuff out (photo below).

I’m also thinking I need to bleach my system, but I’m not sure how to get the bleach into the system since I filled it with a hose (pressure fill, I think this is called). Is the cap above it that seems to be a (most likely non-functional) pressure gauge supposed to come off for filling with a bucket (gravity fed)? It’s on there super tight and I’m having trouble unscrewing it. It could be stuck on from age but I want to be sure before I break it trying to get it off….

How to put the water into the tank. Frozen open.

Original steel water tank that are about 43 years old. Plan to replace it.

Probably ice in the lines. It disappeared eventually….

I bought a 1973 D18 Brave at the end of last summer, sort of on a whim, for a great deal at $2k.  The interior had been repainted white and the most of the old rug/floor in the coach had been replaced or covered with linoleum.  The roof had been painted with some kind of sealant and the RV seem like it was structurally in good shape, had no “funky old RV smell” to it and the engine worked.   The brakes were massively ‘iffy’ and the steering seemed loose, but those were thing I could get fixed.  Before putting it up for the winter I did get $2,500 in work done (in two places, but that’s a rant for another day!) on the brakes and other things that make it safe to drive.  I’d have to pull the receipt out to itemize it all, but suffice it to say, by the time I parked it for the winter the RV “started and and stopped” without me fearing about playing bumper cars on the highway.

The previous owner was using it as a “driveable tent” but has said that all the things worked (propane, stove, fridge, water, etc) except the shower when he bought it, but they never used those amenities and I neglected to ask about how to use them so now I’m fumbling trying to figure out how to get my RV ready for summer use.

I’ve got into an an awesome Classic Winnebago and Vintage Rvs forum and I’ve got a lot of help on the things I’m trying to get working.  So far in just a week I’ve figured out how to:
1) turn on the propane
2) light the stove burners and the oven pilot
3) light the fridge pilot
4) light the furnace pilot and make the furnace work when there is shore* power to the coach
5) make the interior light work (understanding how to switch from AUX/Generator/shore power)

* shore power refers to plugging the RV into city electricity.  I still need to figure out AUX battery power for boon-docking as well as generator power for limited use during boon-docking.

I’m in the process of replacing the propane regulator and hoses as well as fixing the battery bay since there is some funky stuff going on there.

Here are a few photos of the RV as it stands now.  Also, I’ve got a paint scheme cooked up once I fix the window screens (and then come up with the extra funds for something as frivolous as paint themes) to make the RV looks like a R2-D2, hence the Winn-E-D2 (or R2-bago?)

1973 Winnebago Brave D18

1973 Winnebago Brave D18

1973 Winnebago Brave D18

Interior, while working on power and furnace stuff.

Dining area, while working on power and furnace stuff. One of the things I’m planning to do is cut the backrest on the seat close to the steps and install a piano hinge so that this “bed” will accommodate a full-grown person since right now it only fits someone who is about five feet tall.

Previous owner recovered all coach upholstery and re-did the floors (just dirty due to leaves!)

No shower-floor liner, but that’s okay since I’ll likely just use this space for storage anyway!

Bathroom in pretty good condition. No idea if water runs or toilet works yet though….

Need to fix that screen or the mosquitoes will EAT US ALIVE in Denali this summer!

This area has the most original stuff in it. The dash has some broken elements I need to track down, including dash heat. Driving this thing back and forth from Fairbanks to North Pole to store at my friend house then bring it home, without heat was brutal. It took over an hour for my toes to get feeling again!