[VAL] Copper Plumbing

[<spectrumnc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I ususally lurk and read the posts here, but I have some experience with this 
one, as I am currently in the process of re-plumbing our entire '66 GT. When 
I bought this thing, it had about 15 patched lines (with flex hose and clamps), 
and I had to repair at least one leak every time we took it out.. Somone in 
the past had also tried to "flare" the 1/2" fitting with little success. I 
asked my master plumber father in law about it, he said he had never seen the 
5/8" pipe size, he too thought it may be a refridgeration tube. Wonder if 
this was another "proprietary" Airstream deal to drive folks to the dealer 
for parts, like the sewer hookups?  Went to several hardware stores, called 
every plumbing store in the area and no one could help with the fittings, so 
I finally decided to re-plumb the entire thing in 1/2 copper, adding shuts 
offs at the faucets and water heater. PEX would probably be a good 
alternative, it's a lot easier to deal with and doesn't freeze as quickly as 
copper, but you must buy the tools to crimp it, and it isn't original. A PEX 
application would still have to be winterized.

This must be a big problem on these units because the I looked at another 
couple's vintage trailer on our last outing and he had a bunch of rubber 
hoses clamped on his as well.


Mark Pate
Stanley, NC
'66 GT
'50 Spartan Mansion
'92 F350 Powerstroke (conversion)