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04-24-2007, 08:10 AM
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#1
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Rivet Master
1971 25' Tradewind
1993 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Estancia
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,743
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Years to Avoid?
I may be in the market to replace my 73 Sovereign that has frame damage. What years should I avoid to make running into the same problems of frame bending or tail drop less likely? I have heard Airstreams when the company was owned by Beatrice in particular should be avoided. What are those years?
__________________
Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine.
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04-24-2007, 08:49 AM
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#2
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Remember, Safety Third
1973 27' Overlander
Catfish Corners
, Georgia
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,720
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Somebody will correct me if I missed the dates, but I think the "weak frame" issues were from about 1971 to 1977. I think The Vap guys identified 1978 as the "year Airstream cleared up all the frame issues". Not meant to be a direct quote, just going by poor memory.
Jim
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04-24-2007, 11:25 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1977 31' Sovereign
1963 26' Overlander
1989 34' Excella
Johnsburg
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,944
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Biggest problems were with the rear bath 31 footers. You want the units that had the 5 inch frame and the mid bath, if you want maximum durablity.
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04-24-2007, 07:21 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1986 25' Sovereign
Southern Middle
, Tennessee
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,319
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marshall
I may be in the market to replace my 73 Sovereign that has frame damage. What years should I avoid to make running into the same problems of frame bending or tail drop less likely? I have heard Airstreams when the company was owned by Beatrice in particular should be avoided. What are those years?
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Marshall, since I had a rear bath '77 31' with a slight frame issue and axles with still some life in them, I went to an '86 Sovereign mid/side bath and rear corner bed. I saw an '80 mid twin rear bath 25' Excella II that had the larger frame and wish I could have purchased it but didn't have the money at the time. I've been happy with my '86.
__________________
Craig
AIR #0078
'01 2500hd ext. cab, 8.1 litre gas, 5 sp. Allison auto
3.73 rear end
Mag-Hytec rear diff cover
Amsoil Dual by-pass oil filtration system
Amsoil synthetics all around
265 watt AM Solar, Inc. system
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11-22-2009, 08:07 AM
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#6
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2 Rivet Member
Ashland
, Kentucky
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 33
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I am looking at older Airstreams and was just wondering if this is true?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim & Susan
Somebody will correct me if I missed the dates, but I think the "weak frame" issues were from about 1971 to 1977. I think The Vap guys identified 1978 as the "year Airstream cleared up all the frame issues". Not meant to be a direct quote, just going by poor memory.
Jim
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11-22-2009, 08:19 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
1963 26' Overlander
1961 26' Overlander
Central
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,919
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Quote:
Originally Posted by transy416
I am looking at older Airstreams and was just wondering if this is true?
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My '77 29' has a full 5" frame. It was made in late '76. Kinda hate to sell it
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11-22-2009, 08:33 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1977 31' Sovereign
1963 26' Overlander
1989 34' Excella
Johnsburg
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,944
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The units that have the 4 inch frame and the rear bath and gray water tanks were particularly subject to rear end droop, frame separation, fatigue failures in the frame over the axles and were recalled by Airstream to install frame strengthener plates and "elephant ear fix" to better attach the frame to the shell. I would avoid them, unless they did a really good job installing fixes to the problem. Likewise, the first years of the prefinished aluminum had clearcoat deterioration problems and you should figure on paying to have them repolished and recoated.
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11-23-2009, 04:38 PM
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#9
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2 Rivet Member
Ashland
, Kentucky
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 33
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Thanks. I'm looking at center bath models, so I guess I should be fine...
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11-23-2009, 06:51 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1978 29' Ambassador
1974 25' Tradewind
1974 27' Overlander
Indiana
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 677
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How would one know if they have a trailer with a 5" frame? We have a 29' "78" Ambassador.
Bob
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04-06-2011, 08:42 PM
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#11
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1 Rivet Member
1973 31' Sovereign
Lexington
, South Carolina
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 10
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Hi, how and where do I look to see if I have a 5" frame?
Two Blades
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04-07-2011, 08:10 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
1963 26' Overlander
1961 26' Overlander
Central
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,919
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The frame rails exit the shell at the rear and go all the way to the bumper. That's one place to measure the height.
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