We Got One Finally!!!

[Jabba]

We finally found a trailer, a nice 1955 Sovereign of the Road! We are very excited about it and anxious to get it home. I have a couple questions. I didn't have tools with me (wasn't prepared for this to be "the one") and it's 4 hours from our house. What is the lug pattern for that year (it had hubcaps)? Any idea on grease seals? Am I safe to assume it has a 2" ball? Where does power come from for the power jack? Tow vehicle or on board battery? Feel kinda dumb on some of my questions, but this is the place to get answers! Thanks in advance!

[Tripp]

Congratulations! I'm not sure about the lug pattern or grease seals, but the electric jack should operate if you have a battery in the trailer (charged or course). I think that you need a battery in the trailer even if you are hooked up to the tow vehicle to complete the circuit. I may be wrong on this, but I seem to remember that my jack wouldn't work unless I had a battery in the trailer.

Good luck bringing it home!



Tripp

[Pick]

On my '72 the jack power can be supplied via the battery -or- converter. There is a blue charge line that comes from the battery in the tow vehicle to the converter to charge the house battery. I would assume this would feed through to all the 12 volt circuitry in the Airstream. Make sure you have a good supply to the jack motor. If you have a high voltage drop, or should I say low voltage at the jack motor, it will draw excessive current and blow the motor.

Don't know about your ball hitch size. Grease seals should be availble at NAPA or any trailer sale/service shop. I know Auto Zone does not have them.

[Jabba]

Thanks for the info guys, I'm quickly learning that this is going to be an adventure to get it home. I didn't see a battery, but I will definetly go through it to try and find one. I saw a sears battery charger in the trunk so just have to track it down. The reason i questioned the tow vehicle was the the power lead is fed into the pig tail harness, I just don't know if it runs to the plug, or trailer. Inland Andy said that year didn't come with a charger, but they didn't come with an electric jack either so we'll see what kind of "improvements" were made.

[Chas]

Jabba,
Maybe that Sears charging is doing double duty as your Univolt, maybe not a bad idea as I am growing tired of the buzzing in mine anyways. You should be getting your jack power from either the trailer battery or your tow vehicle, my jack is powered off the hot side of the breakaway switch.

Chas

[bhsl8]

Jason, I have absolutely no advice or information for you concerning your questions .However, I would like to congratulate you on your purchase and I hope you enjoy having it in your family. Maybe now you can go down the road without your kids yelling out "airstream"! It took me about three months to break my dogs of the habit. All the best.
Brouck

[Dbraw]

Jason,
Also welcome to the Forum. You will find it invaluable. Lots of help from people that know what to do and how to do it.
dan

[Jabba]

Yee Ha! Got the new pride and joy home problem free yesterday after 9 hours of driving alone through snow and ice and 20-30 mph gusting winds. Airstreams do pull like a dream, even without sway control! More details later...

[john hd]

any pics yet?

wanna see another '55? check my photos. (not a trailer!)

john

[Jabba]

Will hopefully have pics next week, today will be the first day I'll be home from work early enough to see it in the light at home! I saw pics of your bike before, it looks like a nice one! Still kicking myself, my Dad's neighbor offered us a '48 HD Police Special (with lights and all, restored) for $2500 about 10 years ago. Boy, how I wish we would have bought that thing! I bet parts for your '55 aren't easy to come by or cheap!

[john hd]

too bad ya didn't scoop up the '48, prices of vintage bikes are alot like the airstream market. stuff is expensive! but some deals can still be had.

unlike airstreams there is a huge aftermarket for vintage bike parts. as a matter of fact, you could build that '48 cop sickle out of a catalog. complete, right down to the pursuit lamps. and unless you really knew what to look for, one would be hard pressed to tell the differance between the old and new bike.

can't wait to see the pics!

john