Timeless Custom Gull Wing Airstream

[Brett - TTT]

Timeless Travel Trailers of Denver announces the delivery of the first Gull Wing door Airstream in North America. This unique vehicle was designed, engineered, and built by Timeless for Straight Down Clothing Company of San Luis Obispo, CA. The entire street side of the coach was engineered to open upward exposing the interior to create a fun and inviting sales area. The coach will be used by Straight Down to promote their line of golf apparel on a national tour of golf tournaments, trade shows, and dealer appointments. The tour will also raise awareness and funding for ALS (Lou Gehrigs Disease) a neurodegenerative disorder.

The trailer was built from a new 2011 Airstream 23’ International shell. In addition to the gull wing door, the trailer features maple cabinetry, solid Canadian maple and American Walnut countertops. The Straight Down logo is inlaid with brushed aluminum into a maple panel. Entertainment is provided with a 36” Sony Bravia HDTV fed by a KVH satellite system operating on Dish Network as well as a PlayStation 3 with wireless controls. A second smaller TV is also fed from the satellite system. An Alpine audio system provides sound both inside and outside the coach from radio, CD, the TVs, PlayStation, and iPod. The coach can be used with the door in either the open or closed position depending on the requirements of the event. The trailer is powered by a Cummins/Onan 4.5Kw generator mounted on the tongue. The custom graphics were created by Big Horn Signs, a regular Timeless subcontractor.
The photos were taken at Lakeside Amusement Park (1909) in Denver in front of Architect Richard Crowther's Art Deco loading station for the Ed Vettle designed Cyclone Rollercoaster (1941) an American Coaster Enthusiast's landmark coaster.

[Aviator]

Cool

[oh2bcarefree]

I hope it comes to a location near me, it would be great to see it in person. Very creative and I love that in addition to being a store front it is also very prominently supporting ALS!

The photos are awesome and it all goes so well together, Airstreams and Art Deco are just made for each other. Great Job!

Tina

[bevman]

Brett,
What's the effect on the structural integrity of the shell in adding a large articulating wall? In building construction you are not allowed penetrations in a shear wall, and I would imagine that you wouldn't want to take a plane ride in something to which someone had removed a large portion of the side. Did you have to add an elaborate latching system at the margin of the gullwing to lock everything together?

Still, it looks cool, and makes a great tradeshow booth. I would just be worried about it twisting and torquing when towing.

[Inland RV Center, In]

We have built similair trailers, but on a smaller scale.

The trick is to use "doubler" beef up main bows and/or horizontal stringer.

If you look carefully, you can clearly see where that was installed on the first and last station (main bows).

Beefing up the frame, to some degree, would certainly be an added benefit.

The above trailer has a very small "pay load" therefore twisting would not be very much. However, additional "beef ups" can easily be installed, along with "locking pins" to hold the shell together so as to maintain it's original "semi-monocoque" structural integrity during travel.

This is not something that can easily be done, but with the right tools along with the right knowledge, many things can be done with an Airstream, as we did in the past, for CNN.

To say the least, Timeless did a great job, that does indeed, reap it's rewards.

Andy

[mello mike]

Very Cool. An Airstream will a built in, hard awning. Creates a problem with bugs, though.

[Jezibels]

Originally Posted by mello mike

Very Cool. An Airstream will a built in, hard awning. Creates a problem with bugs, though.

I see a hundred snaps and some netting to go around the top, to make a screen room, in its future ; )

[mello mike]

Originally Posted by Jezibels

I see a hundred snaps and some netting to go around the top, to make a screen room, in its future ; )

There 'ya go! That would work.

[Minnie's Mate]

Originally Posted by mello mike

An Airstream will a built in, hard awning.

I was thinking the exact same thing. This would be a good design for a mobile food stand. Much more aesthetically pleasing than one of the box trailers with a swing up panel. The added weight of the food storage/prep equipment might be a challenge...but then again, solving that kind of problem would indeed be a reward.

Very nice job.

[Jim & Susan]

WAY kewl! How a bout a few close up shots of the interior woodwork?

Jim

[slowmover]

What's the story on the generator and lack of an enclosure? I'd have thought the customer would have wanted something complementary. It's sure a good-looking piece of work (and thanks for some insight, Andy).

[Brett - TTT]

Originally Posted by bevman

Brett,
What's the effect on the structural integrity of the shell in adding a large articulating wall? In building construction you are not allowed penetrations in a shear wall, and I would imagine that you wouldn't want to take a plane ride in something to which someone had removed a large portion of the side. Did you have to add an elaborate latching system at the margin of the gullwing to lock everything together?

Still, it looks cool, and makes a great tradeshow booth. I would just be worried about it twisting and torquing when towing.

Thank you for you compliments and concerns.

It is possible to place large openings in shear walls if the walls are engineered to do so. Most commercial aircraft have large openings such as cargo doors engineered into the sides of them. Military and cargo planes have entire ends which flip up to allow loading and unloading. (Image Google "747 Super Guppy) It is all in the engineering. We have the advantage that this vehicle doesn't have to be pressurized at altitude!

In this case we started with a new shell specifically built without Sikaflex sealant on the inside of the vehicle. This allowed us to apply our propritary strengthening to inside of the shell without the Sikaflex being in the way or effecting our adhesives. We heavily modified the zero ribs and installed an aluminum header to support the door and roof load. The latching system is a six point arrangement which primarily applies compression against the neoprine weather seals. The lifting struts come the aviation industry. They provide lift as well as help hold the door closed.
The trailer could travel without the door but the aerodynamics would be terrible and the fuel mileage would be a nightmare!

We did not modify the chassis as load testing after the opening was cut indicated no need for it. As built, the trailer is lighter than its original weight if it were finished as camping trailer at Airstream. There is also capacity for 1500# of displays and product. All of our structural mods are designed and supervised by our engineers.

Timeless is a registered motor vehicle manufacturer with the US DOT. Because this vehicle has been so greatly modified it has a Timeless VIN rather than an Airstream VIN.

[Brett - TTT]

Originally Posted by REDNAX

What's the story on the generator and lack of an enclosure? I'd have thought the customer would have wanted something complementary. It's sure a good-looking piece of work (and thanks for some insight, Andy).

The generator has a marine grade vinyl cover while in transit. While it is a very quiet unit the client and most of the golf courses they set up at prefer to have the generator remote from the trailer. We have used the same model on all of the trailers we have built for this client. We handle their logistics for them and having a commonality in equipment makes operations and maintenance much easier.

Upon request (and within budget constraints) we do custom build aluminun covers or build a generator compartment into the coach body.

[streamquest]

If you like this one, check out a site called Airstream 4U. This is a German company that has been doing similar stuff for a long time. The typically German standard of craftsmanship combined with classic Airstream styling produces some amazing results.

[LLB21]

I was able to peek at Matthew McConaughey's Airstream recently. It was in for service at C&G Trailer in Bellflower, CA.

It had been customized by Timeless Trailers. They did a beautiful job. It looked like they used an Airstream shell and then built their own ideas into the trailer. It did not look "Airstream" inside.

[oh2bcarefree]

Originally Posted by streamquest

If you like this one, check out a site called Airstream 4U. This is a German company that has been doing similar stuff for a long time. The typically German standard of craftsmanship combined with classic Airstream styling produces some amazing results.

WOW - I'm kind of speachless after viewing their website. The amount of vintage trailers they have (or had) is crazy. It looks like they do nice work and create some really fun trailers.

I would say they are in the same league as Timeless.

Tina

[Brett - TTT]

Originally Posted by Minnie's Mate

I was thinking the exact same thing. This would be a good design for a mobile food stand. Much more aesthetically pleasing than one of the box trailers with a swing up panel. The added weight of the food storage/prep equipment might be a challenge...but then again, solving that kind of problem would indeed be a reward.

Very nice job.

Thanks for the compliment, Minnie.

We have solved the weight problems from the very start. Unfortunately many people do not address weight, distribution or balance issues when converting an Airstream travel trailer into a foodservice vehcile.

Working with the Airstream factory and Dexter Chassis we start our mobile food vending trailers on a 13,000# GVWR chassis with a standard, albeit windowless, 23' body shell. To this platform we add preparation, cooking, ventilation, fire protection, sanitation, and refrigeration equipment, automatic service windows, up to 100 gallons of water and 150 gallons of gray water, 200# of propane, 15kw diesel generator (the cooking equipment max's out the LPG vapor output), audio and video gear, awnings, emergency exit, solid vinyl or aluminum deck plate flooring, interior and exterior lighting and graphics. The trailer is equipped with 6000# axles and 16" load range E tires as well as a Reese weight distributing hitch which was selected to fit with the LPG and diesel fuel tanks on the tongue.



This Timeless foodservice trailer was built for Streat Chefs of Boulder, CO and operates under the supervision of Chef Hosea Rosenberg, a Top Chef winner. Web site: www.StreatChefs.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/StrEatChefs Twitter: http://twitter.com/streatchefs

Each of our food vending trailers is built to NSF and ETL standards and to local health codes where the unit will be operating to ensure ready acceptance by local authories for the permitting process.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, what makes a 13,000 lb GVWR chassis versus a stock 6,000 lb GVWR 23'er. In other words, is the frame thicker tubing? Or is the frame 2" X 6" instead of 2" X 5" like my Safari frame? Are there more cross members? Does Dexter make all Airstream frames; And if so do you know what year they started making them?

[Brett - TTT]

There are a number of differences to get the higher GVWR. It all comes down to the math in the engineering. Thicker and larger tubing, additional members and more stiffeners. There are several different chassis suppliers depending on model and design. Multiple suppliers avoid materials interuption and production delays. I don't have a specific date when the chassis were outsourced but looking at a number of model years I would say that the practice started in the early 80s or possibly earlier.

[2airishuman]

nice thread bret

hoping U will share pics and info about some of the other commercial units produced.

we've covered WHO makes the frames several times in threads, like here...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f341...tml#post536144

a/s has been using leland mfg from michigan for many years all units.

this company was purchased/acquired by dexter about 5 years ago...
_______

are you suggesting they use a DIFFERENT frame mfg for these 1 off units?
_______

i like the idea of a beefier frame, obviously the axles are rated appropriately...

so in this unit that would be 6,500 lbs each?
________

does a/s do any shell reinforcements related to your spec/needs?

are more ribs or strategically placed ribbing used?

do they do ANYTHING extra to the frame/shell connection?

or is everything related to the shell for these commercial units done in your shop?

thanks for sharing the pics!

cheers
2air'