Rough Roads With Airstream?

[Boondocker]

I have been on the road for a couple months this summer. I have traveled a bunch of gravel and marginal roads. I have lost some rivets and had some screws work out. Overall, the camper has held up but there will definitely be overhaul work this winter.

[putback]

Well Canadian Guy they let me stay on for two years befor I found the right AS ! Here in northern Vermont our paved roads are worse than most states dirt roads, we just keep moving the washboards and potholes around. I pulled a Ace and a Catalina for a couple years, both 1964, full restore, 16 ft, aprox 2000 lbs. Thought it went fairly well. Then I got a '64 A S safari. Pulled it over the same roads, paved and gravel. Get an older A S, NO contest, like pullin a box of packing peanuts! And I have'nt change the axle yet! Got a heads up on the hose over the L P lines. Works great, but when you're cutting a spiral down a rubber hose w/a razor sharp blade be very carefull. Makes it real tough to finish the job with skatey eight stiches in your left hand, I know.

[safari 28]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, rough roads? Southern California freeways. That's all I need to say.

Yes sir, as I enter into southern California, like near Banning, the familiar and never repeated nationwide, BOUNCE, greets us into the sunshine state. This is our 5 th trip with our 28 from Michigan, and I am amazed she hold up so well. Really, these are well made trailers. I would have left a trail of staples and glue with a SOB.

Still, with the state going broke like the rest of the country, I suspect it is going to get worse. I have decided to store her in california and make the trip 2 times/year w/o the streamer in tow. I do want covered storage, anywhere in the state. any suggestions?

[Gene]

Canadian guy, are you still out there?

One thing to think about in Yukon and NWT if you go really far north or to Yellowknife, is whether you can get on the river ferries because of the overhang. We saw an RV (class A or whatever, I never get those classes right—it's built on a truck frame) get stuck when the rear bumper dug into the ground while getting onto the ferry. It took about 20 minutes to break it loose. The landings are dirt and come downward to the river at a fairly sharp angle, especially if the river is low, then you have to go up a ramp onto the ferry. I understand there are wheels that can be mounted on the bumpers to prevent that on a trailer.

Some of paved roads up north can be interesting because of the wavy roads—getting near Yellowknife was an adventure a couple of years ago because they just paved over the old frost heaves without re-grading the old road to save time. I think they maintain the gravel/dirt roads in northern Canada very well, but watch out if it rains because that clay mud can be super slick. Some roads go through shale areas and can tear up tires, especially if they aren't new. And if you want really bad paved roads go to Nova Scotia; Newfoundland can be almost as bad. I'd say generally roads in Canada and better than in the US. Alaska is one state with a lot of broken pavement from frost.

Gene

[longdog]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

One of the biggest problems, and concerns towing an Airstream trailer on gravel is all to often over looked.

Th LPG lines, underneath the trailer, will taken an absolute beating, to the extent of causing numerous LPG leaks as well as flattening the copper tubing.

Could you use that closed-cell foam pipe insulation stuff that you put on hot water lines?

[Gene]

I don't think that foam stuff would give much protection from a piece of gravel at 60 mph.

I used vinyl tubing. Not easy to cut lengthwise, but I used a carpet knife and it worked. Some places I used the clamps for the propane lines, some places hose clamps and even some aluminum tape in a few places.

Gene

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

I don't think that foam stuff would give much protection from a piece of gravel at 60 mph.

I used vinyl tubing. Not easy to cut lengthwise, but I used a carpet knife and it worked. Some places I used the clamps for the propane lines, some places hose clamps and even some aluminum tape in a few places.

Gene

Gene.

A very good copper pipe insulator, from rocks, underneath the trailer, is a good rubber water hose.

Cutting it in a spiral length wise, does the trick.

Holding it in place, is easily done with numerous tie wraps.

Andy

[Gene]

Andy, your way sounds good. Didn't think of tie wraps, wish I had. The good thing is it's done and either way gets you to the same place.

Gene

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

Andy, your way sounds good. Didn't think of tie wraps, wish I had. The good thing is it's done and either way gets you to the same place.

Gene

Hi gene.

Getting you there, "ISI" the bottom line.

Getting you back home safely, is the second bottom line.

Andy