plumbing damage due to tire blowout

[TJ Rice]

I was happy to discover this website today while looking for on-line information about fixing my 2007 Safari. (It's the most helpful info I found!) Here's my situation. The rear leftside tire recently blew, damaging the aluminum skin behind the wheel and shearing off the plumbing from the black and grey water tanks. This will me my frst Airstream repair and I'd appreciate some insight from someone who's been down this road before. Where can I get parts for the repair? There isn't an Airstream dealer for over 200 miles from where I live and I need the left side aluminum skin that runs from under the trim panel to the underside of the trailer for about a foot and the plumbing hook-ups for the black and grey water. Your advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by TJ Rice

I was happy to discover this website today while looking for on-line information about fixing my 2007 Safari. (It's the most helpful info I found!) Here's my situation. The rear leftside tire recently blew, damaging the aluminum skin behind the wheel and shearing off the plumbing from the black and grey water tanks. This will me my frst Airstream repair and I'd appreciate some insight from someone who's been down this road before. Where can I get parts for the repair? There isn't an Airstream dealer for over 200 miles from where I live and I need the left side aluminum skin that runs from under the trim panel to the underside of the trailer for about a foot and the plumbing hook-ups for the black and grey water. Your advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Photo's would be very helpful.

Andy

[whitelight]

We had a blow out on our 34' several years ago, right rear tire. Although there wasn't any damage to the skin, the wheel housing was toast. Fortunately, no plumbing was damaged, although the furnace duct to the bedroom was wrapped around the tire tread. The repairs, completed by an Airstream dealer, came to $2000; our comprehensive insurance covered all but our $100 deductible.

So, before you do any work yourself, perhaps check with your insurance company & have an adjuster or local RV repair shop take a look at it.

At the time, our tires were only 3 years old & were Marathons. We replaced all 6 tires after the blowout.

[tkasten]

Sorry to hear of your troubles. Ditch the GYM's before they do it to you again.

[Mike Leary]

Pics would be good. A google search showed no Airstream dealer or service outlet in your area, as you mentioned. The closest AS outlet would be over the hill in Los Banos, CA. Toscano would be my choice, we've heard good things about them and every time we pass by, there's a lot of coaches having service work done.

RV Dealer in California: New & Used Airstream RVs, Fifth Wheels, Travel Trailers, Toy Haulers & Motorhome Sales, Service & Parts in Los Banos, CA.

[ArtStream]

Sorry for your damage.

Post photos. Filling an Insurance claim is good advise.

[TJ Rice]

Thank you for the responses. That's good news about your successful insurance claims but my $1,000 deductible encourages me to explore all options. My wife is working on getting you pictures. Once you have them, you'll see why I think I could make the repairs if I could get the parts. It's just the darker colored "skirting" aluminum in the rear quarter panel that needs replacing. It looks like it could be a pre-formed part and even if it isn't, most of it is underneath the trailer. You'll also see that I need the aluminum "moulding" that finishes the top of the wheel well and I know I could replace that part. Then you'll see how the plumbing was sheared off and that too is probably a matter of replacing parts. I'm a retired mechanic so I'm used to thinking that I can fix anything if I can get the parts. Are Airstreams that much different to work on?

My wife says that the pictures will be up "soon".

Thanks again.
TJ

[elfirebob]

TJ,
AS's are fairly easy to repain, some special tools may be needed if you need to shave rivets. We too had a blowout this year that tore up some of the "darker" colored aluminum called bannana wrap just aft of our axle and forward or the step. Simple rivets, some larger head rivets and some TLC put the wrap back in PDC condition so I re-used that. I may someday replace that with a new piece. We too are no-where near an AS dealer. AS will only ship to you direct if you go through a dealer though.
Our curbside rear tire (GYM) is what came apart.
Plumbing, ABS is fairly easy...
ID your parts, order 'em and get to them, OR there are some great AS folks near enough for a weekend visit.
Good luck!