Hi everyone! My wife and I are the happy owners of a new 16' Quiksilver. We and our two kids just took our first trip with our Highlander Hybrid tow vehicle and the Bambi (see the 2006 Bambi forum for details).
Like raptorron we bought our Quiksilver from far away because it was the closest one we could find - we live in NY and we bought it in FL. Also like raptorron we were surprised to find out that after all the Quiksilver options were added it had almost no Cargo Capacity - 51 lbs in our case. I looked into it and (like raptorron) found out that the CSA version with the upgraded axel and 225/75R15 Load Rating D tires has an extra 800 lbs of GVWR.
I emailed Airstream about the issue and received the following reply:
"Thank you for purchasing a new Airstream. To answer your questions, The CSA version does have an 800lb larger capacity axel. And yes, you can up grade your unit with a new and heaver axel used on the CSA version. If you plan to do an upgrade, you'll need to contact your dealer for the costs of the changes."
I contacted my local dealer a couple of times about doing the axel upgrade and each time I got a response that basically said 'We'll check with airstream and get back to you" with no further follow up.
So...I'm curious. Has anyone here actually upgraded their USA Bambi to CSA spec? Is this just a case of a bad dealer?
I'm not sure how Airstream of JC handles the CSA dealers, or if you just have a lazy dealer, but when I bought our Airstream I was told I had to have a specific trailer in mind to get a quote on any aftermarket items because the "new inventory system the factory now uses" requires the actual serial number to be put into the system before a quote will come out...figuratively speaking. In other words, if your dealer hasn't requested the seiral number of your new Quicksilver, he/she isn't looking into it very seriously, if at all.
BTW, congradulations on your new Quicksilver. I hear they are neat and I look forward to seeing my first in person at an upcoming Forum Rally in January.
__________________
2006 30' Safari - "Changes in Latitudes"
2008 F-250 Lariat Power Stroke Diesel Crew Cab SWB
Family of Disney Fanatics
WBCCI# 4821
You may be better off finding a shop which specializes in repair work instead of your dealer, especially if your dealer does not have a good shop. Unlike auto dealers, some RV dealers are only interested in sales and not the repair/maintenance side of the business.
Bill
__________________
Bill Kerfoot, WBCCI/VAC/CAC/El Camino Real Unit #5223
Just my personal opinion
1973 Dodge W200 PowerWagon, 1977 Lincoln Continental
1979 23' Safari, and 1954 29' Double Door Liner Orange, CA
This thread relates to the question you're asking. At least it might give you further background on the topic. I just recalled it was out there in the Forums.
there are several threads here on axle upgrades so search a little. the one linked above is related to bambis but others have useful info too...
the factory charges approx 1,400$ to replace an axle. this includes the drum brake assembly as well...
like others have suggested this work should be done by a shop with some experience. i have none but i watch them to a couple in the service center and it's not difficult. cumbersome however.
it's a crime they mislead folks on carry capacity for q/s models...seems most of them are used as yard art...
the extra capacity will put you way over the battery powered tv towing capacity right?
if going to the trouble of uprating the axle on a new bambi also consider adding disc brakes...
more hauling is good, but better braking is too!
cheers
2air'
__________________ all of the true things that i am about to tell you are shameless lies. l.b.johnson
we are here on earth to fart around. don't let anybody tell you any different. k.v.
the extra capacity will put you way over the battery powered tv towing capacity right?
The problem isn't the 3500 lbs...it is how it is distributed. My Bambi at rest has about 400 lbs on the tongue and 3050 lbs on the axle. But once the WD hitch is in place and the load balanced so that the tow vehicle chassis is once again level at least 300 of those lbs and maybe all 400 are now sitting on the trailer axle. And I'm a little worried about riding around with my weight almost at max GAWR all the time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2airishuman
If going to the trouble of uprating the axle on a new bambi also consider adding disc brakes...more hauling is good, but better braking is too!
We too, have an '06 Bambi Quick Silver. Congrats!! It's a cool looking trailer. I have checked into increasing the axle capacity with Airstream. We SHOULD all get together and insist Airstream upgrade our axles under warranty. This might be something for the NTSB to sink their teeth into, and have Airstream "RECALL" all the QUICK SILVERS for this insufficiency as being non-safe.
Airstream told me months ago, the Bambi Quick Silver is what it is and I should not carry water. And I knew what I was buying!! Imagine, a travel trailer not being able to carry water.
We have had ours for a year now, and will not tow it. It has sat in the garage. Alternatively, we have used our 1967 Globe Trotter.
Why not PM me and we can talk. Coloradobus@comcast.net
The problem isn't the 3500 lbs...it is how it is distributed. My Bambi at rest has about 400 lbs on the tongue and 3050 lbs on the axle. But once the WD hitch is in place and the load balanced so that the tow vehicle chassis is once again level at least 300 of those lbs and maybe all 400 are now sitting on the trailer axle. And I'm a little worried about riding around with my weight almost at max GAWR all the time.
hi ljmiii
ok i get it, you don't want to carry any more stuff, just increase the margin of safety on the trailer side...right? very reasonable on your part.
i'm sure you've read about weighing things...have you had a chance to scale your set up?
most of the industry info suggests properly adjusted w/d gear will redistribute tongue mass...
1/3, 1/3 and 1/3 to steering, drive and trailer axles.....not 3/4ths rearward...
one can't know what happens without a weigh in.
for my long rig almost none of the tongue mass went to the trailer axles...but for yours the 1/3 rule might be expected...
best of luck and keep us posted.
cheers
2air'
__________________ all of the true things that i am about to tell you are shameless lies. l.b.johnson
we are here on earth to fart around. don't let anybody tell you any different. k.v.
ok i get it, you don't want to carry any more stuff, just increase the margin of safety on the trailer side...right? very reasonable on your part.
Off in another thread under 2006 Bambi I just found that nickcrowhurst put together a set of equations for figuring out the loads and lifts that result from using a WD hitch. Running the numbers for my setup yields an added load of 119 lbs on the rear axles. Not great...but not bad.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2airishuman
i'm sure you've read about weighing things...have you had a chance to scale your set up?
I've been really wanting to but haven't gotten the chance get. I took Airstream's weight as a given, weighed everything I've taken out (e.g. outside speaker, LCD TV, CD changer) and everything I've put in. I've also been carefully weighing my tongue weight. But as you said...you can't really know what happens without a weigh in.
Well, this is some good info. I own a 16' CCD, and last winter started a thread similar to this, to have more carrying capacity and safety margin. I guess the CCD models are not quite as close as the Q/S, but I would still like more.
Last winter I concluded the main factors were 1) axle, brakes, tires, wheels, and 2) frame and coupler. This thread indicates that upgrading the axle/brakes/tires/wheels would, in fact increase the total capacity - and this according to Airstream!
I would rather Airstream would just put the heavier axle in to begin with - could just NOT add that much to the initial cost. But, when I consider what I've already spent on the CCD and the tow vehcile, I think I will be willing to pay for the upgrade, which would give me the ideal setup for what I want.
Not that I wouldn't rather have Airstream pick up the bill.....
Any thoughts from you folks have already upgraded - does the frame and the rest of the trailer, like on a newer 16'er, work OK with the upgrade to the axles, etc??
PS - What does 'CSA' mean?
Sorry for the ignorance....
No problem. CSA is the Canadian Standards Association, sort of the equivalent of our ANSI - American National Standards Institute.
I say sort of equivalent because ANSI's actually considers it's peer to be the SCC - the Standards Council of Canada. I have no idea how the CSA and SCC decide who standardizes what. I just know that somewhere in the CAN/CSA-Z240 RV Series of standards is a requirement that travel trailers have a bigger cargo capacity than is provided for in the US.
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