That is really generous of you! I don't suppose you are in Arizona?
My question, though: Do you have a write-up on the conversion, especially for the hydraulic lift replacement? That would be interesting to see.
All,
I sold my 1972 Alaskan Camper CO and immediately regretted it. So, I started looking for another. I found one and hope to look at it soon, but I noticed something I had not seen before: A square corner at each side where the cabover starts. Typically, these are round arcs, right? Was...
Be sure to check the back width of the camper. I believe the older Alaskan Campers have a very wide rear--they fit snugly into the back of older trucks, but not for many of the newer trucks with narrower tail gate openings. The Alaskan camper I had, a 1972 CO, had a butt-ectomy where the...
Bozone,
I have the same problem with my 8' CO, though I can usually push and pull on the ends to raise and lower it. I did check the splayed door problem (great point!), but that wasn't making a difference. Did you cut the hydraulic lines to insert the valves, or were you able to move them...
A closer view of the rotted area. Not terrible for a 1972, but it will be addressed next year (if I don't sell this camper by then). I like the camper, but I'm starting to save for a NEW Alaskan, with a built-in toilet. Otherwise, I would keep tinkering with this one (and I may do that anyway).
Photo of interior with sides down. It is shown here because there is some rot all across the front upper section. though not completely a disaster, that short section will be the first replaced. The lower corner on left (driver side) has wood so soft that the screws to hold down the seal has...
On the passenger side, the guide area shows some rot. Though not all the way through the base structure, it did destroy the nice birch interior locally. That carpet is part of the original design, I'm guessing to prevent water coming in both with raised and also when lowered and driving...
Old jacks with new mounts. The rusty tube has a pin that goes through a smaller tube, slid inside and welded to a plate that bolts onto the new mounts. If I had thought further, I would have simply welded the silly inner metal tub directly to the bolted-on plate.
Replaced old, small mounting plates with custom-made plates. They are based off Reico-Titan mounting jacks, so that in future I can buy a set and slap on there. Old jacks still work, just are very heavy and difficult to maneuver. The mounts are 1/4" steel, and extend entirely under the...
Sold.
No time to camp for a while, so up for sale. $4000
1972 Alaskan Camper for sale. Nearly all original, and in good shape for the age. Cabover, 8 foot. I have camped in it only about 12 days total since purchase in 2017, so I'm selling it (no time to use). It is pretty fun, though...
My understanding is that the older Alaskan campers have the propane tank travel in the closet, then are set outside somewhere to be hooked up to the external propane fitting. That's why so many Alaskan restoration threads discuss mounting the tank externally somewhere. I like the idea of...
I was just working on my fridge (Dometic RM 36A) this weekend, from a 1972 CO Alaskan 8ft. The electric works, but the gas was too slow to cool. However, even the gas setting would freeze 1/2 cup of water if left on overnight in the freezer compartment. It also has a broken control knob for...
Dometic RM36A 2-way fridge control panel. Broken/mashed shaft for gas thermostat control. That shaft goes about 18 inches under the compartment, all the way to the back of the controls. Need to replace entire shaft if I want to fix (it is a hollow tube of aluminum, too). Turns out I found a...
Back of a Dometic RM 46C, which is the same control system as a Dometic RM 36A (in my 1972 Alaskan camper).
Red arrows point to the thin copper tubes (They are not wires) coming out of the electric (right) and gas (far left) control thermostats. They are very fragile. They run up the back of...
What is your model? I also have a 1972 CO and fridge, but it does not vent to the top. It only vents to the outside via a manually operated (and loud) fan. The opening is directly behind the top-center of the fridge.
Thanks for the compliments, the camper appreciates them. I don't like the replacement upholstery, I'll look for a new alternative over time.
An update: Went through camper cleaning it and discovered that the camper is a 1972. Of course, there is some rot at the corners in the top, and some...