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Originally Posted by 2airishuman sergei...
i'm no engineer, but it looks like the main frame rails are slotted from the bottom side...
and the axles have a small section of rail that matches the main rail Z pattern...
so the axle plates slip into the slot, just outside the frame section...
then they are bolted together in 4-5 places per side...
here's some zoomed pix that may help, open each and enlarge for a better view...
cheers
2air'
and bpw has a website which may contain schematics and other useful info, it's a BIG company... BPW | Bergische Achsen KG |
For those who hope Airstream might move to a galvanized frame in the US, it is probably worth considering whether or not there is a US manufacturer Airstream could go to for such a product. BPW/Bergische Achsen KG is a large company making many products other than trailer frames and axles and it has strong competition (such as AL-KO Kober AG) in that field. Also, heavy zinc plating on many products has long been standard practice in Europe which means that there are many companies which can do that plating. Having the frame in pieces makes the plating process much easier because the pieces are smaller than a complete frame. You can imagine trying to plate a complete 34' frame.
For those who hope for the foam-cored floor to come here, please note that the outside parts of the sandwich appear to be plywood. I happen to be a fan of good plywood, but that sandwich material would have many of the same problems we associate with US Airstream floors. In addition, there could be supplier problems. The US, in contrast to Europe, seems to have fewer manufacturers of such specialty products.