steel plate at front

48_liner · 10-17-2006, 05:27 PM

Anyone know what the steel plate is for at the front of the trailer?

Bob

I'm having problems posting and hope this doesn't go through mulitple times.

wkerfoot · 10-17-2006, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 48_liner

Anyone know what the steel plate is for at the front of the trailer?

Bob

I'm having problems posting and hope this doesn't go through mulitple times.

Bob,

It is to secure the trailer body to the frame. My 1954 Liner did not have one, but I have included one in the rebuild. I have seen reported that other early 1950's trailers did not have one either, does your 1948 Liner has a plate?

Bill

TomW · 10-17-2006, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wkerfoot

...It is to secure the trailer body to the frame...

I agree that is does that, but I believe its primary purpose is to combat the twist that is developed when transitioning from the coupler to the body through the A-frame.

Sheared rivets on the skin in front of the plate indicate a problem. Member rluhr posted about one such situation with his '68 Airstream. I do not know if it was ever resolved.

Tom

48_liner · 10-17-2006, 06:53 PM

Ours had the plate. I'll try to add a picture. It was very rusty and the skin had turned to powder where the steel reacted with the aluminum. I don't see a reason for it as the skin attaches all the way around to the U channel.

wkerfoot · 10-17-2006, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 48_liner

Ours had the plate. I'll try to add a picture. It was very rusty and the skin had turned to powder where the steel reacted with the aluminum. I don't see a reason for it as the skin attaches all the way around to the U channel.

Additional security, I painted mine with POR 15 to stop dis-similiar metal contact. RJ Dial used an aluminum angle in his rebuild of the Flying Cloud on VintageAirstream.com. On the GSM Vehicle site you can see the plate on the Caravel Colin just finished when they repaired/rebuilt the frame (this was featured on TheVAP.com).

Bill

Aerowood · 10-17-2006, 09:34 PM

I have the same problem with my 71 globetrotter. I plan on removing it ,sandblasting to remove all rust, prime with epoxy primer ( both the steel and the aluminum skin then reinstall it wet with sealent. This will give me 2 barriers of protection against dissimular metal contact and making another battery.

**wahoonc** · 10-18-2006, 03:37 AM

On the 70's models it is a pretty substantial plate. I am not an engineer but I would think it is to help keep the shell in place on the frame and to transfer the load from the a-frame. The front of the trailer takes a lot of load because of the A-frame and the wind when towing. On my 1975 the plate is welded to the main frame, then riveted to the body. The sheared rivets are apparently caused by out of balance running gear and/or a overly rough tow vehicle suspension.

Aaron

**Chuck** · 10-18-2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wahoonc

... The sheared rivets are apparently caused by out of balance running gear and/or a overly rough tow vehicle suspension.

Aaron

...or a rotted-out floor, which was Rich's problem. the lack of a solid floor allowed for too much movement, which is what caused the rivets to shear repeatedly.