Supporting shell to remove frame from below?

[JeepinAudiophile]

All the information i am reading seems to be different from what i need for my trailer. I have a 1968 Tradewind, the side skin panels continue below the u channel that attatches the shell to the frame, and is then pulled underneath and riveted to the frame on the bottom. Is it alright to only support the 24' trailer on the ends? I know i need to do some bracing, i asked in other posts but was not answered. I have all the bolts from the wheel wells-forward cut off, and am about to start on the rear. The weekends are the only time that my father is availabe to help on the trailer for any amount of useful time, so i need to have some information asap. If anyone has information on this style of shell-off restoration please help me out.

[uwe]

The skin panles usually do not continue, but rather stop just before the belly wrap.
Did you remove the lower rub rail yet?
Is there not a horizontal rivet line at the bottom of the skin?
I think you need to be more specific on what you're trying to do.
Basically, if you're planning a shell off restoration, then you might follow the threads on this.
Can you take some pictures of the areas in question??
I don't thin ksupporting a 24' shell end to end only is a good thing. The shell is a very flimsy and wobbly affair once the c-channel and floor is no longer attached to it.

[JohnG]

I would have to agree with Uwe on this. Please post some pictures and be more descriptive of what it is that you are trying to do.

[JeepinAudiophile]

Yes, i have removed the rub strip, i am working on getting photos up in the next few minutes. I did not want to support it from both ends, it seems like i am going to have to build an inner structure out of plywood that i can rest the trailer on.

[JeepinAudiophile]

See my predicament?

[JohnG]

I don't understand, why do you need to pull the shell off?

Are you replacing the frame itself?

[JeepinAudiophile]

The panel continues 7.5" below the bottom of the channel that is attatched to the floor. (That is without measuring the extra piece of aluminum that is riveted to the end of that piece.)

[JeepinAudiophile]

I am going to sand-blast, and re-paint the frame. It also needs some welding repairs up front, and I assume the back under the bathroom needs major repairs.

[uwe]

I'd still say you shold folow the threads on the frame-off repairs. There are currently 3 or 4 of us doing this, myself included.
The outer shell must be at some point attached to the c-channel, I would assume.
In your case, if the outer shell also forms the beginning of teh belly pan, then you just lift the shell a bit higher to clear things, or remove the axles and slowly drop the frame down low.
You will have to create a cradle of sorts to support the shell, and then lift it up to where it clears the frame. I would use 3 cross sections, wide than the frame, and support them to the ground. Now you can drive the frame right out from under the shell.
Of course, there are tons of rivets to remove, and many little hangups, including the interior lower skin sections.
Best of luck!

[uwe]

Originally Posted by JeepinAudiophile

I am going to sand-blast, and re-paint the frame. It also needs some welding repairs up front, and I assume the back under the bathroom needs major repairs.

You know, I was going to do the same, but after cleaning the frame with a wire brush attachment for a small grinder, decided to POR15 it instead.
I've done some checking into the stuff, and it's perfect for rusty frames etc.

[JeepinAudiophile]

I was confused because all the threads seemed to be using a different approach than i have to, since i seem to have an uncommon setup. I have come up with a way to lift and support the shell, but it took a little bit of planning. It's still not completely planned, but it's a start. We have slightly raised the front of the shell, and supported it for testing our ideas. i'll edit this, and post some pictures in a few minutes after i take a few more, and put them on the site.

[JeepinAudiophile]

No takers? I figured i'd bump it up to the top by posting, hoping to get some more info... Well, i guess it'll be useful to someone later on that runs into the same problems that i have.

[74Argosy24MH]

The one weak area when I lifted my shell was near the door. I lifted from the top and when I set it down it had a tendency to spread within a few feet of the door. I pulled it in using ratcheting tie downs.

John

[JohnG]

Well you have an interesting project to say the least.

You could weld the frame in places where it is not too close to the aluminum without removing the shell. You would just have to take a little precaution so the welding sparks are not able to hit the skin anywhere as they will burn right into it and maybe even through it.

The pieces of wood that you are using to keep the integrity of the unit the same look ok in the photos, but how are you lifting and supporting the shell?

[JeepinAudiophile]

We are bracing it like seen in the photos to the ribs in 4 places, the 2x4's attacthed to them are level with the outer-skin panels in those places, we plan to lift up the shell, and place a pair of 2x8's in the rear and front just under the ends of the 2x4's. There are 2 2x6's that will be attatched along each cross brace setup, and attatched using screws. This should strengthen the center, allowing us to lift, and rest the entire shell by only the front and back. This is because these are the only places that we can have a board protrude all the way through the shell and out both sides. I'll take a few pictures of what we have so far so you can have an idea of what we are doing...should be up in a few minutes with pics.

[JeepinAudiophile]

The 2x6's are just resting there, the 3 other x-braces are going to get the same vertical 2x4's the front did, we are going to do the rear one first, screw the 2x6 up, the put the center 2 2x4's up, assuring alignment, then screw it all together. We are going to cut holes in the floor to allow the rear 2 2x4's to drop below the level of the floor, to the same level as the enge of the skin. We will then jack it up with a crow bar, and stick a piece of wood under it to hold it above the floor. With this, the shell should be detatched from the frame. At that point, we will decide how we plan to lift the shell the rest of the way that it needs to be lifted to get it up on the saw horses we are building right now.

[JeepinAudiophile]

I have an update on the project in another thread... here's the link.
http://www.airforums.com/forum...ad.php?t=12318

[JeepinAudiophile]

Okay, here's a summary of what has been happening: The frame additions are mostly welded up, all pieces are atleast tack welded to the frame, awaiting a finishing bead! One tank frame is done with the tank sitting in it, held in place with clamps for a mock fitting. The second one (almost identical) is hopefully going to be welded up this weekend. I am sanding/grinding/pressure washing/wire-wheeling/strippiong the frame in preparation of a coat of POR-15. I am going to concentrate on the exposed ares this weekend to get them down to a surface that is smooth enough for my liking. things have been slow with the trailer because so many other things have been happening on the weekends with rallies, holidays, etc...
I hope to have pictures up on here in the next few days of the progress!

[JeepinAudiophile]

here's a start!!! This is the beginning of the welding process after we took off the original lower piece of metal and added a slightly taller piece to cover for the additional depth of the new tanks.

Here's a test fitting of the new 35 gallon tanks in the outer frame we made for the tanks, which will be concealed in a sheet metal box and insulated.

Here's the old tank with the new tank... 17 gallon vs. 35 gallon!!!

marking and cutting the galvanized sheetmetal for the tank enclosure...

Here's the metal all cut, folded and riveted and sitting inside the outer frame...

Mock up of the rear tank location... held in by clamps.



measuring and cutting the frame stiffeners that also extend the belly of the trailer to enclose the tanks...

Tank inside the tank enclosure, mocked up in the frame... notice the frame is tacked up all the way to the rear axle now...



More to come this week, these are all a few weeks old...

[JeepinAudiophile]

okay, i'm going to have to find a new host for the pictures... give me a few days