Saggy Bottom ( rear end )

[Silver Bullet]

There is a "Snap-on" wheel balancer at E-bay (# 1870079550), little over 7 hrs. left. Price is at $260.50 and appears reserve has been met. Oscar

[uwe]

Chuck,

I am talking about delivering expensive trailers with unbalanced running gear in the first place. Then at some point later sending bulletins to their dealers, most of which apparently don't even have the equipment to properly balance. I feel that Airstreams efforts to clarify an obviously controversial problem are very weak; by my standards of doing business. I wonder if they are installing balanced drums on the new trailers, and if so, since when. I also wonder if their factory replacement drums now come balanced.

[74Argosy24MH]

Uwe

In a similar discussion one of the members said he had bought new drums from a reputable vendor that were machined off center. I don't know where he purchased them as that was the all he said, but it does not sound like they are balanced much better now than 20 years ago.

John

[uwe]

That's too bad, really. But despite the few shortcomings, I find the Airstream still the only trailer that I would consider. Just my preference, though.

[hex]

Uwe thanks for the personal advice. However I am not "P.O.ed" as you call it, at Andy or anybody else. I simply am frustrated at people that state things and then ignore questions pertaining to those statements.

I am anxiously awaiting :
from you Uwe - more info on the crinkle.

from Inland Andy - the cost of a tandem balance out at Inland RV.
- why fewer center baths have the sag


I am also very interested in exploring tail-smack,tail-strike,tail-slam, or butt-kick or whatever we should call it.

Back to tail-sag....It apparently is a real problem, it is a deal-breaker (IMHO) therfore many will try to hide it. We (as a community) can not afford to not know all we can learn about it.

Please tell me what would compare with the fear of this problem before purchasing or after.
I have seen many good questions...few good answers.

I want to see the service bulletin and any prior or subsequent posted bulletins please.

I want to know how to test for this sag.
I want to be told how and what is "repaired" for $3000+ bux.
I want to get to the bottom of the "certain models and years" rumor/excuse.
I want to ID this crinkle clue, (the only one mentioned yet) and I want others to come forward that have had a similar crinkle/wave.

If I am wanting too much...then this whole Airstream Mystique is just Bogus-Propaganda.

[uwe]

Hi Hex,

The crinkle is a soft wave in the aluminum, just ahead of the front streetside wheelwell. above it, the aluminum gives to a slight push, and then bottoms out on the ribs,, which tells me that it's not riveted to them anymore. In my case, there is a slight crease like the trailer had a small accident, or was scraped along a pole. this might have pushed the ribs in and caused the waviness int eh aluminum skin. I cannot see deformations on the inside skin, because it is behind the stove.
Deal breaker: No. It's repairable. 2k$ at the most, i heard. Just add $ 2k to the purchase price, another $1K or so for "small stuff, and you're in the ballpark.
The tail sag crinkle is quite obvious, would not know how to hide it. Look down the side of the trailer, and watch for bulges when you are out shopping. So, if it seems that's wrong, just consider that you will end up with an excellent product, tons cheaper than a new one, and much "better" than the white box units.
Hex, some of your answers don't necessarily have concrete answers. Every case just about is different. Get a unit you like, don't over-research it and scare yourself out of the fun of owning an Airstream. Good information is vital, but nothing beats personal experience. No one will have all the answers all at once. Do a search, and you will find a bunch of hits on the tail sag issue, but most are opinions. I used Google.com, and entered airstream tail sag, and some of the sites came up. One of the more intense ones was this one: www.tompatterson.com

[JPAIRSTREAM]

Bulletin your refering too

[Silver Bullet]

The wave you describe, is it a horizontal or verticle wave. The pole accident you mentioned leads me to think verticle wave. Thanks, Oscar

[Inland RV Center, In]

Hex.
Answering a reasonable question, asked in a reasonable way is always welcomed. However, when demands are made to answer questions, that would take many pages of typing, that no longer becomes reasonable.

We charge .4 per hour per wheel for a complete tire, wheel, hub and drum balancing, plus the lead.

I cannot comply with your other demands for answers.

Suggest that you contact the Airstream customer service people at 877-5966505. They are paid by the hour to answer questions.
We are not paid by anyone to answer questions. We are not paid to provide service bulletins. We do it graciously, on a time available basis for our customers or just to be helpful.
Since you have demanded some answers, that have many times over been given on this site as well as others, then I respectfully decline to do it again.

You have also asked them in a combative way, and primarily for that reason, I will not take the time to again, give the same answers.

Usually, when someone has a genuine concern, they would call me, in fairness, on their nickel since they won't be spending any money, instead of our 800 number, and in a friendly way ask if I have time to try to help them with some answers. For over 37 years, I have never said "NO" to that kind of approach.

Please understand HEX, I am not mad at you. But I am not obligated to give any answers to anyone about anything, unless I want to.

I really don't have much of an incentive to be helpful, when someone is swinging an ax. Perhaps at a later date.

The sagging problem, is called "rear end separation."

Andy
inlandrv.com
airstreamparts.com

[uwe]

It's a vertical wave. The line that makes me think it could have been an accident instead of tail sag is horizontal, but a bit farther back towards the water heater lid. As a matter of fact, the old water heater lid had the continuation of this scratch/line/dent in it.
The wave starts at the bottom rub moulding, and goes up about 8in. The skin above it is sort of lose against the rib. It is not immediately noticeable, unless you look for it.

[Silver Bullet]

Now I have the pic in my mind as to how it looks and affected areas.. Thanks again, Oscar

[BobbyW]

At this time I am not going to edit, delete or lock all of this thread. I am deleting one post. I am hoping that the ORIGINAL message has been answered and MAYBE some possible new insight to the ORIGINAL question might trickle in, but...

Antagonizing members, abbreviated *** profanity or literal swinging of sharp tools will not be permitted. No one here, vendor, moderator or owner is above the Policies.

Thank you
-BobbyWright

[Pick]

My 1972 31' rear bath is a prime candidate for the sag, but I see no evidence of it whatsoever, according to the descriptions posted on this forum. I wanted to pull it to Florida this winter, but am having second thoughts. I know it needs new axles, because the curb side is about 1 inch lower than street side. So my question is this: If I buy new axles will the NEW drums have been balanced at Henschen? If not then I should have the assemblies balanced, which would mean bearing repacking and new seals on new axles?<br>
I do have a single axle trailer that I haul a 425 gallon water tank on. When driving at highway speeds I can see the trailer frame vibrating. This could be caused by an out of balance or out of round tire. It is clearly visible though.

[hex]

Bobby W. I tried to private mail you but your mail box was full. When I tried to return to my message (to save it for later mailing) the PM slate was erased.

I appreciate your job as an occasional word-warden and the need to keep this forum clean and civil. I have gone back and changed my one known abbreviated 'profanity' from 'BS' to 'propaganda'.It was still there so I really do not know what you removed or what is on 'your' list of profane words. (You said 'thread' was removed, but I presume you meant 'post' was removed).

I would hope that any time anyone's words are taken down, that you and the other mod-squaders would have the courtesy to inform us all, whose words and why they were removed.

The questions from smily's original post have NOT all been answered. so any locking of this thread would, IMHO, go against what I presume these forums are here for.

Lastly, who antagonized a member? which member was injured?
Who literally swung a sharp instrument? (What the heck does that mean). Sounds like west-coast fog to me.
Can we just speak plain English here? If you think my comments to Inland-Andy were too harsh, personal, or close to home, then say so and I will remove them. Nonetheless I think they were long overdue!

[smily]

REMOVED .

I am learning many things about balanced drums and running gear. I was amazed at how much I could learn from just opening my eys and ears and listening rather than arguing the point with people that are clearly more experienced than I.

I am merely an owner of less than 1 year and respect those who have 30 + years experience with repairing Airstreams.

Ocassionally people who have never owned or even towed an Airstream would like to be heard and I have learned from even those. I may or may not be able to use that advise but I did learn something.

My father taught me long ago............................

"ONLY A IDIOT ARGUES WITH A FOOL"


Smily

[BobbyW]

I tried to private mail you but your mail box was full. ++HEX++

Not sure why you can't PM me. About a dozen other Forum members have successfully sent me PM's in regards to the direction this Thread has taken.

I will look into this. And thank-you all for your valued input, and I mean it!

-BobbyW

[uwe]

Hi Pick,
New axles come again with unbalanced drums. My personal research has shown that trailer parts mfg. do not balance their assemblies. So you would have to get your running gear balanced and aligned after installing new axles, in orderto have it smooth and perfect. The charge around here is only $ 24.00 per assembly.
My tires acted like a pendulum in a way, when I jacked up the trailer recently to pack the bearings and check the brakes. I reset the wheels on the studs a few times on installation to minimize this effect. This was strange, because my tires had been computer balanced, but resetting them on the studs made the pendulum effect much less noticeable.
The vibrations caused by out of balance running gear apparently are not always visible.
I hope this answers your questions.

[BobbyW]

Just being curious, I called a large Mfg. of trailers (non Airstream) in my area and asked them if they balanced replacement axle/brake/hub assemblies before shipment. They reported to me that it was up to the installer to perform this as part of the final assembly.

Just chatting with him, he said that most of their replacements were due to accidents and not wear and tear. He said he rarely gets requests for anything older than 10-12 years old as the topside usually doesn't last any longer. I thought that was pretty funny. Probably because it vibrates to pieces.

-BobbyW

[JPAIRSTREAM]

So do cars balance there Drums?. Ifnot why would you do this to a trailer..

[Silver Bullet]

Yes, automotive drums are balanced from factory. The vibration of unbalanced drums and wheels would destroy your differential and axle bearings. Oscar