Crashed on a wall !!!!!!

[brunoffrance]

Hi Ron;
"Airstream.de" has proposed me to polish for €2500 cash ...
He get off the rest of the clear coat and polich after by hand. No specific tool as we can read in other threads; I don't know if it's a good price but, as he repairs the damages, in waiting parts, I've asked him for the polish.But what a work !!!
When I see the surface to do and the work you have to make, I'was not sure to do it myself, one day; Plus, Jorg has yet polished and he knows how to do.
Plus, he can do it quickly... i've contacted him on Sunday, and the monday, the Airstream was in Germany.

You can get in touch with him, from me.May be you can get a smaller price ...

bye,

See you soon at Saint Tropez, or at Perry campground ?

Bruno.

[brunoffrance]

here are the last news about my Airstream crashed in a wall;

yesterday, coming back home from Germany , i've decided to stop at Duisburg, germany to see the works made on my poor silver bullet...
I knew the polishing was in time because parts , from Airstream factory, were in late because the fire there.
But, in spite of my demands, no pictures of the works, from "Airstream.de ".

So I've decided to take pictures myself:

the polishing is finished but the damages are always visibles....


Bruno;

[dmac]

Bruno, we are considering relocating to Europe in 3 - 4 years. I was wondering what conversions were required to make your trailer legal and function properly. I'm thinking of...

- Are you allowed an 8-1/2 foot width? Or are 8 foot trailers required?
- I understand that electric brakes are not allowed, what did you do to convert them?
- I understand that weight distribution hitches are not allowed, what do you use?
- How did you convert from 110 volt to 220 volt?
- Anything else we should know about?

[brunoffrance]

Hi dan;
I'm not a specialist in french regulations, but what i know can certainly help you;
At first, if your trailer is 25 years old or more, NO problem at all; it's a collectible trailer and you can keep all your caravan in his original condition; it's in this way I' ve bought mine and today i can drive it, in legal situation.
So I've seen yours was a 2003 model; Here the problems began:
At first, the customs taxes; 20% on the value + shipping... ( collectible : no )
then the fiscal tax : 19,6% on the value & shipping.( 5,5 % only for a collectible trailer )

Then, you have to make controlled & inspected your trailer by the french transport authorities. I think that only 8' are admitted on roads
the electrics brakes have to be removed by an iertia system, stop lights differents from turns lights, turn lights in orange, tires in European type, glasses, LPG system with EEC ( Economic European community ) standarts, water heater with EEC standarts....

For the anecdot, I wanted to import from USA , a Ford F150 Pick-up trailer, proud to have imported the Airstream... When I saw all the modifications to do and ALL papers to get for the french administrations, I ve said NO. The worst was to have to test the vehicle, on a circuit , to test the noise, the pollution, the speed, the weight by tires, take all dimensions ....
A simple guy , as me, can't do that.An that cost a lot of money.

About weight distribution, there is no restriction; In Europe, the size of the ball are not the same as the US but it's not forbidden. So the capacities on European cars and most of trucks, don't allow to tow an Airstream; they can't support the tongue weight, and the max load is not enough .
About me, I ve found an hitch for my European FORD with my Airstream capacity ( directly at the factory ). now with my F150, no problem.

About the use of an Airstream in Europe, it's easy;the Campground are not so equiped as in USA; Only electricity plug , no water, no dump.
the voltage is 220 v/50hz. I ve kept all the caravan equipment in 110v / 60hz and i ve installed 3 converters 220/110 : a big one in front of the A/C ( 3000w), a 800w for the Univolt and a 300w for the fridge. all my plugs are in 220 for the TV, Hair dresser, radio, additional fan, .... and all is good
there is no problem with the frequency differences;all the US equipment run with 50hz.
About the lpg bottles, i refill them as you do in USA, in a gas station, but here , it's not legal... i use an adaptator

Some other advice;
Don't take a too much long trailer; the roads are not the same than yours, not so many space ; streets are often not very large, lot of traffics, campgrounds are small and it's really difficult to park the A/S with the truck. the other do that by hand but it's not the same caravans ...
No other idea for the moment .

I think my 27' was a good choice and the size is enough fot FRANCE;

I hope that can help you, and welcome soon in the old Europe... may be in FRANCE...

Bruno;

[dmac]

Thank you for all the information. It seems that I will need a 25 year old trailer! You purchased your F150 in Europe then?

We are in the thinking/planning stage - we may move to Germany or Austria in a few years, after our daughter is finished with High School here.

[brunoffrance]

Hi dan;
Yes, I've bought the Ford F150 in FRANCE and it came from canada. It was imported by a french dealer, 4x4 specialist and did all the famous test and papers to be accepted on french roads. I have kept all these and, really, there is a lot of works;

All the informations i gave you, are available for FRANCE and, normally for Europe... In spite of we are in the EEC, there are small differences with the countries; I don't know the specific regulation for Germany or austria but they certainly approach the french ones;Check it. I know that , with collectible vehicles , in FRANCE, we are lucky.

best regards from FRANCE.

Bruno;

[memartinde]

Hi Dan,

Bruno has covered your questions quite completely as it seems; I would like to add that the width-limit in Europe IS 2,5 m (you'll have to learn to convert to metric anyway ;-) ...) - usually. Exceptions are possible, but a fight with the red-tape. In GB TT can not exceed 8' in width. Hence, wide bodies of 102' are not feasable - they would be a p.i.t.a. anyway. 8' is considered a wide body allready by most campers over here.
Brakes need to be inertia (surge ?) type mechanical brakes (like boat trailers in the US); but - in Germany and Austria at least - this is limited to 3500 kg max. trailer weight. Trailers exceeding 3,5 metric tons need air brakes (just like the 18-wheelers); and also - in most cases - the driver needs an CDL.

Trucks (incl. pick-up trucks) that exceed 3,5 metric tons in GVWR (not: CGVWR !) are subject to an european-wide speed limit of 80 km/h (approx. 50 mls/h). US PU-trucks are sold here - but via independent import companies; not the big three.
Hence, the conversion is costly; a RAM e.g. would be more costly than a nicely equipped VW touareg turbo diesel (no, you DON'T want a gas engine over here: 1,25 euro/liter of super !) - and either too heavy or crippled in payload.
"Airstream.de" could help you with importing/conversion topics (good reputation a.f.a.i.k.) - in the netherlands (mayby remco from this forum has details?) some regulations are less restrictive, I believe.
You could allways keep your american registration, as long as you change countries frequently (max. 6 months stay in germany) and can renew it without returning to the US. You would then be a "tourist" (not resident) whose vehicle does not have to be converted (brake-wise); still subject to width- and weight-limits, though.
Good luck ! M

[remcolent]

I think that in all european country's its a bit diverend
here in the netherlands I have the trailor licenced with the electrick brakes
WD hitch and the 2 5/16 ball
max 2m55 cm width
max lenght trailor 12 meters
max lenght trailor plus towcar 18 meters
max loaded weight car 3500 kg
max loaded weight trailor 3500 kg
speed limit 80 kmh
Its a lot of work to get the trailor licenced I don't think I do it again
I had a verry good offer on my nice but not perfect 1973 27 ft
good enough to buy a 1989 29 Ft rear bed that I saw for sale in the US
pay for transport , tax and licencing and still have enough left for some nice upgrades
Am still thinking about that offer

aby a idee to have a treat about the EU laws regarding trailors

Remco

[brunoffrance]

Hi memartin;
Curiously, I was at Bielefeld, last week, invited by a german society installed there; Their jod is to treat mercury waste ( that I collect ); Do you know them ???
The world is small.
Coming back home , saturday, I've visited my airstream , in repair, at " Aistream.de " , at Duisburg.

best regards.

Bruno;

[Davydd]

Originally Posted by dmac

- Are you allowed an 8-1/2 foot width? Or are 8 foot trailers required?

A major highway road in the Snowdonia National Park mountains of North Wales can be a little as 15'-9" wide with stone walls right to the edge of that dimension. Even an 8 ft. wide trailer intrudes on the oncoming vehicle under those circumstances. Still they drove 40, 50, 60 mph with commercial trucks, caravans and buses on those roads. It amazed me (and scared me). When I got back home I realized my little street was wider than any North Wales highway road and has shoulders. Also, my street has a posted 20 mph speed limit. I'd say it is a tad different over there. A trailer would not be on my list of desires. A Mini Cooper seemed big on those roads. Those Smartcars that look more like golf carts seemed more appropriate.

[brunoffrance]

Hi there;
here is the final of my story " my AIRSTREAM in a wall", I've gotten it back home and the repair is really great; Two panels moved and the work is really well done.
So the polishing give to my old silver bullet, an another young look ;
I'm ready , now , to go this next saturday, for my first period in the campground, near my home... nearly holidays, waiting for the real ones, in one month .

Thank you one more time, for all the community, who help me, in advices and adresses, for all supports, when I was a bit anxious in front of this situation.

bruno.

[brunoffrance]

I've forgotten to show you pictures. Now, it's done.

Bruno.

[kposey]

That looks nice! Can't even tell it hit a wall. And the polishing job is awesome! Congrats. Now go enjoy it!

[InsideOut]

Looks like they did a really good job!

Have fun on your trip!

Shari

[qqq]

Bravo Bruno! Beau travail, looks great!

Ron

[desi arnaz]

looks great!! what was the final bill?$$$$

Bruno,
The repairs look great. Having a love for a product from another country can be costly habit. Mine happens to be older Land Rovers and I know the pains that I went through to get certain parts.You have done an amazing job to keep your Airstream looking like new. I don't know if you will remember, but you bid on an older Airstream Key Ring on ebay some time ago. At least I think it was you. I was bidding against you and won. If you email me your address, I will send you that key ring to go with your Airstream.

Jack

[brunoffrance]

Hi there;
Finally, the cost for repairing this damage was €9000..., with insurrance agree, so , in this price, there was not the shipping coast, by road to Germany , 4 times.
the work is well done, the panels come from Airstream center factory with special and expensive cost ( that is what the german body worker tall me...), the bumper is the genuine one repaired but at first , it had to be replaced by a new one.
So I think than the German earn lot of money on this repair... but it was the only one i 've found to repair it proffessionnaly and I'm not desapointed.

Hi Crafsman; I remember the Ebay auction for the famous key ring; you were the best one ; I remember you won it at only one or two seconds before the end; Me, it was 5 seconds...but i was wrong;
Great proposition, my email is:

bruno.accart@wanadoo.fr

thank you by advance.


Bruno.

[allenhughes]

I would say that is a little more than a dent!! What was this guy thinking???
Good luck!!

[n2916s]

Bruno,

If all else fails, check out the nearest small airport. An Airstream is essentially an airframe and I know aircraft sheet metal guys that could swap out a segment in their sleep.

Good luck,

mike