airstream sightings

[davidz71]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, just waiting for Andy to spot that picture to let someone know that it needs new axles. Top of the rims at wheel well opening. Really nice looking trailer though.

I mentioned that to the owner's relative and that a better way to determine if the axles were gone was to climb underneath to look at the tension arm. I explained that if the tension arm is in a negative arc then the axles need to be replaced. I also told him to visit Inland Rv's website to determine if they were bad.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by SARGE/AF

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Robert
How can you tell that it needs new axles? I have a 1976 Soviergn 30FT and it sets like that, when I took it to the factory and had it inspected the only thing that they found was the shocks was bad, further inspection of the axles found the axles themselves in good shape and they are the original. I said that I wanted the bearing pulled and repacked unless they are showing some wear then replaced. They also said that it is not uncommon for a trailer to set that low on the tires, that if it was down to the rim then there is a problem. I looked at the display axle in the front and other than bearings it did not look like there was much could go wrong with the axle except for breaking.
I need to make a trip to the factory to review the repairs being done, and because there are some upgrades I have decided to add too, I plan on talking to them more about this axle thing. I dont want to get it back and then find out there is something wrong. I want it right before I pick it up.

Sarge

Hi, Sarge. If you look at the picture of the trailer we are talking about, you will see that you cannot see any of the tire above the rim and that the rim seems to be in line with the wheel well opening. Weak axles or very overloaded. Now I will post a picture of my Safari and you will see that most all of the tire shows below the wheel well. I don't have a direct side view picture of my trailer, but if you click to enlarge my picture, I think it shows a little bit better.

[47WeeWind]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, Sarge. If you look at the picture of the trailer we are talking about, you will see that you cannot see any of the tire above the rim and that the rim seems to be in line with the wheel well opening. Weak axles or very overloaded. Now I will post a picture of my Safari and you will see that most all of the tire shows below the wheel well. I don't have a direct side view picture of my trailer, but if you click to enlarge my picture, I think it shows a little bit better.

Hi Everyone:

Just a word of caution on using how much tire or wheel rim appears in the wheel well of a vintage Airstream as an indicator of axle condition. Specifically for the 1962 model year (the only year for which I have hard data), the height of the wheel well horizontal top lip from the top of the plywood floor differed by 2 inches between the LA and Ohio factories. The Ohio wheel well cut out was 3 inches above the plywood floor, whereas the California wheel well cut out was 5 inches above the plywood floor. So on brand new 1962 Airstreams, there was a 2 inch difference between trailers made at the two factories in how much of the wheel and tire assembly was visible in the wheel well. That 2 inch difference is a significant portion of overall axle trailer arm travel and will lead to a false prognosis. There likely exists differences in wheel well height between the two factories for other years too, so use caution when employing the wheel well test on older Airstreams.

A much better indicator of axle rubber condition is to stick you head under the trailer and look at the actual angle of the trailing arm to the frame rails.

[Newlyweds]

We were traveling south on Hwy 45/47 and passed an older Airstream going north towards Antigo, WI. We were so geeked! They flashed their lights and we waved like crazy! Sorry, it happened so fast didn't get a photo. It was our first trip in our AS, and our first AS sighting while towing ours. Woohoo!

[Aage]

There's a bank here that's running an ad (I think it's BMO) and the ad is a cartoon of a family. The father has huge long legs, like a daddylonglegs spider has relative to his body, the point being he can travel quickly, carrying the children with him.

(getting to the point soon here.) Well, at one point he steps over a mountain, and as he strides over the valley, at the bottom left of the screen is a perfect little cartoon Airstream (polished and waxed!), which I would guesstimate, has a Bambi's ratio of length vs height.

[Steve & Susan]

I was watching teevee last evening to get storm coverage here in the Cleveland area - we got POUNDED!
There was a traffic shot of our "innerbelt bridge" which carries Interstate 90 West and Interstate 71 South traffic together for a few miles.
There was a shorter 2-axle AS being towed South/West bound in a horrible rainstorm - I hope they got to their destination safely!

[airedale]

We were on US 2 east-bound in ND, MN, WI, and MI and we saw about 8 Airstreams.

[GreatPumpkin]

Pulled in to work today and saw an '00 Airstream Excella in my parking lot! The gentleman was walking back to it as I was getting out of my vehicle, so I chatted with him for awhile. He wasn't familiar with the forums, but he highly recommended Airstream Life. I never did get his name, but his trailer had WBCCI # 1898 and 6 stars.

[cameront120]

I wonder what the stars mean.

[airedale]

I think it mean for every 5 years you have been a member of the WBCCI

[Mel]

Saw an Excella being pulled on southbound I-5 through Seattle on the Ship Canal Bridge yesterday afternoon around 3:15. My carpool partner is slowly learning not to jump too high when I scream "Airstream!"

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by airedale

I think it mean for every 5 years you have been a member of the WBCCI

Laura,

You got it right, I picked up a five year star this year at Bozeman. They are free.

Bill

[streamer23]

Originally Posted by Mel

My carpool partner is slowly learning not to jump too high when I scream "Airstream!"

My wife used to be the same way too.Now I have to be careful not to jump when she calls out Airstream.

[airedale]

Originally Posted by wkerfoot

Laura,

You got it right, I picked up a five year star this year at Bozeman. They are free.

Bill

SWEET, just think if Im still kicking when Im 71, I could have 10 stars, wow, thats a lot of BLING!