Can I use these supports @ the rear of my TT?

[FishinHatteras]

Hi all,
I have been looking at these two supports under the rear of my AS thinking, "Why are these here, and why can't I put them to good use?" I have a neighbor that has his welding shop @ my storage facility. He does some pretty work, and specializes in stainless steel. I asked Joe about welding some SS using these supports, and creating a storage box with a drop down door facing aft. A simple lock, seal it up, and voila', I have extra storage. Has anyone done this? I wouldn't put much weight back there, but I would love to store my stinky slinky, and tire chocks in there. Maybe something else. Heck, we all know how precious storage is. What are these supports for? Is there any reason I can't wrap SS around them, leave about an 1/8" opening where it touches the underbelly, use some 4200 to seal it up, and call it a day?
Thanks for your input.
Gavin

[AWCHIEF]

Those are skid plates to protect your trailer. Personally I would leave them as they are. But it is your trailer to do with as you wish.

[perryg114]

Extra weight in the rear is not a good thing. These trailers don't have real good connections between the shell and the frame. You put too much weight back there and things start getting loose.

Perry

[cwf]

Only carry The slinky and flush hose in the stern storage. adding that will not be good for your chassis to shell connection.

If you must, think about a box just forward of your wheel openings from curb to street. Then 30-45 degree the sides so it isn't a square box. Better yet, roll the sides to fit the AS design. You can then have sliding trays.

[BigAl]

I believe Airstream make storage boxes that mount under belly pan from side to side. Have seen them mounted in front of axles.
Al

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by BigAl

I believe Airstream make storage boxes that mount under belly pan from side to side. Have seen them mounted in front of axles.
Al

Interesting, I have never heard of those. Pictures would be nice if anyone has any to post.

[gecko]

Those are skid plates, and their function is to keep your plumbing or bumper from scraping in steeps dips that you might encounter with certain driveways, for example. Mine have saved us several times. Leave 'em!

I have seen a beautifully done custom sliding drawer done farther forward on a 28' with a guy camped near us in Santa Fe. Built out aluminum, it even had a sealing gasket to help keep out road dirt. Sorry that I have no pics to share!

We've taken the minimalist tack--there's not really a lot of weight margin to carry more stuff in Airstreams, so we've learned to just get rid of stuff rather than adding more. But each to his own!

[m.hony]

Go through a gas station parking lot dip/gutter transition from the street and you will discover what they are and what they are for- to protect your $80,000 trailer-

[rmkrum]

Or drop the rear of the trailer off a road onto the skid with a bang and see how bad the rear wrinkles. I have an interesting repair job ahead of me if I want to fix the 'beauty mark' I made.

The little skids will not support much weight, since the frame back there is IMHO held up by the body of the AS. I think they are there to make noise if you get too low, really.


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