Airstream Excella 500 1973 User manual

An Airstream travel trailer offers you the
ultimate in travel luxury and mobility. This
owner’s manual is your key to carefree travel
fun. It contains information necessary to
avoid problems. Consult it when you have a
question about your new Airstream. It has
been designed to aid you in knowing your
trailer better. Should you trade or sell your
Airstream, please leave the manual with the
trailer. Go Airstream and make this your year
for carefree vacations.

Contents
Wally Byam Caravans/Clubs . 2
Warranty and Service. 4
Service Centers. 6
Wally Byam Stores . 9
Tow Car Equipment. 10
Chassis. 11
Tires. 13
Hitching Up. 14
Towing Tips . 16
Overnight Stop . 19
Extended Stay. 20
Winter Airstreaming . 24
Storage and Winterizing. 24
Exterior. 28
Floor Plans.30
Interior.32
L.P.G. System .38
Refrigerator.39
Micro Wave Oven.41
Range/Oven.42
Furnace .44
Water Heater .46
Water System .47
Drain/Waste/Vent Systems. 50
Thermasan. 53
Electrical System. 54
Battery. 56
Battery Charger.57
Electrical Trouble Shooting. 61
Specifications.64
Lubrication and Maintenance.68
Pre Travel Check List .66
Index.20

Wally Byam
Caravans/ Clubs
When you bought your Airstream, you
bought a whole new way of life. Airstream
owners enjoy endless opportunities for friend¬
ship, fun and adventure. You may join every
Airstream Wally Byam Caravan and Airstream
Company Rally. We arrange for such rallies
each year: one in the North West, South West,
North East and South East. You also become
eligible to join the Wally Byam Caravan Club
International, the largest single make trailer
club in the world. The WBCCI is made up of
22,959 family memberships and 131 local
chapters or units throughout the United
States, Canada and Mexico. They meet at
monthly rallies, or where weather conditions
prevent year round rallies. Caravanners come
together for pot luck dinners to plan events
for the good seasons.
Since the first Wally Byam Caravan in 1951,
89 Airstream Caravans have gone to most
parts of the world. Caravans to Canada and
Mexico are now so popular that there are
eight each year. Many a lifelong friendship
was started on these trips. Old-timers and new
owners share experiences and find a new kind
of fellowship, and there is no better way to
learn to use your Airstream. Caravanners
enjoy many advantages: the security of travel- "
ing in a group, planned entertainment and
exceptional sightseeing opportunities. The
prestige and good will established over many
years by our Caravans adds further benefit to
Caravanner membership.
The “Caravanner” and the “Blue Beret” are
the official Caravan Club publications. The
bi-monthly “Caravanner” is for general dis¬
tribution to owners and prospective buyers,
while the monthly “Blue Beret” is for WBCCI
members only.
Several months before a Caravan rolls, the
“Caravanner” and the “Blue Beret” publish a
description and a registration coupon. Every¬
one who registers receives a detailed bulletin
with complete information on the caravan.
When going abroad, all official matters such as
insurance, tourist cards and border crossing
formalities are handled for you by the Cara¬
van staff.
On every Airstream Caravan, the route is
carefully planned, and a day by day itinerary,
including mail stops, is given to all Caravan¬
ners in advance. Our staff also makes all the
arrangements for parking, entertainment,
tours, etc. well ahead of the starting date.
Airstream Caravan Programs always take
caravanners of all ages into account. Air¬
stream provides the Caravan Staff: a leader, a
recreation director, a service representative
and an advance representative. This staff is
backed by committees composed of inter¬
ested Caravan members who assist in the
day-to-day operations.
Wally Byam, pioneer trailer traveler, and
founder of the Airstream Company, was bom
on July Fourth and the first International
Rally was in the form of a huge birthday
party for him at Bull Shoals, Arkansas. It was
patterned after the International Rallies in
Europe which Wally and his wife Stella had
attended for many years. Everyone enjoyed
this first big rally so much that the club
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decided to make it an annual event. Since
then, International Rallies have grown and
grown. Some 4,000 Airstream Travel Trailer-
families recently gathered at Louisville,
Kentucky for the 1972 International Rally.
Only Wally Byam Caravanners and WBCCI
members are entitled to have an official
Trailer Number and be listed in the Annual
Directory. The Annual Directory contains a
schedule of all major rallies and Airstream
Wally Byam Caravans for the year, and
announces the activities of the Ham Radio,
C.B. Radio, Square Dance and the many other
WBCCI special interest clubs.
Along with the fun, Airstream owners recog¬
nize the need for better legislation, more and
better overnight parking facilities, more sani¬
tary stations and other travel conveniences.
They are alert to adverse bills governing travel
trailers and have achieved much through the
actions of the strong WBCCI National Legis¬
lative Committee.
The Way of Life Department, of the Air¬
stream Company dedicates its full time staff
to improving the owners’ fun and makes use
of all the information and experience gained
by owners over the years to help develop even
better Airstreams.
Become part of the Airstream Way of Life.
Join our WBCCI activities and we believe you
will enrich your life. Owners join through a
local unit of WBCCI. All operate autonom¬
ously, elect their own officers and fix their
own dues. Annual International dues are paid
with the unit dues at the time of application.
These are at present: International dues,
$5.00 per trailer and unit dues from $1 to $5.
If you are interested, please write to the
following address and we will forward your
letter to the unit nearest you:
WBCCI Headquarters Office
15939 Piuma Avenue
Cerritos, California 90701
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Warranty
and Service
Airstream offers the most complete and ex¬
plicit warranty in the industry. Your valuable
warranty covers every item in your trailer
(except tires and battery) against failures
resulting from defects in either material or
workmanship for two years from date of
purchase as the original owner.
Adjustments to appliances, gas pressure or
other normal service and maintenance require¬
ments are not a part of the warranty. The
warranty is designed to cover defects in
material and workmanship.
Your tires and battery are warrantied by their
respective manufacturers and will be handled
by their service centers according to the terms
of their written policy.
Please read the facsimile warranty carefully.
As soon as the factory has received your
signed check-out and acceptance sheet, a
formal warranty is issued to you, together
with an owner’s identification card. As soon
as you receive your warranty, please attach it
over the facsimile for safekeeping. In order to
qualify for service without charge under the
Airstream Warranty Program, your owner’s
identification card or warranty must be pre¬
sented to the service representative.
The Airstream Certified Performance Check¬
out, or CJP.C., is an exclusive Airstream
program. Before leaving the factory, each and
every vital part of an Airstream is tested for
performance. Each test is signed and certified
by an inspector. After the Airstream arrives
on your dealer’s lot, all of these vital parts
and systems are again tested. When you take
delivery of your new Airstream, a factory
trained trailer expert personally gives you a
complete check-out on the trailer.
C.P.C. does not stop here. After you have
traveled with your Airstream for 1000 miles
(or 60 days, whichever comes first) you can
make an appointment with any one of the
175 Airstream dealers or service centers for
still another check-out of your trailer. At that
time, a specified list of performance checks
on your trailer equipment will be conducted
and any deficiencies you have experienced
since taking delivery will be corrected. Give
the C.P.C. card overleaf to the dealer when
you take your Airstream for the 1000 mile
check.
Please contact your dealer if you need service.
Major service under your Airstream Warranty
is available through our nationwide network
of factory trained specialists at Airstream
Certified Dealer Service Centers listed on
pages 6, 7 and 8 of this manual. All centers
operate on an appointment basis for the
utmost efficiency. When you require service
from the Airstream factory or a certified
service center, please contact the service
manager for an appointment, and kindly
inform him if you are unable to keep the
appointment date or wish to change it.
Airstream factory service may be arranged by
contacting the service manager:
Airstream, Jackson Center, Ohio 45334
[phone]
Airstream, 15939 Piuma Avenue
Cerritos, California 90701
[phone]
4

: this Faosimilie within the line, the folded edge on top. There
For the lifetime of the Registered Warranty Holder, or so long,as he continues as the original owner
of the Airstream Travel Trailer, Airstream warrants the metat' shell, frame, axle and axle assembly
to and including spindle (excluding shock absorbers)4d l be free from defects in material and work¬
manship; all other component parts, including shocfe.aBs'6rbers (excluding tires and batteries) are
likewise warranted for a period of two years from the date of purchase. Any warranty defects will
be corrected without cost upon return of .the trailer, or defective part, to any Airstream factory or
authorized Airstream service center.
This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties of merchantability or fitness expressed or implied,
there being no warranties which extend beyond the description on the face hereof and expressly
excludes conditions resulting from normal wear, accident, abuse, exposure or overload.
Ohio factory: 177 West Church Street, Jackson Center, Ohio 45334
California factory: 15939 Piuma Avenue, Cerritos, California 90701

Service Centers
ALABAMA
Alabama Auto Carriage Company
2359 West Fairview
Montgomery, Alabama 36108
The New Camper City, Inc.
7320 First Avenue, North
Birmingham, Alabama 35206
Stockton Motor Car Co., Inc.
404 Washington Street
Huntsville, Alabama 35801
ARKANSAS
Fred & Jack Trailer Sales
10318 New Benton Highway (I-30W)
Little Rock, Arkansas 72209
ARIZONA
Robert Crist & Company
2025 East Main Street
Mesa, Arizona 85201
Robert Crist & Company
8833 N. Black Canyon Hwy.
Phoenix, Arizona 85021
CALIFORNIA
Bob Belknap Trailer Sales, Inc.
420 South Harbor Boulevard
Santa Ana, California 92704
Caswell Trailer Sales
950 West F’oothill Boulevard
Claremont, California 91711
Coastline Trailer Sales
303 North Ventura Avenue
Ventura, California 93001
Haller Trailer Sales
15711 S. Lakewood Blvd.
Paramount, California 90723
Holiday Trailer Sales
770 East Baseline
San Bernardino, California 92410
Nelson’s Trailer Sales
28001 Mission Blvd.
Hayward, California 94544
Ralph’s Trailer Sales & Supply
1025 East Main
El Cajon, California 92021
Valley Trailer Sales, Inc.
1650 El Camino Avenue
Sacramento, California 95815
Western Motors Rec. Center
1900 Lakeville - Hwy. 116
Petaluma, California 94952
COLORADO
Chisman Trailer Sales
2500 East Boulder Street
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909
Leo Payne Recreational Plaza
4350 S. Federal Blvd.
Englewood, Colorado 80110
CONNECTICUT
Camperama, Inc.
Mill Plain, Rte. 6
Between Exit 1 & 3, 1-84
Danbury, Connecticut 06810
DELAWARE
Richard Rice Trailer Company, Inc.
2343 South Dupont Hwy.
Dover, Delaware 19901
FLORIDA
Bell’s Trailer Park & Sales
Highway 90, West
Tallahassee, Florida 32310
Camptown U.S.A., Inc.
16500 S. Dixie Highway
Miami, Florida 33157
Carpenter’s Campers, Inc.
8450 Pensacola Blvd.
Pensacola, Florida 32501
Pleasure World, Inc.
5408 San Juan Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32210
Kropf Eldorado, Inc.
6915 - 14th St. West
Bradenton, Florida SS^O?
Indian River Trailer Sales
5855 U.S. Highway No: 1
Cocoa, Florida 32922
Indian River Trailer Sales, Inc.
5001 Sand Lake Road
Route 528
Orlando, Florida 32809
C. J. Stoll, Inc.
5985 - 34th Street, North
U.S. 19
St. Petersburg, Florida 33714
GEORGIA
Airstream By Davis, Inc.
9726 Tara Boulevard
US 41-19
Jonesboro, Georgia 30236
Biltmore Gardens Mobile Homes
4707 Ogeechee Road
US Highway 17 South
Savannah, Georgia 31405
Bud K’s Hamper Korral
4740 Pio Nono
4646 Houston Avenue
Macon, Georgia 31206
ILLINOIS
Robert Crist & Company
9100 South Stony Island Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60617
Crystal Valley, Inc.
4220 Northwest Highway
US 14 at Route 31
Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014
Mann’s Trailer Sales
1600 North Main Street
Normal, Illinois 61761
Rocket Trailer Sales
Route 30 and Sixth Avenue
Rock Falls, Illinois 61071
INDIANA
Berning Trailers Sales
5220 New Haven Avenue
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46803
Elkhart Travel Center, Inc.
3008 S. Nappanee Street
Elkhart, Indiana 46514
Four Seasons Trailer Sales Corp.
8225 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46231
IOWA
Bill Brown Trailer Sales
3700 - 3708 East 14th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50313
Ace Fogdall, Inc.
5324 University Avenue
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
ImperialSport-A-Rama, Inc.
1727 Ankeny Road
Ankeny, Iowa 50021
Bob La Veine Trailer Sales
890 West Mt. Pleasant Road
West Burlington, Iowa 52655
KANSAS
Scholfield Winnebago, Inc.
5617 West Kellogg
Wichita, Kansas 67209
KENTUCKY
Crouch Campers & Trailers
4450 Clarks River Drive
Hwys. 60 - 62 - 68 SE
Paducah, Kentucky 42001
Murphy Sales Company, Inc.
Winchester Road (U. S. 60W)
Mt. Sterling, Kentucky 40353
Murphy Sales Company, Inc.
Benson Road
Shelbyville, Kentucky 40065
LOUISIANA
Camper Village
15838 Florida Blvd.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70815
Travel Center, Inc.
3625 Industrial Drive
Bossier City, Louisiana 71010
MARYLAND
B & J Trailer Sales
113 South Philadelphia Blvd.
Aberdeen, Maryland 21001
MASSACHUSETTS
Donahue’s Trailer Sales
88 Mountain Road, Box 126
Burlington, Massachusetts 01803
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