Tag Archives: Airstream

Trailer marker lights

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As I write this, we are coming back from our East Coast fall colors trip, but that is for the next blog entry.

Before leaving, I knew that my umbilical connector was not making great contact. I would get notifications in the truck that the trailer was disconnected but would immediately reconnect. I figured I should look at the connector itself. Here it is:

Just a bit of corrosion there. I don’t know how many years it has been since I replaced it but now was the time to do so.

This connector controls all the electrical (12v) that feeds back to the trailer when traveling (lights, brakes, charging). However, it does not control the next item I needed to fix. The last time we were in Texas, we had to get the trailer inspected as it is part of the registration process. The inspector passed the marker lights on the trailer but said I needed to get them fixed. On our east coast trip, we expected to pass through Texas on the way home and I might get an inspection going there, so I wanted to be ready.

Here is what they looked like:

Still functional, but barely. I have replaced one in the past and learned from that one so I attacked 5 of them this time.

Let’s start with an old one:

Take a small screwdriver and pry up the front and back ends. There are two clips at each end that will separate the bezel from the base.

You can see the Vulkem that Airstream used to seal the hole. Two wires are connecting under the skin. We have to cut those but NOT lose them inside the trailer. We also need to use some butt connectors to connect the new wires from the new lights. Two screws to remove the base and gasket from the trailer.

Time to clean up the area and prep a new light and its components. Here are the parts, the light itself, a chromed base, and a gasket.

The gasket goes right on the trailer, the chrome base on top of that and the light (bezel) tops it all off. Remember that we have to use some butt connectors to attach the new wires to the existing ones. The butt connectors are not really flush and the gasket is pretty thick. We have to make space. I put some relief cuts on the gasket and removed material in the center to accommodate the space the butt connectors will take up.

Now we assemble the layers. Run the wires from the trailer, through the gasket and attach butt connectors

Run the new connectors through the chrome base and attach them to the new wires on the new light.

Secure the base with the screws.

Now we just snap the light onto the base at the front and back.

Now do 4 more! Here is how they look when new!

Let’s hope they pass inspection!

A change in the paradigm!

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Paradigm

noun

  1. 1.a typical example or pattern of something; a model.”there is a new paradigm for public art in this country”

When I was working, the word ‘paradigm’ was always bandied around. Paradigm this, paradigm that. Therefore I could not resist it here!

Our last update had us put in an offer on a place near Kingman, AZ. The offer was accepted and as of this writing, escrow has closed and we own the property.

It is our ‘change in the paradigm’. We currently own two homes but we will head back to California and take care of that in due time. If anyone wants a decently priced home, with RV parking, in Visalia CA, let us know, quickly!

Escrow takes, what seems to be, a long time. Lots of things to supply, things to sign, trying to make everyone happy. Exhausting!

The last time we were here in Kingman, Roxie found a Razr side-by-side for sale and we ended up buying it. The seller was gracious enough to hold it for us until we closed, supply numerous spare parts AND deliver it! Service above and beyond the call of duty.

We came back to Arizona to be local for paper signing and checking on the property, etc. We stayed just 3 miles down the road from the property. One of the issues that arose was the septic tank had cracked on top and needed to be replaced before the sale. The sellers took care of this although they didn’t legally have to. There was one issue that arose in that the septic guy could not find the same size tank and they had to put in a bigger tank. That works.

The closing date waffled from the Friday before, to the Tuesday after MLK’s holiday. Push and pull. It ended up finally closing on Friday. Now we can start doing some minor repairs, enhancements, etc. Putting on a full security system, I added a 50amp RV connection so we are able to stay on the property. We have some quotes to fence in the front and replace all the flooring. We will be getting those things done soon.

Here is the house all lit up at night:

It has been 50 years since I personally have lived in a mobile home so there are some things to get used to, especially doing repairs.

At this location we have 2.35 acres of land, the mobile home is, ironically, larger than our house in California (so much for downsizing). One of the benefits of extra land, aside from a buffer, is there is a LOT of room for RVs. We might join Boondocker’s Welcome to help out others. Any of our friends with RV’s, please stop by if you need a stopover passing through. We can even supply some rudimentary hookups.

We also have 3 bedrooms that will not be fully utilized. We will set them up with beds so we have room for our non-RV friends.

Off we go on yet another new adventure!