Rear End?

[stacyrwarren]

In one of my posts full of questions... someone mentioned the 1970 Sovereign having Rear end detachment issues... can someone explain this a little more? How would you know? Did they all have it or just some of them? What would it look like and how would I check for it? And the big one... if I do have it... what is involved in fixing it? Much appreciative in advance!

[Lumatic]

There should be more than you ever want to know in the archives if you do a search.

Basically the connection between the floor and the walls is compromised. If you got it you can see it. If you bounce on the rear bumper it should not move separate from the body of the trailer. Yes, it can be fixed but does require some major work by someone who knows what to do.

[DryFly]

Do a search through the forum and you'll find that almost all Airstreams are subject to this problem. It has to do with the poor design of the skin of the trailer meeting the belly pan - the belly pan is lapped on top of the skin, just the opposite of what proper flashing would be. This creates a ledge where water sits and eventually seeps into the plywood floor. At the rear of the trailer its even worse because the two longitudinal frame members exit the trailer and help form the rear bumper. This area has no flashing and provides an opportunity for even more water to get onto the plywood. Add to this the apparent fact that these two areas aren't caulked, and just about any AS that is exposed to the elements for an extended period of time can start exhibiting issues. I'm sure others will provide a more complete and informed response.

Again, do a search and you'll learn a lot more, including what to look for and how to caulk/flash to prevent the problem. Try going to the "floor and frame" section of the forums, you'll find lots of posts on this and water related issues

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by DryFly

Do a search through the forum and you'll find that almost all Airstreams are subject to this problem.

Particulary "The Beatrice Years" of the 70s. The problem affects longer Airstreams more because of the cantilever effect of the longer rear overhang. But I have seen a lot more 70 something Sovereigns without this problem than with the dreaded "rear end separation".

[DryFly]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

Particulary "The Beatrice Years" of the 70s. The problem affects longer Airstreams more because of the cantilever effect of the longer rear overhang. But I have seen a lot more 70 something Sovereigns without this problem than with the dreaded "rear end separation".

That's a new one for me - what is meant by "The Beatrice Years"?

[featherbedder]

Beatrice pur. AS in my opinion they proceeded to cheapen the quality many other owners feel this way to.

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by DryFly

That's a new one for me - what is meant by "The Beatrice Years"?

During the 70s Airstream was owned by Beatrice Foods. There are different opinions on the forums as to quality. One of the things they did is make Airstreams lighter and one way the did that was to use less steel in the chassis.

[0557]

Good thing Monsanto never owned them.

[Phrunes]

They would have cloned them and we would be legally prohibited from reusing any recycled parts or derivatives.

[0557]

Maybe if Monsanto did own them, they could genetically modify them not to leak.

[Thisisliving]

L.o.l.