Support behind rear wheels WHY??

[hippiechick]

We are considering purchase of a 66 Trade Wind. See previous posts for more info.
We have discussed it to death and have another question. While doing the inspection of the belly pan, it was noted to have some kind of added brace across the width of the trailer. This was located midway between the rear most axle and the bumper. It is a 1.5x.75 inch aluminum C channel. It is attached up through the sides of trailer with bolts. Does not appear to be attached to the frame. Running parallel both behind and before the c channel are wooden 2x4's. These are held up by some sort of straps. The belly pan does not look damaged or deformed. What problem would make this necessary? It's hard to describe and we do not have a pic. We did the bumper test and does not appear to be rear sag? Seems like we might be out of our league.

[InsideOut]

Could it have been added just to support some now lost accessory, like a hose or awning tube? A pic would sure help...

Good luck if you decide to buy ~

Shari

[azflycaster]

Maybe a grey tank was installed in that location.

[putback]

Just a guess. If the pieces are outside [under] the belly pan they may be intended to hold up something inside the pan like an add on gray water tank, a '66 had none originally. The forward edge of the black water tank should be in that area. The tank sits in a sheet metal pan bolted up through the floor. Its common for the pan to rust out and let the black tank drop down, something you'd probably replace on a '66 anyway. The 2x4s must be attached to a crossmember I doubt the bellypan aluminum could support them for any lenght of time. If the bolts are attached to the main frame rails the frame has been drilled, a real no-no. The bore holes would have to be welded/reinforced. Just the normal kind of things you find on a 44 yr old trailer, and a '66 T W is darned hard to fine in any condition.

[Stefrobrts]

Hard to guess what someone might have done that for. Did you try asking the seller?

My first thought was a mount for a set of crank down stabilizers. I have seen vintage airstreams with those mounted there before.