My 71's frame and shell do flex. I can watch ( an hear) the walls buckle when backing up into uneven campsites. The 63's frame is very flexible, once detached from the shell. I am still wondering what the design idea behind all this flexing is.
Yes I am a CPA - the photo shoot is came from this website - someone was looking for an Airstream for an Italian fashion catalog - kinda like Old Navy here. We took about 4 days running around Monument Valley/Lake Powel with these folks, got paid for it, ate great and had a blast. Never have heard from them again though - was supposed to get final pics/catalog but never did.
Uwe - yeah I was wondering that myself, had my wife jump up and down in the 58 and I can see the frame bouncing -
My 71's frame and shell do flex. I can watch ( an hear) the walls buckle when backing up into uneven campsites. The 63's frame is very flexible, once detached from the shell. I am still wondering what the design idea behind all this flexing is.
next time you take a ride on a commercial airliner, take a good close look at the wings during take-off. or at lower speeds in turbulence...they practcially flap! if they didn't...they'd snap. (that would be bad. ).
Perhaps this is why A/Ss don't generally rattle themselves apart. with other designs, you get the old "irresistable force meets immovable object" syndrome.
There it is, off the frame, hanging on the ceiling. It made this eerie creaking and crackling sound when it finally let go of it's companion frame of 40 Years...
Paul,
It looks very good, actually. I did not purchase the basement unit yet, as I am no where near completion of the frame and floor repair, but am confident that it will work.
The challenge in this is the ventilation for the condenser. It draws cooling air in from the side, and exhausts it through the back. The back will vent to the streetside, through the ex-water heater opening, I do not believe that's a problem. The intake air for the condenser, however, has to come from under the trailer. So I am planning to make provisions for a large air duct, one that comes through the belly skin, and terminates in the condenser compartment. 2 ea. 4in square ducts, and a little bit of fabrication should do it. 3 sides of the duct will actually be reinforcement outriggers. Aluminum extensions will channel the fresh air to the condenser air intake. The location is right behind the streetside rear wheel. The condenser opening will receive a custom made louvered panel, made from .032 Alclad and willl later be polished to match the trailer skin.
The A/C will be very near the 30A shore power line entry, which will make for a clean electrical supply installation. The location is under the bed, essentially, and I am hoping that with a soundproofed enclosure htere will not be vey much noise to deal with. As it is, the A/C in my 1971 is too noisy to sleep by, I am hoping that this one will be quieter. It will double as a heater, as well. I will install a catalytic heater in the front area for boondocking. I do not plan to go camping in very cold weather, ever.
I will post my progress on this as it happens.
I got my steel delivered this morning. Now the fabrication and welding starts. Maybe we should do a reality tv series "American Airstream" .... I'll find us a guy that stutters, rants on and on in the shop, and dresses poorly. We can then give " American Chopper" on Discovery Channel a run for their money.
My plan is to enclose the main frame's C-channel, and add a few new cross members.
Also, I am going to install the holding brackets ( 2x2in angle steel) for a fresh and grey tank at the same time, before the floor gets put in.
I have sanitized the frame with a little help from a good friend, it now looks entirely bare. The cross members ahead and behind the tanks will be solid 3x4in steel tubing.
All the others will be the ones that came with the trailer. i will also add one extra outrigger where teh basemsnt A/C is going to reside.
A neighbor in my industrial park has offered his mega-amp mig welder to me, to use for free!!! Score!!! Everybody around here is excited about my Overlander project, eager to see progress. My warehouse is looking more like a fabrication facility these days. Gotta go clean up..
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