should I buy this 1965 Caravel?

[Aluminium]

I'm getting close to buying this airstream (phone negotiations) - I'm going back to the east coast in a few weeks to hopefully finalize the deal in the $2000 to $2500 Can range (about $1500 to $2000 U.S $).

Now the fun begins of trying to figure out a way to get it home 1000 miles. I've been scouring the internet and sent a few emails to transporters. The other option would be to order a new axle and take it with me and install it out there (although I understand some welding is required). I figure transportation is going to be at least $1000.

[robandzoe]

I hate seeing these things sit...Where is it out there. GSM Vehicles www.gsmvehicles.com are in Plattsburgh, NY and are doing axles. Email Colin - he's from Canada. They are on the northern NY / Canadian border. And they do excellent work.

Rob

[Stefrobrts]

I was just thinking about you the other day and wondering what ever became of the Caravel you wanted to buy. Glad to see you are still persuing it.

I wouldn't recommend putting an axel on on-site, unless you're a real mechanical wizard. As I understand, Caravels have a particularly short mounting flange, and require some special work. You may be up to it though, only you know.

Even with $1000 to transport it, I think you'd still be into it for a fair price.

Good luck, I can't wait to hear more about it!

[59toaster]

Originally Posted by Aluminium

I'm getting close to buying this airstream (phone negotiations) - I'm going back to the east coast in a few weeks to hopefully finalize the deal in the $2000 to $2500 Can range (about $1500 to $2000 U.S $).

Now the fun begins of trying to figure out a way to get it home 1000 miles. I've been scouring the internet and sent a few emails to transporters. The other option would be to order a new axle and take it with me and install it out there (although I understand some welding is required). I figure transportation is going to be at least $1000.

I wouldn't trust the frame AT ALL! I would say that if you tried to trailer that thing that sort of distance your running a VERY real risk that it will come apart and somebody may get hurt or killed.

No offense but I wouldn't spend that much on that coach. It needs NEW Frame. The floor is or frame is rotten to the point that its collapsing. Thats why the body is all wavy at the wheel openings. I suspect the frame is bet or broken at the axle.

How do I know this? I dragged home a coach that didn't look a 10th that bad. After getting into it and finding that about the only thing holding the curbside up was the wardrobe I was lucky to get it home in one piece. I ended up replacing the whole floor and a couple cross members. It involved removing the body to do it right.

I'm all for saving it but I think your underestimating what this is going to take to repair. I think the price is high as a result.

A drive over (Wheels below the deck 18ft car trailer or a traler with no wheel wells should handle it no problem. The traler floor should be about 88 inches wide. That would put the wheel base at about 80 to the outside of the tir or less. As long at the axle on the trailer ends up at the axle of the trailer towing or foward it you shoud be ok. A 18 ft would be about perfect with the toung of the AS over the A-frame of the car trailer.

[rluhr]

You know, after re-reading this thread and looking at the pictures again, I tend to agree with 59toaster. I think the frame is either shot or disconnected from the body (due to floor rot). The pitting on the exposed A-frame is really deep -- which makes sense given it's long term exposure to salt air. And the waves in the sheet metal around the wheels are indicative of the body slumping.

You might have to plan on flat-bedding it. In that case, robandzoe's suggestion is logical: GSM Vehicles is the closest qualified Airstream specialist that I know of to the Canadian Maritimes.

[Over59]

This will require a shell off frame repair and floor replacement. You cann't tell the full story on the frame until you do that. Anything else and you are sending good money after bad and doing it the harder way. It's not that bad if you have time and money. Don't pay more than $1000 American. The frame will likly need work / modification for a new axel, my 68 Caravel did. There are pictures in a thread somewhere from mine. Of course you could pay $6000 for one and still need to do the shell off when you start poking around. If you go to get this take a batter drill and some bits and rivets and rivet gun. Drop the rear belly pan and see what's up. If the seller says no then walk or pay a full monty price.

There are no pictures of the bath. These can be a real problem to repair, have you checked on the cost of a new black tank for that puppy? $$$$$$$
All that work and money and you will not have a grey tank unless you add one somewhere and a black tank of 10 gallons. But you will be allowed to park in vintage where the fun is

[flyrodbldr]

Good Luck.............My 65 caravel came from 125 mi away towed home like a

dream .....still had to swap axle ......did the swap my self ..not to hard if you have jack, ramps ,jack stands,10 ton hoist, mig welder hand tools ,compressor
time,somebody to help and lots of beer! really its not beyond somebody with average mech skills...that said i've also invested in a rebuilt fridge,
hehr vent new propane bottles all new window and door trim a intella power
rebuilt PAR pump...new latches,caulk ,rivets cyclo and the list go's on
i'm afraid to add it all up...I still need to fix the belly pan in a few places
maybe new tailight lens curtins ? recover the upolstery new floor !!!!

But alll said I wouldn't trade it for anything....I found mine in the classifieds
on the vintage site bought it from the second owners with all the original paper work found the org. owners through P&S and spent a month in MT last year hunting and fishing with my two brittany's....whats that worth?

All your Questions can be answered here..... someones done it or seen it before (trust me) this is a great resource so go ahead sart your adventure lots of scraped knuckles ,swearing, throwing things awaits you
but the smiles and honks as you go down the road is all worth it..

And if you have any Questions about your 65 amd I can help .....
Just ask

[flyfshr]

First I really read through this thread.

Although earlier folks have said the body has buckled because of the frame, I originally thought it was because the tires are way too big for the wheel opening. There's no room for movement. The streetside doesn't look affected nearly as much as the curbside. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't tow that thing more then fifty miles in its present condition. If the diameter of the U bolt at the bottom is any indication, the frame has lost a few pounds. It needs to be trailered for any distance.

How do the interior cabinet doors line up? Do they open, close and seat properly? Check the seams where the woodwork meets the walls. Any significant gaps? If the frame was broken or seriously out of shape, you'd know it.

FF

[robandzoe]

A dead give away is if you are inside, and look at all the rivets on the ceiling, Do you see that rivets have been popped or recently replaced. If so, then there is structural integrity issues. I'd also drop the front belly and look back at the frame from where it enters the trailer. I'd print out this, show the owner, and talk them down more! Rob

And then take it to GSM.

[robandzoe]

I just went back and looked at the tongue again. Where the frame goes into the trailer, it looks pretty clean. I'd take some new steel, go back into the trailer about a foot and run it along the outer rail to the ball hitch on each side. As for the wheel wells, I bet on the one side they had a blow out at one time, resulting in what you see. Plus, I agree, the tires are huge...not 7.00 X 15s - my Caravel owners manual said 6.75 x 15s. I'll take some pictures of the tongue on our Caravel. I mentioned in an earlier post that our tongue looked like that...it did on the inside of the U channel, but I used the Camp Lejeune Morale Welfare and Recreation welding shop ( a great free asset on the base for the Marines - you only pay for the steel and torch time) and we welded it with new, clean metal reinforcing it quite a lot - also the bumper needed welding. How is the bumper on this one - another indicator of frame problems.

Rob

[Aluminium]

Thanks for your comments everyone. I now have a checklist of things to examine including;

- looking under/inside the belly pan as much as possible to check the frame
- checking the step area to see why its not there
- checking the tire size to see if its larger than 7x15
- checking the inside for popped/missing rivets
- checking inside all cabinets for signs or rot or mice damage
- checking all windows to make sure they are glass not plastic

I'm driving out there on June 10th and will let you know how it goes.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Aluminum.

Check the axles.

Andy

[Excella3287]

Looks like that you are on the right track. If you have any questions, please call Rod at C & G trailer at 562 634-6286 he has lots of knowledge on Airstreams.

[Ken J]

This is the first I've read this thread - from what I can tell that frame where it goes into the trailer is more than just surface rust. To me, if its that rusty outside, its probably more rusty inside the belly because that insulation can hold a lot of moisture - may be wrong, but suspect that frame has some really bad places - you may want to consider if the owner will let you cut some inspection holes in the belly.

At the very minimum, I would take a hammer along with me and tap all along the frame - if its rusted bad, it will not feel solid and you will hear rust bits bouncing around as you tap it.

What does the frame look like where it exits the rear?

Ken J.