My '64 Overlander Adventure - Page 5

GreatPumpkin · 07-12-2006, 12:57 AM

...continued on from the Silver Falls Rally to the rest of our vacation.

SILVER FALLS PICTURES

Next stop: Winston, OR for the drive thru Wildlife Safari. (It's much smaller, more primitive than I remember as a kid) My kid's loved it. The first animal shot is of the emu greeting committee. (265, 266) (thru the window - they peck). I rolled down my window in the Lion enclosure (269) and was promptly chastised by the attendant in the guard tower. The first and last shots (264,338) should be of the AS in the Safari's 4 Star RV resort

(The last one is of our Diesel Pusher? Airstream neighbors that pulled in on the day we left. They had left the International and were killing a few days before heading to another rally in California)

WILDLIFE SAFARI PICTURES

From there to the coast at Bullards Beach State Park for 3 days (Bandon, OR). Collected a few rocks on the beach to throw in the rock tumbler when we get home. Buried the kid's in the sand (memo to self - did we remember to bring them home?) Took the (expensive, ouch) sunset horseback ride on the beach, everyone really enjoyed that. All were sore the next day, except yours truly - maybe it was the summer I spent working on a cattle ranch years ago, I learned how to ride.

OREGON BEACH PICTURES

Journeyed up highway 101 towards home and got a case of road rash a few miles south of Florence. The awning mounting bracket on the back support arm decided to give up and the awning promptly went road surfing. This went on for about a 1/2 mile until I could pull over. (blocking a business driveway and getting yelled at.) A nice couple in a truck pulled over to offer help, and we quickly dismantled the awning and support arm stowing it in the trailer before moving on.
While we were in a hurry to get out of the driveway, I couldn't help but notice the t-shirt on one of our Good Samaritan helpers – take a wild guess here - Yes they were fellow airstreamers. Unfortunately I didn’t get their names, but many thanks, kudos, and karma to them for their help. They had been to the International, and happened to be traveling behind me on 101, sans their airstream.

Instead of "name that tune", how about a game of "name that awning manufacturer"? Does anyone recognize the brand? (E-Z AWN is cast into part of the bracket)(pictures below) Are parts still available?
The mounting brackets appear to be cheap, cast “pot” metal. During the emergency roadside surgery, I noticed that the top bracket had previously broken most of the way thru sometime in the past. The jarring it was taking on highway 101 broke it off the rest of the way, causing the bottom one to break clean thru leaving the support arm nothing to do but road surf.

We traveled as far as The Dalles, spending the night in a Safeway parking lot before continuing the rest of the way home. Made it home with enough daylight left to wash the truck and Airstream before resting up to return to reality on Monday.

overlander63 · 07-12-2006, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatPumpkin

Instead of "name that tune", how about a game of "name that awning manufacturer"? Does anyone recognize the brand? (E-Z AWN is cast into part of the bracket)(pictures below) Are parts still available?
The mounting brackets appear to be cheap, cast “pot” metal. During the emergency roadside surgery, I noticed that the top bracket had previously broken most of the way thru sometime in the past. The jarring it was taking on highway 101 broke it off the rest of the way, causing the bottom one to break clean thru leaving the support arm nothing to do but road surf.

EZ Awn is the brand name of awnings sold by the Wally Byam store, and are NLA. If you get a new awning, I could use some parts for mine, but only if you can't find the parts to fix yours.

overlander63 · 07-12-2006, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander63

EZ Awn is the brand name of awnings sold by the Wally Byam store, and are NLA. If you get a new awning, I could use some parts for mine, but only if you can't find the parts to fix yours.

I had to run before I could finish the above post. PM me with the parts you need, I may have some extras to send you, to keep at least one of our awnings working.

NorCal Bambi · 07-12-2006, 07:59 AM

Sounds like your awning moment was about as exciting as our door adventure. Let me know if you can't find replacement parts. Maybe I could help you fabricate some replacement parts. It was great meeting you and your special family. Your pictures were great helped remind me of the the many trips we took with our kids when they were still kids. Building special moments with your family is what makes life so rich.
Don

GreatPumpkin · 07-13-2006, 12:42 AM

The top and bottom mounting brackets are what I need. If they're not available, I wonder how hard (or expensive) it would be to machine some out of a piece of solid aluminum? That would probably be a big improvement over the original cast metal mounts. Does anyone on the forums have a setup to recreate some mounting brackets?

I'd like to stay with the original for two reasons:

1) No new holes in the outer shell; re-use the existing mounting holes.

2) I already have it, and I'm a cheapskate (that's what my wife is always telling me - or was that tightwad, penny pincher and a few other choice words?)

CaddyGrn · 07-13-2006, 12:45 AM

We lost our awning when we owned a (SOB = some other brand) in a previous life. Once we were on the road into Yosemite and a big rig came around a narrow corner and we had no where to go but nearly into the guard rail... well, our awning bracket ripped off. Always had trouble with it after that it seemed... another time (after this incident) we were on Hwy 101 near Salinas in California and the wind was really blowing... just caught our rolled up awning just right and opened her up right on the freeway just like a sail.... that was interesting too.

But we all survived. At least in yours and ours no one got hurt. As much as we love our little homes on wheels, can't compare to our families!

How was your shower drain? I know you had an incident at Silver Falls... did that work out?

Don calls the insulation located in the bellypan area (where all the water can leak) Airstream diapers.

We have a metal lathe... Don loves to play around on it... so his offer to help you fabricate potentially needed parts.... who knows! Talk to him... He isn't an expert this huge thing in our garage didn't become part of our "family" until retirement.

It was great to meet you and your family ~ please tell your bride her brownies were wonderful!!!!

We hope to see you at another forum rally! Maybe Beverly Beach in the winter!

Mrs. NorCal Bambi (Claudia) Traveling in S Tardis

GreatPumpkin · 07-13-2006, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaddyGrn

...

How was your shower drain? I know you had an incident at Silver Falls... did that work out?

Don calls the insulation located in the bellypan area (where all the water can leak) Airstream diapers.

It was great to meet you and your family ~ please tell your bride her brownies were wonderful!!!!

We hope to see you at another forum rally! Maybe Beverly Beach in the winter!

Mrs. NorCal Bambi (Claudia) Traveling in S Tardis

I haven't had a chance to tackle the drain yet. It appears that the upside down "bowlers hat", that on some trailers hangs below the belly pan to acommodate the p-trap, on mine is contained completely in the belly pan with no access. I'm going to have to cut an access panel in the belly, remove the "bowlers hat" and then replace the p-trap. It probably froze and cracked from the PO's failure to winterize. Fortunately the water was contained within that part and didn't go into the airstream diaper

.

Thanks. I will pass on the compliment to my better half. It was a pleasure meeting you and Don. Is there a date set for Beverly Beach?

GreatPumpkin · 07-13-2006, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatPumpkin

...

The mounting brackets appear to be cheap, cast “pot” metal.

I stand corrected; The brackets are cast metal, but while removing and cleaning them for phot ops, I discovered they are aluminum! Every part of the awning is aluminum except a steel arm that slides out to extend the awning, and a few large steel rivets. Here's some pic's if anyone has them to spare, knows where to get replacements, or knows someone who can recreate them.

till · 08-15-2006, 12:39 PM

Is the serch still on?? If so, can you get me a measured drawing of the original and a quanitity???

GreatPumpkin · 08-15-2006, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by till

Is the search still on?? If so, can you get me a measured drawing of the original and a quantity???

The search is still on.

I have 2 broken ones, but if I am able to find someone to create them, I'd probably get 4 to keep the aesthetically the same (and to prevent future failure/breakage in the other 2)

Overall length is 4-1/4"
Overall height is 1-5/8"

Shaft length is 1-1/2"
Shaft thickness is 25/32" (20mm)

Base length is 2-1/4"
Base thickness is 1/4"

Body length (minus shaft) is 2-3/4"

Mounting holes are 1/4" spaced 7/8" apart (center to center)

The drawing isn't that good, but you should be able to get the general idea. I can send one to anyone able/willing to replicate.

till · 08-15-2006, 03:05 PM

Give me a couple of weeks.........

till · 08-21-2006, 07:58 AM

couple of questions...
How much weight is on this part?

Does it have to look just like the original or can it be beefed up a little?

GreatPumpkin · 08-21-2006, 08:17 AM

They are pretty light weight aluminum. 3-1/8 ounces per bracket (92 grams). It could probably stand a little "beefing" up so the awning doesn't go road surfing again. The mounting holes and length are the main things so I (preferably) don't have to put any new holes in the shell of the AS.

till · 08-21-2006, 09:52 AM

Sorry, I was not clear in my first question. How much weight will be on the bracket? Working with the engineer here we have come up with a little more square design, but to refine it he needs to know the load on it. Mounting holes and spacing will remain the same.