'78 31' Sovereign

[87MH]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

....
One question - is the lift pole attached to the Kabota bucket? How?

Lift pole is 3 1/2" OD drill pipe. The bucket has two pieces of pipe welded to the top and bottom of the bucket with an ID that just accepts the lift pole. These pieces are only a few inches long, so they do not get in the way of the normal operation of the bucket. The lift pole is pinned through the upper bracket so the pole does not jump out of the bottom bracket when rotating, lifting, or moving.

I never have been a fan of "foreign" tractors, but the Kubotas are a tough design to top - they take much abuse and keep on working.

[Venpetra]

Dennis,

Beautiful renovation on the Airstream. Did you have a weak spot on the floor that was just above where the spare tire is located. We have a "77 excella 500 and have encountered an issue in that spot. Looked under the unit and the cross members are good. The floor is solid on the sides it is just the area directly over the spare tire. Would like to speak with you in more detail if possible to get a better idea. Your help is much appreciated.

Ventura Lopez
832.868.1551 cell

[87MH]

Took the '78 to one of the local CAT scales - towed fine with the Reese Dual Cam - definitely a "sweet spot" at 56 to 57 mph on the interstate.

Tow vehicle was a short WB 3/4 ton Dodge van with the 360 and 4 spd auto (no rear overhang). At the "sweet spot" of 56 mph definetly performed better with the OD turned off - all driving on riceland flat South East Texas Interstate.

I normally get 14.5 ot 15 mpg with the van at 55 to 60, am anxious to compare with the AS in tow.

Interesting numbers at the scale. Took 4 weighs utilizing all three recording scales at the truck stop.

Van only weight:
Front axle - 2840 lbs.
Rear axle - 2880 lbs.

Trailer Only weight:
Weight on axles - 6000 lbs.
Weight on tongue - 660 lbs.

Van and trailer w/ equalizer bringing all to level:
Van Front axle - 2900 lbs
Van Rear axle - 3600 lbs
Trailer axles - 5980 lbs

Weights are with 50% Propane, about 50 lbs of water total, full fuel in the van, and spares and jacks in both vehicles. Trailer is set up for towing, less food, but with outdoor mats, bedding, clothing, and cooking gear in place.

.....Now, here's the kicker.....hooked up, with equalizer bars in place, and everything totally level, the front axle of the trailer weighs in at 3280 lbs, and the rear at 2740 lbs. A 540 lb. difference. The scales indicate I am transferring a total of 200 lbs to the trailer. Is it logical that the front axle of the trailer would take that entire 200 lbs? If that is the case (all the unaccounted weight being transfered to the front axle of the trailer) the axle imbalance would be 340 lbs.

Sure do wish the difference was the other way around, with the heavier axle in the rear.

Now, I do not have any weight at all in the bedroom - just the bed - and would really not like to add any additional wieght back there. I could raise the hitch a bit by increasing the weight on the bars, but that would (I think) put the trailer at a nose high attitude.

Unfortunately, due to the geometry of the scales, I was unable to get an individual trailer axle weight without being hooked up the the van. I guess I could go back and get another weight on both axles (one with the tongue weight) and verify the tongue weight with a stand alone weighing.

The Sovereign is a mid bath, so the black water tank is slightly behind the rear axle, but I think the penalty of additional weight there just for balance outweighs the slight benefit of bringing the front/rear weight ration closer to 50/50.

I know that front axle heavy is a bad thing - any suggestions to transfer weight to the rear axle, other than adding weight solely for the purpose of balance?

Any thoughts on safety issues amplified by pulling the trailer nose high? Rear clearance is not a problem at this time.

[87MH]

Originally Posted by 87MH

Took the '78 to one of the local CAT scales - Van only weight:
Front axle - 2840 lbs.
Rear axle - 2880 lbs.

Trailer Only weight:
Weight on axles - 6000 lbs.
Weight on tongue - 660 lbs.

Van and trailer w/ equalizer bringing all to level:
Van Front axle - 2900 lbs
Van Rear axle - 3600 lbs
Trailer axles - 5980 lbs
.....Now, here's the kicker.....hooked up, with equalizer bars in place, and everything totally level, the front axle of the trailer weighs in at 3280 lbs, and the rear at 2740 lbs. A 540 lb. difference. The scales indicate I am transferring a total of 200 lbs to the trailer.....

Shortened the chains two links on either side - don't think there is anything I can do to tighten up the bars any more and still be able to get them on and off without a come along.

New weights with the springs tightened (same scales) -

Van and trailer w/ equalizer bars at max:
Van Front axle - 2920 lbs
Van Rear axle - 3400 lbs
Trailer axles - 6040 lbs

This is a total of 12360 lbs, or 120 lbs less than yesterday's weight....this is on the same scale with the axles placed in the same position on the three weight pads....go figure.

I also took two weighings of the separate trailer axles:

Front Axle #1: 3220
Rear Axle #1: 2820

Front Axle #2: 2920
Rear Axle #2: 3060

As opposed to yesterday's reading - remember -same scale - everything identical except two more links on the bars today:

Front Axle : 3280
Rear Axle : 2740


I'm confused.....

I now have a total of 7 CAT tickets with 3 axle readings on six and 2 axle readings on one......

One thing they all pretty much agree on is the total weight is between 12360 and 12600.
Two readings indicated 12360 total and two indicated 12380 total. One was 12480 and one was 12600 total.
No total weight on one ticket - pulled the van forward off of the scales.

As Sgt Friday says - "Just the facts ma'am - nothing but the facts".

If anyone wants the CAT tickets I'll be glad to scan them.

[87MH]

The Sovereign is 30 years old - it left the Factory in JacksonCenter in the last half of 1977.

Some of the significant interior and lighting projects are outlined below:

• Lighting. I put in fluorescent overhead lights in the bath, hall, and kitchen. LEDs were installed in the bath night light, the tail, turn, and backup lights, as well as all of the marker lights. A 90 degree 1056 LED light was installed in the step light over the door. Halogen lights are now in the brake and flood light sockets.

A Pair of 36 LED array lights are in the kitchen light.

• Entertainment System. The Bose five speaker Surround Sound System and a flat screen television were brought over from the '87 345 MoHo. A later model Excella curio cabinet purchased as salvage from Colaw’s houses the Bose Acoustimass® Module. The roll around cabinet replaces the removed Tambour/Storage/8 Track module on the driver’s side of the living room.

Entertainment center and collapsible table shown secured for travel with flat screen TV bungeed to top.
The Entertainment Center started life as a unit similar to this one.

• Oak Parquet Flooring. A new ¼” plywood sub-floor was added over the original ½” plywood floor to level out seams and elevator bolts. The ¼” plywood was screwed down utilizing ½” countersunk screws and then the parquet was glued over that with a “pliant” glue. The bath area parquet was not glued, but secured with countersunk screws to facilitate possible future plumbing issues. Oak wall base molding and shoe base molding were installed wherever feasible. The wall base molding was installed with Velcro when possible, the shoe base with finish nails or silicone caulk.

• Additional Oak Overlays. Oak Cabinetry Plywood was overlaid on as many flat laminated surfaces as possible to eliminate the “plastic look” of this late ‘70’s Airstream. The Dometic inserts were replaced with the same Oak Plywood. Of all of the individual improvements made I think the Oak overlays and inserts provided the most bang for the buck.

• New Platform Bed. The bedroom was reorganized with a single East-West Queen Sized Select Comfort Sleep Number Bed. The Queen bed was installed as far rearward as possible (the rearward corners hitting the trailer sides at the wrap-around), and the adjacent areas filled in by cutting the original foam mattresses and various thicknesses of “memory foam” mattresses to effect a single “full room bed”. This type of bed was successfully used in the '87 345 MoHo. The surface is tied together by a high density memory foam cover and a deep king size mattress pad. Sleeping surfaces are protected by full area duvet styled sheets and bed coverings. The sleep platform was constructed utilizing the original twin bed supports with light weight pine bracing installed in three longitudinal locations. The rear end frame support I initially added (see post #27) came in handy here. One excellent feature (besides the light weight) of the Select Comfort air beds is that the largest single piece is only 6” X 6” X 80” long, so you do not have to wrestle a huge mattress into position through the trailer.

This pic shows the area available for a foam bolster.
Center support under bed - similar supports on driver's and curb side. 1/4" underlayment for Oak Parquet Flooring also visible.
Close up of cut out of bed platform for sitting area.

• Gaucho “Memory Foam” and Upholstery. I found a saddle maker in a small town just west of Houston who added 2” of memory foam to the original gaucho foam and installed new upholstery. “Silver Threads” here in the Forum finished the end and arm panels previously with the same fabric.

My total time on the rebuild (less stripping/polishing) to date is 650 hours, the total out of pocket expense is 16,000 US Dollars. Cost does not include purchase price, retrieval, or the polish job. There was no other labor involved with the rebuild – did it all myself (including the axles) with the exception of the upholstery which is included in the expense cost above. Time does not include chasing parts, which would easily double the 650 hours of actual work time.

This was therapy work - not work of necessity or an attempt at profit taking. Cheaper than some hobbies (I've owned airplanes and boats), but more expensive than most.

[HiHoAgRV]

Happy birthday to your 30 year old 'hottie', the looks would make Jackson Center green with envy.

[HiHoAgRV]

Ok, I was awake part of last night and it was you fault. How about some more detail on the re-skinning of the various faux wood interior components with the oak plywood? I saw some oak door skins at Lowes last week and they would probably wrap around the rounded edges. It looks like your rool up doors are still original.

What did you skin and what is original?

[87MH]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

...I was awake part of last night and it was your fault... . It looks like your rool up doors are still original....What did you skin and what is original?

Only reskinned the forward shower wall and the refrigerator and the forward wall of the refrigerator. The blend of light and dark woods is appealing to me. A PO installed the oak overhead and spice cabinets in the kitchen area.

I did purchase new door latches from an older dealer here in Houston (he had about a dozen in stock) and rehung the three closet doors with piano hinges. The original doors are very heavy, and may well be replaced with real wood in the future.

A favorite modification of the Significant Other is the wine rack:
Shown ready for travel on left,

Ready for use on right.


Here are some of the upgrades I did in the bath.


Repainted some of the plastic parts:




Installed a new shower head:
and several towel hangers:

[87MH]

Double click on thumb print for a full size image.




Anyone with a mid 70's AS will need to remove the front wall in order to get the fridge out.

Note the wall support bracket towards the top rear of the unit that attaches to the wall.

[87MH]

Now that the '78 is "on the road" - been putting LOTS of miles on it - it's time that the tow vehicle has an appropriate license plate - here it is.

Just got back from TAHI - got some quality time in with the Grandaughter on the lake.




Alabama only allows 6 letters on this type of plate - anyone who goes "Airstreaming" instead of "Camping" will understand.

[kwoolston]

Great job on the 78. We also rebuilt a 78 sovereign, international. I need to repair a leak in the toilet, work on the brakes, and she'll be ready for the beach as well. Spring break '08- San Carlos, Sonora, MX - Margaritaville!!

Video during and after interior renovation: 1978 Airstream Sovereign International