[A/S] Another proud new owner

[garyz620@xxxxxx]

Add Susan and Gary Zook to the growing list of proud new owners.  We picked 
up our '85 Sovereign last weekend in Knoxville.  Arrived home in Lincoln 
Nebraska Sunday night and all went well.  I stayed home to play last Monday 
while Susan went off to work with her nose out of joint (jealously is SO 
transparent).  Hee Hee!  Now it's time to poke and prod and squint and squirt 
(oil) and smear (grease) and generally get in there and learn "stuff".  (Yes, 
I know, no grease on the anti-sway)

No major disappointments yet.  Not sure about the air conditioner.  We'll see 
about that when the hot weather comes to Nebraska which it surely will soon 
enough.  I suspect it will need work.  A couple of minor questions for you 
all. ("You all" is helping my trailer make the transition from "y'all" of 
Knoxville to "you guys" more typical out here.  We have to be sensitive to 
the trailer's transition to it's new home, you know.)  

A couple of quick easy ones for you.  First, the folding table in front of 
the couch hangs on a piano hinge at the top.  When I first set it up it 
seemed to be stabilized at the bottom someway so it wouldn't swing free in 
travel.  I putzed with it a while and got it free so I could raise it not 
really knowing what I did.  Then when I lowered it down again I couldn't see 
any way to latch the bottom so it's stable.  Does the bottom latch some way 
or does it just swing free from the hinge at the top? 

I haven't gone through the process of trying out all the mechanicals yet so 
I'm not sure if I know what I'm doing or not.  Next weekend is the trial run 
so we'll see then.  Previous owner, Charlie Bell, did his best to try to 
educate me on what I need to know but I'm a slow learner.  To light the water 
heater, there is a rocker switch over the sink in the bathroom and reading 
the manual I think I understand how that works.  The fridge is close to brand 
new and again, I think I will be able to figure that out.  I believe Charlie 
said none of the appliances net to be lit from outside the trailer but I'm 
stumped on the furnace.  I'm sure it's the original as he said he used it 
rarely.  Does it light from the outside as a typical furnace does?  The 
manual seems to indicate that's the way to do it.  

What do people do with their greasy hitch parts while parked?  I am looking 
for a plastic storage box (Rubbermaid type of stuff) to throw the pieces 
into.  Any better ideas?  

The stove top cover should really be replaced.  It has hinges at the rear two 
corners to fasten to the stove.  Is this an Airstream specific part or would 
a generic one from Camping World fit right on?  

Ok, one last one. As I understand it when I'm plugged into shore power, 
there's no switch to throw or anything.  The system automatically knows to 
pull 110v rather than continue using 12v batteries.  Correct?  I lied.  One 
more.  If I use the plug adapter to plug into 15 or 20 amp outlet will this 
be enough to run the a/c or do I need the 30 amp service?  

I guess that's enough questions for now.  As everyone says, I enjoy so much 
reading the posts from everyone else and appreciate the knowledge of those 
willing to pass it on.  

By the way, in case you're interested, I got between 10.2 and 11.2 mpg 
pulling the trailer from Knoxville with the new F250 Super Duty V10.  Only 
dropped about 3 mpg compared with driving solo.  I would be lying if I told 
you I was thrilled but hey, can't say I was disappointed either.  You with 
the diesels, go easy on me!  

Gotta go.  Gotta get up to the storage lot and talk to the trailer.  

Gary Zook