Seems as if fixing the frame will be a DYI job

[JimGolden]

Welding is COOL! It is also FUN! I took a VoTech class and wound up dropping something like $2300 on a really cool TIG machine that can also stick weld. Kudos to you two!

I had an old dude used to do all my welding for me. Poor dude took to poor health and so I lost that angle. He's doing OK now, but doesn't weld so much anymore. But anyway, it kinda shocked me into learning to do it myself. I'm still not very good, but I have fun every time I fire up the rig.

It's a great skill to have. Beyond your trailer resto, you'll find it useful for many many things.

take care,

[ND10CentCan]

Well, so far I can safely say that my husband does not think a welder he will be. He has had two classes and wonders if he is going to get the hang of things. He says it is harder than it looks but I told him he has had two classes and only one real chance at practice so far. He is going to stick it out though but figures he will get someone who knows what they are doing to fix the frame.

The instructor told the class there is a type of welding that even a monkey can do so my husband asked if he could be taught that one. So far he is not thinking it is going to be easy but I know him and he will continue on. The quest continues....

[wasagachris]

Tell him not to go APE or BANANAS over it he will get in the SWING soon enough. I'm sure if he learned to walk erect he can learn to weld. If he needs more instruction maybe GEORGE can help if he's CURIOUS. Just tell him there are TREE basic rules to welding. LMAO.

[ND10CentCan]

The man in charge has now been introduced to TIG welding and thinks he can do that-maybe.... His class marches along and he comes back from class every Monday and Wednesday with new insights. In the end, I don't know if he will end up doing it or Jake, but no matter what, he has learned a lot as I have and we come away with a new appreciation of people that can do things we cannot.

The builidng of the rookery continues and we hope to have shingles on any time now. The county tax man has sent a letter and wants to inspect as we build and then pay as it goes up-we have the basic frame up so far and not much else. I guess they think we might get away with a dollar or two before we finish.

So it goes in the cold prairie of ND. All is really quite good and we look forward to spring. I can hardly wait until we can say "We have a finished frame!' and then on to doing what we can do on it. Every day is an adventure and most importantly, we want to be CAMPING and enjoying all that this fine land has to offer.

[marzboy]

Do you have any pics? I am ready to do the same on my trailer. Just got the U channel fabricated and going to do the prep on Sunday.

[ND10CentCan]

I can't say I know for sure if this is going to work but I will try to have these pictures show up of the Rookery. Slow progress but progress all the same.

The first picture is the upper floor of the Rookery looking to the south. The second picture is the view of the entrance into the Rookery and my dearest on the ladder putting up Tyvek. The third picture is from the second floor of the Rookery looking to the west where you can see the Albatross sitting patiently in the snow.

[ND10CentCan]

Originally Posted by marzboy

Do you have any pics? I am ready to do the same on my trailer. Just got the U channel fabricated and going to do the prep on Sunday.

Did you want to see pictures of inside the Albatross or inside the Rookery? I put some up of the building and do have some old ones from last fall when we last stepped into the shell. Let me know what you want to see and I will see if I can find something that sounds right.
Sandy

[Lance M]

Originally Posted by ND10CentCan

He is looking at a Hobart Handler 140 MIOG Welder, 115 volt, 140 AMP to fix the very deteriorated frame. Does anyone have any thoughts on this welder?
Sandy

This is the welder that I bought. It works better on flux core wire when welding in the wind. I'm happy with the results I've been getting from the machine. I think it is the right size welder for the gage of metals used in Airstream frames.

[DanielB]

The Albatross.. that is funny.
Tell that working dude he needs to tighten it up a notch :-)

[musicmaster]

Are you looking for frame pictures? I'm working on one now.

[ND10CentCan]

My better half purchased his welder this morning. We went across the river and through the woods, well...maybe not through the woods, but anyway....he picked out a Miller 140, the cart, the gas bottles, gloves, jacket, and other assorted things. The welding shop had a great dog named Bella that I was throwing a very slobbery ball to as my husband made up his mind. I asked if I could get the dog but the owner said his fiance would kill him if he came home without her.

The man in charge is now sitting here reading the directions for his new welder. I would have likely thrown those aside until I got stuck on something but he is a follow the directions kind of guy. Hopefully the snow melts soon and we can pull our sad little rotten frame out of the snow, get some steel hauled in, and start to work.

[Splitrock]

I can't wait to see the action.

It's still winter here. Cold and snow today.

[Lance M]

Good choice! It is summer here. 88 and sunny.

[ND10CentCan]

Originally Posted by Splitrock

I can't wait to see the action.

It's still winter here. Cold and snow today.

No one is more anxious to get started than we are to get the show on the road. Still lots of snow up here too and the Rookery is still in need of a lot of attention. I will post pictures of welding progress on the frame once it starts; hopefully no pictures of fires

[ND10CentCan]

Originally Posted by Top

Good choice! It is summer here. 88 and sunny.

I think we got to 20 degrees today and we have about 3 feet of snow and cloudy skies. Sort of like your weather in Texas.....I have a friend in Jacksonville and she is always telling me about their two gardens they can raise per year. It is this time of year where everyone's patience up here with cold and snow is about up. On to bigger and better things I say like Spring and welding!

[ND10CentCan]

We need a recommendation on the thickness of the steel we need to buy for our frame rebuild on a 1976 Sovereign rear bath, 31'. The current thickness is 3/32" and my husband wants to go with thicker gauge metal. He is wondering if anyone had recommendations. He is also thinking it might be a good idea to go with a box steel instead of the c channel steel as original. Anyone have ideas or recommendations? Thanks.
Sandy

[wasagachris]

Sandy I used 11 guage or 1/8" steel for the main frame rails and crossmembers, and 8 guage or 11/64" steel for the axle mounting plates. I boxed in the frame in only a few spots. The front section from the front to about a foot behind the point where the A frame attaches, from about 2" in front of the front axle to about 2" behind the rear axle and from the rear of the frame forward about 3ft. Where the waste and fresh water tanks are located I left the frame as an open C Channel.
There has been much discussion here about our manly tendencies to beef everything up and actually the shell provides most of the strength of the shell/frame combination.If the frame is overly beefed up it will transfer road vibrations and shocks/flexes to the shell resulting in shell damage or seperation problems so I would think moderation is in order when upgrading the frame. After all it's a camping trailer and not an M1 battle tank.

[Splitrock]

I dreamt last night that I build a new frame and I made it strong enough to hold a rear mounted generator and a motor scooter carriage.

[DanielB]

Testosterone fueled dream..

[Splitrock]

Hahaha!