Dura axle problems , on the road ?

[brunoffrance]

hi the community;

Just to know your opinion about this Airstream... An new European A/S ( '72 sovereign) buyer ask me to make a trip with his "new" toy because he has no pick-up truck , as me , to tow from the harbor ( Belgium) to a destination in the middle of France . the trip is about 700 km ( 434 mi ). So having a glance on the picture he sent me, I've a doubt about the low chassis level... May be a problem with the double axel so I 'm a bit afraid to ride with that ... I 'm wrong ? I need your advice.

Thank you by advance.

Bruno

[HowieE]

The level of the chassis is a function of the height of the ball on the tow vehicle and the trailer axles. I would first look under the trailer and check the conditions of the axles. While the trailer is not hooked up and sitting parallel to the ground, not level to the world. Looking from the other side of the trailer at the arm that goes from the axle tube back to the wheel spindle. That arm should drop downward, on good axles, as it goes from the axe tube to the spindle. If it is pointing upwards the axles are shot. If the arm is parallel to the frame they are on the way out.

Now having said that you can still tow the trailer 4 or 500 miles as long as you lower the hitch on you truck so the trailer is riding parallel to the ground. If you leave the rig as shown in the picture, tongue high, you will be putting more weight on the rear axle that may already be at the stops.

Towing on older axles for that length of distance will not be a killer.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by brunoffrance

hi the community;

Just to know your opinion about this Airstream... An new European A/S ( '72 sovereign) buyer ask me to make a trip with his "new" toy because he has no pick-up truck , as me , to tow from the harbor ( Belgium) to a destination in the middle of France . the trip is about 700 km ( 434 mi ). So having a glance on the picture he sent me, I've a doubt about the low chassis level... May be a problem with the double axel so I 'm a bit afraid to ride with that ... I 'm wrong ? I need your advice.

Thank you by advance.

Bruno

Yes, it looks like the axles are shot.

Towing it at this point, could cause different types of damages to it.

Would it? Maybe, maybe not, but definitely the trailer needs axles.

The trailer will want to bottom out when hitting bumps. Therefore make sure the tires are in good shape.

Andy

[Foiled Again]

As always, I'd agree with Andy about the axles looking to be in need of replacement. Also, his point about being very sure the tires are properly inflated is excellent for a relatively short tow. The shock absorbers would also be GONE too, and though those should be replaced with other "horizontal" shocks - available only from Airstream, it might be prudent to at least replace those - even temporarily with regular shocks - for this one trip.

Most importantly, go slow and avoid rough roads.

Paula