[A/S] Black Tank Dimensions - '66 Airstream Rear Bath

["Harvey Barlow" <harveybarlow@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Bobby and Jim,  (info to all others)

 
                         1966 Safari 22' Waste Tank Dimensions

 
              l-----------------------------   50 1/4"  ----------------------------l
              l       17 1/2"                                                        
           __ l______________________________________________________________________
           l  l                                                                     l
      12 1/4" l                                                                     l
          l   l 2"l                                                                 l
         ---  l  O                       l---  9 " ---l                             l
          l   l            (      )___    ______________   __                       l
      12 1/4" l-----17 1/2"-----l   8"   /              \  4 3/4"                   l
          __  l_________________________/                \__________________________l
                                                                                     
              l-----------19"----------l-------15"-------l--------16 1/4"-----------l
                                  
I hope you can interpret my drawing and dimensions.  I took a mechanical drawing course 
in high school, but that was several years before the trailers we are working on were 
built.  And certainly before personal computers were in use.  

The tank removed from my '66 Safari is a basic rectangle, 50 1/4" wide (trailer width) 
and 23 1/2" long (trailer front to rear) with a notch molded into the center rear.  The 
notch is molded with its sides at an angle.  The notch is approximately 9" wide across 
its narrow side, the front, and 15" wide at the rear of the tank.  The front wall of the 
notch is inset 4 3/4" from the rear wall of the tank.  The vent pipe connection is about 
2 1/4" in diameter and located equidistant from the front to the rear of the tank at 12 
1/4" from each long side.  It is 2" from the left side of the tank.  The toilet fitting 
is 4" in diameter, located 17 1/2" from the left side of the tank and 8" from the rear of 
the tank.  Vent and toilet fitting openings are measured to the centerline of each 
opening, not the outer diameters.  The tank is about 4" deep and its deepest point is 
near the rear center of the tank.  In other words, the tank is more shallow at the front 
edge and slopes downward toward the rear of the tank.  It also slopes down slightly from 
each side toward the side to side middle of the tank.  The tank had a molded 3" nipple 
and flange at the center rear on which the gate/dump valve was originally attached.  The 
dump valve connection was broken, as are essentially all of them, because the tank cover 
and tank rear support angle iron rusted away and disappeared years ago and the full 
weight of the tank was suspended by the drain valve and gray water piping connection on 
the back of the tank.  The drain valve fitting appeared to be a special purpose molded 
plastic fitting which attached to the tank flange and also to the gray water piping.  It 
was a strange shape which would require a specialy designed and molded for the purpose 
unique Airstream replacement part.

Jim, I'm pretty sure your tank is identical or nearly so to the tank my daughter and I 
removed and repaired from her '72 Overlander 27'.  It also had a left side dump valve.

Bobby, I wish you had asked for additional info on my replacement tank solution as late 
as about 2 weeks ago.  I had been stumped for months and had quit working on it because I 
could not figure out a method to securely attach the dump valve to the tank neck on the 
H-4 generic replacement tank.  Up until a week ago I could have simply dropped the tank 
and shot a few photos for you.  A week or so ago, in a renewed burst of energy and 
determination, I removed the entire assembly for the umpteenth time and took the tank, 
tank cover, etc. to a plumbing wholesaler in a small bedroom community near Lubbock.  In 
a small town approach to doing business, the owner walked out to my truck with me and 
looked over my problem and went inside and found a large rubber collar with clamps which, 
with modifications, allowed me to complete the installation.  I had tried the local Home 
Depot and Lowe's stores but their supplies of a similar product were more limited and I 
didn't know the size I needed was manufactured.  Now the tank is completely installed, 
the redesigned and altered gray water piping termination is now completed, and the tank 
has been sitting full of (clean) water for over a week without leaking a drop.  I can 
coach you through a similar installation if you wish if you buy the H-4 tank as we 
discussed.  I can provide crude sketches and verbal descriptions which I think will be 
sufficient for you to duplicate it.  I'm sure you can read and interpret my difficult to 
follow directions and can fabricate solutions to problems when required.

I hope this helps some.  I'll be happy to answer additional questions if needed.

Harvey Barlow
Lubbock, TX
WBCCI 1171, WDCU, VAC
'93 A/S Excella 34' (for sale), '84 A/S Excella 31' (in use), '66 Safari 22' (in progress)
'01 Dodge-Cummins HO 3500 QC