Pipe Frame Replacement

[Vintage One]

Most of the crossmembers are rotted away and I am thinking of replacing the pipe frame with a parallel steel construction.
Has anyone done this on a 21foot model and if so was 2x3 or 2x4 rails used.I am thinking of having it made 50 inches wide and then have outriggers welded on to the correct width. Any info.would be great Thanks

[silverleeper]

Hi Vintage One, Good to have you on the forums. This thread might help you. http://www.airforums.com/forums/f326...oud-27245.html.

If you could post some pics of your new project that would be great.

[Vintage One]

I will take some pictures this week to show how bad the rot is. I will have to replace the complete frame which will be a very big job.

[Vintage One]

Here is a shot showing how bad one of the frame members is.

[A-Merry-Can]

You can get a good idea of the frame from my thread here. I did a shell of on my 59 18 footer. The frame was 4" rails. I had a local fabrication shop make up the cross members and out riggers.

[FC7039]

Originally Posted by Vintage One

Here is a shot showing how bad one of the frame members is.

I know that when Airstream had a 1950 FC rebuilt, it was done on a more modern ladder frame.

The ribs are easy to duplicate. Buy aluminum. No better time then now to find a good source. I predict several trips. I am good at predicting. I predict the Saints over the Colts. See how easy it is after the fact. Take the aluminum to a sheet metal shop that has a shear and brake in excess of 80 inches. I predict that this relationship will also be a familiar one. I found that your job is too small for them to care and I found that a little extra to the guys in the back alleviates the need to go to the front desk.

The central pipe limits your flexibility for under the floor water tanks.

Now, this is up to you. If you truly want to "restore" it, then try to duplicate the pipe and limit the amount of added steel. The steel frame will add hundreds of pounds. If you plan to modify it and add weight, then you need to consider your options for a frame to handle the weight. The original had no tanks, no battery, 5/8ths plywood floor (3/4 inch weighs 10-15 lbs more a sheet), very little in the way of fixtures/furniture (other than the stove weighing a ton). I can say that as I rebuilt mine, there is a nagging voice that says I should have stayed true to the "keep it light" mantra. I could lift the tongue and move the trailer in its original state. I can no longer do that.

Good luck.

Gene

[A-Merry-Can]

Post pics, Gene! I love the old ones. Still trying to convince my wife we need a 5th...

In all seriousness, I've seen pics of pipe frame rebuilds where the ladder frame was pretty much concealed in the trailer. That would be what I would do if it were mine. make it look original, but (for safety's sake), make the hidden part a ladder. In the pics I saw, the even welded the pipe on the back of the frame so the tail would look right. Very slick!

JP

[Vintage One]

Here are a couple of pictures showing a pipe frame and a Ladder frame.I want to build a ladder frame but don't know any demensions for the side rails and crossmembers.

[toastie]

take a look at this............toastie

48WeeWind-IB