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12-31-2009, 11:54 AM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Columbia
, Tennessee
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5
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Beginning our search for our Airstream
Hello,
We are starting our search for a used Airstream, and I have read that there are certain years that had frame sag with a rear bath. Can anyone give us any advice on this? I am sure this has been covered on this site but I cannot find it.
Thank You Lee
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12-31-2009, 02:01 PM
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#2
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4 Rivet Member
1985 34' Limited
1960 24' Tradewind
Summerville
, South Carolina
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 382
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Lee,
In the blue tool bar above, use the search function to do a Google search. Key in Beatrice Frame Problems and you will get tons of threads on the eras that are more prone to rear frame sag.
Good luck in your search.
__________________
Bill Cantrell
AIR 24338
TAC SC-1
__________________________________________________
Easily distracted by shiny objects.
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12-31-2009, 05:39 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
Lin
, Ne
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,430
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Hi, I too am looking for an airstream, 28' or 29'. I cant find exactly what yrs didnt have the 5" frame. Early 70s to early 80s is all i can find out. I hope someone knows and will post.
thx, Roger.
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01-01-2010, 04:39 AM
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#4
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Be Calm, Have a Cupcake
Vintage Kin Owner
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 223
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Did any Thor units have frame sag?
I know that the Beatrice Food units utilized a smaller frame that experienced frame sag in the rear. But did any of the Thor units also have frame sag, such as any of the longer units like 34' units?
__________________
Secguru
Would you rather have a mansion full of money or a trailer full of love?
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01-01-2010, 06:36 AM
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#5
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4 Rivet Member
1985 34' Limited
1960 24' Tradewind
Summerville
, South Carolina
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 382
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Thinking the earliest 34s were about 1982. All 34' trailers that I have seen have the 5" frame.
Beatrice years were 1967 to 1979. From what I have read, they didn't make the change from 4" to 5" across the board in one year--it is a little fuzzy to me what units got the bigger frames and when but the longer ones seem to have gotten the 5" frames first. Someone else with more knowledge on this will surely chime in and nail down the chronology.
An easy way to know what size frame you have (or one you are looking at buying) is to measure the exposed frame of the tongue area--it is the same size all the way back from there.
Stands to reason that any unit could have frame sag (Thor included) if abused or neglected (unchecked water problems allowed to rot out plywood which would permit the shell to become separated from the frame, for example).
__________________
Bill Cantrell
AIR 24338
TAC SC-1
__________________________________________________
Easily distracted by shiny objects.
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01-01-2010, 06:48 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1993 34' Limited
Melbourne Florida
, Springfield Ohio
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 759
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Another welcome to the forum. Remember that condition of your new Airstream will be very important - very good condition means a premium price.
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01-01-2010, 06:53 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
Lin
, Ne
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,430
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AMF did to Harley-Davidson what Beatrice Foods did to Airstream, and during the same time period, interesting.
Saved them-almost destroyed them-then sold them cheap.
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01-01-2010, 07:33 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1958 30' Sovereign of the Road
Plymouth
, New York
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,776
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What year? What length / model?
What are you looking for? Year? Length? Price range?
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01-01-2010, 07:48 AM
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#9
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4 Rivet Member
1977 25' Tradewind
Waskesiu Lake
, Saskatchewan
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 394
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From what I have heard, it was the longer (27', 29', 31') trailers with the rear bath that had the tail sag issues not the shorter models. That was one huge factor in us buying a 1977 25' Trade Wind. We looked locally at a number of 31' trailers of the same vintage, and all of them had tail droop while the 25' does not.
If I was buying an Airstream to park on a lake lot and not pull around, I would not care too much if the rear had some sag, but we have to be more mobile...
__________________
Every home needs a dog, and every dog needs a home.
1977 25' Tradewind (with two ... three... FOUR dogs)
2011 Ram 1500 Quad cab, 5.7 Hemi, tow pkg.
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01-01-2010, 10:39 AM
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#10
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1 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Columbia
, Tennessee
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5
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Thank You for the responses. We are looking for a 25-29 foot, Excella in good condition, in the price range of 8k-12k.
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01-01-2010, 11:11 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Joshua
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 548
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Try and avoid the 32' trailers, they were too long for tandem axles and too short for the triple axles...
__________________
History doesn't repeat itself, people do!
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