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03-14-2009, 11:22 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
1978 28' Argosy 28
Monterey
, California
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 105
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4 X 4 Classic
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.
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03-15-2009, 07:39 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1974 20' Argosy 20
Richmond
, Kentucky
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,116
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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
__________________
Air forums # 1674
1974 20' Argosy Motor Home
1975 24' Argosy Motor Home
1974 31' Excella trailer (parting out, as of 4/1/2015 I have wheels & windows left to sell)
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03-15-2009, 11:18 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1989 34.5' Airstream 345
Silverton
, Colorado
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,102
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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
__________________
Michael & Tracy
1989 345 Motorhome
CHARTER MEMBERS: FOUR CORNERS UNIT, AND PROUD OF IT!!!
We live for the moment, 'cause when you get there, it's gone...
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03-16-2009, 01:26 AM
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#4
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3 Rivet Member
1978 28' Argosy 28
Monterey
, California
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 105
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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.
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04-01-2009, 01:25 PM
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#5
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4 Rivet Member
1996 28' Excella
Portland
, Oregon
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 322
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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.
__________________
1996 Airstream Excella 28'
2007 GMC Duramax 4x4 CCSB
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04-01-2009, 02:02 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
1984 31' Airstream310
Ajo
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,649
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A Bambi would look good on this bad boy.
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04-01-2009, 02:20 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1974 20' Argosy 20
Richmond
, Kentucky
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,116
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Quote:
Originally Posted by outofcontrol
Where there's a will, there's a way.
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Having money certainly doesn't hurt either .
__________________
Air forums # 1674
1974 20' Argosy Motor Home
1975 24' Argosy Motor Home
1974 31' Excella trailer (parting out, as of 4/1/2015 I have wheels & windows left to sell)
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04-01-2009, 02:58 PM
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#8
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4 Rivet Member
1996 28' Excella
Portland
, Oregon
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 322
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Leary
A Bambi would look good on this bad boy.
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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.
__________________
1996 Airstream Excella 28'
2007 GMC Duramax 4x4 CCSB
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04-02-2009, 11:35 PM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member
1978 28' Argosy 28
Monterey
, California
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 105
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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.
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06-28-2009, 10:32 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Seattle
, WA
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 620
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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.
__________________
2000 Ford E-350 Super Duty 418ci/6.8L Triton V10 21’ Chinook Concourse XL
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