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Robert Gill:
The holding tank cover is a simple rectangular galvanized
sheet metal container that encloses the holding tank. It's finished depth
should be approximately 6 1/2". The exact height measurement should allow
the tank cover to sit on a pair of 1 1/4" (I upgraded mine to 1 1/2") angle iron
braces that span the frame rails across the front and rear lower edges of the
tank. The angle iron braces rest on the skid rails attached along the
bottom of each rear frame rail. When resting on the angle iron
braces, the tank cover should fit snugly against the bottom of the rear
compartment floor. The angle iron supports were apparently introduced in
'65 or '66 because they were not installed on two listee's '64 trailers but are
present on my '66 Safari and on later years. The top 1/2" to 3/4" of the
tank cover sheet metal should be bent outward 90 degrees from the vertical to
form a perimeter flange which seals against the bottom of the rear compartment
floor and can include a strip of RV caulk or bead of tube caulk. The
width and length of the tank cover should be at least 1" greater than the tank
which allows room for 1/2" or 1" of styrofoam insulation surrounding the
tank. If I remember correctly, the measurements from outer edge of the
mounting flange to opposite outer edge were 53 1/2" wide and 26" long. The
factory originally installed a molded, tapered styrofoam base in the bottom of
the tank cover to provide support for the tapered bottom of the holding
tank. The tank cover's maximum dimensions are defined by the frame rails
on each side of the trailer, a stamped steel crossmember at the front, and the
"C" channel across the rear frame rails that the body skin is bolted and riveted
to. To retain the heated holding tank feature originally provided by
Airstream, you will need to cut out a slot in the right side of the long front
side of the tank cover to permit the heat duct that
should pass through the stamped steel cross member directly in front
of the tank space to slip in so that when the furnace runs, warm air will be
ducted into the tank cover.
I hope this makes sense. If it doesn't I'll try to
clarify my description. I'm not a technical writer so am not sure this
paints the mental picture I'm striving for.
Harvey
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