The 23D thread

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by dbdreams

Carole is better, still very sore and not moving real fast. Picked up a new Titan SL with all the tow goodies. Ordered a camper top and will build a temp bed cover to go pick up the trailer. There were not many 23 CBs at the dealers, found only three like we wanted and am buying one of those in Florida, we can eat our way along the gulf coast!!

Man, you guys are Awesome! That’s great you are just jumping right back in the game. I am proud for you and this new chapter in life.
What 23 CB trim did we get.

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by FloydCoVa

Progress, sort of. We would have been done with the first axle but ran into a snag. I think I know what the large hole is for that GMFL has in his lift blocks. My block don't have them. Kyle welded in some nice bolt stops but you still need some pressure on the bolt heads to keep them from spinning. I bought fine thread grade 8 bolts and pinched nuts to go with them. When these are tighten down the aren't going nowhere! We tac welded the bolt heads to the stops but one broke free and we will have to drill a hole to hold it to tightened with the impact driver. Did you find that the two inch bolts get in the way of the shocks?

I think this lift would be easier the second time you did it. I couldn't have done this with out Kyle's help. He really knows his way in the shop is a really good welder. Having the right tools and a great work shop definitely makes all the difference.

Attachment 327752

This is a picture of the shop we are in. My dream shop! They just hosted a wedding not to long ago.

Scott,
You are correct! That big hole in the lift block was originally going to be used for a socket but after adding the bolt head stops it was used to put your finger in and apply pressure to the bolt head.

[Troutboy]

Okay 23ers, I’m upgrading my solar to include a color GX display. Since I have everything tore apart for this mod, I decided to upgrade my battery monitor and solar charger as well.

So that means I have some lightly used equipment that I plan to sell on the forums or Craig’s list. I have the following:

A victron BMV702 battery monitor
A victron MPPT 100/50 solar charger
Two Bluetooth dongles so you can monitor them remotely.

Current retail on all of this stuff is around $550. I plan to sell it all for $265 (shipping included).

Just letting my fellow 23Ders know, and giving anyone here first shot before I post it up publicly. If interested, send me a PM, first come first serve.

It all works perfectly.....

Thanks

[RFP]

Quick,easy, and cheap 'mod' (hardening)... what's not to love.

There are persistent reports from fellow Airstreamers of their dinette table "bouncing out" of the wall brackets and crashing down while under way. Probably less likely for us who have the table on the tongue end of the trailer, but, for five bucks or so, why take a chance.

All that is needed is a 3/16" hole drilled through all three layers (wall bracket, table bracket, aluminum backing skin). Just be sure the table bracket is fully seated (upward) into the wall bracket, and drill the hole centered 0.300" up from the bottom edge of the wall bracket.

Then, I used these pins to hold it together: https://www.mcmaster.com/98404A006

THat should take care of any likelihood of the table popping out and down, yet the pins are easily removed if you want the table down "on purpose."

[GMFL]

Rob......... your mind..........your mind..........
Your trailer is going to be as hard as........Woodperker lips!

[FloydCoVa]

Ok so we finished lifting the 23d. I decided to lift our trailer the same way GMFL did. With the information Ronnie posted this project really wasn't that hard to do. Really, I couldn't have done myself as I don't weld nor have a impact driver or two floor jacks. I had help from a friend that has a nice shop that wanted to help me. This project took two days as we worked four hours on day one and four hours on day two, Kyle had to go to work around noon each day. We worked on the front axle first then did same on the rear axle. The trailer was on the ground and coupled up to the truck at all times, SAFETY FIRST! We had fun once we figured out the slight glitch, needed extra hole in blocks to put pressure on bolts as we tightened them. I would do this again it really wasn't that hard.

I will post some pictures later as I lost my cell phone today! Sorry. When I got home with the trailer time was short... I had to wash the trailer! Just had to! as I had to travel on a small portion of a dirt road and it was raining, get firewood in, then run over to our farm to check horses as we are set to get a pretty nasty ice storm tonight. Some where the cell phone went missing. When my wife got home from work we backtracked my tracks. No luck!

[GMFL]

Scott,
Congrats on the successful lift. It’s a great addition. Can’t wait to see the pics.
Hope your phone finds its way home.

[Jim k]

Originally Posted by FloydCoVa

Ok so we finished lifting the 23d. I decided to lift our trailer the same way GMFL did. With the information Ronnie posted this project really wasn't that hard to do. Really, I couldn't have done myself as I don't weld nor have a impact driver or two floor jacks. I had help from a friend that has a nice shop that wanted to help me. This project took two days as we worked four hours on day one and four hours on day two, Kyle had to go to work around noon each day. We worked on the front axle first then did same on the rear axle. The trailer was on the ground and coupled up to the truck at all times, SAFETY FIRST! We had fun once we figured out the slight glitch, needed extra hole in blocks to put pressure on bolts as we tightened them. I would do this again it really wasn't that hard.

Floyd,

Thanks for all this, hope you find your phone! I too am looking forward to pics.

We just finished putting on auto adjusting 10" brakes, Bearing Buddies, new Sendel T08 15" rims and LT C rated tires. There is plenty of room inside our wheel-wells with the 235/75R15 tires. Thank you ALL for the input here about 15" vs. 16" rims and also moving to auto adjusting brakes. It turns out we had about 40% pad life left on the manual drum brakes on this used 2013 23D so the move to new auto adjusting brakes was good all around.

We purchased 3" tubular 1/4" steel stock for the Dexter axle spacers so will be following you and GMFL on the 3' lift.

[FloydCoVa]

Went early to farm and found phone! Covered in ice. Barely made it back as ice storm is raging. Downed trees every where and no electricity when we got home. Dried phone by wood stove and it is working.

Here is picture of finished lift. Lots of clearance at sewer pipes! Just what I was after. That stone driveway is sloped up hill and not flat at all but I think you see the lift.

[FloydCoVa]

This is a pic of first block installed on front axle. fastened the side bolts first no problem as the bolt stops and the tac welds on the bolts them selves held. Other side went ok as well. Next it's time to check measurements for axle and to tighten the vertical bolts to axle. front bolt held fine the rear broke loose and the bolt just spun freely. Lucky there was room to drill a hole to hold the bolt from spinning.

Note how rusty the axle mount is, the axle itself isn't that bad but this spring I will address this with some rustoleum.

[FloydCoVa]

When preparing the lift blocks for the rear axle I drilled access holes to the bolts before Kyle welded the bolt stops and welded the bolts too. This worked great, only has to readjust one bolt as it would not line up with holes. As you can see the extra hole I drilled would work for either bolt to hold it in case the welded bolt broke loose. I didn't think I would need these holes as we welded the bolts in place. If doing again I would do both weld bolt stops and bolts to block and drill access holes just in case the bolts broke loose. I hope you understand this.

[FloydCoVa]

I try to post two pics. First is of OEM 14 inch tires and rims above and second is of 15 inch Sendels and Michelins ....no lift




This picture is after lift

[FloydCoVa]

Go to GMFLs, Ronnie, blog he really lays it out better than me. Lots of other good suff that he has done , check it out . I used his blog and got it done with the help of a friend that had the proper tools. This was how he did his and I just followed along. In the end it wasn't that hard and I would do it again! Now wait till spring to try it out!

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by FloydCoVa

Go to GMFLs, Ronnie, blog he really lays it out better than me. Lots of other good suff that he has done , check it out . I used his blog and got it done with the help of a friend that had the proper tools. This was how he did his and I just followed along. In the end it wasn't that hard and I would do it again! Now wait till spring to try it out!

Scott,
It’s great to know that it worked out. I am humbled that my blog helped. Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Stay safe and warm during the ice storm.

We are headed out with the Airstream tomorrow! Tomorrow Little Rock AR then Saturday on to OKC for Thanksgiving with some of my wife’s family. Should be a good trip if I40 does not beat us up to bad.

[RFP]

Originally Posted by FloydCoVa

< snip >We worked on the front axle first then did same on the rear axle. The trailer was on the ground and coupled up to the truck at all times, SAFETY FIRST! < snip >

Good afternoon, Scott !

OK, I'm still thinking about a lift for "Fortune Cookie." My understanding is still pretty fuzzy as to the installation process. I love your "safety first" mantra, and I'm wondering if you could do a bit of a step-by-step... not so much of the installation of the blocks, but your management of the trailer as you "lifted" it axle by axle. Tips and pointers would be greatly appreciated.

If you do a step-by-step, keep it at the third grade level for me please!

[DSteed]

Originally Posted by FloydCoVa

Went early to farm and found phone! Covered in ice. Barely made it back as ice storm is raging. Downed trees every where and no electricity when we got home. Dried phone by wood stove and it is working.



Here is picture of finished lift. Lots of clearance at sewer pipes! Just what I was after. That stone driveway is sloped up hill and not flat at all but I think you see the lift.



Attachment 327926

Looks great, lots of clearance]

[GMFL]

I’ll try one to Rob,
Before you do anything to the axles, and to maintain Alinement, take some tape and place it on the bottom of the axle, find a “fixed point” under the trailer to measure from (I used water tank cover). Mark a line on the tape and record the distance from the fixed point. This will allow you to check this measurement once lifted.
1. Flat ground is a must
2. Hook TV to the trailer with emergency brake engaged.
3. “I” used (8) 2x8 16” long boards stacked 4 high and screwed together to make 2 riser blocks to go under the wheels of either the front or rear wheels (which ever axle I was not working on) total height of each riser is 6”
4. “I” used a floor jack to lift the trailer and place the wooden 6” risers under the tires (again of which ever axle I was not working on)
5. Now with risers in place the other axle should be hanging in the air and free to work on. DO NOT REMOVE THE TIRES or SHOCKS FROM THE HANGING AXLE this will act as a safety feature if something bad happens.
6. Using a floor jack under the axle that is hanging to support it, loosen the bolts for that side(do not remove the bolts) just looses them almost all the way
7. Lower the floor jack and repeat step 6 on the other side of the trailer
8. Now both sides of the axle should be loose and hanging by the bolts.
9. With both sides loose you can now support one side of the axle with the floor jack and remove the bolts for that side TIRE And SHOCK STILL ON THE AXLE
10. Use the floor jack to lower the axle enough to slide the lift block into place, and replace bolts and nuts. Do not tighten nuts all the way down yet. Just close to snug.
11.Go to the other side of the trailer and repeat steps 9 and 10
12.With both lift blocks in place you are now ready to snug everything up and check your alinement measurements. If All is good torque that sucker to 140 ft/lbs
13. Use the floor jack to raise the trailer and remove the wooden risers from under the tires.
14. Repeat steps 4-13 for the second axle.

That sounds about right anyway. Hope that helps some.

[RFP]

Originally Posted by GMFL

I’ll try one to Rob,
< snip >

That sounds about right anyway. Hope that helps some.

Perfect! Thanks, Ronnie. As always, you're my hero (along with about 20 other 23D-ers all of whom are so generous with their experience, knowledge, and encouragement.

I just may do this, next spring...

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by RFP

I just may do this, next spring...

It would solve your little driveway issue and I don’t think it would raise the step to much.

[FloydCoVa]

Ronnie , nice step by step write up. As you know I pretty much did the same way but I took my wheels off on axle I was working on. Also I had to take my shocks off to get to the bolts on outside, or maybe I had to take the shocks off to get new bolts back on. We had to trim the new bolts on outside to get the shocks back on as I had all 2inch bolts. I went and bought four new 11/2 inch bolts for rear axle(horizontal) . These worked good no trimming.

Maybe that's why when I had the axle hanging by bolts the axle twisted from the weight of the off set drums, taking off the shocks I mean. Does this make sense? We had two floor jacks one on each side. We had to put small jack stand under drum so to drop the axle level to get lift block in place.

As a note be careful and watch the wires going to your brakes. Plenty of slack on three but close on one , it could get pinched if not carful.

Any way more than one way to skin a cat so to speak. Just follow Ronnies instructions and when you get to doing it you will see how to get it done .

Thank you Ronnie for figuring this kind of lift out . I really like how the gas line simply goes right thru and hooks back up super easy. I couldn't have done it with out your documentation and pictures. Not to mention your patience.