I think that it's more common on the rear bath units, but I think it can happen to any Airstream if someone were to do something like, say, put a spare tire or bikes on the bumper.
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I will second 2'airs information on front separation. I had that on my 1975 trailer. In my case it was caused by leaks from around the front window that were allowed to continue and rotted out the wood and caused the bolt heads to rust off. We discovered it on the way back from a stay in mid Ohio when we noticed the shell was moving ran a cargo strap around it and drove gingerly the rest of the way home. Then tore into the front end, and the middle and the back
Aaron
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....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #2449 AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
Rear bath 31 footers are the worst, especially if they have gray tanks and the people traveled on rough roads with the tanks full. The frame either bends just back of the rear axle or the 4 inch frame fatique cracks at the same location. The hold down bolts between the shell and the frame (in the original configuration) are not strong enough to hold the frame up to the shell and you get separation. Two fixes were developed by the factory and many units had them installed. The first is installing bigger and more hold down bolts. This is called the elephant ear fix because they cut the shell from the outside to gain access and then install some ear pieces to cover the cutout. The second fix is the frame stiffeners which are bolted to the axle mounting plates. The real fix is when they went to the 5 inch high frame which is much stiffer and stronger. The shell no longer needed to hold up the weak frame.
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Trailer Frame seperation?
ran a cargo strap around it and drove gingerly the rest of the way home. Then tore into the front end, and the middle and the back
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