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Don Landis · 03-14-2009, 11:22 PM

Ok, last question of the night. Can you convert any of these classics to a 4X4? There's some great surf holes in Mexico that would be great to get to with one of these classics, but sometimes you need a 4x4 to get to them. I know it sounds crazy, but there are some Mercedes trucks that can do it. I was wondering if one of these Chevy or Diesels could as well.

bkahler · 03-15-2009, 07:39 AM

Don,

The only thing I can think of for you to look into would be scavaging the front axle from a Chevy G30 4x4 van. I'm not saying it would work but the front ends of the Classic motorhomes are very similar to the G30 front suspension. Finding a front end with the right gear ratio to match the rear axle could be kinda tricky.

You would also likely have to raise the ride height a few inches or more for clearances.

If you're serious about making a Classic into a 4x4 I would suggest looking for a 1974 20' or 24' Argosy motorhome. These were the predecessors of the Classic motorhomes with only minor differences. However our 74 20' Argosy motorhome has somewhat smaller wheels and sits a little lower to the ground than the newer Classic style.

If you do decide to convert one to 4x4 keep us posted on your progress!

Brad

ScrapIrony-2 · 03-15-2009, 11:18 PM

Hey Don,
Last year, in Quartzsite(AZ), we ran across an Airstream conversion out of Canada renamed a Slipstream...it was a 4WD(actually a 6WD) with an Excella body mounted on a RV/truck chassis which used the tag-axle as the driving wheel, and had a belt-drive engagement for the front rear dual-axle...talked with the guy for quite awhile...hye said his info was that only eight of them had been made, and that his was the only one he had seen or heard of still on the road...I have pics, somewhere in this electronic beast, and would post them, if I could find them and actually complete the transfer...the front and rear bonnets were fabricated in Canada, and the riveting was done in Airstream style...NICE RIG!!!
mike

Don Landis · 03-16-2009, 01:26 AM

Yes, those pictures would be nice. Hope you can find them. I think it would be a cool thing to own a 4 wheel drive Airstream Classic.

outofcontrol · 04-01-2009, 01:25 PM

4x4 is probably the easiest problem. I'd be more worried about removing a 6 ton vehicle from the sand when you do get stuck. the tires are like pizza cutters and my 280 (28' long) has about 8' of tail behind the duals. I'd love to see some pics of a 6x6 full sized motorhome. Where there's a will, there's a way.

Mike Leary · 04-01-2009, 02:02 PM

A Bambi would look good on this bad boy.

bkahler · 04-01-2009, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outofcontrol

Where there's a will, there's a way.

Having money certainly doesn't hurt either

.

outofcontrol · 04-01-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Leary

A Bambi would look good on this bad boy.

yea, just buy one of these (is that a Unimog?) and strip it down to the frame and transplant the MoHo body onto it. All it takes is $$$.
I, unfortunately, have the experience of getting my MoHo stuck twice. yes, 2 times. Luckily I was around a bunch of big rigs both times (motorcycle races) but if I were out in the sand down some little trail in Mexico, I'd be dead.

Don Landis · 04-02-2009, 11:35 PM

Yea, I agree. I always loved those Unimogs. I heard once that they were going to start importing them, but I haven't heard since. I once saw one of these bad boys in the bush down way south in the Baja on its way to some great surf. I was very envious.

Astrodokk · 06-28-2009, 10:32 PM

My boys and I used to go out in the boonies for paintball games. People thought I was nuts for taking the Airstream 28' MH way up there in the hills but she trucked on. It was a rough ride though and I used to think that if it was 4X4 that it would be so much easier!

I saw this Class C a while back. Use it for inspiration.