1968 Travel Queen Resto Mod - 5. Propane
This is Part 5. of our 1968 Travel Queen Resto Mod, the subject of which is "Propane". Other parts are linked below. 1968 Travel Queen Resto Mod - 1. Acquisition & Evaluation 1968 Travel Queen Res...
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During the period of time I was working on installing the left side camper wing assembly, I began work on the inside of the refrigerator cabinet. Part of that consists of building out the inside of the walls to fit the physical dimensions of the fridge.
On one side (the left or camper's rearward side while facing the fridge) the inside of the fridge cabinet shares space with supply/utilities lines to the upper cabinets along both sides of the camper, and through the ceiling archway. In those areas we'll see 12V wiring, 110V wiring and the subject of today's post, the propane line feeding the dinette light fixture.
In removing the propane tank compartment from the left front of the camper, I also removed all the propane lines, all except the 1/4" run from very near the original propane tank compartment, up the inside of the fridge cabinet, through a hole in the top into the left side upper wall storage cabinet. From there it enters the ceiling archway and into the middle of the right side overhead cabinet, where it rounds into the light fixture on the cabinet face.
We have two fixtures, as both campers had not only their original lights, but what appears to be their original globes! In looking over both fixtures, we kind of like the one that came with Lil' Queeny, the one with the base mount that has a bit of curve to it, shown here on the left in the first photo.
And a top view, this time with the fixture in the foreground.
After quite a bit of thought and entertaining several different plans, I pretty much realized I had to either replace the existing line, or get it to stretch to a connection on the outside of the camper under the wing. Originally it had reached to just inside the camper, right above the wing surface, where it connected to the main 3/8" line coming out of the propane compartment before it continued to the range and heater, both inside the galley cabinet.
Whenever possible, I like to have the propane joints on the outside of the camper. Not only does that remove a potential leak from the interior, but it will usually offer a much easier location for checking connections anytime in the future.
Now, with the propane tank compartment at the far corner of the camper (right rear), I'll need to run a line from there, under the right wing, enter the under cabinet locations of the cab-over step, then back outside under the left wing, connect to the light fixture line and refrigerator, then continue back to feed the range, water heater and space heater.
So starting at the light fixture location I carefully straightened and bent the original line to create good installation while extending its length where possible.
And why that spot under the wing? Under the wing is where the Saf-T-Jacks steel grid will mount. Whether or not I use the original Saf-T-Jacks, I will at least take advantage of the grid system in that I'll build an adapter for my portable side jacks that use male pipes for the grid's female pipes. That will cause the jacks to lift the grids and avoid damaging the outer, lower camper edge.
You can see from the next photo that the hole in the wing for the light fixture line should enter between probably 4-9" outboard from the inner edge of the wing. After also looking close at the truck bed I chose 8".
I also verified my front to back location (forced by the fridge cabinet wall) so I wouldn't be interfering with a jack grid cross arm.
And here's how much extra line I was able to stretch out.
There is debate on the safety of propane light use inside a camper. Personally, I'm unconcerned, but I tend to make sure all connections and functions on such things are working in top condition before using them. I guess maybe many people don't. I don't see any difference between using the light and using the stove top, or a catalytic heater for that matter. In all cases you just have to use your head in providing proper ventilation - an entrance and exit for fresh and expired air - and safety devices such as CO2 and Oxygen depletion detectors don't hurt either.
And really, it's pretty hard to not include the original propane dinette light when trying to increase character points on a vintage camper rebuild, even if it only gets used during expos.
On one side (the left or camper's rearward side while facing the fridge) the inside of the fridge cabinet shares space with supply/utilities lines to the upper cabinets along both sides of the camper, and through the ceiling archway. In those areas we'll see 12V wiring, 110V wiring and the subject of today's post, the propane line feeding the dinette light fixture.
In removing the propane tank compartment from the left front of the camper, I also removed all the propane lines, all except the 1/4" run from very near the original propane tank compartment, up the inside of the fridge cabinet, through a hole in the top into the left side upper wall storage cabinet. From there it enters the ceiling archway and into the middle of the right side overhead cabinet, where it rounds into the light fixture on the cabinet face.
We have two fixtures, as both campers had not only their original lights, but what appears to be their original globes! In looking over both fixtures, we kind of like the one that came with Lil' Queeny, the one with the base mount that has a bit of curve to it, shown here on the left in the first photo.
And a top view, this time with the fixture in the foreground.
After quite a bit of thought and entertaining several different plans, I pretty much realized I had to either replace the existing line, or get it to stretch to a connection on the outside of the camper under the wing. Originally it had reached to just inside the camper, right above the wing surface, where it connected to the main 3/8" line coming out of the propane compartment before it continued to the range and heater, both inside the galley cabinet.
Whenever possible, I like to have the propane joints on the outside of the camper. Not only does that remove a potential leak from the interior, but it will usually offer a much easier location for checking connections anytime in the future.
Now, with the propane tank compartment at the far corner of the camper (right rear), I'll need to run a line from there, under the right wing, enter the under cabinet locations of the cab-over step, then back outside under the left wing, connect to the light fixture line and refrigerator, then continue back to feed the range, water heater and space heater.
So starting at the light fixture location I carefully straightened and bent the original line to create good installation while extending its length where possible.
And why that spot under the wing? Under the wing is where the Saf-T-Jacks steel grid will mount. Whether or not I use the original Saf-T-Jacks, I will at least take advantage of the grid system in that I'll build an adapter for my portable side jacks that use male pipes for the grid's female pipes. That will cause the jacks to lift the grids and avoid damaging the outer, lower camper edge.
You can see from the next photo that the hole in the wing for the light fixture line should enter between probably 4-9" outboard from the inner edge of the wing. After also looking close at the truck bed I chose 8".
I also verified my front to back location (forced by the fridge cabinet wall) so I wouldn't be interfering with a jack grid cross arm.
And here's how much extra line I was able to stretch out.
There is debate on the safety of propane light use inside a camper. Personally, I'm unconcerned, but I tend to make sure all connections and functions on such things are working in top condition before using them. I guess maybe many people don't. I don't see any difference between using the light and using the stove top, or a catalytic heater for that matter. In all cases you just have to use your head in providing proper ventilation - an entrance and exit for fresh and expired air - and safety devices such as CO2 and Oxygen depletion detectors don't hurt either.
And really, it's pretty hard to not include the original propane dinette light when trying to increase character points on a vintage camper rebuild, even if it only gets used during expos.
