Chopped Airstream

[RestoWarrior]

Although I have not posted a great deal, I am an avid reader of the knowledge provided. I have increased my skills and knowledge of Airstreams 10 fold just by absorbing the experiences provided!

I am an avid restomodder of motorcycles and cars. I also do quite a bit with old houses. I have read that the demand for the small trailers is much higher than that for the larger ones (we have a 1965 30').

Has anyone ever chopped a frame to create a smaller trailer, or shrunk the size of the enclosure to create a platform in rear for ATV hauling.

It would seem since frame off resto seems to be the norm, shortening frame and removing sections of the midsection of the aluminum would be a relatively simple task...it could also be done with previously scrapped units..essentially using pieces...

Am I knutz?

[AWCHIEF]

Actually does not sound appealing to me at all. A lot of work to reinvent the wheel. The time and cost involved may never be recouped, but if you make it, it may just be what someone else is looking for. If you are doing it for your own gratification - go for it and post lots of pictures of the project as it unfolds.

[vswingfield]

Actually, this has come up many times. I did a search on "shorten airstream" and got the following results:

shorten airstream - Google Search

And yes, if you're here, you probably are knutz. But that's a different story.

[CanoeStream]

From an amazing technically talented member - 1967/2007 12' Viewpod

[bredlo]

Here's one of the more well-documented threads on this type of project: the Viewpod.

[CanoeStream]

Brad - jinx, you owe me a pop.

[bredlo]

Dang! Great minds... as they say.

[RestoWarrior]

Excellent read.. Thx

[CanoeStream]

RestoWarrior - one thing to watch would be axle placement. The norm is having 11-13% of the trailer weight on the tongue. The worst case is letting this percentage drop significantly. Too-low tongue weight and the trailer will try to switch ends while underway -- just like trying to throw an arrow backwards.

Many of us may have experienced the above with utility trailers where weight is placed randomly toward the tail. Some rear-door Argosy trailers of the 70s were shy on tongue weight. They'd tow okay with camping provisions on board but are not stable tows when totally empty.

Carlos Ferguson's Viewpod subjectively looks like the tongue weight might be heavier than the 11-13% range -- maybe only an issue if trying to tow with a too-small Corvair...

[SmokelessJoe]

Resto,

You ruminated about "creating a platform", probably to haul something along with your living cabin.

Here's somebody who has gone that route in a totally original way:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f345...tml#post976062

Sergei